The Apple Beat: iPhone 4 is nearly top 'camera' used on Flickr

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Nikon's D90 DSLR camera is an accomplished and enduring camera that takes stunning stills and can manage pretty awesome HD video. It is no surprise that it is the top camera used on photo sharing website Flickr despite being over three years old. Apple's iPhone 4 (which features a 5 megapixel camera) is slowly creeping up on the top spot and looks ready to dethrone the D90. Not bad for something that's not even a standalone camera but a feature, on a smartphone.

Nikon has the top spot of the Flickr list (which is derived from user EXIF data) and it is flanked by a trifecta of Canons  including the stellar  EOS 5D Mark II and prosumer favourites EOS Digital Rebel XSi and the EOS Rebel T1i. That yellow streak that symbolizes the iPhone 4 shows that it is on a crazy upward curve and will likely overtake the D90.

This is not to say a camera smartphone will take better photos than an expensive DLSR body mated to an expensive precision glass lens imaging photos on a larger sensor. It means that more people are using their iPhone 4's to take and share photos. This is beacause the iPhone 4 is one of the best camera-phones around and has a number of apps that improve and enhance its natural capabilities. Another reason is that the iPhone allows for fast and easy file sharing and upload to Flickr. If more cameras were WiFi enabled (see our review of the Samsung SH100, which is headed in the right direction), then users will be more comfortable sharing their photos instead of just storing them on their hard-drives.

Apple Suing Samsung for copying iPhone and iPad elements

In an unprecedented move that caught everyone by surprise, Apple filed a suit against Samsung for copying design and functionality elements of the iPhone and the iPad. The  suit alleges that Samsung copied the look, product design, packaging and user interface of its products, violating its patents and trademarks.

“Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products,” Apple said in its 38-page suit, other details have not been released.

We went back to our review of the Samsung Galaxy S  Vibrant which has been said to mirror the iPhone 3GS in presentation and this is what we observed.

"With a shape that’s very similar to a larger, thinner iPhone 3GS, the Samsung Galaxy S is one of the lightest smartphones we’ve tested this year. In terms of design, this is definitely a less-is-more approach that’s conservative, elegant and functional," (review published on August 2010) indeed, we were surprised that even the Samsung Galaxy S packaging was very similar in dimensions and design to the way Apple packaged and presented the 3GS. 

Looking at the Galaxy S and the iPhone 3GS side by side, we see that the dock elements of both the Samsung TouchWiz OS running on top of Android and iOS are very similar.

The way the squareish app icons are presented accross four rows of apps on a black bacground are also parallel as is the "home" button at the bottom centre but the Galaxy S has a back and menu button flanking its central one. The clock and phone app icons are almost identical on both devices down to icon placement and colour.

Samsung has responded by stating that  the company will “actively” respond to the lawsuit. “Samsung’s development of core technologies and strengthening our intellectual property portfolio are keys to our continued success,” a Samsung spokesman said in a Wall Street Journal report.

This case is more complex that what it may look like in the surface. Apple spent over US$ 5.7 billion on Samsung components ranging from processors and RAM to flash storage and displays. Apple is Samsung's second largest customer behind Sony, so the business relationship between both companies runs deep.  How Samsung reacts and ultimately how this matter is settled will have long term repercussions for both companies and their customers.