OmniVision details its highest resolution 1/3.2-inch optical format sensor to date

While smartphone cameras may never be able to fully replace a high end digital camera, they're definitely giving it a darn good try. We've already seen the first 8-megapixel camera phones hitting the streets, and now OmniVision has announced the development of a 12.7 megapixel camera chip sensor capable of full resolution stills at 24 frames per second. As well as helping ensure that mobile photographers are able to grab all the action by minimizing shutter lag between shots, the new sensor also caters for in-device image editing and high dynamic range photography.

The new OV12830 camera chip sensor is built on the same 1.1-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel architecture as last year's OV8850 module, but has been designed for mobile devices moving beyond 8 megapixels. It features an active array of 4,224 x 3,000 pixels and is OmniVision's highest resolution 1/3.2-inch optical format sensor to date, and fits into the industry-standard module size of 8.5 x 8.5 mm currently housing 8-megapixel sensors.

In addition to the impressive 24 fps at 12.7 megapixels stills capture capability, the sensor can also shoot 10-megapixel images at 30 fps, and there's support for 10-bit RAW RGB output. Full resolution alternative row output at two different exposures offers HDR video/image possibilities and there are programmable controls for frame rate. Image quality controls like defective pixel correction, lens shading correction and black level calibration are also programmable through a standard serial SCCB interface. On the editing front, in-device cropping, mirror and flip, windowing and scaling, and horizontal/vertical sub-sampling are all supported.

While not quite as impressive as the 4K2K video capabilities offered by OmniVision's 16- megapixel 1/2.3-inch OV16820 and OV16825 sensors unveiled late last month, the new OV12830 is capable of capturing full 1080p video at 60 frames per second in low lighting conditions, with additional pixels for electronic image stabilization.

The new sensor is currently in sampling ahead of anticipated volume production in Q4 2012

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Facebook’s Pay-to-Promote Posts Feature Has Arrived (Updated)

We've heard rumblings that Facebook was testing a system called Highlight that would allow people to pay to promote a post, and now obnoxiously enough, it's starting to show up.

Chris Cantalini, who runs a music blog called Gorilla vs. Bear, tweeted that he was posting a track by Holy Balm when he was presented with the above prompt. It asked him if he wanted to pay as much as $100 so that just one post, one song, could reach an estimated 39,000 people. For the record, only 37,000 people already Like Gorilla vs. Bear on Facebook.

This is just one instance, and the feature is supposedly not just for brands, but individuals as well, so it means we might be seeing Highlight in more places soon. Now that Facebook's IPO has tanked, perhaps it's looking for some fresh cash. [@GorillavsBear]

Update: Facebook sent us the following statement:

These are actually two different products. Highlighting posts is currently just a test while the Promoted Posts feature (only available to Page admins) is a way to make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to promote their content on Facebook. Page admins will be able to promote posts via a new button on the Page composer. Promoting a post will create a sponsored story or ad that enables the post to reach more of the Page's fans. We want to make it as simple as possible for businesses to reach fans and their friends through their Page.