Would be awesome if the case had a button on the side (Next to the Volume and lock switches) that turned on the light. This would eliminate any synchronization problems that the flash and shutter speed would have. This also allows the user to control the amount of time the light is for, incase they want to use it as a flash light or even a "lighter" at a rock concert.
It seems simple enough to not draw power from the iphone itself, but using a modified power input on the case, the light could charge it's own power source while the iphone is also charging..Not even that crazy to consider a little solar panel or a kinetic solution to powering the led...
I wouldn't worry about the next iPhone making this idea obsolete because there is already a large installed base of people who may like a properly designed and built solution.
@Andrew
I can't imagine that it would be so expensive, especially given Jenny comments above.
My biggest consideration is the current drain from using the phone battery. Having a light that draws quite a bit of juice from the iPhone battery is the opposite of what I want. Then consider that you could leae the light switch on or that it may get accidently turned on in a purse or pocket and drain your phone battery completely.
Either connect it to the iPhone and let it synch with the camera function.
Or make it a light, but give it it's own power source, which doesn't deplete the phone battery.
The other concern is that a product that uses the dock connector needs to get some authorization from Apple for a made for iPod or works with iPhone marketing label. Don't make a product that connects electrically with the iPhone without such an approved label. The retail replacement price for the phones is $599 and $699 for the 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone. Who in their right mind is going to connect anything electrical to their expensive phone without approval?
Need to get approval also adds lags time to the development cycle.
These 2 considerations are the only reasons that I didn't vote for this product. No one from Quirky has ever indicated that they would be willing to go through that process (which is absolutely essential).
In fact, the few times they provide comments in these forums, it is to steer us away from long-development-time products.
It will be interesting to see what kind of designs the quirky community comes up with.
Good idea Jenny, it will sell for sure. If I had anything to add to it I would only suggest that while you're at it why not make it a mini flashlight as well? I little button somewhere could sure light up a room with those super LEDs!
Having the whole back of the case light up and not trying to time it to the shutter sounds like a nice solution. One challenge is that effective flashes generally offer an intensive light burst, more than one would get from a flashlight. Is their a way to control the intensity of the light so that it could be used as a flash briefly, with greater power drain, and the rest of the time as a regular light? As with small LED reading lights, could more or fewer bulbs be turned on at a time?
Wouldn't worry about syncing the flash with the camera - have the user turn the flash on before snapping the picture... that way you can frame your low-light photo while its lit.
Also, wouldn't worry about Apple adding a flash to its phone. It's by far the most expensive component of any smartphone (RIM is the only manufacturer I know that has a flash in all phones) - the market has also shown that most people aren't willing to bear the cost. You could go after the people who are.
Main question: How will you power/recharge it? Could put a custom USB cover that siphons some of the power when charging, or could do something funky like a thermal (body heat), solar (could be tougher) or piezo (flexion) charging system.
Comments
Would be awesome if the case had a button on the side (Next to the Volume and lock switches) that turned on the light. This would eliminate any synchronization problems that the flash and shutter speed would have. This also allows the user to control the amount of time the light is for, incase they want to use it as a flash light or even a "lighter" at a rock concert.
It seems simple enough to not draw power from the iphone itself, but using a modified power input on the case, the light could charge it's own power source while the iphone is also charging..Not even that crazy to consider a little solar panel or a kinetic solution to powering the led...
@ Sara
I wouldn't worry about the next iPhone making this idea obsolete because there is already a large installed base of people who may like a properly designed and built solution.
@Andrew
I can't imagine that it would be so expensive, especially given Jenny comments above.
My biggest consideration is the current drain from using the phone battery. Having a light that draws quite a bit of juice from the iPhone battery is the opposite of what I want. Then consider that you could leae the light switch on or that it may get accidently turned on in a purse or pocket and drain your phone battery completely.
Either connect it to the iPhone and let it synch with the camera function.
Or make it a light, but give it it's own power source, which doesn't deplete the phone battery.
The other concern is that a product that uses the dock connector needs to get some authorization from Apple for a made for iPod or works with iPhone marketing label. Don't make a product that connects electrically with the iPhone without such an approved label. The retail replacement price for the phones is $599 and $699 for the 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone. Who in their right mind is going to connect anything electrical to their expensive phone without approval?
Need to get approval also adds lags time to the development cycle.
These 2 considerations are the only reasons that I didn't vote for this product. No one from Quirky has ever indicated that they would be willing to go through that process (which is absolutely essential).
In fact, the few times they provide comments in these forums, it is to steer us away from long-development-time products.
It will be interesting to see what kind of designs the quirky community comes up with.
Good idea Jenny, it will sell for sure. If I had anything to add to it I would only suggest that while you're at it why not make it a mini flashlight as well? I little button somewhere could sure light up a room with those super LEDs!
good job jenny
Having the whole back of the case light up and not trying to time it to the shutter sounds like a nice solution. One challenge is that effective flashes generally offer an intensive light burst, more than one would get from a flashlight. Is their a way to control the intensity of the light so that it could be used as a flash briefly, with greater power drain, and the rest of the time as a regular light? As with small LED reading lights, could more or fewer bulbs be turned on at a time?
Instead of a flash that has to be sincronized, in some way, with the iPhone, why not make it a simple light, with independent baterry.
When you whanted to use it, you turn the light on, and then use the iPhone camera like you usualy do.
There are great LED's with low power input and great light output.
will probably be obsolete once the new iPhone comes out.
This would be great. IIialwayswant to want to wwa
Wouldn't worry about syncing the flash with the camera - have the user turn the flash on before snapping the picture... that way you can frame your low-light photo while its lit.
Also, wouldn't worry about Apple adding a flash to its phone. It's by far the most expensive component of any smartphone (RIM is the only manufacturer I know that has a flash in all phones) - the market has also shown that most people aren't willing to bear the cost. You could go after the people who are.
Main question: How will you power/recharge it? Could put a custom USB cover that siphons some of the power when charging, or could do something funky like a thermal (body heat), solar (could be tougher) or piezo (flexion) charging system.
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