GE Unveils Digicam with Blink Detection, HD Recording

I don't usually get too excited over point-and-shoot digicams, unless they have extraordinary features like wireless capabilities. That being said, I was happy to hear GE's new cameras will sport features I've been looking forward to. First off, GE announced all of its upcoming cameras (nine models total) will come equipped with a new feature set that includes smile and blink detection, an upgraded lens, and LCD screens that adjust to ambient light. This is on top of features the company introduced last year that include panorama stitching, face detection, and in-camera red-eye removal.

But of all the nine models being released, the upcoming E1050 is definitely the one to look forward to. It will include all the features mentioned above, along with other exciting functions such as HD video recording. This digital camera will be able to record video in 720p at 30fps, and play them back on your HDTV. Apparently, this is the first HDMI-equipped camera that can connect to your HDTV without the need of a docking station.

If you're a fan of geotagging your photos on places like Flickr, then you'll like the camera's GPS receiver which keeps track of where you took your photos. As far as blink detection technology goes, the E1050 will go ahead and take the picture if people are caught blinking, but it will let you know if the picture needs to be retaken. This is a nice change from all the other cameras with smile detection technology that will refrain from taking the picture until everyone has a smile on their face.

The E1050 specifications aren't too shabby either. It includes a 3-inch touchscreen, 10 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, and 3200 ISO. A black or silver version will retail for $250 when it becomes available this Spring.