Toshiba has announced that it will launch a new 20-megapixel (MP) CMOS image sensor, the TCM5115CL, as the latest addition to its sensor line-up for digital still cameras. TCM5115CL offers the industry's highest resolution in the 1/2.3 inch optical format, using backside illumination technology (BSI) to improve sensitivity and imaging performance. Sampling of the new sensor will begin at the end of January 2013 and mass production will follow in August 2013. Continued advances in the resolution offered by compact digital cameras -now in the range of 10-16MP - have brought with them the challenge of improving performance and picture quality with smaller pixels. The TCM5115CL does just this by achieving a 15% improvement in full well capacity - the amount of charge an individual pixel can hold before saturating - against Toshiba's previous generation 16MP sensor. TCM5115CL is designed to meet the demands of high quality, fast frame rate image capture and HD video recording supporting smooth, slow motion playback, and delivers 60fps at 1080p and 100fps at 720p.

HTC and Microsoft have unveiled the first signature Windows Phones, the Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC. The new HTC smartphones feature the new Windows Phone 8 operating system, and Beats Audio. The 8X has a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera with an 88-degree ultra-wide angle lens. It also supports 1080p video capture. The rear camera sports an 8mp CMOS sensor with backside-illumination (BSI) for improved low-light performance, along with an f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and a dedicated imaging chip. The HTC 8X features a 4.3-inch HD LCD screen protected from bumps and scrapes by Gorilla Glass 2, while optical lamination reduces reflections and glare. The 8S has a 4-inch LCD screen with Gorilla Glass. The Windows Phone 8X and 8S by HTC will be available beginning in November.

The new Sony NEX-6 is a pocket-sized mirrorless camera. The newest addition to Sony's E-mount camera lineup includes Fast Hybrid AF, Wi-Fi capabilities and the Play Memories Camera Apps platform recently introduced on Sony's new NEX-5R model, as well as the same high-resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder found on the flagship NEX-7 model. Additionally, the NEX-6 adds a standard DSLR-style mode dial for fast, simple navigation between settings. The camera's large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor offers 16.1 effective megapixels for true DSLR-quality images and detail-packed Full HD video. It is teamed with a powerful Bionz image processor that ensures flawless, low-noise images at extended sensitivity settings up to ISO 25600. The innovative Fast Hybrid AF system combines phase- and contrast-detect AF methods. It uses 99 phase-detection AF points arrayed on the image sensor to detect a subject's distance and direction to quickly lock focus on it, and then utilizes contrast-detection AF to confirm extremely fine focus detail. In Speed Priority Continuous shooting mode, the camera automatically switches to phase detection tracking AF to track fast-moving action accurately in each frame at up to 10 frames per second. As with the flagship NEX-7 camera, the NEX-6 model features an XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF for precision framing and focusing. This 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder gives a bright, detail-packed, high contrast view of still images and video, with 100% frame coverage and a wide field of view to rival pro-grade optical viewfinders. On-screen grid lines and a digital level gauge can be displayed to assist with accurate framing.