Skip to main content

Kodak focuses on Android-powered smartphone cameras

Image used with permission by copyright holder
After a lengthy corporate restructuring, the indomitable Kodak is applying its brand and expertise to a new market: smartphones. The imaging company announced its intention to launch a range of Android smartphones aimed at transitioning technophobes in partnership with mobile device manufacturer Bullitt Group.

Scheduled to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, the smartphone cameras are targeted at individuals overwhelmed by the bells and whistles of most modern electronics. Kodak claims the devices will affording a “high-end experience” without compromising on “design and user experience.” The smartphones will feature streamlined image capture, management, and sharing functions, as well as support for real time assistance with more complicated tasks.

Related: First look: Kodak Alaris’ foolproof iPad app easily turns digital photos into analog prints

The partnership is an opportunity for Bullitt Mobile, which currently produces a Caterpillar-branded line of ruggedized devices, to broaden its product portfolio. CEO Oliver Shulte believes the new smartphones will “address a segment of the mobile device market that has been poorly served to date,” ie. users who want easy-to-use devices that look good, too.

For its part, Kodak is “excited” to jump into the mobile world with this latest development, in a continued effort to rebound from the brink of financial destitution.

Related: It ain’t dead yet: Kodak’s Alaris spin-off promises to keep film production going

Following the beginning of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings two years ago, Kodak regained profitability in part by shedding its costly sensor and camera divisions, licensing the Kodak brand to an increasingly diverse range of companies, and by extracting hundreds of millions of dollars from electronics giant Samsung and others in the course of patent litigation.

The Kodak Mobile Device range, as it’s known, will go on sale sometime next year. Neither Kodak nor Bullitt Mobile specified a release window, carrier compatibility, or hardware specifications. However, we’ll take a peek at the devices when we arrive at CES 2015.

Editors' Recommendations

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
How to block a number on iPhones and Android phones
OnePlus 5 soft gold with the phone app open.

There are many reasons to want to block specific numbers on your phone. Whether it's nuisance spam callers, or a particularly persistent ex you no longer want to talk to, the humble Block option is a phone mainstay. It used to be you'd need to contact your carrier to stop a particular number from calling you, but thankfully, it's a lot easier to block numbers in this day and age.

Read more
The best Android phones in 2024: the 14 best ones you can buy
The OnePlus 12 and Pixel 8's screens.

Finding a bad Android phone is a rare occurrence these days. However, with so many options available, it can be daunting to choose the best one in 2024. In this article, we aim to help you find the Android phone you're looking for.

When looking to buy a new Android phone, there are many factors to consider. Do you prefer a large screen? How important is camera performance to you? Are you someone who enjoys gaming on your phone? Or do you need long-lasting battery life? To assist you, we have compiled a list of Android phones that cater to everyone's needs.

Read more
How to reset default apps on an Android phone or tablet
Someone holding a Google Pixel 5. The screen is on and shows the Home Screen with an app folder open.

One of the best things about owning an Android phone is being able to change your default apps. If you've ever opened a file or an internet link with a certain app, and you chose Always when prompted, then that type of file will be opened with that app every time, saving you from tapping that app every time, and reclaiming some precious time. But what happens if you're the indecisive type or if you suddenly find a better app you'd like to use as your default? It's easy enough to go change.
Stock Android
“Stock Android” refers to any basic Android device that is similar to Google’s version. If you’re the owner of a phone running Stock Android — like the Google Pixel 5, the Xiaomi Mi A3, or the Motorola One Vision, here’s how to reset your app preferences.

Resetting preferences for a single app

Read more