COPS is a show that has been around for a while and the formula hasn’t changed. TASER International’s AXON / EVIDENCE.com tandem is hoping to change it up a little if officers will strap the hardware on them. AXON is basically an on-officer recording system that captures audio and video of arrests, and after the arrest is complete, it sends the encrypted data to EVIDENCE.com servers that are out of the hands of police departments.

The device has built in sensors that prevent tampering. The system should be ready for deployment in Q3 of this year, when it will get it’s fill of wife-beater T-shirts, toothless dudes holding beers and the phrase “I din’t do nuffin”.

Japanese manufacturer Amadana recently rolled out the SAL pocket video recorder that records video in MPEG4 format and captures 3MP pictures with its CMOS image sensor. The device measures 54mm x 95mm x 12mm and weighs just 85 grams.

This portable gadget also offers up 2GB of internal memory. You can transfer video and picture files to your PC or laptop via USB port. No word on pricing yet. Looks like the Amadana SAL pocket video recorder will only be available in Japan.

There are lots of reasons to put hidden cameras in your home from the legitimate use of keeping an eye on your kids to the more nefarious spying on other people in the home without their knowledge. Whatever the reason you want to put hidden cameras in your home this new clock radio camera with built-in DVR is not cheap.

The device retails for $499 on sale and has a high resolution, low lux camera that records to a removable 8GB SD card. The device features motion activated recording and records in MPEG-4 mode and can snap Jpeg images for a longer recording time. Images and video can be stamped with the time and date.

By now you’ve seen the giant 1,474 megapixel photo that was taken of the Inauguration using a Canon G10 and a GigaPan Imager. If you liked what you saw, and who didn’t, there’s good news. The company has launched the GigaPan Epic for commercial sale.

It works with most point-and-shoot cameras on the market, and creates a single photograph from many individual photos. For example, that inaugural photo was composed of 220 shots. The robotic mount attached to the camera makes the whole process automatic. The GigaPan Epic will cost you $379, while a GigaPan Epic 100 for larger point-and-shoot cameras is coming “soon.”

Lets be clear. No way in hell is this gun-camera making it through airport security. That should be obvious. It’s the kind of gun camera that you hide away in a duffel bag until you reach the top floor of a vacant building. Then, when in position, you assemble it on the spot. You may or may not be able to get all your shots. That’s what the second cameraman on the Grassy knoll is for.

Actually this was used by reporters during the Vietnam War. The camera is mounted on a rifle butt with a black case and 5x lenses. It’s a gadget that belongs in a museum as it is part of camera and American history.

Pentax’s Storm Trooper approved white and black K2000 DSLR isn’t for everybody, but it will make you stand out from the crowd. The camera, and both 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses, is now available for pre-order direct from Pentax.

Best of all, is the price. Only $679.95, which is much less than we thought it would cost. It won’t ship until mid-February, but if you’re looking for a camera that matches your Stormtrooper armor, it’s worth the wait.

Now if I wanted to act like a pompous twit, I might say something like, “This piece speaks directly to my soul and illustrates the futility of man. Does it comment on life or death?” Pffft. I’m just gonna call it a fugly art skull decked out in all kinds of precious metals like silver, mercury and gold and gem stones. Cuz that’s what it is. Oh and it’s also a camera.

The skull camera is named “Yama” after the Tibetan god of death and it’s actually made from the skull of a Tibetan monk. It’s gotta be the creepiest looking pinhole camera I have ever seen. Not just the fugliest. A divider that splits it into two lets you see it’s inner view. It comes with a hefty price at $5,000.

Remember the Tomy Xiao TIP-521 digital camera with built-in Zink printer? It’s available in Japan now, and the above video illustrates how they’re trying to convince you to buy one.

Have you watched it yet? Good. Still want to buy one? If the commercial has sold you on it, the Xiao will be available for $350 in the US in Q2 of 2009. I don’t know. He seemed to be struggling a bit there. He might need some fiber.

We aren’t sure what to think about this one. Target is getting creative with their gift cards again. You can consider it either a gift card with a digital camera, or a digital camera with a gift card. Either way, it’s all good. This holiday season, Target will begin selling the combo gift card/digital camera, which is an interesting approach. It will give customers some added value to what is otherwise a pretty boring purchase.

The camera features a 1.2MP sensor with 50MB of storage. It comes bundled with a USB cord, driver disk, instruction manual and a voucher for 40 free prints at Target. It’s powered by two AAA batteries. So rest assured, Target’s battery sales will be way up this year. The digital camera gift certificates will be available at no additional charge, unless you order it online. They are available in values from $50 to $1000.

Many of us miss Polaroids. They weren’t all that great, but they did provide a strange sort of instant gratification. Sadly, Polaroid is dead. But it keeps coming back in other forms. You might remember Zink, that company whose technology prints digital photos on the spot without ink.

Well, they’re back, this time with strange bedfellows. They’ve been rolling around in the sheets with toy-maker Tomy to make the xiao TIP-521, a digital camera with a printer built in. The xiao has a five megapixel resolution, so you may want to wait a bit. The point is they are on it people. Polaroid lives on.

So photography is your obsession and so is caffeine. If it weren’t for the sky-high cost of your camera lenses, you would have combined the two long ago. Well, my picture taking paparazzi friends, your dreams can now be realized with this awesome and at the same time nerdy mug made out of a zoom lens.

It appears to be a concept, but I’m sure it will be for sale soon, since it’s pretty awesome and different. Just imagine all the fat nerds that will be sipping from this as they stakeout celebrities. It probably needs a lid for when you encounter the unexpected Britney Spears crotch shot. Many a coffee has been lost to her hot-pocket.

A few things tend to be common amongst DSLR cameras. They tend to be large and heavy cameras, have interchangeable lenses and usually you only get black or silver colors to choose from. The DSLR is becoming more popular as new models are introduced that add new features to the category as the cameras get smaller, the get more appealing as well.

Today, Panasonic announced the world’s first Micro Four Thirds system camera. The Lumix G1 claims several world’s firsts including the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera and the world’s first to be offered in multiple colors. The G1 weighs 0.85 pounds, making it about half the weight of DSLR cameras.

Rollei rolls out X-8 Sports 8MP waterproof camera. But wait. That’s Chuck F’in Norris on the front. It was shown at the IFA show in Berlin and I’m guessing that when it takes pictures, Chuck’s fist pops out of the thing and lays the smack down. Rollei may not be a well known camera brand, but it’s a fact that it will be now thanks to Mr. Norris. I’m not sure if they have Chuck’s permission or not.

The camera is light at only 158g and it’s waterproof up to 10 meters, ready for dirt or cold weather, and is resistant to moisture. It can even take a 1 meter drop. Really is tough as Chuck and less wrinkly. Some other specs include up to 1600 ISO, 8 megapixels, and 3x optical zoom. The Rollei X-8 Sports will be officially released this September or October.

This has been quite a week for introduction of new digital cameras. This week Canon announced its new DSLR camera called the EOS 50D. A plethora of other cameras was also introduced by various manufacturers.

Today, Sony pulled the wraps off its own new digital camera called the Cyber-shot DSC-T500. The camera stores images to the Sony proprietary Memory Stick — one of the lines biggest drawbacks if you ask me. The camera has a 10-megapixel sensor and can record video as well.

Teens and tweens don’t normally want to use the same gadgets and electronics that their parents do. The younger crowd wants bright and colorful gear that is easy to use. More and more companies are starting to target this group of younger users with products specifically designed to grab their attention.

Canon announced several new cameras today and one of the new cameras is the PowerShot E1. Canon says that it designed the E1 specifically for the teen and tween age group. The E1 is available in blue, white, and pink colors and has a rounded design.