Samsung has announced an 8 MP CMOS camera module that it claims to be the thinnest of its kind, measuring a tiny 8.5 mm thin.

Notable features of the new module include anti-shake, a 1 cm macro, face tracking technology, and a smile shutter feature that knows to snap a picture when it detects people smiling.

The company expects the new module to replace the 5 MP cameras found in today’s high-end camera phones by the end of the year.

Cell phone cameras are quickly catching up to today’s digital cameras, which will probably become extinct in a matter of years. It seems that putting all sorts of gadgets in one box is the way to go these days, so if you are thinking of buying a new camera hold off for a few months and buy one of the 8 MP cell phones when they are released.

Kodak has announced a new kind of image sensor that could be the start of a new age of camera phone pictures. The sensor is small enough for the tiniest of cameras, and delivers 5 megapixel images in addition to being capable of shooting 720p high definition video at 30 fps (pretty impressive!). Kodak claims the sensor can even deliver good quality pictures in very minimal lighting.

The key technology that has made this new sensor a reality is a completely re-engineered CMOS sensor. Kodak says that the new sensor can finally compete with the sensors of digital cameras. The company is so confident of the sensor’s capabilities that it’s showing them off to cell phone manufacturers next week at Mobile World Congress.

This is an amazing advancement in cell phone camera technology. We can’t wait until these cameras start showing up in every phone so we can finally get rid of our digital cameras.