Just as smartphone/tablet-hybrid competition began heating up for Samsung, the Korean-based technology corporation is trying its hand at another hybrid device. On November 16, Samsung will be rolling out its Galaxy Camera, only this isn’t your normal point-and-shoot camera. The Galaxy Camera will moonlight as a computing device and will run on Android’s 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.
Though this isn’t the first Android-powered camera on the market, it looks like it may become the best. For $499 with or without a data plan, users get a 16 megapixel camera complete with a 4.8-inch 720p LCD touchscreen. The optical lense zooms 21x and has a CMOS sensor for capturing shots incapable of any smartphone. It will be powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, likely by Exynos as noted by TechCrunch. Being run on Android’s Jelly Bean gives the camera full access to Google Play and the bevy of apps featured on it. This includes popular picture editing and sharing apps like Instagram which–coupled with standard WiFi or AT&T’s HSPA+ connectivity (though not LTE)–will allow users to become even more immersed in amateur photography and picture file sharing.
The first attempt at an Android-run camera was by Nikon, which used the Gingerbread operating system (2.3) and was called Coolpix S800c. Though this device pioneered the newly emerging camera/tablet hybrid, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera looks to outdo it by far. With an updated OS and access to Google Play, the camera can basically do anything except make calls. No smartphone cam can compare to the Galaxy Camera in terms of picture-taking quality and it will be interesting to see how competitors react to this interesting new technology.
AT&T will be carrying the device which first made an appearance overseas in Berlin last August. Early reviews indicate that the Galaxy Camera could be a smash hit, with Mashable noting today, “We got a chance to spend a little hands-on time with the Samsung Galaxy Camera and loved it.” As mentioned before the camera will launch on November 16 and will cost $499 with or without a data plan. The website also lists the different monthly plans AT&T will accommodate if one were to include it in their “Mobile Share” group plan.
This looks like a great gadget and is timed perfectly for the upcoming holiday season. My only concern is that since this isn’t a smartphone, are people going to want to carry around multiple devices at once? Sure, the photography enthusiasts likely will and in the world of robust data plans and cloud computing, call-making ability is exactly a necessity when a simple text will suffice. I liken a comparison to the iPod touch only instead of playing music, users can take snapshots.
But what do you all think? Will the Samsung Galaxy Camera completely overtake Nikon’s Android cam? Will competitors come flocking to this new hybrid technology and create products of their own? Is this something worth buying? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
