[jogiba]

The Galaxy Camera is a 16.3MP compact camera with a 4.8in LCD touchscreen running the Android operating system. It runs the latest iteration of Android (4.1 - known as 'Jelly Bean'), and will be available in two versions - a 3G + Wi-Fi model and a 4G + Wi-Fi variant (carrier and regional information TBC). This makes it the first 'connected camera' to offer more than just Wi-Fi connectivity.

Although we understand that the camera does not have cellular voice capabilities, it will be compatible with various VoiP apps, such as Skype, which will enable it to be used for making voice and video calls over 3G/4G or WiFi. Photographic features include a 21X zoom lens, spanning 23-481mm (equivalent) and a built-in 'Photo Wizard' for editing photographs in-camera.

Semantics aside, the Galaxy Camera is highly significant. It is the nearest thing we've seen to a true camera/phone hybrid, and as well as solid photographic specifications it contains a serious amount of DNA from Samsung's well-established line of smartphones. The key is the addition of a powerful processor, and 3G/4G connectivity. This means that just like a smartphone, the Galaxy Camera can connect to the web anywhere that there's mobile coverage, and should have enough power to run apps and browse the web without feeling sluggish. An 'Auto Cloud Backup' feature automatically saves images to Samsung's AllShare cloud storage service the moment they're taken - another benefit of 'always on' connectivity.

Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Camera: the most connected camera?: Digital Photography Review

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Last edited by jogiba; 08-29-2012 at 03:26 PM.

[Jasvox]

No telephone functionality? Meh.

Jason

[Rondec]

Well, it is a camera, not a phone.

Next thing, people will want to be making calls on their toasters.

[Jasvox]

It's a camera? Looks more like my iphone with a huge lens to me.

What's a toaster?

Jason

[Jasvox]

I spoke too soon...

Samsung Galaxy Camera Unveiled, More Phonecamera Than Cameraphone

"It’s interesting that Samsung chose not to bake voice calling functionality into the camera — you’ll be able to use Skype and other VOIP apps, of course — which would have created a mind-boggling fusion between the camera and phone worlds. It would also have allowed people to completely replace their current smartphone, reducing the number of gadgets in their pockets by one."

This thing is another Samsung "Galaxy" family of gadgets...seems to me it would have been wayyy smarter to release a new Galaxy smartphone with a kick-ass camera function, ala the Pure view 808 by Nokia, rather than a "meh" pocket camera with iPod fucntionality.

Jason