Samsung Announces the Galaxy Camera running Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean"
Just when we were amazed at Nikon's
decision to launch their new Coolpix S800C using an Android Operating
System, Samsung surprised us by announcing a new Galaxy Camera
running the very latest version of Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" Operating
System, with built in Wi-Fi and much more. Samsung also plans to
offer a Galaxy Camera configuration that offers 3G/4G
Connectivity for even more versatility.As reported in our recent article titled "Are Smart Phones Replacing Digital Cameras", we're seeing a trend towards more phones and cameras that allow you to easily share content with others, and it's obvious that Samsung "got the memo", as the new Galaxy Camera offers the photo quality users want from a traditional Compact Camera Design, with the connectivity and content sharing options you'd expect form a newer Smart Phone.
But, even more interesting, Samsung has decided to include the latest Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" Operating System for control of this new camera, complete with access to Google Play so that you can install a wide variety of applications, including applications like Google Voice and Skype, allowing the Galaxy to act as both a Camera and Smart Phone. We're impressed with its design, as it's a true "Hybrid", combining the best features of a Smart Phone with the best features of a high quality Compact Camera.
The Samsung Galaxy Camera includes a 1/2.3" 16 Megapixel Backlit CMOS sensor for great photo quality, with the ability to capture and share high quality 1080p video too. It also has a GPS built in, along with the connectivity options you've come to expect from a Smart Phone, only in this case you get the higher quality images and video you'd normally expect from a newer compact digital camera (not the lower quality images that you'd get from the smaller sensors built into typical Smart Phones), plus the new Samsung Galaxy Camera comes equipped wth a high-quality zoom lens with Optical Stabilization built in too.
To make sure the camera and application performance are up to par with user expectations, Samsung opted to use a 1.4Ghz Quad Core CPU in the Galaxy Camera, rounding it out with a high resolution 4.8" Clear Touch Display for controlling the camera and viewing your images and video.
We applaud Samsung for taking the best features from Smart Phones and integrating them into a new Camera with the image quality users want, while giving them the features and apps they want to enjoy at the same time by building it around the latest Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" Operating System.
See the full press release about the new Samsung Galaxy Camera below:
Samsung presents 'Camera, Reborn.' - the GALAXY Camera
August 29, 2012
The
new device combines leading-edge camera capabilities with Android™ 4.1
Jelly Bean and wireless network connectivity, letting users shoot, edit
and share images easily anywhere, at any time
BERLIN, Germany - August 29, 2012 - Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital
convergence technologies, has today announced the launch of the GALAXY
Camera. Developed to fit the changing ways we communicate, the GALAXY
Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android™
4.1 platform, so called Jelly Bean, and wireless network connectivity,
creating a brand new type of device. Samsung GALAXY Camera fits
perfectly for those who wish to shoot, edit and share high quality
photographs and video easily and spontaneously from anywhere, at any
time.
"The
GALAXY Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a
paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the
prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster
than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through
pictures and videos the GALAXY Camera has been created to lead the way
in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more
vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere,
anytime," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications
Division at Samsung Electronics.
Andy
Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google,
congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. "When we first started
work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take
digital photography to the next level. The GALAXY Camera is an
innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the
Android platform."
The
GALAXY Camera makes outstanding photography on the go. Users never
again have to sacrifice picture quality if they want to edit and share
their photos instantly. It easily outperforms any smartphone camera. The
GALAXY Camera, boasting a 21x super long zoom lens and a super-bright
16M BSI CMOS sensor, delivers pictures in brilliant quality. The device
also features 'Smart Pro' technology, a series of modes that make
professional-looking photography easy for anyone to achieve. What truly
revolutionizes this photography experience is Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean
and wireless connectivity, which opens up the device to applications for
photo-editing, sharing, and much more. Users will experience all of
GALAXY Camera's great features on a market-leading HD Super Clear LCD.
With stunning clarity, incredible ease-of-use and unparalleled
connectivity, the GALAXY Camera is the next step in imaging innovation.
Shoot stunning quality images
The
GALAXY Camera's 'Smart Pro' feature makes it easy to recreate advanced
photographic setups in just a few simple steps for stunning artistic
results. Using the easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a
series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the
camera's settings in order to capture the perfect photo. For example,
the 'Rich Tone' setting delivers images with greater intensity -
particularly effective for reducing overexposure in bright surroundings,
while the 'Light Trace' setting automatically controls shutter speed
for atmospheric night scenes full of light trails.
The GALAXY Camera's 21x super long zoom can
be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance
pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS
ensures that images stay clear and crisp. The camera's 16 Megapixel
1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor captures images in brilliant color and
resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers impressive wide-angle
shots incomparable to smartphone pictures.
Enjoy your photos and video on a world-leading display
The
GALAXY Camera boasts large and vivid enough camera display - a
4.8"(121.2mm) HD Super Clear LCD screen, which makes it a pleasure to
shoot, share and edit images from the palm of the hand. Another
advantage of smartphone technology is the Voice Control option which
allows the user to control a number of functions such as 'Zoom in' and
'Shoot' through voice. All these features are housed in a beautifully
designed, ergonomic body with the GALAXY Camera's minimal, organic
design complementing its easy-to-use professional features.
Edit and perfect images on your device
The
GALAXY Camera includes a comprehensive set of 35 powerful photo editing
features through the 'Photo Wizard', allowing users to make
professional quality edits on the go. The new features take advantage of
the ultrafast quad-core processor and HD Super Clear LCD, giving access
to a feature like Auto Face Calibration so edits can be made in precise
detail and with ease. The 'Movie Wizard' also allows users to create
and edit expert-quality videos easily from the touch screen.
The
GALAXY Camera also features 'Smart Content Manager', an innovative
on-device organization tool which intelligently creates folders, tags
faces, and even suggests which pictures to delete when they don't come
out as desired. Thanks to the combination of wireless connectivity and
Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, the internet capabilities of the GALAXY
Camera are equal to those of the latest smartphone so that users can get
even more enjoyment out of their device. In addition to the
pre-installed applications from Samsung, users can browse the web and
enjoy any applications from Google Play or Samsung Apps stores. If users
are not sure which app to download, 'S Suggest' will help them
recommend a new photo editing app or fun game to download.
Share your images anywhere, anytime
The
camera's convenient 'Auto Cloud Backup' feature will automatically save
precious photos into the cloud via Samsung's AllShare the instant they
are taken. The GALAXY Camera also allows users to share photos at the
same time as they shoot them with 'Share Shot.' As well as sharing to
social networks and cloud services, users can also connect to a range of
GALAXY devices including the GALAXY SIII and GALAXY Note II for
effortless and automatic sharing of pictures across the GALAXY family.
The new device enables connection to 3G or 4G, allowing photo sharing
and browsing anywhere. The GALAXY Camera also functions on Wi-Fi with
Dual Band and Channel Bonding for extra speed. Connectivity is supported
by a quad-core processor that enables fast web-browsing and
multi-tasking, as well as high-speed image processing without a
significant impact on battery life.
The GALAXY Camera comes in two connectivity options: a 3G and Wi-Fi version or a 4G and Wi-Fi version.
Samsung GALAXY Camera will be on display at the Samsung booth #20 at IFA 2012, Aug 31 through Sep 5.
