Samsung’s efforts to dominate every technology vertical continues this morning as the company announces the successor to the original Galaxy Camera, the Galaxy Camera 2. The new model of the Android-based shooter includes an upgraded 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 21x Optical Zoom, 2GB of RAM, Dropbox support for more memory and a 16M BSI CMOS sensor for “vivid images which are both rich in color and sharp in detail.”
As a blogger, taking great, print-quality photos when covering events or doing reviews is a necessity. So carrying around a big DSLR or comparable digital camera system has become a necessary evil. I say evil because the camera world and I just don’t understand each other. The camera market has become stale and full of devices that cater to professional photographers, while seemingly ignoring the incredible innovations that have happened with mobile devices in recent years. Just because pro photogs want their tried and trusted physical controls and pricey glass, doesn’t mean there isn’t room for beautiful touch screens with easy to use UIs, WiFi, LTE connectivity, USB charging, and everything we love about the app and developer ecosystem that we get with Android.
Samsung is the only company that gets it: It’s the first to integrate what is essentially a full Android smartphone on the back of a full fledged, professional mirrorless camera system. It’s the big brother, high-end version of the Galaxy Camera (review) point and shoot it introduced last year. It’s an intriguing concept and certainly where I hoped camera manufacturers would look to when attempting to take their professional product lines out of the stone age, so I’ve been more than excited to have the opportunity to put the device to the test over the last few weeks.
The Samsung Galaxy Mega, the crazily-sized smartphone that was launched in Europe back in May, is arriving in the U.S. this month at AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular.
The ultimate option for those who really can’t work out whether they want a smartphone or a tablet, the device has a massive 6.3-inch screen, a 1.7Ghz dual-core processor, LTE, dual cameras (8MP on the rear, 1.9MP on the front) and is available with 8Gb or 16Gb storage (with a microSD slot supporting up to 64Gb). It is shipping with Android 4.2.2.
AT&T claims it will be the first U.S. carrier, offering the Mega for $24 per month with AT&T Next or $149.99 with a two-year agreement. Sprint will offer the Mega with unlimited 4G data on its Unlimited, My WaySM or My All-inSM plans. Full Samsung press release below …
Samsung must have received a good response with its Galaxy Camera that we first got a look at last year during IFA in Berlin, as new reports suggest the company is getting ready to introduce a new camera/smartphone hybrid dubbed the “Galaxy S4 Zoom”. The report comes from the often reliable SamMobile, and suggests that Samsung is preparing to introduce the device as its first “camera phone” with a 16 megapixel camera similar to that included in the Galaxy Camera:
SamMobile says the Galaxy S4 Zoom will include a slightly smaller 4.3” qHD SAMOLED display, 8GB of onboard storage, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, A-GPS, and the latest version of Jelly Bean alongside Samsung’s Touch Wiz UI. The report also claims the device will run dual or quad-core processor but CPU and RAM specs aren’t yet finalized.
According to the report Samsung is hoping to launch its new Galaxy S4 Zoom camera smartphone sometime in June and July in both while and black variants.
This morning, Sprint announced Samsung Galaxy S will be available beginning on Saturday, April 27 for $249.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement. New customers who switch their phone number to Sprint from another carrier will receive an additional $100 instant credit which yields a $150 superphone. Sprint Pre-order for Galaxy S 4 will open on tomorrow (Thursday, April 18), at www.sprint.com/galaxys4, while supplies last.
T-Mobile also announced a $149.99 down plan with their new device payment offers of $20/month on top of their simple service plans. T-Mobile will have the device a few days earlier on April 24th and offers HD voice options on top of their great pricing plans.
During IFA last year we showed you some of the accessories and future accessories launching alongside the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Today at the Las Vegas Convention Center Samsung was showing off its latest iterations of the accessories for the launch of the LTE variant on Verizon, as pictured in the gallery below:
Samsung just confirmed the Galaxy Camera will come to Verizon’s 4G LTE network starting Dec. 13 for $549.99. The Android 4.1-powered camera will land on the carrier in two colors, including the white model we’ve seen before and Cobalt Black exclusive to Verizon. Samsung also noted “users will be able to add the Samsung Galaxy Camera to their Share Everything account for the promotional price of $5 per month.” The device will initially be available online through Verizon.
One of the more interesting products released in 2012 is the $500 Samsung Galaxy Camera— a little combination of an Android smartphone and a high-end point-and-shoot camera with a 21X optical zoom.
Samsung isn’t the first one on the scene with an Android point and shoot. That award goes to Nikon with its $350 Coolpix S800c, and technically Polaroid, too. However, with Samsung’s leadership role in smartphones, as well as a strong point-and-shoot camera business, this one is the most anticipated with knock-your-sock-off specs.
AT&T announced earlier this afternoon that it would debut the Samsung Galaxy Camera on its 4G network soon, but I was able to get a closer look at the point-and-shoot at a media event in New York City this evening.
The Android-powered Galaxy Camera combines Google’s Jelly Bean OS with a 16-megapixel camera and 4.8-inch 1,280-by-720-pixel display, and it certainly is a beauty. But, wow, she is certainly big. It is hard not to notice the sheer size and weight of this device; however, its glitz and glam easily take center stage.
Most of the bulk is due to a pop-up flash, zoom lens, shutter release, built-in Wi-Fi radio, and 3G/4G support, while a quick 1.4GHz quad-core processor makes Jelly Bean feel like, well, butter. The camera function and preloaded apps launch like a charm, as well.
The Galaxy Camera is essentially an Android smartphone without the phone, but apps like Skype would allow users to take advantage of the camera’s microphone and speaker. It will certainly be interesting to see how the market receives this Frankenstein-like device. I, for one, am itching to buy it.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Camera at IFA 2012 in August, and it will supposedly hit shelves sometime this month for an unknown price.
While many of the above Samsung Galaxy Camera accessories are still prototypes, it is clear Samsung has high hopes for the recently unveiled Android-powered point-and-shoot. Apart from the cases and covers, which will likely hit the market alongside the camera itself, Samsung showed off prototypes of external lenses, an intricate tripod setup, a waterproof casing, lens hoods, ring lights, and even a wireless charging concept that the company confirmed will not work with the first generation of Galaxy Cameras yet to hit the market. Unfortunately, Samsung did not have any more information about the accessories that were all displayed in a locked glass case on the IFA show floor.
