New Nikon Point and Shoot powered by Android

[Meat-O-Rama]

This is pretty cool, I've been wondering for a while when a camera maker would figure out to put an OS like Android into a camera. Next up as far as I'm concerned is an Android powered Car Stereo.

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/coolpix/style/s800c/

Enjoy high quality images that you simply cannot get with smartphones, plus wireless communication that is impossible with regular digital still cameras. Equipped with the powerful combination of Android OS and Wi-Fi®, it's possible to quickly and easily upload images to a social network service or website from this camera. Even if you're not near a Wi-Fi® hot spot, you can wirelessly transfer images from your camera to smartphones and tablets. Customize your style of visual communication with over 500,000 apps on Google Play™.

I love my Nikon DSLR but would like a lighter weight camera, this one might be on my shopping list soon.

 

[YosemiteSam]

That is awesome. It has Wifi, GPS, and just about everything else. The only downside I could see is battery life. A camera can burn through a battery if you're taking lots of pictures. If you are running Android with GPS and WiFi while taking pictures, you can really eat through a battery fast. (I know, I've done it with my phone)

 

[ologan]

Will Apple be far behind?

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Will Apple be far behind?

They've allegedly got something similar in the works. I don't see myself buying it though. Unless they were to partner with a camera maker like Canon, which they haven't done on a product since the travesty that was the Moto Rokr. I'd rather have a camera from a 'camera maker' like Nikon or Canon with Android on board than an iPod touch with a nice lens on it.

 

[iceberg]

i'd rather just have them make their own smart app for the camera. android 2.3 is actually pretty old i believe. the samsung pad i have is 4.0 and to be honest, not a fan of it. slow connections, times out frequently, and not sure if the OS or the pad itself.

i can see why it's an older version mostly cause how much do you really need on your camera? gonna play angry birds on your nikon?

a clean smart system from nikon would impress me more than putting android on there where i'm likely to send a pic up of say a landmark and i'll be pummelled with ads about travelling websites.

 

[YosemiteSam]

i'd rather just have them make their own smart app for the camera. android 2.3 is actually pretty old i believe. the samsung pad i have is 4.0 and to be honest, not a fan of it. slow connections, times out frequently, and not sure if the OS or the pad itself.

i can see why it's an older version mostly cause how much do you really need on your camera? gonna play angry birds on your nikon?

a clean smart system from nikon would impress me more than putting android on there where i'm likely to send a pic up of say a landmark and i'll be pummelled with ads about travelling websites.

Since it is a camera, I'm not sure it would require Android Jelly Bean. If you want those type of features, I'm not sure you are actually looking for a high end camera. (well, compared to what you get on a phone)

I would expect you want it to be a camera and be very good at being a camera. Android 2.3 should easily be able to handle that. Android just gives it more features than a normal camera would have.

What Samsung tablet do you have?

 

[iceberg]

Since it is a camera, I'm not sure it would require Android Jelly Bean. If you want those type of features, I'm not sure you are actually looking for a high end camera. (well, compared to what you get on a phone)

I would expect you want it to be a camera and be very good at being a camera. Android 2.3 should easily be able to handle that. Android just gives it more features than a normal camera would have.

What Samsung tablet do you have?

yea, that's why i figured 2.3 would do the base connectivity it needed and backed up a bit. likely cheaper to license it from android and pay both google and microsoft than to make your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131287

that one. i got it for connectivity for when i travel cause easier than laptopping it around. at the hotel where i was it would connect but never make it to a site. cheap hotel or tablet? wasn't sure.

i get back home and it shuts off while using it, slow to connect but sometimes makes it out there. so i do see a need for a tablet PC and think Win8 would be overkill for a consumer type device like this and may look to...

gulp

an ipad.

 

[YosemiteSam]

yea, that's why i figured 2.3 would do the base connectivity it needed and backed up a bit. likely cheaper to license it from android and pay both google and microsoft than to make your own.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131287

that one. i got it for connectivity for when i travel cause easier than laptopping it around. at the hotel where i was it would connect but never make it to a site. cheap hotel or tablet? wasn't sure.

i get back home and it shuts off while using it, slow to connect but sometimes makes it out there. so i do see a need for a tablet PC and think Win8 would be overkill for a consumer type device like this and may look to...

gulp

an ipad.

Is it too late to take it back? The Nexus 7 has twice the cores of the Galaxy Tab 2 (4 vs 2) and they are both 7 inch tablets. The Nexus 7 is cheaper too at $199 if you want the same 8Gbs. It's $249 for the 16Gb model. My Nexus 7 is quite zippy. I watch most Texas Rangers games on it using my MLB.tv app. It doesn't lag at all.

Oh and Android is free to all. Companies don't pay Google to use it on their devices.

 

[iceberg]

30 day return policy. ordered on 7/14. will have to return to samsung and i hate doing that stuff.

for $200 i'll look into the nexus 7. a base ipad is still $600 and up and hell, i just don't need something that... expensive for lack of a better term.

light surfing when questions come up while watching tv.
apps on there for things like police scanners, remote controls (cause you never have enough of these) and such is about all i need.

 

[iceberg]

so this is why i hate google.

i went ahead and was going to order the 16 gig one for $249.

now i have to have google wallet. huh? why can't you take paypal or credit cards like everyone else? what's this propriatary crap?

then it says [email protected] has not enabled google wallet for my account. i have a google apps business account for testing purposes and now i have to enable this and further entwine myself into a company that only exists to annoy me with advertising?

maybe i'll just get my samsung fixed.

 

[YosemiteSam]

so this is why i hate google.

i went ahead and was going to order the 16 gig one for $249.

now i have to have google wallet. huh? why can't you take paypal or credit cards like everyone else? what's this propriatary crap?

then it says [email protected] has not enabled google wallet for my account. i have a google apps business account for testing purposes and now i have to enable this and further entwine myself into a company that only exists to annoy me with advertising?

maybe i'll just get my samsung fixed.

Use the account that is associated with your Android Samsung device.

 

[iceberg]

Use the account that is associated with your Android Samsung device.

i have no idea what that is. if anything, it's my own sites email address and that too is tied into google apps for business. i really don't want to have to create a special way to shop through google and only google.

they can take my credit card or paypal like everyone else and let me worry about my wallet.

also, it *is* that account then. i see orders and settings and i see the apps i've downloaded.

 

[YosemiteSam]

i have no idea what that is. if anything, it's my own sites email address and that too is tied into google apps for business. i really don't want to have to create a special way to shop through google and only google.

they can take my credit card or paypal like everyone else and let me worry about my wallet.

Google Wallet does take credit cards. (it's similar to Paypal) You have to have this setup if you want to purchase anything from Google Play. (their app store)

You can purchase the Nexus 7 from local stores in your area too. I believe BestBuy, Walmart, GameStop, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, and some others I believe. If you don't want to use Google Wallet, go get it from a local store.

EDIT: If you've made app purchases from Google Play, then you should be able to purchase the Nexus 7 without any issue.

 

[iceberg]

Google Wallet does take credit cards. (it's similar to Paypal) You have to have this setup if you want to purchase anything from Google Play. (their app store)

You can purchase the Nexus 7 from local stores in your area too. I believe BestBuy, Walmart, GameStop, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, and some others I believe. If you don't want to use Google Wallet, go get it from a local store.

ok, then i will give that a shot. i can't get too mad at the need for their wallet system but man alive, i have my email address tied to like 3 things in google that simply don't see each other.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

The only downside I could see is battery life. A camera can burn through a battery if you're taking lots of pictures.

Battery probably isn't an issue. Other than the depth of the body needed to recess a physical zoom into it the width of cameras, even 2 year disposables like most consumer cameras, the size is dictated by the battery set. Of course the display size on the back panel plays into it, but the bulkiness is the battery set, mostly.

Give it enough size and you'll get a day's worth of shooting running everything else as well. Cameras aren't as constrained by size and consumer expectations of size as phones are. Think of how much battery life you could put into a Nexus or SIII if you had room to put something that occupies the same spaces as say a pair of AA batteries.

My pro camera runs on 4 AA's and it has to drive all the electronics, the focusing/light determination system, and most importantly the lens anti-vibration and internal focusing mechanics. I can run that set of off-the-shelf junk batteries for around 250 shots before they're done, and they come out uncomfortably hot after a session of shooting. Let them cool down and I can get another 50-100 shots of selective shooting. Now if I'm running Lithium Ion batteries, I can extend that by another 100-150 shots easily.

Running flashguns, that's another story entirely.

 

[arglebargle]

One interesting spin on this type of camera setup: photographers who are in 'sensitive' situations, subject to getting their equipment seized to deep six the images, can have the images going out directly to a more secure storage site. Improving their chances of getting it out properly.

 

[TheCount]

Very cool. I'm very surprised geotagging isn't part of all DSLR's by now, much less point and shoots.

 

[iceberg]

windows 8 is supposed to have a $199 tablet.

that will change everything if they do.