Would you pay a data plan on a Point and Shoot Camera?

[0000757]

Because with the new Samsung Galaxy Smart Camera, you can.

Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Camera is a bit of a wild card, marrying Google's Android Jelly Bean OS with a 16-megapixel camera -- heck, it's even got a 4.8-inch 1,280 x 720-pixel (308 ppi) touchscreen display. Yup, rather than offering a digital viewfinder out back like a normal digital point-and-shoot, the Samsung Galaxy Camera offers a multitouch panel; the entire back consists of that 4.8-inch screen, edge-to-edge. It's not all touchscreen, though -- several buttons (controlling a pop-up flash, power, zoom toggle, and shutter release) are also part of the somewhat bulky build. Beyond the WiFi radio built in, the Galaxy Camera also comes with 3G/4G support via micro-SIM -- which we now know at least one carrier will support: AT&T.

During an event with the cellular data carrier this evening, we got our hands-on the Galaxy Camera once more (albeit now with an AT&T micro-SIM on board). That speedy 1.4GHz quad-core processor helped us along, speedily swiping through Jelly Bean's panes and launching its photo app promptly. Apps like Instagram were also on display, allowing for even nicer photos to be defiled by software filters (we kid!). The AT&T connectivity allowed us to upload photos directly to the cloud while snapping, utilizing its Auto Cloud Backup feature; image quality isn't quite professional-grade, but its no slouch either.

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I originally thought that the app enabled fridges that companies are putting out were ridiculous, but do AT&T/Samsung honestly see a market where we have Point and Shoot cameras sell with data plans? Most phones take better pictures than these point and shoots anyways. Why not get one of those? What do you think about this?

 

[firestarter]

It's like a chunky iPod touch with a better camera. It would be fantastic for travelling.

It's easy enough to get daily or weekly sim plans too - so just use the 3G when you need it.

Probably a niche device, but I'd find a use for one.

 

[0000757]

It's like a chunky iPod touch with a better camera. It would be fantastic for travelling.

It's easy enough to get daily or weekly sim plans too - so just use the 3G when you need it.

Probably a niche device, but I'd find a use for one.

I can see it having some good use, but its a little bit overboard. I mean does a point and shoot really need 3G or a completely full android OS? most people buy a point and shoot just to have a camera, they're not buying it for apps or MP3s or web browsing.

 

[Caliber26]

I think it seems a little redundant, given most of us already carry smartphones in our pockets that take amazing pictures we can instantly share with the world.

With that said, that is one good looking camera.

 

[Renzatic]

I think it seems a little redundant, given most of us already carry smartphones in our pockets that take amazing pictures we can instantly share with the world.

With that said, that is one good looking camera.

This is about what I think of it. A P&S camera with that large of a screen would be pretty nice, but full on functional Android and a 3G radio is wayyyy overkill. All it needs is wifi capabilities and an easy way to transfer your pics from the camera to your computer.

Edit: Just saw the Dropbox icon on there. Taking a picture and having it ported to every computer you have linked to DB without any effort on your part would be pretty cool...

...hmm.

 

[0000757]

This is about what I think of it. A P&S camera with that large of a screen would be pretty nice, but full on functional Android and a 3G radio is wayyyy overkill. All it needs is wifi capabilities and an easy way to transfer your pics from the camera to your computer.

Edit: Just saw the Dropbox icon on there. Taking a picture and having it ported to every computer you have linked to DB without any effort on your part would be pretty cool...

...hmm.

That would be nice, a digital camera that can upload to different media sites via wifi, but the camera is essentially the full galaxy S3 experience, even S Voice. Is that what we really want or need on our P&S?

 

[G51989]

Teasy way to transfer your pics from the camera to your computer.

Plugging in a cable isn't easy?

Anyway.

This thing is awesome, smartphone camera's aren't really that great, so I could see a use for it.

 

[APlotdevice]

I very much like the idea of running Android on a camera. You can pick and choose your capture app and then do post editing right on the device. Sure many cameras have post adjustment options, but this takes it to a whole different level.

Now 3G I'm not so sure about. It'd be nice to be able to sync my photos over the internet, but it wouldn't be very practical with current data caps.

 

[Renzatic]

Image

Plugging in a cable isn't easy?

Easier than that. I've got two cameras. One using a mini USB cable, one using a micro. It always seems that no matter where I'm at, the cable I need is always somewhere else in the house. Having a camera that can transfer all it's pictures over wifi without having to goof around with cables or card readers would make life a helluva lot easier. No fuss, no muss.

Though using 3G for it is way overboard. Nice as it might sound in theory, I'm not gonna pay an extra $30 a month just to have my pictures waiting for me on my computer whenever I get back to the house. Having the camera start uploading them through dropbox as soon as I walk through the door is more than enough for me.

This thing is awesome, smartphone camera's aren't really that great, so I could see a use for it.

From what I hear, the Lumia 920 and iPhone 5 are supposedly sporting near point and shoot quality cameras on them. If that's true, it'll make getting this thing that much less appealing.

...but the camera is essentially the full galaxy S3 experience, even S Voice. Is that what we really want or need on our P&S?

...and that's just too much. I can understand wanting to use a stripped down version of Android for the UI. For one thing, it'd allow for some neat camera apps and extra features that could come in handy. But slapping a P&S camera in front of a full on smartphone is taking 5 unnecessary steps beyond. Most people who buy this are already gonna have a smartphone, and it's too big for someone to want to use it as their primary. All it's doing is driving up the price of the device without offering any real benefit.

It's a good idea that'd be a great one if Samsung culled back some of the excess features.

 

[filmbuff]

I think I'll stick to my DSLR. Phones for making calls, computers for getting on the internet, cameras for taking pictures. I would have no use for 3G on a camera and if I want wireless convenience for syncing with my computer there are always EyeFi cards. For people who aren't into photography this wouldn't have any advantage over a good cell phone camera.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I would only pay a data plan for a camera if Apple was getting the money. If it was anyone else, I'd be appalled. But as long as it provides a revenue stream for Apple, it would be ok.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Why not just put a wifi chip into a camera and when you get home, it auto-uploads. There's no need to use 3G for instant-upload.

 

[ucfgrad93]

No way would I pay for a data plan for a camera.

 

[boss.king]

A data plan for a camera is stupid. What's wrong with Wi-Fi? I barely need data on my phone anymore, why would a camera need it? And why wouldn't I just wait until I get home, upload them to a computer and touch them up before uploading them? If they're not that important, use a phone camera (modern phone cameras are more than adequate), and if they are, you're going to want to edit them anyway. It's an answer to a problem that doesn't really exist.

 

[Drunken Master]

A data plan for a camera is stupid. What's wrong with Wi-Fi? I barely need data on my phone anymore, why would a camera need it? And why wouldn't I just wait until I get home, upload them to a computer and touch them up before uploading them? If they're not that important, use a phone camera (modern phone cameras are more than adequate), and if they are, you're going to want to edit them anyway. It's an answer to a problem that doesn't really exist.

Yep, stupid is as stupid does.

I'd considering buying a Canon EOS with wi-fi though if it could do a good job of backing things up to the cloud as soon as I connect somewhere.

The digital point-and-shoot is dead to me though between my iPhone 4S and Canon 3D for digital.

 

[roadbloc]

I'll pass. But I can see how this could be very useful for photographers.

 

[Zach Vega]

Well, uh, no. I don't ever use the camera app anyways. When I first saw the title, I thought it was a joke. But I guess some photographer might take advantage of it.