Samsung Galaxy Camera
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | August 2012 |
| Founder | Samsung Electronics |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Products | Android-powered point-and-shoot camera |
The Samsung Galaxy Camera is an Android-powered point-and-shoot camera designed as a mobile device. Samsung introduced this model in August 2012 under the tagline "Camera. Reborn." The product became available for purchase online starting November 7, 2012, with its official market launch occurring on November 8, 2012.
Specifications
Equipped with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor and a lens offering 21x optical zoom, the camera supports both Wi-Fi and 3G network connections. It also incorporates a GPS receiver enabling automatic geotagging of photos. Operating on Android version 4.1 Jelly Bean, the device facilitates in-camera photo management, editing capabilities, and options for sharing or storing images and videos online. Users can install additional applications via Google Play, consistent with other Android gadgets. Despite its connectivity features, the Galaxy Camera does not support voice calling; this functionality was introduced later in its successor, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom.
Marketing
Samsung promoted the Galaxy Camera by launching a viral video on their official YouTube channel, which featured James Franco showcasing the device's capabilities.
Availability
On October 4, 2012, U.S. carrier AT&T revealed plans to offer the Galaxy Camera in their stores starting November 16. Subsequently, on December 11, 2012, Verizon announced it would also stock the Galaxy Camera, notable for being the first camera equipped with 4G LTE connectivity. The product line was discontinued in 2014.
Models
Initially introduced as a single model, the Galaxy Camera brand expanded over time to encompass several digital camera versions unified by the Android operating system. As of February 2016, the lineup included:
- Galaxy Camera
- Samsung Galaxy Camera 2
- Samsung Galaxy NX
Modifications
Developers from XDA Developers enabled users to boot the device directly from a microSD card.
Gallery
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Red variant of the Galaxy Camera
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Display screen of the Galaxy Camera
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White version of the Galaxy Camera
Reception
While the concept behind the camera was generally well-received, critiques were more mixed regarding its practical implementation.