According to a report on noted digital camera rumor site Nikon Rumors, the Japanese camera manufacturer is set to announce its first Android-powered digital camera during the Photokina trade show later this month. The new model expected to be announced will be a part of the Coolpix point and shoot consumer line of cameras and feature the following specifications:
- 25-250 mm lens
- 3.5 inch OLED touch display
- Google Play support
- The camera will probably run Android 2.3
- Built-in GPS
- Built-in Wi-Fi
Should the camera be announced with the above specifications, this would mark the first digital camera to be officially certified by Google for Play support as well as the possibility of full Google Apps support. This would also be the first Android-powered digital camera to be released commercially, as Polaroid was expected to launch its own version of the Chinese Android-powered Aino Sc1630 digital camera/smartphone hybrid, but the device has not been seen since its initial announcement during CES in January with no mention since then.
For Nikon to launch an Android powered point and shoot camera ahead of other manufacturers alsop represents the lengths that camera manufacturers are willing to go in order to remain relevant in the current marketplace, as smartphones continue to be shipped with camera assemblies that regularly exceed the typical point and shoot camera while offering increased functionality.
Whether this starts a new trend of Android-powered smart point and shoot cameras also remains to be seen, as camera makers see the market for such cameras dwindle in the face of smartphones like the iPhone and Galaxy S III, which feature cameras that regularly match point and shoots, while the Nokia 808 PureView exceeds the typical quality of both point and shoot cameras and many entry-level DSLRs.
$200-250 for a camera with real zoom like 5x optical, 8mpx a 3inch screen on back, no more that an inch thick, android and microsd slot sounds like a winner to me!!!