Camera maker Nikon is rumoured to be cooking up an Android-powered snapper that has access to the Google Play shop.
The Coolpix S800 will play host to a 25-250mm lens, as well as a 3.5-inch OLED screen on the back, Nikonrumours reports. Built-in GPS for geo-tagging your snaps -- as in the S9300, pictured -- and a Wi-Fi connection are also tipped.
The version of Android in question is apparently 2.3 Gingerbread, which is now far behind the latest edition, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The promise of access to the Google Play app means this is a tempting proposition -- on paper at least.
You could download Angry Birds to pass the time while you're waiting to snap some real birds in the park, or install the Twitter app and frustrate your followers by posting dozens of pictures of your cat that you only just snapped.
Though it doesn't mention where it's getting the information, the site also tips 22 August as a possible announcement date, meaning we may only have a few weeks to wait. Earlier this year Samsung was pegged to be building Android-powered cameras too.
I'm interested to see what a Nikon Android camera would look like, though I won't be getting my hopes up. At the start of the year I went hands-on with the Android-powered Polaroid SC1630, an uninspiring bit of kit whose sluggish performance and app clutter spoiled any enjoyment I might have gleaned from the Android interface. Check out the video below to take a look for yourself.
My colleague Rich 'Wrasslin'' Trenholm wrote that instead of cameras in phones, he wants to see phones in cameras. Looks like he may be about to get his wish.
Is putting Android on a camera a good idea? Or are increasingly powerful smart phone snappers destined to wipe out compact cameras altogether? Pop your predictions in the comments below, or on our Facebook wall.
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Carl Baron 9 August, 2012 10:54
Although I have two Nikon cameras which both take great pictures the revues on this >> Nikon Coolpix S800 are worrying. First point is allegedly has a habit of freezing up and you need to switch off and go again is N OT good. Secondly the camera allegedly has >>NO Optical Viewfinder which may make the camera useless in bright sunshine as you may not be able to see your subject using the rear screen. The cameras that have >> allegedly frozen whilst taking pictures > > might have been >> Damaged in Transit >Ebay for as little as £99.99 as RRP is: £249.99. Great Specification for the price and very compact indeed. Not forgetting you are getting a Nikon lens one of the finest in the World.
anonymous 10 August, 2012 00:38
I do quite a bit of photography with my smartphone, which uploads photos via 3G or WiFi. So I could see this as an interesting option... once they come out with the next model, which presumably would run ICS/JB and not be "laggy".
anonymous 13 August, 2012 02:18
Cool! But then, I preferred to used Nikon COOLPIX L120. Zoom in on a high powered camera at an easy to handle price and with its 21x optical Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens.
Mark Greaves 19 August, 2012 14:43
I brought a Nikon camera and was so impressed with the quality of it, would love them to bring out a 3g/wifi camera, would be uploading on facebook constantly haha!! I brought my camera online at http://www.elecrical-heaven.co.uk got a bargain!!