Whilst Android’s Chinese State Circus contortionist-like flexibility can never be in doubt, the latest use of the open source OS may seem faintly reminiscent of the spoof ‘leaked’ iPhone 5 video that’s been doing the rounds this week. Even though most smartphones come with mighty megapixel-packing cameras as standard, complete with full-flash and the capability to combat motion blur, digital camera kings Nikon have taken the bold and unusual step of flipping the concept almost on its head by introducing the Coolpix S800c – a compact snapper that runs on Android.
Wi-Fi enabled, you can’t make calls over the Coolpix because that would just look too ridiculous, but what you can do is take the stills shot over the top-notch 10x optical zoom, 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, or the video recorded in Full 1080p HD, and edit and share it instantly via apps downloaded from Google Play.
With built-in GPS for geotagging, Motion Blur Detection, Lens Shift Vibration Reduction, Easy Panorama, Motion Detection, Nikon’s own online photo storage service, continuous snapping mode and a 3.5-inch touchscreen OLED display, there’s no doubting that the photographic prowess of the S800c makes the majority of mobiles, no matter now smart, look feeble by comparison. So by adding in the ability to surf the internet, email mates, listen to music and even play games, Nikon may have actually reinvented the concept of mobile gadget convergence completely.
Retailing for just £220, it makes you wonder what the uptake would actually be if Nikon were to throw a SIM card into future, well, ‘smartcamera’ models for a full phone feature? Would you be prepared to run the risk of looking vaguely foolish chatting to a camera in exchange for a massively enriched photo experience? Let us know below and we’ll keep you abreast of developments. Developments! No, that pun doesn’t work with digital, does it…
