Samsung is starting to leverage Android in their other businesses in the tech world, as today they have announced the SH100 point-and-shoot camera, which pairs up with a Galaxy S handset over the local Wi-Fi b/g/n network so you can preview, zoom, and shoot the camera remotely from your Android phone. Definitely more precise than the timer function, and the existing Wi-Fi connectivity means you can share your pictures to DLNA devices, and out to online social networks without needing an Eye-Fi card.
A lot of other cell phone manufacturers have associated electronics businesses that they can tap into to provide some added value to their mobile offerings; Apple has Mac computers, Sony has cameras, LG and Samsung have TVs and other assorted stuff. The fact that the press release only names Galaxy S phones does make me a little concerned that in the future, you’ll have to make sure your whole home runs on the same brand of electronics if you want any interconnectivity. Sure, it’s the manufacturer’s prerogative to cling to exclusivity, but that strikes me as more as limiting consumer choice rather than adding any real value. With open standards like Android and DLNA available, there’s really no reason for the SH100’s AllShare Wi-Fi system to only work on Galaxy S phones, right?
The SH100 has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, 5 x zoom, GPS for geotagging, and has the usual stuff like image stabilization, face reocgnition, smart filters, and will go for $199.99 when it launches in March.
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