LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 — The finished device on show this week at the International Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas sees Polaroid go back to its roots.
Potentially the perfect hipster camera, in that it marries cutting-edge technology with other tech that predates the Sony Walkman, the Socialmatic has managed to catch many a journalist’s eye over the past year or so.
A digital camera with a difference, it uses the Android operating system for easy wireless sharing — it can post a pic automatically to social media sites or transfer an image directly to another mobile device — but also features a built-in printer so that pictures can be shared in the old-fashioned way: via a hard copy.
The launch appears to have been held up by legal wrangling. However, Socialmatic and C&A Licensing, the company that holds the rights to the Polaroid brand, have finally reached an agreement and when the camera launches, it will do as a ‘Polaroid’ camera.
“We are very excited about the partnership with Socialmatic and the pending launch of this remarkable camera,” said Scott W. Hardy, President and CEO of Polaroid. “Polaroid was the original social network: allowing people to instantly capture, print and share life’s moments in a way that had never been possible before. This relationship with Socialmatic allows Polaroid to come full circle and once again allow people to capture and share images in ways that are only possible with a Polaroid camera in their hands.”
The camera, which looks remarkably like the Instagram logo, boasts a 14-megapixel front-facing and 2-megapixel rear-mounted lens for selfies, 4GB of internal storage (plus expansion via MicroSD card) and uses ZINK’s inkless printing technology for producing hard copies of photos. Although it does away with ink cartridges, the process requires special heat-sensitive paper instead.
Users can customize images by adjusting color, adding filters, stickers, clip art or even QR codes (made easier thanks to a 4.5-inch color touch screen) before printing, and a 2-inch x 3-inch image takes roughly a minute to pop out of the camera’s side once print has been selected.
Although some might ask if there really is a strong enough demand for this novelty new-school/old-school camera, both LG and Canon have revealed standalone ultra-portable color printers at this year’s CES that offer similar features.
Polaroid is yet to confirm a launch date for the device other than to say that it will hit the shelves in the fall of 2014. It is expected to cost €299 (RM1340) when it does go on sale.
As well as an instant camera, Polaroid is also showcasing a range of sub-US$150 Android tablets, a sub-US$1000 UHDTV set and a number of helmet-mounted action cameras at the 2014 International CES which officially opens its doors to the public on January 7. — AFP Relaxnews
