Samsung introduced the Galaxy S 4 Zoom June 12, calling it “the only device you’ll ever need.”
The combination high-end camera and smartphone was unveiled 12 weeks after Samsung introduced the Galaxy S 4, its latest flagship smartphone. Since then, Samsung has also introduced the Star, the Nemo, the Win, the Mega, the Core, the Galaxy S Mini, the Galaxy S 4 Active and, just two days ago, the entry-level Galaxy Ace 3.
Who says creating great things takes time?
The S 4 Zoom runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), has a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 960 by 540 and can connect to up to six different band sets of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, as well as 3G, 2.5G, WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth and A-GPS.
To the technology features of the Galaxy S 4, it adds 10x optical zoom, a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, and OIS and Xeon Flash.
Samsung calls it the “ultimate smartphone and camera experience in one.”
A feature called the Zoom Ring solves the matter of spotting a must-have photo while on a call. A twist of the Zoom Ring activates an In-Call Photo Share feature, so users can capture and send the image to whomever they’re talking to. (Presumably, one can also just do a lot of uh-hum-ing, snap the photo and not share it with the person one is supposed to be conversing with.)
The Zoom Ring can also activate Quick Launch and Shortcut features, for instant access to various camera modes.
A Photo Suggest feature can help budding photographers grab a great shot by connecting them to a library of images showing how others have done it, and even suggesting nearby locations from which to gain the best vantage point.
In the same vein, Smart Mode Suggest takes into account light levels, focal length and face detection, and an optical image stabilizer helps to steady the lens when the user’s in a shaky situation.
A Story Album feature lets users arrange images and videos in a timeline to share with friends, as well as edit images, and through a Samsung deal with Blurb, prints can be ordered directly from the device.
Using the Samsung Link, images can be transferred to a laptop or tablet, and with HomeSync they can be sent to a personal cloud.
“As communication continues to become increasingly visual in nature, people wish to capture and share their moments in the highest quality possible, but often do not have the space or inclination to carry a dedicated camera for this purpose,” JK Shin, Samsung president, CEO and head of IT and Mobile Communications, said in a statement. “The Galaxy S 4 Zoom changes this forever.”
The camera-phone includes Samsung S Voice, S Translator and ChatOn; 8GB of internal memory; and a microSD slot supporting up to 64GB.
It measures 4.94 by 2.5 by 0.61 inches and weighs 0.24 pounds. By contrast, the Android-running Galaxy Camera that Samsung introduced last year measures 5.1 by 2.8 by 0.75 inches and weighs 0.66 pounds.
Samsung offered no details about availability or pricing.