Polaroid confirms iM1836 mirrorless with Android, adds three more cameras

Polaroid makes its Androidbased mirrorless camera official, adds two cameras and a camcorder to the mix

Polaroid left little doubt that it was launching its Android-based, interchangeable lens camera at CES, and sure enough, it’s here: meet the iM1836. It mates an 18.1-megapixel, 1080p video-capable mirrorless body with Android (which we now know to be Android 4.1) to quickly share imagery with social networks over WiFi, or directly to other devices through Bluetooth. Its 3.5-inch display won’t put the Galaxy Camera’s 4.8-inch panel to shame, but Polaroid is no doubt counting on the ability to swap optics (which includes Micro Four Thirds lenses, through an optional adapter) and a pop-up flash to clinch a sale. The iM1836 should arrive in the first quarter at a $399 price, with a 10-30mm lens included — uncommonly cheap for a camera that could potentially outshoot its Nikon and Samsung opponents.

That’s not the only camera in the Polaroid brand’s 2013 lineup, however. Non-Android parallels to the iM1836 are coming with both WiFi (

iM1232W, $349) and without (iM1030, $299) for cost-conscious photographers; those who don’t mind a fixed-in-place lens can get the iS2433, a $199 bridge camera with a 24x (25-600mm equivalent) lens, a 16-megapixel backlit Sony CMOS sensor and a 3-inch LCD. One camcorder, the iD975, is joining the fray with 1080p video, 16-megapixel stills, a 3-inch touchscreen and a video-in-video mode that shows the person recording video along with the main footage. Polaroid hasn’t provided launch dates for its more conventional shooters.

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Polaroid targets kids with a new tablet

When you mention Polaroid, you know that this is one company that lives and breathes photography, even making it to popular culture such as songs (“Shake it like a Polaroid picture”, anyone?) Well, it seems that Polaroid is not content with just churning out photography related equipment, but they too, want a slice of the growing Android market. In particular, Polaroid is looking at the Android-powered tablet niche which has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, although Polaroid is not going to roll out a simple tablet for the masses, but rather, one that targets the little ones. Yes sir, this will be a kids oriented tablet that ain’t too shabby when it comes to the kind of system specifications underneath the hood.

Sporting a 7” design like many of the mid-range Android-powered tablets out there, the Polaroid tablet will run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system of choice, where it will come with a customized suite of apps that include Kids Cam, Music Studio and Draw, which are definitely ideal apps that encourage little ones to let their creative juices flow, and one can also show off their creative side to friends and family members using videos, pictures and songs.

Not only that, the Polaroid kids tablet also features Kids Vids, which is an app that enables children to stream safe and filtered videos across a wide range of age groups and Free Play, which is a simple and unique method that displays all the free games/apps which are made available for download from the kid-friendly App Shop.

Since this will be a kid-centric device, you know for sure that it is going to run into all sorts of “accidents”, if you get what I mean, which is why Polaroid has thought ahead of you by equipping it with innovative side and rear bumpers in order to help protect the tablet from accidental bumps and drops. There will also be built-in parental controls and a safe web browser which is a snap to set up, letting your kids enjoy a safe interactive experience.

Expect the Polaroid 7.0” kids tablet to retail for $149.99 a pop as it goes on sale later this month.

Press Release
[ Polaroid targets kids with a new tablet copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Polaroid Kids Tablet Coming Your Way

polaroid kids Polaroid Kids Tablet Coming Your WaySo, we have heard that Polaroid looks set to open up retail stores later this year, and one thing’s for sure – these brick-and-mortar stores are definitely going to have their fair share of hardware on parade. In fact, the famous photography company is about to jump aboard the Android-powered bandwagon with a 7” tablet in the works. Adults would want to steer clear of this $149.99 tablet though, as it has been specially designed for kids. The tablet itself will be accompanied by a suite of apps which were specially programmed for kids, among them include Kids Cam, Music Studio and Draw, which allows your little ones to remain occupied while expending their creative powers by snapping photos, composing music and drawing out their imagination.

The Polaroid kids tablet know exactly just which target market it caters for, which is why it comes with innovative side bumpers that help offer adequate amounts of protection, coupled with parental controls that will ensure added protection for the little ones. Dr. Seuss titles will also be pre-loaded to get your little ones hooked on reading, now how about that? Hardware specifications include a 7” screen with WVGA resolution, a 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB of internal memory, a microSD memory card slot, and a 2-megapixel camera at the back, running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a 3500mAh battery in tow. [Press Release]

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iPad Mini Installed In VW Jetta As An Entertainment System, Android 4.x Accounts For Nearly 40% Of Android Ecosystem,

Polaroid unveils Android tablet for kids, will show it off at CES

Polaroid, best known for its beloved instant-film cameras, has unveiled an Android tablet for kids. The slate has a 7-inch display, fun white and blue design, and is crafted to be rugged enough to withstand the endless dangers young children will subject it to. The PTAB750 model tablet will be on display at CES 2013 in the coming days.

polaroid kids tablet

The tablet has decent hardware with a 1GHz Cortex A8 and 512MB of RAM. There’s 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, a 2MP rear camera, and 8GB of internal storage space, with an SD card expansion slot. The 7-inch display has a resolution of 800 x 480, and supports multi-touch. The PTAB750 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes pre-loaded with more than 35 full-version apps. It’s priced at $149.99.

The pre-loaded apps include Music Studio, Draw, Kids Cam, and Kids Vids, the last of which is said to help children stream filtered, kid-friendly videos. In addition, apps are filtered via Free Play, which displays only applications that are appropriate for children. In terms of its durability, the PTAB750 has bumpers along its edges to help keep it safe from drops and bumps. Parental controls are integrated, allowing parents or teachers to control what their child can and cannot do.

Polaroid’s President and CEO Scott W. Hardy offered this statement. “Throughout our 75 year history, we’ve been known for creating innovative and easy-to-use products that are fun for all ages. The kids tablet is no exception. It epitomizes the Polaroid brand personality and brings together a host of features that will delight kids and parents alike.” The kid-friendly tablet was named a CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree.

[via Android Community]


Polaroid unveils Android tablet for kids, will show it off at CES is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Polaroid announces 7-inch kids tablet sporting Android 4.0, looks to show it off at CES

Polaroid announces 7-inch kids tablet sporting Android 4.0, looks to show it off at CES

Looking to sneak in some announcements ahead of its arrival in Vegas for CES, Polaroid has taken the wraps off of a 7-inch kids tablet running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The slate wields a capacitive, multi-touch display with a resolution of 800 x 480 wrapped in side and rear bumpers for added protection. Built-in parental controls monitor content and safe web browsing alongside 35 preloaded apps and streaming media. As far as internals go, the Polaroid tablet houses a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor with 512MB of RAM to power the Google OS. A 2-megapixel camera sits around back with 8GB internal storage, SD slot, a 3,500mAh battery and WiFi connectivity in tow. The $150 slate is available now from the source link below and will arrive at Kohl’s later this month.

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It’s An Android World After All: Polaroid Launches $150 Kids Tablet, Expanding Its New Lease On Life As A Digital Media Company

Polaroid_7in_Kids_Tablet_FRONT_Screen

Polaroid’s newish image as a digital media company got one more boost today, with the launch of a new, $150 Android tablet aimed specifically at children. Simply/obviously branded the “Polaroid kids tablet,” the 7-inch device has sidestepped the holiday shopping rush to try its luck instead launching among the throng at the CES show later this month in Las Vegas.

The news comes one day after Polaroid also announced a new retail strategy, the launch of at least 10 new stores this year dedicated to digital printing, which will also become a key place also to showcase its devices.

You might legitimately criticize Google’s Android for breeding a lot of fragmentation in the mobile market, but what the open-source OS has also done is help make wireless devices like tablets and smartphones truly mainstream, and, by way of being a ‘free’ OS, pave the way for some interesting devices that cater specifically to particular market segments. The Polaroid kids tablet is part of both of those trends.

The kids tablet, Polaroid says, will be made extra-durable — as you can see by the illustration here, that will include an extra-large bumper/bezel. Other hardware specifics for the Ice Cream Sandwich-loaded device, made in conjunction with Polaroid licensee Southern Telecom, include 8GB of internal storage with an additional external SD card slot; a 1.0 GHz CORTEX-A8 processor, a rear-only camera, and WiFi-only connectivity.

And, like other connected devices aimed at the youth market, it will come preloaded with parent-controlled security features and links to educational and kids-specific content.

This will include a “Kids Cam”, Music Studio and Draw features, as well as a couple of customized interfaces to deliver children-friendly content. These include a filtered video-streaming app called Kids Vids, as well as an interface called Free Play that presents all the free apps available from a child-filtered Android app store, the App Shop.

As a parent of two young kids myself, I have to admit that I’ve been pretty disappointed with a lot of the “kid friendly” devices on the market to date, which are usually too restricted and closed-source to be truly useful. And kids, after all, like to use tablets and smartphones pretty much like adults do, as evidenced by this Harris Poll study out today on smartphone and computer usage across the U.S.

I personally haven’t taken the time to “child proof” our own connected devices and so am constantly hovering over my children every time they use them, to keep them from lapsing into near-constant browsing of very, very random YouTube content (despite my very best efforts to restrict that browsing to Khans Academy ‘let’s learn math!’ videos). Something like this seems to take advantage of the huge amount of good content out there to keep them interested, while also giving a bit of peace of mind.

Other features include hotlinks to Nook children’s books, Dr. Seuss’ catalogue and interactive books from the Smithsonian.

Polaroid is selling the kids tablet along with its other devices online as well as through Kohl’s stores.

Polaroid To Open Retail Stores This Year

215620113 640 Polaroid To Open Retail Stores This YearPolaroid’s latest foray into the tight consumer electronics industry is a series of “experiential” retail stores where consumers can print digital images into museum-quality art. They will be called Polaroid Fotobar stores, and they are the first of its kind retail destinations designed for photography and art enthusiasts. Polaroid plans to open ten stores this year, with the first store to be installed in a 2,000 square foot location in Delray Beach, Florida. It will be the company’s model for all Polaroid Fotobar locations and is expected to open in February. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: More Canon EOS 3D Rumors Surface, Toshiba Develops Lytro-Like Smartphone Camera Sensor,

Polaroid plans experimental Fotobar stores that will let you print your photos

Polaroid plans experimental Fotobar stores that will let you print your photos

Polaroid hasn’t been shy to try various tactics as it attempts to compete in the age of digital photography, but it always seems to come back to the idea it’s best known for. It’s latest effort is a bit more of a roundabout way to get some tangible photos in your hands, though: a series of “experimental” Photobar stores where you can go and have your digital photos professionally printed. The first of those will open in Delray Beach, Florida in February, with a total of at least ten stores promised for 2013, including locations in New York, Las Vegas and Boston — each staffed with so-called Photenders to help you get the best results, and equipped with a “patent-pending proprietary technology” that’ll let you wirelessly transfer photos from your phone to a workstation. What’s more, the stores won’t just be producing glossy photos, but what Polaroid describes as handcrafted pieces using canvas, metal, acrylic, wood or bamboo — those will be shipped to the customer within 72 hours, and are apparently of the same variety that can currently be ordered on Polaroid’s Photobar website. You’ll still need to get your Polaroid film elsewhere, though.

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Via: Cult of Android

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Polaroid launching stores to print your smartphone photos

Polaroid‘s biggest days might be behind them, but that isn’t stopping the company from coming up with new and unique ideas. Polaroid is planning on opening a chain of brick-and-mortar stores that are specifically built to print and edit all of your smartphone photos, as well as photos uploaded to Facebook or other social site. The company is calling its stores Fotobar.

Store_Image1

They plan to open at least ten new retail stores this year. Fotobar initially opened as an online-only store in October, specializing in printing photos from phones or social services and offering different editing tools and filters. While you can easily edit and print photos almost anywhere nowadays, Polaroid is banking on its trained staff at Fotobars who can guide users through the process and on evoke the “classic Polaroid experience.”

The first Polaroid Fotobar store will open in Florida next month, and it will allow in-store customers to wirelessly transmit their images stored on their smartphone or tablet to a bar-top workstation computer. From there, the photos can be edited and a number of filters can be added, which most smartphone apps can do anyway.

Once the images are done and ready for printing, users can then have the images printed on a number of different materials, including metal, wood, and bamboo, as well as choose from various framing options. The idea is to make your often-forgotten digital images feel like works of art — something that you can hang on your wall and show your friends.


Polaroid launching stores to print your smartphone photos is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Polaroid Mirrorless Android Camera to Be Unveiled at CES 2013

It’s been confirmed that Polaroid will unveil an Android-powered, mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera, at CES 2013. While I would have liked for Polaroid to announce that they will continue making old-school instant cameras, this isn’t bad news.

polaroid im1836

The rumor mill says that the Polaroid IM1836 will have an 18.1-megapixel sensor, and a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen. It was also said that the camera will include a pop-up flash, Wi-Fi, an HDMI output, a 10-30mm lens and will use MicroSD. There aren’t many more details available, but hopefully we’ll get more information after the new year, or perhaps even some sneaky bits during the holidays. Most of Asia is working during Christmas, after all.

There’s no word yet on what the price point will be for the camera.

[via PopPhoto via Gizmodo UK via Ubergizmo]