Professional/Hobby cameras with standard operating system: I am hearing rumblings that Sony is working on a camera that uses an Android operating system, Windows???, IOS. On another...

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

I am hearing rumblings that Sony is working on a camera that uses an Android operating system, Windows???, IOS. On another post a question was asked will the unit have to boot? I imagine that cameras like Win-11 can go to sleep and start right back up without a boot. I can see the advantages of the camera being able to use third-party apps if the camera manufacturer allows it. Right now if you have an Apple phone or other you need to go to Apple to download it. Same Microsoft, and Google downloads Android apps. It will be interesting to see if the MFRs give the choice of operating systems to the consumer. For it is a nuisance to have Win-11 set up to emulate Android phone apps and I don't know if Apple will do the same. The ability to share files and use apps is very appealing. What do you think?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

If you want to take photos with a computer OS, most any smartphone will do that and allow you to use various apps. I think DSLR (or maybe ML) cameras do a better job, primarily because of the larger sensor. But they're a lot bulkier than a smartphone. Do you really want to use your camera to browse the internet or look at the weather report or write letters or emails? For computer use, I really depend on a keyboard and I find typing on a smartphone less than satisfying. I'd rather carry my laptop.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

OwlHarbor wrote:

I am hearing rumblings that Sony is working on a c... (show quote)

There have been several Threads on here about this already.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

DirtFarmer wrote:

If you want to take photos with a computer OS, mos... (show quote)

Many within the older generations feel this way but the older generations are not going to provide future revenue for companies. Young people are the customers of the future and they will want these things.

BebuLamar

Now is this rumor started from anywhere else besides Tony&Chelsea? I wonder if this is their very own idea and they didn't get it from somewhere else.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

JD750 wrote:

Many within the older generations feel this way but the older generations are not going to provide future revenue for companies. Young people are the customers of the future and they will want these things.

That's because they grew up with smartphones. An appliance that does everything.

I am in the older generation. I grew up (to the extent that I HAVE grown up) with a typewriter so I am keyboard oriented. Younger generations are oriented toward trackpads (which I find difficult). The appliance makes the (wo)man.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, there has been talk about that online - YouTube. I don't understand the details, but it seems to be easier and faster to add features to Android OS than to reprogram a camera's OS.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cameras still "boot" on turn on.
They are fast because the OS is so simple.
Many call it "startup".

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

DirtFarmer wrote:

If you want to take photos with a computer OS, mos... (show quote)

It's not about being able to browse it's about the 3rd party apps that can be added or that the MFR can easily add to the camera which is not possible now. Many things a phone camera can do is related to the operating system not the lense which are typically very small.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

jerryc41 wrote:

Yes, there has been talk about that online - YouTube. I don't understand the details, but it seems to be easier and faster to add features to Android OS than to reprogram a camera's OS.

There is a saying in product development “never build what you can buy”!

Manufacturers have their programs but but adopting a common operating system could save money and also facilitate downloading of Apps to the camera and sharing via Wi-Fi or cellular.

Of course we will then have to worry about viruses and other malware on our cameras.

So time will tell how well it will sell.

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

Longshadow wrote:

Cameras still "boot" on turn on.
They are fast because the OS is so simple.
Many call it "startup".

Yes, but it is machine/equipment/device-specific, third-party apps can not be used. The simple part limits the flexibility of the camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

OwlHarbor wrote:

Yes, but it is machine/equipment/device-specific, third-party apps can not be used. The simple part limits the flexibility of the camera.

What does it really need to do other than take pictures?

The OS in your car is device specific, same as the microwave, coffee maker, and a host of other "devices".

If one wants that much flexibility in a camera, they might want to get a phone.......

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Longshadow wrote:

What does it really need to do other than take pictures?

The OS in your car is device specific, same as the microwave, coffee maker, and a host of other "devices".

If one wants that much flexibility in a camera, they might want to get a phone.......

2 of my cameras have a 30-second voice recorder. I have found it useful when shooting events to record a name or place that I want to remember for tagging.

OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

DirtFarmer wrote:

That's because they grew up with smartphones. An appliance that does everything.

I am in the older generation. I grew up (to the extent that I HAVE grown up) with a typewriter so I am keyboard oriented. Younger generations are oriented toward trackpads (which I find difficult). The appliance makes the (wo)man.

That's where I learned to type long before home computers were available. Many Camera models use touch screens along with specific buttons. My first SLR was a Canon in the early 70ties my earlier Kodac cameras had no electronics and were strictly manual although my first digital camera used a 3 1/4 disk to store photos on. PLC's programmable logic controllers have been around since the sixties but their use is limited they be programmed in the field and I don't think that cameras can. I think that the next logical step for cameras is a standard operating system so 3rd party apps will be developed for cameras. As others have said time will tell.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

OwlHarbor wrote:

I am hearing rumblings that Sony is working on a c... (show quote)

The battle between general purpose and dedicated processors and systems has been going on for 50 years that I can speak to. From what I see, it is no closer to resolution than when I first learned about it. Even after PCs were fanned out to desktops, IT groups worked to recentralize the functionality and control. This is just another iteration of one corner of the question.

It's not worth getting your blood pressure elevated over.