Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 WiFi camera reviewed: wait for generation two

WiFi cameras are far from new -- over the past couple of years, we've seen P&S after P&S arrive with minimal functionality that would allow it to sync pictures with one specific online photo portal (or similar). Sony has stepped up the game for cameras to come with the Cyber-shot DSC-G3, which is the first of its kind to include a web browser for logging into pay-hotspots and uploading to practically any photo sharing site on the web. Popular Science got to handle one for a few weeks, and in the end, they were in love with the idea but hesitant to praise the execution. The T700-turned-wireless took satisfactory pictures, but the browser experience was less than awesome. You can hit the read link for all the dirty details, but unless you're willing to deal with "agonizingly" slow load times, you're probably better off waiting for the next revision. Or for some other company to whip out a bona fide competitor.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[David @ Jan 10th 2009 3:20PM]

yeah it will be really cool when all PandSs have proper wifi, web browsing, uploading, and GPS...but its not quite yet.

[Samboini @ Jan 10th 2009 3:49PM]

I have a soft-spot for Casio; let's see what they can do!

[Level 5 @ Jan 10th 2009 3:24PM]

Or.. just bring a USB cable and your laptop.

[Mr Yuk @ Jan 10th 2009 3:31PM]

Or use an Eye-Fi card.

[whopper @ Jan 10th 2009 3:37PM]

eye fi has very limited space and doesnt it only do syncing with a pc?

[John @ Jan 10th 2009 3:35PM]

Let's go Canon, you're up.

[whopper @ Jan 10th 2009 3:39PM]

why does everybody like canonns overpriced stuff? my lumix takes just s good/if not better pictures for $200 wile a canonn cost well over $260(and has x2 times less optical zoom)

[Alex @ Jan 10th 2009 3:50PM]

Don't be ridiculous, Whopper!

...

You're the worst kind of person.

[john paul @ Jan 10th 2009 5:51PM]

I'm personally in love with canon, I'm a casual photographer. and it's just smooth the way it takes pictures.

[kL @ Jan 10th 2009 3:45PM]

What browser does it use? Opera, Opera Mini, Webkit? or perhaps Pocket IE?

[Phoenix @ Jan 10th 2009 6:18PM]

Looks like Opera Mobile's icons, actually...

[Alex @ Jan 10th 2009 3:58PM]

You are a dick. I don't really like Sony, but I can't deny that they make fantastic products.
Why do you even care if it looks a bit like the iPhone? And anyway, it looks a lot more than the PSP's web browser icons... How very scandalous.
And even if the 'economy is hard', big multinational companies like Sony won't go down. Same with almost all iPods. They have NEVER been the the best MP3 players out, and no even if they started shipping Nanos with Black and White screens, buttons and only one colour, they would still sell millions because it is the name that sells them, not the features.
So STFU with 'Sorny'.

[Jash Sayani @ Jan 10th 2009 3:59PM]

No SmugMug.....??

[required @ Jan 10th 2009 4:11PM]

Eeiy (2413), your public exclamation of being an imbecile is something you should have kept to yourself.

[Richard Glitter @ Jan 10th 2009 4:52PM]

No Flickr???

[Tom Baker @ Jan 10th 2009 7:28PM]

Seconded. I would have thought Flickr to be more popular than Picasa (web albums?).

[oh.ppie @ Jan 10th 2009 5:06PM]

The buttons resemble more of an Opera browser than an Iphone browser to me...

Sony is famous for making extremely good products along with Apple. Grow up, they are both amazing electronics companies.

Oh, and by the way, your discrete comparison between Sony and Apple is complete and utter CRAP.

[spam_from_engadget @ Jan 10th 2009 5:57PM]

Linux Devices also did a review of this camera - because, of course, it runs Linux under-the-hood:

http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS2881537833.html

One thing they don't mention, though, is whether it's hackable or locked down. I know most people don't want to hack their gadgets, but I do and cameras are one of the few product categories where this is still hard. Are there any cameras that are truly hackable yet? Ideally with WiFi and GPS please! There's so much potential for doing cool stuff and I don't want to have to wait for the manufacturers to work it out themselves....

[JIm Jones @ Jan 11th 2009 8:14AM]

Wow, absolutely amazing. This is going to be WAY cool!

www.privacy.de.tc

[CarGuy @ Jan 11th 2009 5:34PM]

Looks like Opera Mobile's icons, actually...
www.mojauto.rs

[neven letica @ Jan 11th 2009 11:34PM]

Sony makes great dslr cameras, ps3 psp, lcd tv's, home theatre, their laptops are OK, their new mp3 players sound best in class, and behind or underneath the hood of a lot of other tech companies is Sony tech think of CD cdr cdrw spif sdds etc, so many inventions and innovations over decades that it is ridiculous to try and classify Sony as a failure or a one trick pony.