Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 Packs Web Browser

Sony's new Cyber-shot DSC-G3 camera packs Wi-Fi...and an integrated Web browser to help users connect to Wi-Fi hotspots.

Wi-Fi enabled cameras might not be the latest thing under the sun—folks have been using integrated wireless capabilities to sideload photos and even upload images to social networking sites and photo sharing services for a while now. But try using those cameras in typical public Wi-Fi hotspots and users often run into a problem: no way to enter a password or other credentials. To fix that problem, Sony is offering the Cyber-shot DSC-G3, which the company is claiming to be the first Wi-Fi enabled digital camera with an integrated Web browser, so users can easily connect to public wireless hotspots.

“Research shows that our customers greatly value sharing images and video clips, but they often forget or don’t have enough time if they wait to get home to upload images,” said Sony Electronics director of digital camera marketing Phil Lubell, in a statement. “Our new Cyber-shot DSC-G3 camera provides the simplicity and convenience of sharing in the moment, while the impulse is still fresh in people’s minds.”

Using the integrated Web browser, users can enter credentials to connect to free or for-free Wi-Fi hotspots typically found in coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, hotels, airports, and other locations. The camera also comes with complimentary access to Sony’s Easy Upload Home Page through January 31, 2012, which includes wireless access via thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at Starbucks and other locations. Sony’s Easy Upload service includes direct links to popular photo and video sharing services, and can send email notifications to let friends and family know new items are available for viewing.

The DSC-G3 itself sports a 10 megapixel resolution, a 3.5-inch LCD touch-sensitive LCD display, a 4× optical zoom, and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens. The DSC-G3 also packs face recognition technology, “Smile Shutter” technology to automatically capture smiles, and anti-blink feature that displays a warning if a photo’s subject has their eyes closed. (Want to annoy someone using these features? Only smile with your eyes closed.) The DSC-G3 also includes optical iage stabilization. Users can save images to 4 GB of built-in memory, or to Memory Stick cards.

The Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is available now for about $500.