Yes, even though it's merely a mock up, this hip-to-be-square camera will soon become a very real thing. Initially a concept camera made by ADR design, the Instagram Socialmatic was an attempt to bring the One Step inspired Instagram icon to life, one instant print at a time. Thanks to an exclusive deal that was signed with Polaroid (or rather C&A who have been licensing the name), the Socialmatic is one step closer to becoming a reality. According to the few specs that are out there, the Socialmatic will be an interchangeable lens system with 4.3 touchscreen, LED flash, optical zoom, wireless connectivity, 16GB of storage and most importantly a built-in printer. To make it even more personalized, each print is inscribed with the users Instagram handle and a QR code to link to their gallery. It's unclear if the camera will run on Android, but it looks like this would be ideal considering its touchscreen format and potentially app-driven camera. The Socialmatic is slated for an early 2014 release, but there is currently no word on how much the big square will cost.
In other pseudo-Polaroid noise, the first Fotobar that was announced last year has officially opened in Delray Beach, Florida. The Polaroid branded printing center recently held a grand opening celebration to kick off the attempted revival of the physical print. Aside from having $1 digital prints that emulate the look of old 600 film, the store offers a wide range of printing options for your smart phone snaps, including large blow ups with various framing options, and even a selection of refurbished Polaroid gear for those looking to stay analog. If you're feeling left out, I wouldn't worry. More of these shops are set to open throughout 2013 in larger cities like NYC and LA. Will the Fotobar live up to the hype? We'll have to wait and see.