Exciting camera introductions lately

Victoria Peak

The last 2 week must be exciting for gear heads -- and do we have photographers who are not gear heads to some degree?  There is a pro-level evolutionary camera body, a large sensor point-&-shoot and an interchangeable-lens range-finder.  The last two introductions are actually more than introductions of another iteration of current lines of cameras. They represent major changes in product development directions.  Although the Canon G1X is introduction by a main player, it represent a major shift -- larger-sensors (relatively speaking) are not confined to system cameras, but point-&-shoots are now equipped with them too.  Of course, saying the G1X a point-&-shoot is a stretch, but what are the major differences between the G1X and the G11 other than the size of the sensor?  And the G11 had been categorized as a point-&-shoot, although for serious shooters. 
Why does it take so long for Fujifilm to figure out that the market needs the Fujifilm X Pro-1? After all, they had been the maker of the GF645, G690, Gw670, etc... and rangefinder had been their forte, and lenses too.  It should be very straightforward for them to see that the Epson RD1 had attracted much attention, and spawned the Leica M8, and then the M9.   They could have created the market for digital rangefinder 5 years ago.  Well, better late than never, I believe with a much more competitive price range, it should ignite the digital range finder frenzy, no doubt.
In fact, a less noticed camera introduction is the Polaroid Android camera -- it represent a new direction for point-&-shoots (again).  The phone camera is almost the only camera a point-&-shooter ever needs, except they are missing a zoom and a real flash.  Will they go back to a regular point-&-shoot? Likely not as they need the instant post-processing the apps provide, and the transmission capabilities to social networks, which could be the sole purpose of taking the pictures.  They don't even need storage in the camera, the files are transmitted to their cloud storage, and even to print processors who would send the prints on their way, and be home before the shooters arrive, if they are on vacation, for e.g..  The camera becomes the one-for-all device, just like the smartphone, but with a much higher level of camera capabilities -- bingo!  Unfortunately this device is kind of an oddball -- who would be marketing such a device?  The phone manufacturers?  They are busy with the latest and greatest smartphones, and cameras are just an added feature, not the sole purpose of the phone.  The camera companies?  They don't see communications a needed feature in their cameras.  Polaroid is the worst company to market the camera -- it is neither a camera company (as perceived) nor a phone company.  Or, it could be the best strategy they can take, only if they can push the idea to enough people, AND deliver a good camera -- yes, a camera good enough to distinguish it from the phones cameras.