Now, the cause of those rumblings is quite clear: a touchscreen model that bundles mobile successes with full camera functionality -- it wasn't a smartphone to replace your point-and-shoot, but a powerful hybrid compact that capitalizes on each segment's strengths in an attempt to return cameras to relevancy, and perhaps even bring them into the spotlight.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Android cameras -- could Samsung's Galaxy gamble save the point-and-shoot industry?

The upper echelon of the point-and-shoot segment will be led by cameras that can connect to the web from anywhere, while doubling as full-fledged communication and manipulation devices -- smartphones that enable everything but telephone calls.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Android cameras -- could Samsung's Galaxy gamble save the point-and-shoot industry?