Polaroid's Instagram camera is now available for preorder at Amazon.

Polaroid's Instagram camera is almost an expected move from the manufacturer; in fact, it took too much time to come out with the hybrid device.

Instagram users easily identify the social media platform with its icon, which bears a striking resemblance to the Polaroid camera. With the Polaroid Socialmatic, the instant camera of days gone by is integrated into modern technology and media.

The Polaroid Socialmatic retains the instant photo snap and print feature of the original, but it also comes with features that appeal to social media addicts. You have the option to print a hard copy of your photo immediately after it's taken, and you can also upload directly to social media platforms.

The Polaroid trademark of instant photo prints adds novelty to the current fare of features in smartphones, and Polaroid improves the durability of prints as well, waterproof and smudge-proof.

Polaroid flips the tables on smartphone cameras, with a 14-megapixel front camera and 2-megapixel rear. It's a smart camera of sorts, with Android OS and 4.5-inch display; users can browse the Internet and check email.

The main push of the Polaroid Instagram camera is social media, though, particularly Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Photos may be uploaded as soon as the device piggybacks on a Wi-Fi signal.

There's built in Bluetooth for file transfers, also a GPS for location-tagging. Internal storage is serviceable at 4GB, with optional 32GB external.

Since the Socialmatic is first and foremost a classic Polaroid camera, quality photo prints are priority. Photo paper comes cheap, too, at $15 a pop for every stack of fifty.

There's a bit of a letdown in the price tag, though. The Polaroid Instagram camera is built as a reliable sidearm but priced like a smartphone, at $299.

The Polaroid Instagram camera's release date is pegged early next year, but those who want to be first in line at the launch can now preorder through Amazon (yahoo.com).