wireless - Wirelessly transfer photos from camera to a computer?

Is it possible to wirelessly transfer photos from a camera to a computer? Specifically:

1. What kind of specs does a camera require to be able to do this? In other words, if I'm looking at a bunch of cameras on Amazon, what phrases/wording in the specs do I need to look for to confirm that the camera is able to wirelessly transfer photos?


2. Can the camera transfer the photos wirelessly regardless of whether or not the camera is able to connect to a nearby wireless router?


3. Is it possible to have the photos automatically transfer wirelessly as soon as they are taken as opposed to me having to manually trigger the camera to transfer the photos?


4. Are there any limitations on which computer OSes can be transferred to? If so, what computer OSes can typically be transferred to?

Sorry about all the questions, but I've heard that cameras nowadays (or perhaps for some time) have Wi-Fi capabilities, but I'm a bit of a newb when it comes to cameras and don't know much about what they're capable of these days.

Answer

Many digital cameras now have built-in WiFi but it is usually tied to the application provided which may be upgraded from time to time. What I suggest doing, if you are looking for such a camera is look at these applications and then read the list of compatible cameras. Most such apps are on the Android store which makes them easy to find.

For cameras that support SDHC cards, which are the majority these days, you can add an Eye-Fi card. That is a memory card which also provides wireless capabilities. In particular, it can send images immediate at the time they are captured. Depending on the model, you may be able to connect to a router or not.

There is a Flash Air card which makes it possible to browse pictures remotely and download them but the first generation model (which is the one I have) does not automatically send. The latest generation even has some pretty advanced capabilities and API to control them, including executing LUA scripts!

For WiFi via Flash Air or EyeFi, you do not need Wifi in the camera but should check the list of known compatible devices at the respective manufacturers of these cards.