One of the policies I use on my site is the traditional press standard of verification from multiple sources when it comes to "reporting" about upcoming products. I've tried to keep my speculation about future products clearly labeled as such, but when I have reliable information from multiple sources, then and only then do I begin to write about them as if they're real, upcoming products.
Well, we've finally passed that point with one of the products I've been sitting on information about: the Coolpix P6000. Others have written about this camera for awhile now, mostly due to a leaked French flyer, so there's not a lot I can add to what's already known. Basically a wide-angle to modest telephoto (4x) Coolpix using a 13.5mp compact sensor, the P6000 marks the return of some P to the P lineup. For example, we get the return of NEF recording. Plus we now have two user setting capabilities on the Mode dial for getting to standard setups faster. The hot shoe is still there, but still not centered over the lens. Unlike the P5000/P5100, the built-in flash is a pop up one, though it still won't clear the WC-E76 or other conversion lens (you'll need a UR-21 for that, so those of us with the UR-20 used by the P5000 get to add another hollow tube to our collection). The lens is reputed to be both ED (two elements) and VR.
A lot of folk didn't believe the French flyer because of the GPS and network references, but there they are on the Mode dial: a GPS setting and a Camera->Storage icon. It appears that Nikon is making a concerted effort to embrace GPS and WiFi across their product line (hint: this won't be the last time you see me mention GPS support on an upcoming product you might not expect to have it).
Of course, the real test of whether this becomes an interesting pocket camera to add to the bag will come in testing, which obviously I'm not doing at the moment (otherwise I'd be locked up under NDA ;~). But I'm happy to see Nikon moving back into a realm that they should never have left. We're big boys. We know we'll have to really work over the raw data on these small sensor pocket cameras, but that's still preferable to getting only a small handful of not 100% optimal JPEG choices. So welcome back, Nikon. We've missed you.
Now if I can just get some additional sources for a few other cameras and lenses that have crossed my desk...