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Polaroid sues GoPro for copying a design patent
C&A Marketing Inc., the company that produces the Polaroid Cube, has filed a lawsuit against GoPro for releasing the Hero4 Session camera. On what grounds? Well, the two cameras look almost identical. Both are shaped like a cube with rounded edges, and even though the Session is able to shoot better quality video and is slightly larger than the 1.4-cubic-inch Cube, C&A is insisting that GoPro has infringed on the design patent that it received in May this year, preventing any other camera from copying the Cube's unique look. GoPro had filed a patent related to its square camera's design in March, but that specifically covered the camera's housing.
Polaroid's tiny Cube camera now packs WiFi
The Polaroid Cube, released last year, is nowhere near matching the quality of a GoPro. Still, this pocketable camera can be a good accessory for those times you can't, or won't, use a smartphone to take pictures. Today, Polaroid is announcing Cube+, the successor to its tiny, square-shaped camera, featuring an 8-megapixel sensor, compared to the 6 megapixels found on the original model. Most notably, however, is the addition of WiFi support, which lets users control the camera from an iOS or Android device -- you can use the companion app as a viewfinder, or to edit and share photos. It will be available in August for $150 in a variety of colors, including hot pink and a green that glows in the dark.
IRL: The Polaroid Cube is a tiny camera that leaves you wanting more
Gone are the days when you had to carry a hefty camera to capture life's best moments. For the most part, we have smartphone makers to thank for that, aided by steady improvements to imaging sensors. At the same time, though, a number of other manufacturers have made it their mission to build ever-smaller cameras -- all to make snapping photos and taking videos a much easier feat than it was before. Polaroid, a company known for all-things-imagery, did exactly this with the Cube, an itty-bitty camera that measures just 35mm (1.4 inches) square and weighs in at 45 grams (1.6 ounces). Naturally, when you think of cameras that come in small packages, GoPro's Hero line instantly comes mind, but the Polaroid Cube isn't meant to compete with those. Instead, this $99 shooter is aimed at casual users. If it's high production value you're after, then, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Polaroid's cute Cube camera lets you record video just about anywhere
You can stick action cameras in many places, but they're still not that portable; you probably won't (or can't) shove one in your pocket in case you want to document an adventure. You can certainly try that with Polaroid's new Cube camera, though. While its building block-like design is a little bit cutesy, it also lets you record 1080p wide-angle videos seemingly anywhere -- a built-in magnet lets the Cube cling to any metal surface, and even the mounting kits are tiny enough to come along on many trips. The cam depends on microSD cards for storage and only lasts for 90 minutes of video on a charge, but that still means that it can handle a quick mountain bike expedition or a few laps around the racetrack. Just be patient if you like the notion of cuboid movie capture. Photojojo is taking pre-orders for the $100 Cube today, but it won't ship until late September.
