EE unveils a tiny 4G clip-on camera
EE boasts one of the UK's biggest and fastest mobile networks, but that doesn't mean it can just sit back and wait for new customers to roll in. To keep itself busy, the company has got into the hardware game, producing smartphones, tablets and, quite recently, an action camera. Its GoPro aspirations continue today with the Capture Cam, a pocket-sized snapper for recording and livestreaming everyday moments. It's a square device, measuring 55mm on either side, and comes with a clip so you can easily keep it on your shirt or backpack. Inside is an 8-megapixel sensor that can shoot stills and video up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. Like the Action Cam that preceded it, it's also capable of livestreaming at a slightly lower resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second.
Livestreaming can be conducted over 4G -- this is EE, after all -- but it's tied to the company's own Skeegle app, which could be a deal-breaker if you like to broadcast with your phone over Periscope, Meerkat or YouTube. EE has also developed a new Capture Cam app, available for iOS and Android, which lets you control the device remotely, manage and download files, check data usage and buy new data bundles. That functionality will be incredibly important, given the device only comes with 4GB of onboard storage (there's also a microSD slot for up to 64GB cards). If you're shooting all day at 1080p, you'll want to shuffle your footage off the Capture Cam periodically.
EE says this tiny lifelogging camera will be available sometime before Christmas, although it's yet to give an exact price. That's a worrying sign, given the original Action Cam is such a convoluted purchase. Unlike a GoPro -- just one payment and you're done -- EE's first offering requires a monthly contract or a pay-as-you-go plan. That can be a huge turn-off, especially if you're buying one just to record the occasional holiday. If EE wants its new Capture Cam to succeed, it'll need to come up with a simpler payment model.
