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GoPro has now sold more than 30 million Hero action cams
GoPro has been dealing with significant business challenges in recent months, but the camera maker has managed to keep its chin above water. The company today revealed it has surpassed 30 million sales of its Hero action video camera since the first HD model came out nine years ago. Its Hero5 Black model -- an affordable all-rounder for outdoorsy types -- has sold four million units and gains the honor of becoming GoPro's best- selling camera.
GoPro faces uncertain future as holiday sales disappoint
The holidays were not kind to GoPro. The action camera company had already issued an earnings warning in January, dropping its projected Q4 revenues from $470 million to $340 million, that's a 37 percent year-over-year decline. The holidays were so dreadful, in fact, that GoPro has since decided to abandon its drone pursuits and a fifth of its workforce, roughly 300 positions. That said, the company did earn $1.18 billion in 2017, flat year-over-year, and the staff reductions did help drop GoPro's operating expenses by 30 percent, which left the company with $247 million in cash and marketable securities at the end of the year. That's $50 million more than it had on hand at the end of Q3.
GoPro's Nick Woodman confirms he's 'open' to selling
It's barely the second week of 2018, and GoPro's already been through the media mill. Reports first surfaced that the company was about to begin another round of layoffs, and that it would shutter its drone business for good. Those proved to be true. Then, just two days ago, a second story claimed that GoPro was actively looking to sell off its business.
GoPro's Hero6 camera may feature 4K 60 FPS recording
GoPro is inching toward profitability, and its new Hero6 Black might finally bring the action-cam maker into the black. Spotted by a Photo Rumors reader, the camera will apparently capture 4K 60 FPS video (the Hero5 was 4K 30 FPS) from its 12 megapixel sensor. That's according to a photo of what looks like final retail packaging. Other than that, there are about as many new details as there were when CEO Nick Woodman confirmed the Hero6's existence in February.
GoPro bets its near future on the Hero6 and Fusion cameras
Ever since becoming a publicly traded company in 2014, GoPro hasn't had the most positive financial results. The camera maker has been struggling to be profitable, as shown by its past few quarterly earning reports, but its future isn't completely bleak. Today, GoPro exceeded Wall Street expectations, thanks to $296.5 million in revenue during Q2 2017, versus the roughly $270 million the market anticipated -- it's also a huge jump over the $220.8 from the same quarter last year. That said, GoPro still isn't profitable, since it reported yet another revenue loss. This time however, it was $30.5 million, which is much less than the 91.8 second-quarter loss in 2016. In other words, at least it's moving in the right direction.
GoPro's trade-up program entices users to buy a Hero5
GoPro really, really wants to sell you a Hero5. It has even launched a trade-up program to make the prospect of giving up a working older model more appealing. Starting today, April 11th, you can get a Hero5 Black for $100 less than retail or a Hero5 Session for $50 cheaper than usual if you send in your old GoPro Hero devices. You'll likely get a lot more than a $100 if you sell your old model on eBay, but this could be a quick option if you were planning to get the company's latest action camera anyway. Simply go to the program's official page, select the camera you want and follow the instructions on how to send in your old Hero. Just take note that this offer is only available for a limited time.
GoPro is planning to release a Hero6 camera in 2017
If you've been following GoPro for the last few months through its Hero5 production issues and Karma drone recall (now back on shelves), you're probably not surprised by a disappointing earnings report showing a net loss of $116 million. Now, the company has closed offices and shut down its entertainment division with an eye towards returning to profitability this year. Of course, for fans of its products, the question is what new devices are on the way, and while CEO Nick Woodman didn't drop any specific details, he did confirm that there will be a new Hero6 action camera this year.
GoPro sells the Karma's stabilizer grip by itself for $300
No, you still can't buy GoPro's Karma drone in the wake of the recall, but you can get a taste of the technology that came in the box. GoPro has started selling the Karma Grip, the stabilization wand that takes the jitters out of your Hero5 Black or (with a $30 harness) Hero4 Black/Silver camera footage. Spend $300/£250 and you can capture a bike ride or snowboarding adventure without making your friends motion sick. There's a mounting ring to attach it to wearable accessories, too, so you don't have to give up one of your hands while you use it.
GoPro compensates Karma buyers with free Hero5 cameras
We won't blame you if you're upset that GoPro had to recall your Karma drone over sudden power losses, but at least you're getting compensation for your trouble. GoPro is offering American Karma buyers a free Hero5 Black camera once they return both their drones and the accessories that came with them. That's on top of the full refund during the investigation, we'd add. While this won't completely make up for having to go droneless (or, gasp, look for an alternative), you won't have to go empty-handed -- and GoPro won't have to worry so much about customers holding on to their Karmas at all costs.
GoPro's production issues cut into its sales and stock price
Despite including the release of its new Karma drone and Hero5 camera, GoPro's quarterly earnings report had some bad news today. With sales falling to $240.6 million (compared to $400 million in the same period last year), and a forecast for the year that dropped from a range of $1.35 billion to $1.5 billion, to $1.25 billion to $1.3 billion, shareholders sent its price diving to under $10 per share in after-hours trading. The company lost $104 million during the quarter, but founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman said: "Looking forward to 2017, we expect to return to profitability, driven by the strength of our new products." On a call about the earnings, Woodman said the company launched fewer cameras and drones than expected due to production issues that will also probably keep it from meeting demand during the holiday season.
GoPro's Hero5 Black and Session bring overdue improvements
Recently, GoPro unveiled an entirely new product lineup. Not just the new Hero5 Black ($399) and Hero5 Session ($299), but also the Karma drone, a surprise hand-held gimbal -- known as the Karma Grip -- and a brand new cloud service called GoPro Plus. While it's going to be another week or so before we can get our hands on the Karma drone, I had a chance to spend some time with the new flagship Hero5 Black and its sidekick, the Hero5 Session. Both come with some exciting, long-awaited new features, which I'll lay out in detail below. With many of the upgrades addressing common pain points, it's clear that this year, GoPro was mainly focused on polishing the user experience.
Making Karma: Behind the scenes with GoPro's camera drone
A typical GoPro camera launch is much how you'd imagine it to be: Extreme sport athletes perform for the press at a beautiful outdoorsy location. But where I am today is not a typical GoPro launch. That won't happen for a few weeks yet, when CEO and founder Nick Woodman will present the company's much-anticipated Karma drone to the world. Karma's reveal will be the climax to one of GoPro's most scrutinized business moves yet. After multiple delays and much investor speculation, it's important that GoPro get this one right. Will Karma silence GoPro's doubters, or give them more to talk about? Engadget spent some time behind the scenes during Karma's crucial final stages to find out.
GoPro's new Hero5 seems to raise the bar for action cameras
Today was a busy day for GoPro. In addition to revealing its much-anticipated first drone, known as the Karma, the company introduced two new action cameras. Both the Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session are a major upgrade over their predecessors, with voice control and native waterproofing chief among the standout features. But let's start with the flagship Hero5 Black. It now comes with a 2-inch touchscreen, GPS and a sensor that takes up to 12-megapixel images. Like the Hero4, the Hero5 shoots 4K at 30 frames per second -- raise your hand if you wish it handled 60 fps.
GoPro's Hero5 cameras are cloud-connected and natively waterproof
It's no secret that GoPro had a new flagship action camera in the works, but you never know how rumors may pan out. Today, the company officially announced the Hero5 Black, featuring a 2-inch touch display, 12-megapixel photos (including RAW support) and, as leaks suggested, built-in GPS. What's more, GoPro's Hero has voice control (seven languages at launch, more later) and is waterproof without the housing to 33 feet (10 meters). There's also electronic image stabilization, which is a first for the Hero line. Like the previous model, it shoots 4K at up to 30 fps, as well as 1080p at 120 fps max.
Watch live as GoPro unveils its Karma drone
Earlier this month, GoPro teased that it would soon be introducing its highly anticipated Karma drone. And today, the company is hosting an event in Squaw Valley, California, where it will be showing it to the world for the first time. Of course, we're here to bring you the information as it happens, but you can keep up with the action via the livestream below. This is a GoPro event after all, so there's a chance we'll also get to meet the rumored Hero5 during the keynote. Don't go too far, because the event starts at 9AM PT/12PM ET.
GoPro's Hero5 camera could pack GPS
GoPro most definitely has a future planned beyond drones and virtual reality rigs. Both an FCC filing and an apparent video leak suggest that the upcoming Hero5 action camera will give you a couple of good reasons to ditch your Hero4. To start, the FCC entry makes clear references to built-in GPS. It's not certain how you'd use it, but it's easy to see the technology used for geolocating your videos or tracking performance. That same filing also hints at a thinner, lighter body.
GoPro already made a small VR camera and you can see it now
So far, GoPro's foray into VR cameras has been strictly for professionals. Earlier this year Nick Woodman, the company's CEO, hinted that a smaller, consumer-friendly VR camera could be in the works -- but that's all we knew. Except, it turns out, it already exists and you can look at it right now.
GoPro is axing budget Hero line, confirms 'connected' Hero5
GoPro had its most challenging year yet in 2015, after a less than successful Hero4 Session launch, a slump in share price, and a swelling product line that confused some customers. To rectify that, the company is pruning back its camera range to just three models (again): The Hero4 Session, Silver and Black. GoPro CEO Nick Woodman also confirmed the next camera will be the "the most connected and convenient GoPro ever made. Hero5." Not a Hero4+ or new Hero4 Session. The entry-level Hero line is being axed in April, the Hero5 will arrive "later this year," Woodman said during the company's latest earnings call.
