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GoPro delays its Karma drone until this holiday season
GoPro's Karma drone was due out the first half of this year, but we're already into the fifth month and it's nowhere to be found. That's because, according to the company's latest financial statements, it's been delayed. Surprise! The company now says that the Karma won't hit until this holiday season. In the next six months, any number of things could happen. For instance, we said that AirDog -- another follow-behind drone -- was the company that GoPro needed to beat or buy when we checked it out earlier this year. That firm could possibly release a new model that blows the Karma out of the water by November.
GoPro's new video editing suite is very familiar
It didn't take long for GoPro to make use of those mobile video editing apps it acquired back in February. The action camera maker has launched a "mobile creative suite" that, in its initial form, repurposes Quik and Splice as tools for editing your sports footage. Quik, now completely free on Android and iOS, automatically edits any video (whether or not it's from your GoPro cam) to give you ready-to-share clips. Splice, meanwhile gives iOS users deeper manual editing that includes everything from transitions to graphic overlays.
GoPro announces VR video app and livestreaming tools
It's been a busy few days for GoPro. The firm officially took the wraps off its six-camera Omni VR rig last week, snagged one of Apple's top designers, and partnered with over 100 companies with its new developer program. Today, the company revealed it's launching a channel for 360-degree/virtual reality videos called "GoPro VR," along with a version of its HEROCast wireless streaming tool for VR (called LiveVR). We also learned how much that Omni rig will set you back: $5,000 for a bundle with everything you need (six cameras, Kolor software, smart remote, cables, memory cards, etc.). If you already have enough GoPros in your kitbag, you can buy the rig on its own for $1,500, with pre-orders opening tomorrow.
The revolution in action cameras will now be stabilized
Shaky action camera footage is such a common problem that it's almost become an accepted part of the experience. There are thousands of forum threads seeking advice about what software is best for smoothing out video that's already been shot. The inevitability of the shakes is so accepted that stabilizers (known as gimbals) for GoPro cameras have become their own cottage industry -- with companies such as FeiYu Tech making names for themselves by selling products that keep your camera steady. Revl founder Eric Sanchez clearly had enough of the situation and created the 4K Arc action camera with a gimbal built right in. The Arc is currently on Indiegogo, but you can expect more cameras like this to follow.
GoPro buys mobile app makers to help your action camera editing
It's rarely fun to edit your action camera videos, and that's a big problem for GoPro -- it even cited that drudgery as a significant "inconvenience" to users when reporting its lackluster results in January. And now, it appears that the company is doing something about it. It just acquired the developers behind two mobile editing apps, Replay and Splice, for $105 million. While GoPro isn't divulging its exact plans, it tells Forbes that it needs more developers to boost its (frankly humble) video editing efforts.
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.
GoPro cuts jobs after a big drop in action camera sales
It's tough times for GoPro's fledgling empire. The action camera maker is cutting the jobs of about 7 percent of its workforce (roughly 105 people) after poor sales during the fourth quarter, particularly in the first half. It doesn't have a detailed explanation for the drop, but it recently slashed the price of the notoriously expensive Hero4 Session -- clearly, it misjudged how much people were willing to pay for the tiny cube cam.
Edit your GoPro videos on your TV with Sugarlock
Right now, if you want to share GoPro videos (or any video sitting on a memory card, and not your phone), then it usually involves a PC and some effort -- or at least some time exporting and uploading it. Sugarlock describes itself as an "action cam dock," but it's perhaps better (if less sexily) described as a dedicated video editing box you plug into your TV. The aim of which is to help you sift through your footage easily, find the best parts, and export them as sharable clips, without any of the baggage of most editing software.
Solar-powered action camera charges itself in about an hour
Mountable action cameras are pretty cool, but almost all of them share the same fatal flaw: limited battery life. At best, most cameras will only record continuously for a few hours before calling it quits for the day. What if you could get more recording time without swapping out batteries? That's the idea behind the Activeon Solar X -- a solar-powered action camera.
Kodak's 4K action cam shoots VR-ready videos (in a pair)
Spherical videos have been on Facebook and YouTube for a while now, but they're little more than a novelty. The medium should take on new meaning this year, however, once high-end VR headsets are on the market, which is why Kodak is introducing a 4K action camera today. A successor to the SP360, it's a petite cube with a 12.4-megapixel sensor and a dome-ish lens boasting a 235-degree field of view. It's designed for VR filmmakers and records in two modes -- "global," which captures an almost spherical image 360-degrees horizontally and 235-degrees vertically, or "front," which offers a more traditional wide-angle panorama in 16:9.
Sony's flagship Handycam camcorder mixes 4K with a 20x zoom
Last year, Sony took over the full-frame mirrorless camera market, thanks to high-end models such as the A7R II and A7S II. Today at CES 2016, the company's switching gears and refreshing its line of camcorders and action cameras. The latest flagship Handycam is the FDR-AX53 packs 4K video capabilities, along with a newly minted 20x optical zoom Zeiss lens and Sony's Balanced Optical SteadyShot (five-axis image stabilization) -- which will ensure whatever footage you capture isn't shaky. There's also multi-direction structure microphone for better audio and 120fps support for slow-motion movies. The FDR-AX53 is expected to be available in March for $999.
Nikon reveals its own VR-ready action camera
Nikon isn't exactly quick to jump on the latest trends, as it still lacks a mirrorless camera with a truly large sensor. However, it just filled a giant hole in its lineup by launching its first action camera: meet the KeyMission 360. As the name implies, the tiny, cube-like cam is designed from the start for 360-degree images and virtual reality. It's also toughened up like many of the incumbent offerings, with drop-proofing to 6.6 feet and waterproofing to depths of 100 feet.
GoPro's Hero4 Session camera drops to a more reasonable $199
When GoPro launched its cube-shaped Hero4 Session camera, we wouldn't have blamed you for giving it a pass. Why pay $399/£329 (eventually $349) for an action cam whose main selling point is its size? There won't be any confusion from now on, though. GoPro has dropped the price of the Session to a far more palatable $199/£160 -- that's equivalent to the lower-end Hero+ model. You still aren't getting 4K video or an LCD, but those nice-to-have features may not matter nearly as much when you're saving this much cash.
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.
GoPro shows off footage from its first camera drone
GoPro's first-ever camera drone might not be ready until the first half of 2016, but that doesn't mean it will leave you completely in the dark about what this machine can do. The action cam company has posted its first footage from a prototype of the as yet unnamed quadcopter, and it's clear that the end product will at least merit a close look. The brief teaser shows extremely stable footage, pleasing colors and a very sharp (at least 1440p) picture. These certainly aren't novel -- just ask DJI -- but it's evident that GoPro isn't messing around with its entry into robotics.
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.
HTC's quirky action camera drops to $50 (updated)
When HTC launched the Re Camera last year, it was difficult to recommend. The image quality was pretty underwhelming, especially in comparison to GoPro's extensive lineup; when you can snap similar photos with your smartphone, that's a real problem. It could have worked, however, as a cheap throwaway action camera, but its $200 price-tag made it a difficult impulse purchase. Now, that's finally changing. The waterproof device has been slashed to $50 in the US, making it a fun, rugged little snapper for the great outdoors. Instead of putting your expensive phone in harm's way, you can strap this periscope-styled device to your bike, helmet or backpack. The photos and videos it produces aren't the best, but they should be good enough to share on social media. Given the company's financial woes, we suspect HTC won't be making a sequel anytime soon either.
GoPro rewards you for sharing photos and videos of your adventures
To encourage GoPro users to share more action-packed video footage and still photos, the company is offering rewards. The GoPro Awards will give you money when your snapshots, raw video or edited footage are selected for use on the GoPro Channel or licensed for other uses. Those rewards are $500, $1,000 and $5,000, respectively, and span a smattering of nine genres including motorsports, action, adventure and more. GoPro is pretty serious about the program too, as it plans to shell out $5 million in rewards annually. The company says the awards program offers its customers a way to gain recognition for their efforts as its user base has "some of the most creative people on the planet." Ready to submit your work? Head over the Awards page to get started.
GoPro unveils a low-cost action camera with WiFi
If you've wanted a low-cost GoPro camera so far, you've had to forego wireless. That's a big sacrifice, especially when an increasing number of competitors can do more for less. The company is finally seeing the light, however. It just unveiled the Hero+, an entry-level (well, by GoPro standards) action cam that catches up in a big way. You now have to pay just $200 (£170) to get Bluetooth and WiFi instead of the usual $300-plus, which will help when you're looking for a remote control or want to send adventure footage to your phone. You'll also get a welcome upgrade to 60 frames per second 1080p video (up from the Hero's 30FPS) and a bump in still shooting from 5 megapixels to 8. The Hero+ should hit store shelves worldwide starting on October 4th, and it won't be the only relatively low-cost cam in GoPro's roster.
Add-on promises to stabilize video from nearly any camera
It's possible to stabilize your phone videos through Hyperlapse, and dedicated video editors can smooth out other shaky clips with enough time and effort. But what if you want a simple way to eliminate jitters no matter which camera you're using? SteadXP believes it can help. It's crowdfunding a namesake device that brings three-axis video stabilization to virtually any camera, whether it's an action cam, a DSLR or a pro-grade cinema cam. While many of these shooters have some kind of stabilization, SteadXP's device uses motion tracking with after-the-fact software analysis to deliver the kind of graceful, movie-like stabilization that would normally require a gimbal or steadicam.
