GoPro HD Hero 2
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GoPro remote app for iOS now available
Have one of those cool GoPro cameras that are made for capturing video of your astounding feats of athleticism and/or stupidity? You'll need an iOS device, the HD Hero2 camera and the WiFi BacPac accessory as well, but if you've got all of the components in place, the GoPro App is now available for free. What does the app let you do? Link to a HD Hero2 camera (or several) via that WiFi BacPac and control camera settings without being near the camera. It's the perfect situation if you don't want to take your helmet -- with GoPro mounted on top -- off, but would like to change from movie mode to time lapse. Or perhaps you need to change to 720p recording instead of 1080p, but don't want to take the GoPro out of the waterproof housing to do so. All the controls are available at a touch from your iOS device. While you're playing around with your GoPro and the free app, our friends at sister site Engadget remind you to also download the GoPro Protune firmware update, which lets your camera record at a higher bit rate, capture at 24 fps or adjust the video for a different look. The video below shows how the GoPro App works with your camera.
How would you change the GoPro Hero HD 2?
You can strap the GoPro HD Hero 2 to any number of things to document your extreme adventures in high definition. However, for all of the improvements in the second version, we found it to be distractingly heavy, difficult to mount and with audio that left plenty to the imagination. Still, a few days of testing, even with some aerial combat thrown in, can't match constant use over the last six months. So, why not tell us how you've found using this thing on a daily basis and if you could, what would you change about it?
GoPro's WiFi BacPac and Remote available for helmets and wrists everywhere (video)
We all know how annoying it is when you're trying to land a tre flip, and trigger your GoPro at the same time. That's no doubt why they came up with the WiFi BacPac and remote combo we saw at CES. Well, they are finally out in retailers in the US, Europe and internationally online. So double-corkers and megaloopers alike can finally control their favorite helmet cam, literally, on the fly. Not only will you get the remote convenience for $99, but smart-phone (Android and iOS) viewfinder capabilities too. A new software update will also let you stream directly to the web. Kickflip over the break to see three-times X Games skateboarding gold medalist Ryan Sheckler put the kit to the test, in a way most of us never will.
Flat-front dive housing for GoPro cameras available now, ready for your Memorial Day diving trip
Anyone looking to capture their next deep-sea adventure in high-definition video is in luck, because GoPro's new dive housing is now available to buy at its online store. We got a peek at this one during NAB 2012 a few weeks ago and were told its flat lens should cut down on vignetting and blurring. Compatible with all of its HD Hero family, the casing will set you back $50 and also up for grabs in the bricks-and-mortar likes of Best Buy, Sports Chalet and several specialist sports stores. All that remains is to recall where we left that robot submarine.
GoPro HD Hero 2's free ProTune upgrade will add 24fps and higher bitrates
On the show floor at NAB 2012 GoPro had more to show off than just a finalized version of its $99 WiFi BacPac and Remote Control kit we saw at CES, announcing a ProTune firmware update that should bring an all new level of quality to its existing HD Hero 2 cameras -- for free. Once it's released in the in the summer, the new ProTune mode will enable owners to record their video at a new 35Mbps data rate, and shoot at 24fps to more easily intercut it with other sources later. Also integral to the new software is the "CineStyle" color profile developed by Technicolor that will let pros and prosumers streamline their workflow and produce better looking videos. We got a look at some of the video shot with beta versions of the new firmware aboard and the tweaks did plenty to enhance the color balance and image quality we were already impressed by earlier this month in the desert. Unsurprisingly given the pro atmosphere here at NAB, GoPro is also continuing to push the Cineform codec it acquired last year. There are press releases after the break as well as a few more pictures in the gallery, including a few more of its new underwater dive housing (above) with a flat front to reduce blurring and vignetting.
GoPro Wi-Fi BacPac and Remote Control Kit hands-on (video)
We're certainly not going to say no to more functionality for GoPro's rugged camera units. Here at CES's Digital Experience, we've got to get a glimpse at both the WiFi BacPac and Remote Control Kit. The WiFi Bacpac does what you'd expect it to do -- but with an extra twist. Alongside WiFi connectivity, it'll also play nice with both Android and iOS devices. The apps will display any captured content immediately, with a free-to-download app that will connect with the camera. The remote control kit, meanwhile, is capable of stringing together several different cams, with a largely dual-button setup that looks an awful lot like a heart-rate monitor. Check the hands-on after the break and expect to see these arrive later this year -- price to be confirmed.
GoPro launches HD Hero2 helmet cam, announces video streaming Wi-Fi pack for winter
Want to catch every frame of your next extreme sports wipeout in all of its grotesque glory? GoPro knows where you're coming from, and has updated its line of high definition helmet cams to help you capture every bone-breaking moment. The HD Hero2 competitively boasts that it's twice as powerful its 2009 predecessor, the original HD Hero. The new helmet cam promises to capture 1080p 16:9 footage from atop your sweaty noggin at both narrow (90-degree), wide (170-degree) and medium (127-degree) angles, and can snap up to ten 11 megapixel photos per second. The camera's mini-HDMI port, composite out, USB, SD card and HERO ports will help you share the spoils of your spills when your adventure ends -- at least until this winter, when GoPro's WiFi BacPac promises to enable live broadcasting and camera control over WiFi. Best of all? The Hero2 kills the original HD Hero's confusing 3-digit code interface in favor of a simple language-based menu. The HD Hero2 comes in three $300 configurations: outdoor, motorsports, and surf editions, all of which are compatible with existing accessories. Too rich for your blood? Then you'll be happy to know that the previous models are getting price drops -- $200 for the original HD Hero and a paltry $150 for its "960" variant. Hit the break for the official PR and a full list of features.
