gopro
Latest
Engadget giveaway: Win a GoPro Hero5 Session and CyberLink software!
With all that's going on in the world, you could immerse yourself in the media or strike out to define your own narrative. This week's giveaway is a starter kit for capturing the world as you see it and editing the output to your whims. CyberLink has provided us with its Director Suite 5 software package, including PowerDirector 15 for video editing (including 4K), PhotoDirector 8 for fine-tuning still images and more for audio and color editing. This software, along with a GoPro Hero5 Session for extremely portable capture, can get you started on your next creative project. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this photo and video editing power combo, courtesy of CyberLink. Winner: Congratulations to Joel D. of Fort Collins, CO!
The best action camera
By Ben Keough This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending 20 hours testing the latest action cameras (building on the hundreds of hours Wirecutter staffers have spent with action cameras over the past three years), including hiking through the rain, attaching them to cars and bicycles, and even mounting them on a dog playing on a beach, we think the GoPro Hero5 Black is the best action camera for most people.
GoPro's Fusion spherical camera is six GoPros in one
GoPro has taken the wraps off a spherical camera called Fusion hot on the heels of Facebook's 360-degree camera launch. Unlike the brand's other action cams, Fusion is a spherical device that can capture 5.2K resolution VR and non-VR videos and photos. If you want to take a non-VR pic, you can use its OverCapture feature that punches out the composition you want from a spherical image. GoPro founder CEO Nicholas Woodman describes the device as "six GoPro cameras fused into one" and says it "represents the state-of-the-art in versatile spherical capture."
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's $100 accessory puts Karma's gimbal (almost) anywhere
When GoPro launched Karma at the end of the last year, company CEO Nick Woodman was keen to point out that it's "So much more than a drone." That statement was mostly referring to the bundled handheld grip, which uses the stabilizer from the quadcopter, bringing smooth video to ground-based activities as well. Now, there's a new member of the Karma family, with the self-explanatory name of "Karma Grip Extension Cable." The accessory (pictured on the left, above) brings the gimbal's video-smoothing skills to even more points of view. Albeit at a price.
The Honor 8 Pro is Huawei's best flagship yet
There's Huawei, and then there's Honor. While both are technically the same company, the Honor brand takes some of the best bits of Huawei's smartphones and packages them up in new devices that don't take as much of a bite out of your bank account. That's been the general distinction between the two, anyway, but the line has become blurrier as Honor has begun breaching the mid-range with smartphones like the Honor 8. And now, it's been all but scrubbed out with the announcement of the £475 (nearly $593) Honor 8 Pro today, which is every bit a new Huawei flagship.
GoPro launches its Karma drone in the UK
GoPro's foray into drone development has been troubled, to say the least. The highly anticipated Karma launched in the US last October, only to be recalled a few weeks later. The reason? Some of them were falling out of the sky (eesh). As a result, GoPro never released the product in the UK. Until now, that is. Karma has finally arrived in Britain, as well as Spain, Italy and Germany. A full drone bundle, which comes with a Hero5 Black camera, will run you 1,400 euros, or £1,200 in the UK. Otherwise you can buy the quadcopter on its own for 1,000 euros, or £870. Notably, the Karma is more expensive than we thought. Originally, the complete bundle was given a £999 price tag in the UK, but it appears that's now risen by as much as £200. We've asked GoPro for the reason behind the price hike, but suspect it's Brexit-related.
GoPro cuts another 270 jobs
Despite a disappointing earnings report at the end of 2016, GoPro now expects to land "in the upper end" of its revenue goals for the first quarter of 2017 -- somewhere in the neighborhood of $190 million to $210 million. That's the good news. The bad news, according to an announcement distributed to investors Wednesday, is that the company will lay off or eliminate another 270 jobs or open roles as it continues to look for ways to reduce operating expenses.
GoPro's deal with Huawei gives it a foothold in smartphones
Don't look now, but GoPro just shifted a little toward becoming a mobile app company. The action camera maker has struck a deal with Huawei that will see its intelligent video editor, Quik, integrated with the photo gallery app in the P10, P10 Plus and other smartphones packing newer versions of Huawei's EMUI interface. The centerpiece is a Highlights feature that uses Quik to automatically whip up a video based on your photos and videos, complete with backing music. Think of it as a more video-focused spiritual successor to HTC's Zoe.
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's troubled Karma drone is back on sale today
Surprise! GoPro's Karma drone is back on sale. GoPro recalled Karma in the run-up to the holidays last year due to instances where drones were losing power mid-flight (not cool, obviously). In early January, the company cryptically "announced" that it would give details on Karma's return in early February.
GoPro CEO: Karma returning as the 'ultimate GoPro'
2016 was a tough year for GoPro. I spoke with the company's founder and CEO, Nick Woodman, about the challenges surrounding that Karma recall, how the company hopes to come back from that and future plans for 2017. Woodman wasn't shy about admitting the recall was "embarrassing." But he's optimistic that there's still a place for Karma. The company is determined not just to put it back on the market but make it more competitive than before with new features and updates -- potentially as soon as its relaunch (likely in February).
GoPro will outline the Karma drone's future in February
GoPro has mostly been silent about its Karma drone's return following a recall in November, but it's finally ready to start talking... well, almost. The action camera maker has revealed that it will detail the Karma's worldwide relaunch sometime in early February. GoPro isn't saying much at this point, but it's close to completing its investigation of the Karma's power loss issues and expects the robotic flyer to hit shelves in 2017. Vague, we know.
Drones and RC kayaks offer fresh views of the ocean
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has gotten a few more tech upgrades. Scientists aboard research vessel Sally Ride recently tested a pair of drones and a remote control kayak in an effort to get different views and readings of their subjects.
Yi Technology's next action camera promises to capture 4K at 60fps
Action cameras get more impressive with each generation, but 4K support has always been a bit shaky. So far, the best cameras on the market have only been able to shoot in UHD footage at 15-30 fps, forcing users to step down to 2.7K resolutions for a smoother experience. Next month, that could change: Xiaomi-backed GoPro competitor Yi has just announced that it will reveal a new action cam at CES 2017 that can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second.
New in our buyer's guide: the Pixel and Pixel XL, and more!
Nope, we're not done adding phones to our buyer's guide. Hot on the heels of inducting the new iPhones (and before that, the Galaxy S7 and HTC 10), we're tossing in both of the new Google phones, the Pixel and Pixel XL. While we're at it, we decided the PlayStation VR deserved a spot in our gaming section right alongside other premium virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. At the opposite end of the price spectrum, the $50 Amazon Echo Dot is a great value at that price. Lastly, GoPro -- a staple company in this list -- earns a spot for its newest flagship action camera, the Hero5 Black. Find all that in more in our buyer's guide, and stay tuned for our next round of additions, likely sometime after CES.
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.
Refs will wear GoPros for Fox's Big Ten championship broadcast
During this weekend's Big Ten football championship game, Fox Sports will offer fans a different kind of on-field views during its coverage of the match-up. When Wisconsin and Penn State take the field Saturday, December 3rd, referees will be wearing hats equipped with GoPros to give fans another perspective of the action on the gridiron. The network says it worked alongside GoPro and Big Ten officials on a hat that would capture footage it could use immediately during its broadcast.
GoPro cuts jobs and closes its entertainment division
GoPro has been facing tough times lately, and that's unfortunately translating to layoffs. The action camera maker is cutting 15 percent of its workforce as part of a restructuring move, including both 200 existing positions and the cancellation of yet-to-be-filled job openings. The reorganization will also lead to the closure of GoPro's entertainment division -- the company's dreams of becoming a media empire will have to wait.
GoPro has a voice-controlled remote for its voice-controlled cameras
One of the reasons we gave both of GoPro's new cameras -- the Hero5 Black and Hero Session -- good scores is that they both allow you to use voice control to do things like start and stop recording, take photo bursts, set a highlight tag, shoot pictures, change modes and switch the camera off. In our tests, we found that the feature works well, although on blustery days wind noise can prevent the camera's microphones from picking up the sound of your voice. In part to address that sort of problem, GoPro just unveiled the Remo, a voice-controlled remote meant to be used with its new voice-controlled cameras. Like the Hero5 Black itself, the clip-on remote is waterproof, albeit to 16 feet here instead of 33. It also responds to the same commands as the two cameras, in 10 languages.
