GoPro Might Produce Their Own Camera Drones in 2015
GoPro cameras and drones go hand-in-hand. With GoPro's easy-to-use interface and rise as the action sports athlete's go-to camera and the increasing availability of drones, the pairing is kind of a no-brainer. If a report from the Wall Street Journal is to be believed, GoPro is taking the next step in the natural pairing by producing their own GoPro-equipped drones late next year. GoPro intends to create line of multi-rotor helicopters with their own cameras pre-installed within the drone next year for an estimated $500 to $1000 price tag.
GoPro already has pre-existing relationships with various drone companies, already providing their cameras to such companies in bundle packages or deals. By taking matters into their own hands, they certainly can cut the middle man out, but at the expense of the very same companies they've supported.
The decision could further be marred with the FAA's intentions on requiring pilot's licenses to man drones for commercial use. However, if the regulation of commercial drone use isn't as bad as it may appear and GoPro is able to undercut the competition's prices, the GoPro-brand drones could be a very viable option for both the company and consumers alike.
[via PetaPixel]
GoPro Announces Three New Cameras: HERO4 Black, HERO4 Silver, HERO
GoPros have become one of the most reliable cameras to turn to for action and first-person videos. The diminutive, durable cameras have been used for everything from bike rides across the world, roller coaster rides, skydiving, concert videos, and more, helping GoPro cameras be some of the best and most popular cameras to use for video. Not wanting to rest on their laurels, GoPro announced a new suite of cameras to their line.
The "premium" camera is the GoPro HERO4 Black. With an MSRP of $500, the camera features twice the performance of its predecessor, with 4K quality video shot at 30fps, and 8.3 megapixels for video stills. Photos come in at 12 megapixels with a burst option that offers 30 photos per second. The HERO4 Black also offers a 50% faster Wi-Fi connection speed, which should allow faster upload speeds right on the spot.
The tier below the HERO4 Black is the HERO4 Silver. While it doesn't feature 4K quality videos, it does offer a built-in touch screen display to help get through those admittedly annoying GoPro menus. Like the HERO4 Black, the HERO4 Silver also features a 50% increase in Wi-Fi speeds. The HERO4 Silver retails for $399.
Finally, there's an entry-level GoPro HERO camera being offered. It comes in a permanent waterproof case that shoots videos at 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps. It also shoots photos at 5 megapixels, which is a dramatically lower quality than the HERO4 Silver and Black, but at $129, it's the perfect price for those ready to test the GoPro waters.
The new line of GoPro cameras will be available on the GoPro website on October 5th. You can watch GoPro's official announcement video below.
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GoPro Files For $100 Million IPO
When it comes to cameras, the conversation tends to revolve around the two giants in the camera world, Nikon and Canon. However, there are many companies out there that produce quality cameras. One particular company found their niche in the industry and ran with it, producing a product that many people have added to their arsenal of cameras: GoPro. From its humble beginnings to being one of the world's best selling cameras, GoPro has now announced that they have officially filed for a $100m IPO. Some say that this a rather odd time for GoPro to file with the uncertainty of the market and sales being lower from the previous year, but I guess we'll have to wait see how everything unfolds.
[via Forbes]
GoPro Announces a New Software Update Alongside New Accessories
GoPro couldn't wait to release some of their new products individually, so they decided to unleash them all at the same time. They have released some new accessories and a new software update for the all the GoPro users to have new ways to shoot, edit, and share video and images. For $40 - $50, GoPro enthusiasts can choose from two new different housing units, such as the Black Housing, which is a durable black matte mount when you want to go incognito, or if you want to go smaller can opt for The Frame.
If those mounts aren't your style, GoPro also introduced the Gooseneck mount for $20. You'd think that was it, but there is one more accessory left: the $200 Dual Hero System that houses not one but two GoPro cameras if you want to dedicate one camera for images and the other for film. With all of the new accessories, you'd think GoPro would be done, but they went ahead and released new software updates as well. To make the whole GoPro experience easier, they updated their mobile app, as well as making improvements to camera HERO3+ software.
For more detailed information on all the new accessories and software updates visit the GoPro website here.
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[Via GoPro]