Tag: GoPro

Xiaomi Gears to Take on GoPro With its Own Action Camera

GoPro has created a unique market for itself. It is almost reminiscent of the time when iPod came out and enjoyed the first-mover advantage. In the past few years, GoPros have gained pop culture prominence. Their cheap price tag and amazing ability to withstand extreme pressure has made it a darling of the adrenaline junkies and self-obsessed selfie-clickers alike. Other companies are trying to create a foothold in the action camera market. Recently, we saw HTC come out with its RE camera. Now, Chinese powerhouse Xiaomi is contemplating a dip into the action camera market.

If rumors are to be believed, Xiaomi’s action camera is expected to record 30 fps 4K videos, as well as 120 fps 1080p videos. The camera has a 138-degree wide angle lens. GoPro recently added 4K video recording feature in its new line of products. Xiaomi might use its brand recognition and its business tactics to disrupt GoPro’s market enough to squeeze in.

Xiaomi’s action camera will support micro-SD cards up to 128 GB. The device has pretty much everything to attract an action sports enthusiast. Using the 120 fps capability of the camera, one can take amazing slow motion pictures.

The camera is expected to come out first in China at a price of RMB 999, which translates to around Rs. 10,000, which is again an attractive price for a device of such caliber. It is expected to come out by the year end. We’ll be keeping a vigilant eye on the developments of this device.

November 8, 2014
GoPro Hero4 : Ups a Number and the Frame Rate

GoPro’s have taken us from being mere spectators of awesome action sports to first person observers. Watching the huge repository of GoPro videos on the internet, you can almost feel the adrenaline rushing through your veins. They are incredibly convenient and using them in drones is letting people get movie-like aerial shots for their home videos. Now GoPro is taking its pocket-sized badass cameras to the next level.

The company’s latest offering, the Hero4 lineup builds on the legacy and comes with great new upgrades. On the top of the line-up is the Hero4 Black, which comes at a price of $499. It shoots 4K video at up to 30 frames per second giving you some incredible eye-popping visuals. Apart from that, it shoots Full HD (1080p) at 120 frames per second so you can play with some slow-motion action shots. And of course, it offers 12-megapixel photos for folks who want a selfie at an epic destination.

Hero4 Silver comes with a touchscreen display.

Next in line is the GoPro Hero4 Silver, priced at $399. Most of its specs are similar to the Hero4 Black apart from the fact that it shoots 4K at 15 fps. The feature that will entice most customers to get this device is the built-in touchscreen LCD screen. For other GoPro models, you need to buy this additional screen for $80.

Last, but not the least, is the GoPro Hero. It costs a mere $130 but lets you shoot 1080p at 30 fps and 720p videos at 60 fps so you can still get great footage off these. It also lets you take 5 MP images at five frames per second.

To offer pure, effortless adventure shooting, the cameras shoot on MicroSD cards and work 40 meters underwater. With these, underwater shooters can say goodbye to the massive and expensive camera housings, they need to carry underwater with the risk of them getting destroyed.

There is also a phone application called GoPro app which can be used to control your camera remotely, view and share your content, and watch the GoPro Channel. Using this app you can turn your phone into a remote viewfinder for your camera. There are multiple kinds of accessories that you can buy for all your action shooting needs. Though they will set you back $20 to $80 per accessory. The new Hero line-up will be ready for shipping by October 5th, just in time for you to get one to capture the Diwali fireworks.

Check out the amazing visuals shot from the new generation GoPro’s:

September 30, 2014
GoPro Introduces Impressive New Housing For 3D Capture
The maker of “the world’s most versatile camera” unveiled a new system that accommodates two cameras at the same time, adding a bit to the adventure. The housing can accommodate two HERO 3+ Black Edition cameras enabling you to capture full-resolution video and photos simultaneously while not compromising the image quality. While the Dual system won’t be available for a while, GoPro also introduced two new housings plus a flexible mount that should appeal to a number of users, especially divers.

By having two separate cameras housed in the Dual HERO System, you will be able to record video and still images at the same time. Having the two cameras focused on the same subject, it will make the recording of 3D video that much easier.

Not only will the Dual Hero system capture synchronized footage that can be converted to 3D, the set up will also allow you to capture simultaneous photo and video footage. You can already do that to a point with a standard camera, but the Dual system allows for full quality photo and video to be taken at once.

GoPro has also thrown in a pair of free 3D anaglyph glasses with this Dual HERO System , so you will be able to edit or view the footage straight from a 3D compatible monitor or television. Made from the same waterproof material, it works on a single interface so that you can control both unit through only one camera’s settings and modes. The new Dual Hero is waterproof upto 60 meters and has been built to withstand wet, damp or dirty conditions. This system has more perks some of them are mentioned below:
- Integrated Mini USB port enables data offload, battery charging and live-feed video when used with the included Skeleton Backdoor
- Includes two sets of Curved + Flat Adhesive Mounts for mounting to your gear
- Includes two pairs of 3D anaglyph glasses for viewing your 3D content
- Compatible with most GoPro mounts
- Compatible with the GoPro App and Wi-Fi Remote
Requiring a GoPro Composite or Combo Cable, you will be able to accesses the Dual HERO System’s integrated Mini USB port for data offload, battery charging, and live-feed video to an external monitor.

You can get your hands on it for $200. The HERO+ Black cameras will be sold separately. The system is available on the official website for sale.
June 28, 2014
GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman on Building a Google Glass-style Wearable

GoPro is a brand of high-definition personal cameras, often used in extreme action video photography. They are known for being lightweight, rugged or mountable in unusual places such as outside planes, cars, or boats.

In an interview with Nicholas Woodman(CEO for GoPro), he was asked whether GoPro is working on a Google Glass style product, he suggested that while the company is looking at the space it’s more with a view to thinking about how to interoperate with those type of devices, rather than making a dedicated pair of GoPro Glasses itself.

I think what’s going to be exciting is you’re going to see more of these products working together,” said Woodman. “You already see it with GoPro and smartphones and people often ask me are you afraid of the smartphone? And the answer is no — the smartphone is helping our business because it’s killing traditional cameras… which is opening up retail shelf space for GoPro and opening up consumer dollars for GoPro.”

”GoPro is used in a totally different way to a traditional camera, and then beyond that the smartphone makes for an incredible video remote control for a GoPro right?” said Woodman. “Now I can preview and control my GoPro with my smartphone, playback my videos and share them directly from the smartphone. Never needing to hook my GoPro to a computer.

“And then you think of things like Glass and what not — a Glass-like product become terrific heads-up hands-free remote control devices for the GoPros and I think it’s just going to become more and more enabling and you’re going to be able to use your GoPro in even more versatile ways thanks to these complementary products.”

Woodman said the company is not feeling complacent about potentially having a Mountain View sized competitor, in the not too distance future. ”We’ve very careful to be very appreciative for the success that we have right now but also we still wake up sacred every morning. You know we’re smart but we’re not that smart. Fear drives you a lot harder than success does,” he added.

Nicholas does not seem to take Glass as its competitor, instead he sees Glass (or other wearables) as an excellent way for folks to interact with GoPro cameras.

During the interview he was asked which is the best video he has ever seen recorded by the GoPro, he said there are many but the one that come first in mind is :

[youtube id=”LStXdttFj_o” width=”100%” height=”300px”]

September 12, 2013