GoPro might have some serious competition in the very near future. And by serious we mean really serious, as their competition could be coming from the biggest company in the world; Apple.
And just what is it that Apple is planning on tackling next? Action cameras of course. And it‘s just there were the headache for GoPro is sure to start.
As of yesterday, Apple are now the owners of a patent for a “˜remote controlled action camera‘, which, according to various sources will be in direct competition with GoPro‘s flagship Hero cameras.
The patent for these action cameras was already filed in 2012. They are reportedly designed to work as a stand-alone camera, as well as a remote controlled camera. This remote controlled function will come in handy when the camera is either mounted onto another device, or is in a difficult position or the user to actually press the button.
Interestingly enough, the patent also mentions that the camera will be able to link with a “˜watch-like device‘ to use as a remote. Of course we all know what that is referring to – hello, Apple Watch!
Other features included in the patent are a microphone as well as an underwater microphone that can record sound underwater. Thus making it possible for the user to record from the land to the water and back. An all round r=sound recording feature.
Apple seems to be taking a no holds barred approach to their actin cameras. In the patent, they specifically list weaknesses in the GoPro models that they intend on fixing (or bettering) with their cameras.
Some of these “˜weaknesses‘ that Apple intend to better include adding multiple mounting points as well as multiple camera sensors – which will mean that the video will capture from different directions.
The pressure Apple is putting on GoPro is already evident – even if they don‘t have a product yet, and merely a patent. GoPro‘s stock took quite the dive yesterday, after the news of Apple‘s approved patent broke.
We will have to sit patiently an see what Apple comes up with. As for GoPro, we‘re sure there is a lot nail-biting going on over at HQ.
Source: The Next Web
