GoPro News: Wearable Camera Company Working on a Virtual Reality Device and Drone
GoPro announced Wednesday that it was working on two new project -- a virtual reality device and a quadcopter drone, Tech Crunch reported.
The virtual reality device would combine six GoPro Hero cameras working together for one spherical shot. GoPro's CEO Nick Woodman said that when Facebook bought Oculus, a company that is making its own virtual reality device, that the "gauntlet was dropped."
This is when GoPro started to work on a virtual reality device of their own.
Woodman also said that GoPro is working on a software that will allow users to automatically sync their GoPro footage to the cloud. The software is in its alpha stages and is still being tested out, but according to Woodman this would eliminate the need for GoPro users to use SD cards or USB cords to upload their footage.
GoPro is also developing a quadcopter drone in order to take aerial photos with GoPro cameras.
"It seemed natural to us that we're in the GoPro enabling business and drones are the ultimate GoPro accessory ... that was all the rationale we needed to say OK. It's core enough to our business to make sense to make our own," Woodman said.
Woodman noted that GoPro cameras will continue to be compatible with other drones.
GoPro users have enjoyed making videos with GoPro cameras attached to drones, so it is logical that GoPro would make their own drone. Earlier this fall, the Wall Street Journal had the initial report that GoPro planned on making their own drones.
Woodman did not announce a price on the quadcopter drone, but said it would be available sometime after the middle of next year.
The virtual reality devices will be available this year.
This is really going to be most appealing for production companies and prosumers," Woodman said.
Woodman said that the six-camera virtual reality unit will be "DSLR-class" so it could cost between $1,500-$2,000.
Last month, GoPro announced the acquisition of Kolor, a company that builds software for virtual reality and the processing of spherical video. Woodman said with GoPro camera's and Kolor's software, the company will be able to capture, create and share spherical content.
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