Gopro Hero 5 Software Update

[Marine Farinha]

GoProInc.[3] (marketed as GoPro and sometimes stylized as GoPRO) is an American technology company founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman. It manufactures action cameras and develops its own mobile apps and video-editing software. Founded as Woodman Labs, Inc, the company eventually focused on the connected sports genre, developing its line of action cameras and, later, video editing software. It is based in San Mateo, California.

It developed a quadcopter drone, Karma, released in October 2016. In January 2018, Karma was discontinued.[4] Also in January 2018, the company hired JPMorgan Chase to pursue the option of selling the company.[4] However, a month later, the CEO denied this. GoPro has continued its business of manufacturing action cameras.[5]

The company was founded by Nick Woodman in 2002.[10] He was motivated by a 2002 surfing trip to Australia, in which he was hoping to capture high-quality action photos but could not because amateur photographers could not get close enough or buy appropriate quality equipment at reasonable prices.[11] The 'GoPro' name came about as Woodman and his surfing friends all aspired to become professional surfers, as 'going pro' was the ultimate goal and the only way to be filmed on the water at that time.[12][13][14]The camera range was branded 'Hero' as their aim was to capture close-up action shots that made the subject look like a hero.[12]

Woodman raised a portion of his initial capital by selling bead and shell belts for under US$20 from his VW van[15] and, later, fashionable camera straps. He also received over $230,000 from his parents to invest in the business.[16][17]

In 2004, the company sold its first camera system, which used 35 mm film.[13] Digital still and video cameras were later introduced. As of 2014[update], a fixed-lens HD video camera with a wide 170-degree lens was available; two or more can be paired to create 360 video.[13][18]

In July 2016, GoPro revealed they had been acquiring expertise from three French technology firms over the previous 18 months.[22] In November 2016, the company announced it was laying off an additional 200 employees in an effort to reduce costs. The company also announced that President Tony Bates would be stepping down at the end of 2016.[23] 270 more employees were laid off in March 2017,[24] and 250 additional layoffs followed in January 2018, bringing the company's workforce to "just under 1,000".[25]

On March 30, 2011, GoPro acquired CineForm. The acquisition included the CineForm 444 video codec used in the film Slumdog Millionaire. The company claimed that the codec "makes HD and 3D editing faster and more convenient without sacrificing image quality." It was incorporated into the company's 3D Hero System shortly after the acquisition.[28][29]

In March 2013, GoPro issued a DMCA takedown notice to the website DigitalRev.com, which had posted a review[30] of its product, citing trademark use as a breach of copyright. This notice was retracted 10 days later, citing "erroneous enforcement".[31][32]

On April 28, 2015, GoPro acquired Kolor, a spherical media and virtual reality startup based in Chambry, France.[33] Kolor were the developers of Autopano, Autopano Video and Panotour. After September 14, 2018, Kolor products will no longer be for sale, and Kolor products will no longer receive updates.[34]

On May 19, 2014, GoPro filed its Form S-1 with the SEC without specifying the number of shares or their price. The company stated that they hoped to raise at least $100 million through the sale of shares, using the money to pay off debt in full ($111 million as of March 31, 2014) and "to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, technologies or assets". They said that they planned to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange using the symbol 'GPRO.'[39][40]

Woodman worked on his first camera for two years after founding the company, eventually introducing the GoPro 35mm HERO in September 2004 at San Diego's Action Sports Retailer trade show.[45] In its first year GoPro sold $150,000 worth of products.[45] In 2006 the company introduced its first Digital HERO, with 10 second video capability, and generated $800,000 in revenue. The following year GoPro sales quadrupled to $3.4 million.[45]

In 2014, the company was selling the HERO3+ in editions of different colors. It was capable of filming in 16:9 aspect ratio, supporting 4K UHD video and 12 MP still photographs.[46] The HERO4 was introduced on September 24, 2014.[47]

On September 20, 2018, GoPro came out with the HERO7 Black, which apart from providing improved stabilization over HERO6 models with HyperSmooth,[48] also featured the new form of video capturing, "TimeWarp", providing a high speed effect to the videos. HERO7 also came out with capability to stream live across multiple platforms like Facebook and YouTube .

On October 15, 2019, GoPro released the Hero8 Black, which included improved in-camera stabilization by way of Hypersmooth 2.0. The Hero8 Black introduced integrated mounting 'fingers' which could be folded down for use, and was also notable for not having an easily replaceable lens available from GoPro, though a third party replacement lens kit is available from a company called Camera Butter.[50]

In 2014, GoPro entered into discussions with DJI for a private label model built with the GoPro branding. After the failure of these negotiations, GoPro entered into an agreement with 3D Robotics (3DR) for a similar partnership based on 3DR's flight controllers. 3DR failed to meet their agreed-upon timelines. As a result, GoPro took full control of the development process in mid-2015.

Scheduled to be released early 2016, the GoPro Karma project was delayed several times before the GoPro Karma was announced with an introduction date of October 23, 2016. The Karma was released along with newer models of the HERO5 and Session cameras and features a removable handheld stabilizer (gimbal) integrated into the design. After a few customers complained about power failure during operation, GoPro recalled Karma drones and gave customers full refunds.[51]

In February 2017, GoPro re-launched the Karma Drone.[52] However, in January 2018, GoPro Inc. said that it will be cutting more than 20 percent of its global workforce and putting an end to its drone business after a disappointing fourth quarter. The company said it expects sales of about $340 million, well short of its own previous projection of as much as $480 million and the average analyst estimate of $472 million. Their revenue took an $80 million hit due to discounting for its Karma drones, as well as its Hero line of cameras, over the holiday season.[53]

In November 2017, GoPro launched the Fusion camera,[54] an omnidirectional camera which is capable of recording 360-degree footage. The Fusion was the first GoPro to feature an increased maximum resolution of 5.8K.[55] In October 2019, GoPro updated this line-up with the introduction of the GoPro MAX.

The company developed GoPro Studio, a simple video editing software to edit camera footage.[57] It was reported that GoPro intended to also become a content provider, also with a new app for the HERO5 called GoPro Quik to share, and edit videos easier.[44] You can also edit and shoot photos and videos using the GoPro app released in 2015.

In 2020 Gopro canceled their GoPro Quik software support for Windows and Mac, leaving it just to mobile devices.[58] However, in February 2024, a new version of the Quik app was released on MacOS, with a version for Windows coming later in the year.[59]

In April 2014, GoPro was listed by Adweek as one of the "Top 10 Best Brand Channels on YouTube" based on a combination of views, shares, comments and overall engagement.[60] Content is uploaded daily, an additional source of revenue for the company.[61]

As part of its transformation to a media company in 2014, GoPro created additional channels with GoPro content on YouTube, Virgin America, and Xbox Live.[43] This was extended to the PlayStation Network in 2015.[62]

The Digital HERO5 was first introduced in 2008. It had a 5 megapixel still photo sensor and supported standard definition (512384) video capture. It ran on two AAA batteries, had 16 MB of internal memory and could function with a 2 GB SD card. Its housing was rated to 100 ft/30 meters depth. Its dimensions were 2.6 1.75 1.25 inches (66 44 32 mm).[67] The camera is not designed to work with the newer HD HERO line of housings, although the standard screw mounts are indeed compatible.

The GoPro Wide HERO was the first model with a 170 wide-angle lens. It was released in 2008 alongside the Digital HERO5 and had the same 5MP sensor (2592 x 1944), capable of 512x384 at 30fps video with sound recording (up to 56 min. on a 2 GB SD card), 5MP Photos, 10s Self Timer, 3X sequence still photo burst and Auto "Photo every 2 or 5 seconds" mode. It was powered by 2 x AAA batteries (not included in the box).[68][76]

The Wide HERO was marketed with the basic camera and housing alone,[77] or bundled with accessories (as the Surf HERO,[78] Motorsports HERO Wide,[79] or Helmet HERO Wide).[80] The camera was later renamed the SD HERO 170 to emphasize the differences with the succeeding HD HERO second generation cameras.[81]

The basic HD HERO was marketed either with a basic set of accessories (case and mount) as the "Naked", or in bundles with additional accessories named for the intended purpose (such as the HD Helmet HERO, HD Motorsports HERO, and HD Surf HERO).[82] For all HD HERO variants, the camera shoots a maximum of 1080p video with a reduced field of view (127) on its 5 MP sensor.[83] Alternative resolutions for the HD HERO included 960p30, 720p60, 720p30, and 480p60, with the same wide-angle (170) view as the previous-generation Wide HERO.[69] It was first listed on January 25, 2010.

The HD HERO also offered an expansion port on the camera's rear panel, branded the HERO Bus. Optional accessories included the LCD Bakpac, which offered a small monitor that displayed and played back video, and the Battery Bakpac, which doubled the battery life of the camera.[82]

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