http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/13/10763952/gopro-lays-off-seven-percent-of-its-staff-warns-of-poor-sales

Maybe the time has come when customers finally realised that the pictures they took of junior skiing or surfing were not so goodlooking than films from GoPro with high preprod and postprod work ? 

geez -- I was going to post about this yesterday ...

Seems that they produced for the Xmas selling season a crappy overpriced camera -- the Hero 4 Session -- that they thought would be positioned to compete against the cheap Chinese clones -- except that they sold it for $400.

Or at least that's the price they dreamt of selling it for.

The Hero 4 Session makes GoPro 3+ quality video in a smaller simplified form factor.  It does not produce UHD or 4K. 

Though BestBuy (the largest bricks & mortar retailer) still has it listed for nearly $400 -- most everywhere else its selling for half that --  $200.

Perhaps they realized that a hypothetical GoPro 5 could not be noticeably better than the current GoPro4 Black without it being unaffordable.

As it is they wildly overestimated demand, and have a crazy amount of mispriced inventory in their warehouses (primarily Sessions).

Their stock is now at about half its IPO price -- down from about 60 last August.

Ouch. 

 

 

That Session GoPro was a big bust. Like the Canon XC10 4K "thing". Also, with all the Chinese clones out there producing "ok" video for 1/4th the price (albeit 1080), why not? And you get a ton of accessories with those cameras without shelling out more money. Need some extra batteries? Dirt cheap.

I've had an original SJ4000 since it first came out. Footage comparable to Hero2 for 1/5th the price. Yes, with the Hero2, bought LCD screen, extra battery and Outdoors edition. $500. On second dive in Adriatic Sea, flood. GoPro tech unresponsive. $500 gone. Never again. SJ4000 still working and paid under $100 with every attachment and 2 extra batteries. Built in LCD screen. 

 

I think Sony with stabilised action cams are holding the truth.

jeez -- you guys are so last year ...

The new next thing is 360° video -- Nikon announced a decent camera at CES -- and GoPro has promised its own version for later this year (the GoPro5 ???).

Nikon is calling theirs the KeyMission 360 -- it does 4K  360° immersive video -- though no price yet.

   

A vomiting smiley is missing in this forum.

BTW, Kodak was here before Nikon : http://kodakpixpro.com/Americas/cameras/actioncamera/sp360.php

Kodak? You mean this?

saby:

A vomiting smiley is missing in this forum.

BTW, Kodak was here before Nikon : http://kodakpixpro.com/Americas/cameras/actioncamera/sp360.php

I'm vaguely aware of that Kodak camera Saby.  I mentioned it in the GoPro thread 15 months ago -- and again in that thread's most recent (last) post ... 

It sells for a reasonable $250. Though decent and fairly priced,  its more proper to call it a 180° camera -- not 360°.

And as such it really loses most of the rationale for this kind of device. 

A true 360° camera recreates a compelling immersive experience. One that can be nearly psychotically overwhelming when done right. An experience I've gotten a small taste of through Google Cardboard -- an incredibly fun, mind blowing way to see VR for under $3. (I urge folks to watch a VR climb of Yosemite's rock face.)  

Nikon's KeyMission 360 is very cleverly mating two 4K cameras to capture its 360° -- it should be qualitatively far far beyond what the Kodak can do. I hope it will be sold for under $500.

I'm expecting high quality VR (virtual reality) to eventually be a major subcategory of video -- maybe in about two years. It will play an increasingly important role in entertainment, education, and advertising. Few people have yet seen how incredible this stuff can be. Initially it will primarily get used in gaming, training, and allowing users to for example experience a house they're thinking purchasing -- or a car, a vacation destination, a resort, or cruise ship.

It won't displace conventional movies or video -- but will become a distinct and powerful sub branch of entertainment -- allowing everyone to safely experience virtually, the craziness that Red Bull adrenalin junkies regularly capture on their GoPros -- but letting us come along as full participants.

Ordinary users could capture VR of their bike trips to Zion National Park -- and years later be able to completely relive it again.      

3D was a superficial fad -- VR is not.

I hope that Kodak Super 8 camera succeeds -- but I can't imagine it will.

When I saw the announcement I was incredulous. No matter the quality, how can any modern camera succeed when it only records about 3 minutes in total per film cartridge ??? And where I'd estimate its likely to cost somewhere around $25-50  for the raw cartridge, processing, digital transfer, etc.

In addition to the camera which will likely cost about $700.

Sadly -- very sadly -- the era for consumer Super 8 is long past.

 

 

BARYE:

Sadly -- very sadly -- the era for consumer Super 8 is long past.

 

They said the same about Vinyl....

The Kodak super8 camera will appeal to some old timers, but I can see film schools using it. Back then, you had  to actually plan your shots to make the most out of film.

And yes, there is a resurgence in vinyl... 

Tony P:

The Kodak super8 camera will appeal to some old timers,

...and Hipsters

Sorry to disagree with you Jeff.... they can't afford it!

I know film schools will opt for it to train film students making them actually learning their art.

jjn:

BARYE:

Sadly -- very sadly -- the era for consumer Super 8 is long past.

 

They said the same about Vinyl....

And the same about oil lamps. A nice shimmering and smelling light that no LED can't reproduce.

Tony P:

Sorry to disagree with you Jeff.... they can't afford it!

Given what they are willing to pay for their coffee, I don't agree.

Ok... you got me there.... the NY hipsters have zero money.

Tony P:

Ok... you got me there.... the NY hipsters have zero money.

That's because they drink too much coffee.

....I guess that comes with that hat they wear too....

BARYE:

I'm vaguely aware of that Kodak camera Saby.  I mentioned it in the GoPro thread 15 months ago -- and again in that thread's most recent (last) post ... 

It sells for a reasonable $250. Though decent and fairly priced,  its more proper to call it a 180° camera -- not 360°.

And as such it really loses most of the rationale for this kind of device. 

A true 360° camera recreates a compelling immersive experience. One that can be nearly psychotically overwhelming when done right. An experience I've gotten a small taste of through Google Cardboard -- an incredibly fun, mind blowing way to see VR for under $3. (I urge folks to watch a VR climb of Yosemite's rock face.)  

Nikon's KeyMission 360 is very cleverly mating two 4K cameras to capture its 360° -- it should be qualitatively far far beyond what the Kodak can do. I hope it will be sold for under $500.

I'm expecting high quality VR (virtual reality) to eventually be a major subcategory of video -- maybe in about two years. It will play an increasingly important role in entertainment, education, and advertising. Few people have yet seen how incredible this stuff can be. Initially it will primarily get used in gaming, training, and allowing users to for example experience a house they're thinking purchasing -- or a car, a vacation destination, a resort, or cruise ship.

It won't displace conventional movies or video -- but will become a distinct and powerful sub branch of entertainment -- allowing everyone to safely experience virtually, the craziness that Red Bull adrenalin junkies regularly capture on their GoPros -- but letting us come along as full participants.

Ordinary users could capture VR of their bike trips to Zion National Park -- and years later be able to completely relive it again...

 

 

"Kodak" -- (or at least the company that rents that name) yesterday posted a new video that MUCH more fully presents its potential. And its impressive on many levels. (and it helps that the video also features beautiful Japanese women too!).

Interestingly the video does not emphasize the 3d aspect so much. But the video does show use scenarios that are different and sometimes more valuable than a normal GoPro's.

Mentioned in the annotation is that the camera can shoot 4K -- something I hadn't heard previously. Its video is also shown being used with Google Cardboard -- again something I hadn't until now seen.

The video LOOKS good -- but I'm not certain it was FULLY shot with their SP360. If it was, then its an impressive little tool.

Other video on their YouTube channel site -- like this one shot in an airplane -- show things shot with two SP360 cameras, presumably back to back to overcome the 180° limitation I talked about earlier. Scrolling 360° within YouTube works surprisingly well if you've a fast connection. 

Though I would still wait for the Nikon, depending on its price this could make a fun gadget to add to a bag of tricks.

 

 

BARYE:

(and it helps that the video also features beautiful Japanese women too!)

It can't have been filmed in Japan. The video shows that cars are driven on the right side of the road (in Japan it's left like in the UK).

Good catch ... 

(in no way does this invalidate BARYE's legendary infallibility !!!) 

 

BARYE:

Other video on their YouTube channel site -- like this one shot in an airplane -- show things shot with two SP360 cameras, presumably back to back to overcome the 180° limitation I talked about earlier. Scrolling 360° within YouTube works surprisingly well if you've a fast connection. 

You're wrong.

Placing back to back 2 SP360 allows to shoot in all directions. Front, rear, above, bottom, left, right.

One single SP360 placed on a table can actually shoot all around itself (front, rear, right, left and above) except below it. The angle of view is hemispherical. Look at 1 minute 22 seconds ( and close to the end too) in this demo video. It shows simultaneously the 3 shooting modes.

I do own original footage that were edited to make this demo video. I can share them with you if you want.

saby:

...One single SP360 placed on a table can actually shoot all around itself ...

 

Depending on the context, having all 4 dimensions -- including below -- is a critical part of metaphysically recreating the sense of virtual immersion that psychologically pulls you into and makes you "believe" that you're in and a part of,  an environment.

Uninhibited, unrestricted, fluid movement and interaction is a critical element in making your mind "buy into" the experience. 

But perhaps I'm wrong -- with only a single camera sensor / hemisphere this camera achieves all that, including seeing behind itself -- (apparently using new Euro-physics secretly discovered at Cern    ...and I thought they were only chasing BARYE particles ...)

 

You partially quote my post.

Swindling is bad ! Shame on you ! You won't have your bananas for lunch !   

saby:

You partially quote my post.

...You won't have your bananas for lunch !   

 

its you hairless simians whom I hold responsible for denying BARYE his favorite food ... 

 

 

I've just watched a demonstration of Microsoft's new HoloLens holographic Augmented Reality (AR) headset.

It shows how the HoloLens could be a compelling product if it can be brought to users with this demonstrated capability and fluidity -- and at a reasonable price  ($300 - $400 ??).

Augmented Reality (AR) is a distinct and different experience than VR (virtual reality).

VR is all encompassing and transportive to a different, fully imagined reality -- one your brain persuasively accepts because the motion of your head, eyes, and body harmoniously reinforce the illusion.

Whilst VR is encompassing and enclosed, AR is open -- and can interact and use the physical objects, furniture, walls, etc of the room you're in.

AR can also act as a mentor or guide -- superimposing its guiding cues and information over what the user is seeing. 

A surgeon wearing an AR headset could be assisted in doing surgery, a mechanic repairing a broken car engine, or an electrician troubleshooting a windmill's electrical generator. Soldiers in combat or drone operators could use AR headsets to more effectively find, understand, and neutralize threats -- while lessening the danger to non-combatants. AR could be a hyper museum guide to help visitors to more fully appreciate an exhibit.

Or as seen in the demo -- create extraordinary new interactive games and experiences like that could never before be imagined.

Both VR and AR have mind blowing potential -- and it won't be long before we'll have a chance to experience them for ourselves.