Wearables Wednesday: GoPro Hero 4 Session wearable action-cam
In this week’s Wearables Wednesday spot, in a timely move GoPro has just added a new action-cam called the Hero 4 Session to its lineup and due for release on July 12. How does this relate to the mobile industry or wearables? Well, mobiles have encouraged us all to become avid photographers and hobbyist film makers, and besides being wearable (through various clips, mounts and attachments) these cameras can be controlled by the GoPro mobile app.
Besides, the Mobile Industry Review staff are huge fans of all kinds of gadgets, and the Hero 4 Session certainly fits that bill.
GoPro Hero 4 Session: a tiny yet powerful wearable camera
The newly-announced Hero 4 Session is GoPro’s latest camera that, though smaller than their current range, has just as many great features and also works with existing mounts – these are little plastic mounts that attach to all manner of things, such as motorbike helmets, surfboards, handlebars, you name it.
As an owner of a first-generation GoPro Hero (and probably due an upgrade in the near future), that’s nice move by the company as it means all those accessories should still work.
How much is the Session 4? In the US at least, it’s expected to retail for £329, which sounds a tad expensive but it’s able to capture video in full 1080p HD at 60 frames per second, 720p at 100 frames per second, or 1440p at 30 frames per second. Unlike the regular Hero 4, the Session model doesn’t support 4k video, but it’s unlikely anyone other than video editors and serious hobbyists would miss it (plus there are relatively few monitors and televisions that can show 4k content yet). The camera is also capability of taking regular 8 megapixel photos, including time-lapse shots.
GoPro cameras are extremely rugged and are able to withstand the harshest environments and treatment. The Hero Session continues this trend and is waterproof to 33 feet. The camera also doesn’t need the special waterproof housing it’s other models do, a nice development which also means that underwater audio should be clearer as the microphone isn’t hidden behind the casing.
Dual microphones complete the specs on the Session 4, and it will switch between the two automatically to reduce wind noise. There’s also a single button for simplicity – short or long presses activate different features, plus there’s a smartphone app for iOS, Windows Phone and Android to access more complex settings.
For anyone without a smartphone to hand, there’s a Smart Remote accessory (sold separately) that does pretty much the same thing and can be used to control multiple cameras from up to 600 feet!
In terms of connectivity, built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enables you to connect to the app to control everything remotely, view content and share your shots on social media sites.
From my own perspective as a keen motorcyclist, GoPro cameras are one of the best ways to record amazing footage. The latest model is smaller than ever and looks set to be another best seller.
For the lowdown on the Hero 4 Session, check out GoPro’s website.
