GoPro has unveiled a new drone, adding a new dimension to the action-and-adventure film-making it’s become famous for through tiny, cube-shaped cameras, and sparking a rally for the company’s flagging stock. The Karma drone, priced at $799, fits into a small, included backpack, and features a detachable camera stabilizer as well as a game-style controller with a display to show the live feed from the drone’s camera.
“Thanks to Karma, we’re entering a new era of high quality user generated content,” Chief Executive Officer Nick Woodman said at an an event in Squaw Valley, California.
GoPro, based in San Mateo, California, also also introduced the latest iterations in its Hero camera line, the $399, waterproof Hero5 Black, and the Hero5 Session at $299. GoPro could also disrupt the drone market that’s so far been dominated by Chinese manufacturer SZ DJI Technology Co. and countless upstarts that are flooding the market with cheap drones, from $10 mini toys to sub-$100 camera carriers.
Shenzhen-based DJI has been developing its drones for almost a decade, and its most advanced quadcopters are featured in Apple’s stores and websites. Drones are still largely novelty items, yet manufacturers are betting that they can capture a part of the consumer drone market that’s estimated to reach $4.19 billion by 2024.
The company also announced the latest editions of its popular action cams, the HERO5 Black and the HERO5 Session. Both of the new cameras can shoot with video resolution up to 4K at 30 frames per second and can be mounted on the drone. The new cameras can upload photos and videos while charging to GoPro’s cloud-based subscription service that allows users to store, edit and share their content.
