- Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been granted a patent (application filed in 2012) for a sports camera system that can be controlled using a phone or watch.
- The camera can be mounted on/secured to various devices, such as a bike helmet, motorcycle handlebar, or surfboard. It would also feature a "mounted mode" that adjusts for vibrations.
- Volatile GoPro (NASDAQ:GPRO) has sold off hard following the patent's publication. Dougherty, however, suggests taking the news in stride. "For starters, we note that Apple patents many, many inventions and some small percentage tend to see the light of day as an actual product. More than anything, we see a scenario in which Apple will want to have a way for users to record from their iPhones and iPads remotely using the Apple Watch as a remote."
- GoPro's mobile apps support remote camera control. The company's product line also includes its $80 Wi-Fi-based Smart Remote.
- Update (1:24PM ET): GoPro is now down 10%.
at Benzinga.com (Wed, 9:07AM)
I don't think the people who bought three months ago (down more than 30%) are smiling...
An Action camera will be worn on every ski slope in the world, if it's good.
What if apple used Ambrella tech....then where is GPRO?
Help me understand, what did GPRO do that was innovative? Oh yeah, its a media play
Yes, ultimately, this is marginalized by the relentless push to incorporate its value into other form factors, with Apple being an obvious and inevitable competitor. What that means for GoPro in the next 24 months is probably "not much". But for investors, it's going to be white-knuckle ups and downs, as this-and-that blog or analyst utters all manner of scenarios, real or imagined.
I'm not a day-trader, and can't relentlessly watch this stock -- which is what's required to make money on it. Its certainly not a buy and forget about it equity though ...
If Apple then licenses Nokia AT's supreme image stabilisation technology and goes to bed with Ambarella, good night GoPro, the famous "media company". Good if you own puts.
"Apple's invention could directly move into GoPro's territory as the patent specifically mentions the weaknesses of the GoPro devices. Specifically, the patent notes that the new camera system could be secured to various objects, such as a bike helmet or scuba mask, or mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle or the front of a surfboard."
Wait so it's capable of being attached to a bike or a surf board?! No way. Huh, you say GoPro has been doing that for 7 years or so? Oh...well nevermind. Seems like Apple hasn't really innovated anything (par for the Apple course lately).
"The new camera system also notes that an iPhone (smartphone) could be used under water to take pictures and record sounds in a water environment. Waterproofing is a given."
Wait wait, waterproof and can record underwater? GoPro did that too, already? Oh. Well nevermind.
It seems the only "innovative" thing, if you can call it that, is this:
"It is also known to provide a video camera having two lenses pointing in perpendicular directions, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,742 to Ansari et al., entitled "Video Camera Including Multiple Image Sensors." This patent describes a digital motion camera useful in teleconferencing which includes two lenses and two image sensors."
And has nothing to do with sports cameras at all but rather teleconferencing.
Sorry this is simply sell the rumor, buy the fact.
"It is known to provide rugged digital capture devices that can be secured to various objects, such as a bike helmet or scuba mask, or mounted to the handlebars of a motorcycle or the front of a surfboard. For example, the GoPro HD Hero2 digital cameras, sold by GoPro Inc, Half Moon Bay, Calif. are sold as part of an "Outdoor edition" package which includes various straps, pivot arms, and adhesive mounts to enable the digital camera to capture images while performing activities such as biking, skiing, skating and kayaking."
Sorry we're on the HERO4.This, my friend, is a "sell the rumor, sell the fact" scenario. Lower sales margins ALWAYS equal lower stock prices. Newton's laws of gravity are gonna clobber Gopro's stock price. Plus, Google and others can easily be waiting in the weeds too
And now, the weather for Wednesday...
And you are standing upright, in front of the desk?
Good luck catching a falling knife. You'll need kevlar gloves.
"For starters, we note that Apple(AAPL) patents many, many inventions and some small percentage tend to see the light of day as an actual product. More than anything, we see a scenario in which Apple(AAPL) will want to have a way for users to record from their iPhones and iPads remotely using the Apple Watch as a remote. This is a good patent for that."
Apple was not first in mp3 players or smartphones or tablets; but look what happened to once prominent names.
--AE
However being a big Apple believer with 34% of my portfolio it of course gets my attention. I've been in and out of GoPro since the IPO but feeling fairly comfortable with latest modest amount of shares averaged at $60.50. Planning to buy more as it dips lower. This news though will probably weigh on them until more big announcements on Media side if there's more coming. So I am out again save for only a few shares. Down $200+ only on the transaction and will use for another company I have right now with low price and serious potential upside. Out of places to pull funds from right now so this helps.
Wind resistance? I've kind of been wondering about that if maybe for next models along with whatever other improvements, if they might come with more of a streamlined outer water proof shell. Like truckers did years ago with the sloped wind foils in front of their big square faced trailers. Even change the camera shape a bit. The tiny profile in the first place is not creating a whole lot of drag.
http://bit.ly/1xYcHgw
Shoot first ask questions later. All for nothing.
Seems to me that it would be an easier option for Apple to buy GPRO sometime in the future.
However, the product, an integrated action camera, is not complex enough and patent protected sufficiently to prevent competitors to develop a better product since many have the knowledge and resources to compete in this category such as Apple, Samsung, Sony.