Portable Video camera convergence

Bell and Howell was one of the first companies to make a "portable video camera" back in the 1930's (http://www.bellhowell.com/). However, back then the definition of "portable video camera" was much different than  now. The camera weighed at least five pounds and was even bigger than what some cinema cameras are these days.

 Now the average portable video camera is no bigger than an Iphone and takes great 1080p video. GoPro pretty much runs the market on action sport cameras these days, but if they aren't careful they may lose their edge.

With the advancing technology of smartphone and tablet software, Action Sport Cameras are FINALLY beginning to integrate and use each other! The Iphone and the Android phones were released and we are just beginning to see the potential that they have. Just recently action sport cameras thought they were cool if they had a remote control that could start and stop the camera wirelessly. Then, GoPro came a long with a great idea and thought hmmmm maybe we can play off of these smartphones and use that as a remote control to stop and start the camera. GoPro is now in the process of releasing their WiFi backpack, and what i mean by "in the process" is the tantalizing update on their website that said it was going to be released in february, then it moved to March, and now it is moved to April. I think i actually know why they keep pushing back the date, well, at least i hope i do. You see, GoPro's WiFi Backpack enables the user to download an App on their Iphone, tablet, or computer and wirelessly pause or record their camera through their smart device. The user can also start and stop up to 50 GoPro cameras at once.  The other cool thing about the new convergence between GoPro camera and smartphone is live wireless video streaming. This means that wherever ones device can pick up WiFI, it can stream the video from the GoPro straight to the smart device and then to the web (http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/wi-fi-bacpac-remote-combo/). When GoPro announced this feature it was huge! This would be the first consumer grade video camera that can be run via smartphone or device. Unfortunately, GoPro missed a couple easy upgrades that would make this new convergence even better.

Gobandit is another brand of action sport portable video camera that is working on smartphone convergence. But they looked at the obvious lack their of feature that most action sport cameras dont have, which is a freaking VIEWFINDER! Gobandit is playing off of GoPro's idea and making it even better by making an app for a smartphone that not only allows one to use the smartphone as a remote but it allows the user to use the nice little 3 point whatever inch by who the hell knows what awesome LCD screen that most people carry in their pocket (Cell Phone) and wirelessly use that third or fourth screen as a VIEWFINDER for the Gobandit camera (http://gobandit.com/iphone.html)!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank Joseph Smith or whoever that a camera company has finally figured out how to utilize this! If only now the DSLR cameras would make a cord that would go from the camera to an Ipod or Ipad so we could use that third or fourth screen as an external monitor. The app also allows the user to playback the video they recorded on their third or fourth screen!

This is why i think GoPro is putting off the release of their Wifi Backpack. I think they are trying to figure out how to make their camera use a smartphone or an Ipad as an external monitor or viewfinder, or so i hope. From my point of view this is the definition of the whole convergence idea. Making smartphones, computers, and cameras and whatnot all be able to communicate with each other! This is where our society is heading and man i cant wait for this to be mainstream. The main thing I am looking forward to is using my Ipad as an external monitor for my new Canon 5d mark III, that i am hopefully going to get haha. With all the other cool shit we can do, it only makes sense to be able to go through and make something like that happen. We just have to remember, that third and fourth screens are relatively new, and we havent even come close to finding their full potential.