In recent years, GoPro has become the world’s leading manufacturer of video cameras that can be used in extreme-action circumstances such as snowboarding, BMX, and scuba diving. In fact, GoPro’s role in the sports world has expanded to the point where nearly every sport has made or makes use of the company’s cameras due to their versatility and high resolution. But despite all of their amazing features and seemingly endless use, there are things that GoPro cameras cannot do — namely, analyze the videos that are recorded using them, and provide info such as distance travelled, speed, and more.
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Until now. By recently becoming part of the GoPro Developer Program, Polar — a leading wearable sports and fitness tech company — is set to introduce GoPro functionality into its V800, a GPS sports watch that can be worn for all of the activities that GoPros tend to be used for.
Introducing the #GoPro Developer Program! Celebrating the innovative work of our community https://t.co/9Uv7jw23hfhttps://t.co/tXxpOUjEZ6
— GoPro (@GoPro) April 14, 2016
The integration between Polar and GoPro will finally allow for the presence of advanced metadata in GoPro video footage, as whatever metrics are recorded by a V800 connected to a GoPro will become part of that GoPro’s recording. On top of that, the partnership allows basic GoPro actions, such as taking pictures and zooming in and out, to be done on the V800 itself, giving users the opportunity to remotely control their cameras while enhancing their final product.
We’re working to bring @GoPro connectivity to #PolarV800! Here’s a flavor of what’s to come. https://t.co/flirGzYgFy pic.twitter.com/edmdl9lt3c
— Polar (@PolarGlobal) April 14, 2016
With GoPro officially dominating the market for extreme-action cameras, it was only a matter of time before the tech giant began outsourcing to enhance the capabilities of its cameras. And for that reason, GoPro has inaugurated the GoPro Developer Program, which Polar is only a small part of — the program will also see GoPro work with BMW and Fisher-Price, among almost 100 other companies. The Developer Program’s stated goal is to increase GoPro’s overall reach by way of new apps, products (like mounts and carriers), and more, all of which third-party companies will be able to take advantage to enter the market that GoPro is already in.
GoPro cameras make extreme sports action perpetually enjoyable — they allow their users to rewatch a scuba trip or a snowboard run infinitely many times, and they give the rest of us the ability to vicariously partake in those activities. So this GoPro Developer Program, starting with the partnership between GoPro and Polar, will be interesting to monitor as the synergy between both companies makes sense on paper.