Sunday, February 26, 2017

GoPro's deal with Huawei gives it a foothold in smartphones


Don't look now, but GoPro just shifted a little toward becoming a mobile app company. The action camera maker has struck a deal with Huawei that will see its intelligent video editor, Quik, integrated with the photo gallery app in the P10, P10 Plus and other smartphones packing newer versions of Huawei's EMUI interface. The centerpiece is a Highlights feature that uses Quik to automatically whip up a video based on your photos and videos, complete with backing music. Think of it as a more video-focusd spiritual successor to HTC's Zoe.
Appropriately, GoPro is sprucing up the stand-alone Quik app for Android and iOS users. There's an easier editing flow with new options to both personalize and stylize videos (similar to what P10 owners get), and it should be easier to pick songs and fine-tune the sound.
The Huawei move certainly doesn't signal an exit from hardware any time soon -- that's GoPro's bread and butter. Along with the Karma drone, however, it does signal a further attempt to diversify beyond GoPro's original camera business. Success with partnerships like this not only puts GoPro's technology in front of more people, it gives the company a source of revenue that isn't tied to its device release cycles -- it might not have to worry so much about taking its time with a new camera.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

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