No, it's not a periscope or an asthma inhaler. It's the new Re camera introduced by HTC, and it's not the anti-GoPro either.
At HTC's Double Exposure event on Wednesday, HTC CEO Peter Chou explained that its odd-looking and oddly named camera is not the competitor to the very popular GoPro cameras. He tells users if they want to take a video of themselves diving from a cliff down a 10-meter plunge into the Pacific Ocean, they should use a GoPro. But if they simply want to capture their life's fondest memories on photo or video without having to look at a screen all the time, they should use the Re.
This is why one of the camera's most prominent features, aside from its appearance, is the absence of a viewfinder. Instead, HTC puts in a 146-degree super wide angle lens to capture all imagery within that field of vision, allowing users to focus on their child blowing the candle on the cake during their seventh birthday while recording the moment just the same but without having to look through the viewfinder or stare at the screen.
"We are taking you out from behind the viewfinder and putting you back where you belong, at the heart of the action," says Peter Chou, CEO of HTC during the event.
For users who want to take a look at exactly what their Re is recording, they can use the Re companion app that's soon to be available for Android and iOS devices. This is also where they can customize all the settings on their camera, from resolution settings to firmware updates. The app can connect to the Re via Bluetooth but needs a Wi-Fi connection to stream content from the camera to the smartphone.
The periscope-style camera is simple enough to operate. Users can simply pick up the Re and it will come to life, thanks to a capacitive panel that activates when touched. If users are wearing gloves, they can simply press the big silver button on the rear. It's the same button for taking a photo by pressing once or a video by pressing and holding for a couple of seconds. In both cases, an audio cue tells users they did the right thing.
Image-wise, the 16-megapixel Re can capture high-definition 1080p imagery at 30 frames per second. It's not much compared to GoPro Hero 4's ability to shoot HD videos at 120 frames per second, or even the 60 frames per second videos on the Hero 3+. Users can take up to 1,200 photos or an hour and a half of continuous video before the 820mAh battery has to be charged through the microUSB port at the bottom of the device. Next to that is a microSD slot that comes with an 8GB card, but users can expand storage up to 128GB. The Re camera can also be mounted on a tripod, perfect for taking time-lapse and slow-motion videos, and is waterproof for up to one meter deep.
HTC says the Re will also be equipped with live-streaming capabilities in the future, which could be a great feature for YouTube broadcasters and vloggers who want to broadcast concerts, sporting events or even meetings as they happen.
The Re camera comes in four colors - white, teal, orange and dark blue - and will be available at HTC and other retail stores for $199 later this month.
