If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a 15-second GoPro video worth?
Until lately, the process of uploading a part of a user's GoPro video was long, tedious, and required a level of technical dexterity: film the scene, get home, download the file into the computer, use the editing software to split it, export into an appropriate format, and then upload the result to the Internet.
On Aug. 31, the company revealed a new update for its apps and cameras that will change that process for the better. Now, it is possible for users to slice away fragments of their videos and share them on social media in a matter of seconds. With the touch of the "Trim" button, the videographer can do on-camera trimming to pieces of 5 second, 15 seconds or 30 seconds. Tap the screen to navigate through the video and choose the desired duration of the short clips. Users can even transform a single frame into a still picture.
The company announced that the only models supporting the feature are HERO4 Black with LCD BacPac, HERO4 Silver, and HERO+ LCD cameras. It promises compatibility with Android (versions 4.3 or later) and iOS® (8 or later), meaning that users can synchronize their camera with their smartphones or tablets.
The feature appeals to the active social media users, who are keen on maintaining a strong presence on Instagram and on their YouTube channel, or to those who want to quickly share a slice of video awesomeness with their faraway friends and families. Regardless if their memorable adventures take place while surfing, running or skydiving, GoPro is the tool for recording and sharing them.
Another advantage is that the source material remains intact, so that users are able to do a full professional editing when they return from their trip. The video fragments are simply saved separately on their SD cards, next to the original footage. Unfortunately, there are some limitations: users may not use the app to merge together the snipped elements.
GoPro already released a video tutorial that explains in detail how the new function works and what results it can produce. Watch it here:
