Apple granted patent for GoPro type action cameras

Apple has patented a design for a new digital video camera, which could potentially compete with the rugged portable cameras made by GoPro, The Washtington Times reported. GoPro shares tumbled over 12 per cent yesterday after reports of the new patent appeared on the internet and financial wires.

Apple however has not announced any plans for the patent, which covered a design for a remote-controlled, digital camera that could be attached to a helmet, surfboard or scuba mask.

According to the blog  Patently Apple, the company's application to the US Patent and Trademark Office said Apple's design improved on aspects of GoPro's camera. Apple GoPro's camera ''can cause excessive wind resistance and presents a high profile that is more susceptible to damage,'' the application claimed.

According to patent office records, Apple first applied for the patent in 2012, which was granted yesterday.

However, according to one tech analyst, Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research, who tracks consumer tech products, "Apple developed and patented lots and lots of technology all the time of which only a fraction ever saw the light of day in commercial products, and there was no reason to read too much into the filing."

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Apple's newly patented camera system could also be used under water to take pictures and record sounds, according to the application.

If Apple were to enter the action camera market, Polaroid Corp, maker of the small and colourful Cube cameras could also feel the heat.

According to JMP Securities analyst Alex Gauna, however, it was rather premature to assume that Apple would soon launch a wearable camera.

He said it did not seem to him that launching an action camera accessory was the most logical product extension for Apple to pursue right now.

Wedbush Securities analysts Michael  Pachter said, he thought it would have about the same impact on GoPro as the iPhone had had on camera makers and that impact was that there were fewer cameras sold but the number was not zero.

Videos shot with GoPro's cameras had attracted millions of views on YouTube.

The cameras had been endorsed by the likes of Olympic gold medal winning snow boarder Shaun White and 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.