GoPro’s latest iOS app update allows you to control the action camera from your Apple Watch. Setup is pretty straightforward, but it does require connecting to the GoPro’s wifi with an iPhone. After that, you can put your phone away and control the camera exclusively through your Apple Watch.
The controls are simple and functional. When you launch the app on your watch, you’re taken right to your camera’s controls where you can select between video, photo, burst shot, and timelapse. Just tap the large button and you’re recording or snapping photos. Scroll to the right, and you can see a preview of what your GoPro is seeing. It’s far from a high-res video feed, but it does serve well to help you frame your shot.
Lag time when snapping photos and recording video is less than a second, but the preview (which GoPro calls Frame Shot) takes 2 to 4 seconds to go live. On some occasions the preview will freeze, but that’s easily fixed by scrolling out of and back into Frame Shot again. Missing from the Apple Watch app is the ability to power the camera on and off. It’s on the iPhone app, and would be a helpful addition to the watch app.
Of course with the Apple Watch, you’ll have trouble controlling your camera if you’re using gloves, and you probably don’t want to take it surfing in saltwater unless you’re daring. This is where the wireless remote would be a much better option. But the biggest advantage the watch app has over the the wireless remote is the ability to frame your shot. It’s really helpful, and despite a few shortcomings the Apple Watch app is the perfect companion to your GoPro.
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