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LG has announced a 4G LTE-equipped Action Cam that will allow users to stream live video over a built-in 4G connection while engaged in sports, leisure activities, travel or other activities.
The LG Action Cam, which will debut in South Korea in June and be followed by later releases in North America, Europe and other markets, will allow users to stream video directly to YouTube Live and other sites without being connected to a smartphone.
The device, part of LG’s Friend line of accessories for its mobile products, will also offer 3G remote control access to users so they can view the video from afar when used as building security cameras, vehicle dash cameras or for other surveillance. The closed-circuit TV remote access video monitoring capabilities will be available through a software update expected in July, according to LG. Users of the Action Cam will be able to download recorded images and videos onto their paired smartphones for easy data transfer.
The device also meets IP67 standards to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including dust and sand. It is certified to also withstand immersion in up to 3.2 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
A waterproof case will become available in the third quarter that will enable the Action Cam to be used while surfing, scuba diving and participating in other extreme uses in water. An optional mount will also be sold that will allow users to mount the device to helmets, bicycles, cars and other objects for live video use.
The LG Action Cam is equipped with a 12.3-megapixel video camera that can livestream in HD at 30 frames-per-second, while recording in ultra HD at 30fps, Full FHD at 60fps or HD at 120fps, according to LG. The device also includes 2GB of memory, 4GB of built-in storage for its operating system, a microSD card slot for storage cards up to 2TB, and a 1,400mAh battery.
In addition to 4G and 3G connectivity, the cam also features WiFi 802.11 b, g, n and Bluetooth 4.1 capabilities. The device features a USB Type-C 2.0 port. The Action Cam, which includes a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer, is 1.37 inches tall, 1.37 inches wide, 3.06 inches long and weighs 3.35 ounces.
“We are committed to expanding the LG Playground ecosystem with both modules and stand-alone accessories, and Action Cam is one of many more that we plan to announce this year,” Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Co., said in a statement. “Action Cam is an example of the kind of innovation we will be bringing to market, devices that offer features unavailable in other competing products.”
Prices and carriers that will carry the LG Action cam will be announced in the future, according to the company.
The LG Action Cam will join a market that already includes vendors, such as GoPro.
In April, LG began selling its latest flagship Android smartphone, the LG G5, which features a new modular design that allows users to plug in a variety of accessory modules to the phone to add or remove various functions. The modules, which are also part of the LG Friend line of accessories, include an LG 360 camera module that features two 180-degree cameras that can create 360-degree images, an audio Hi-Fi Plus attachment for improved sound capabilities for music and video audio, and an LG Cam Plus grip, which includes shutter and video camera buttons, a jog dial for video zoom and an embedded battery with another 1,100mAh of power for extended use.
Also available for the LG G5 smartphone is a 360-degree, Full HD 1080p VR headset that connects to the smartphone with a USB-C cord and an LG Friends Manager app that will make it easy to connect the accessories to the smartphone by turning the accessories on. Another accessory, the LG Rolling Bot, is a remote controlled rolling “robot” that has a built-in microphone, a speaker and a laser with a “pet mode” that flickers a laser that pets can chase for entertainment. The Rolling Bot can be navigated remotely to move from room to room.