GoPro Hero 4 rumors: Release date set for October, HTC expected to follow suit with its first waterproof camera

GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition, predecessor of the upcoming Hero 4 entry in the GoPro seriesGoPro

It has been reported that the GoPro Hero 4 will be unveiled before the year ends, and rumors have gone viral that the camera has been set for an official date.

One of the rumored release dates for the GoPro Hero 4 was drawn out from a note written by Stifel analyst Jim Duffy, who thinks that the device will be launched and made available in mid-October. This new entry will be replacing the current Hero 3+ in the GoPro series.

Based on the note, Benzinga has reported that the GoPro Hero 4 will come with a price tag of $499.95 as its predecessor, the Hero 3+ black edition, is currently being sold at $399.95.

The latest buzz around the camera has also drawn attention to its specs and features, such as video recording in 4K resolution, 13-megapixel photo sensor, new lens suitable for capturing photos and videos in the dark, electronic image stabilization, Multi-Exposure, HDR WDR tone mapping and enhanced MCTF.

The GoPro lineup has currently appealed to mostly athletes and professionals involved in extreme sports. Although the cameras have achieved considerable fame for its unique features, the resilient, heavy-duty, hands-free devices have not quite appealed to a larger audience.

Other device manufacturers may have followed the footsteps of the GoPro series, such as HTC being rumored to be working on a waterproof camera.

As Bloomberg reported, HTC is preparing its first ever camera as it aims to expand their offerings in the midst of declining sales in the past three years.

"Featuring an ultra wide-angle lens, the camera will have a 16 megapixel sensor and connect directly to devices running Google Inc.'s Android and Apple Inc.'s iOS systems," an insider told Bloomberg.

The source, who requested not be identified, also mentioned about the upcoming tube-shaped camera to be incorporated with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities that will allow such device to be connected to smartphones and other similar gadgets. Moreover, the HTC camera may also feature both iOS and Android applications to support its functions.

The device is supposedly being launched at a New York press event on Oct. 8, the same month that the GoPro Hero 4 is said to be made available.

So far, there have been no comments from HTC or GoPro regarding the said cameras.