GoPro unveils new products

GoPro has unveiled the latest version of its Hero line of wearable action cameras and its first spherical device for virtual reality video, marking the company’s efforts to boost sagging demand with higherend hardware.

The waterproof Hero6 will use GoPro’s custom-designed processor and offers digital zoom, greater image stabilization and other improved features. It has a price tag of $500, or $100 more than the previous version. The Fusion camera, which can capture 360degree video, will sell for $700.

After a challenging 2016 marked by production delays and the recall of its new drone, CEO Nick Woodman has focused on making GoPro’s cameras easier to use and more appealing to a broader base of consumers. The new Hero6 camera is compatible with the QuickStories application, which automatically creates short videos from the captured content.

The San Mateo company says the Fusion is designed for its core base of outdoor enthusiasts and others interested in the ability to create videos for virtual reality. GoPro faces competitors including Samsung and Nokia with spherical cameras that cost from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.

GoPro reported in August that second-quarter revenue climbed 34 percent from a year earlier, beating estimates, while losses decreased. This month, the company said that third-quarter sales would be at the high end of its forecast. GoPro’s shares have rallied 34 percent since the start of the year.