Is HTC planning an action cam?

The company, better known for its premium Android smartphones, is rumored to be launching a competitor to the GoPro.

HTC has sent out media invites to a special event on October 8 and, until now, the consensus has been that the company would be unveiling a new tablet. However, according to Bloomberg, HTC has been developing a a waterproof camera aimed at extreme sports fans.

Although the company's phones boast impressive imaging technology, if the report is true, the device would be HTC's first standalone camera. Bloomberg's sources claim that as well as being waterproof it will have a 16-megapixel image sensor, be tube-shaped and would be able to work with both iPhones and Android devices via an app.
Until recently, GoPro had the action cam market all to itself and is essentially a product category the company created on its own. However, in recent months competition has started increasing and choice for telegenic adrenaline junkies is growing.

At this month's IFA consumer tech show, Sony unveiled the HDR-AZ1VR Action Cam Mini, a device it describes as the smallest and most wearable action cam so far.

And on Thursday, Ricoh launched its first action cam, the WG-M1 which is waterproof up to 10 meters without need for a protective housing, can handle knocks and scrapes and can shoot at 120 frames a second in standard definition and at 30 frames per second in full HD.