Photo: BMW
BMW has announced they have worked together with GoPro to enhance the connectivity of the M Laptimer app with an improved integration of the famous action camera.
For those of you who recall, BMW and MINI were the first automotive brands to introduce a solution to integrate GoPro cameras with production vehicles.
The first collaboration between the two brands happened in the summer of 2014, and the solution allowed drivers to control the GoPro cameras with the onboard infotainment system’s controls and a dedicated app.
So, what’s the deal with the app updates? Well, starting summer 2016, the BMW M Laptimer app will allow drivers to control a connected GoPro camera directly from the app.
This addition is an improvement, as it saves time for those who want to enjoy their track time to the fullest, and who also like to film their experiences.
Furthermore, the app also sends a reduced resolution video to the user’s smartphone via Wi-Fi, which can be viewed while the driver relives the run next to the map view on the BMW M Laptimer app.
In other words, if a BMW M driver goes to a track day with a GoPro and a smartphone, they can view the recording of them on the track while the Laptimer app shows a graphic depiction of their track position, as well as other telemetry information.
The user can toggle the camera’s sleep mode to conserve battery life between shots, and the developers of the app included six pre-set filming modes. These have self-explanatory names, like “Leisure Drive Facing Out,” “Night Driving,” “Winding Road Time-lapse,” “Straight Road Time-lapse,” and others.
The hardware required to use all the mentioned functions includes a Wi-Fi-equipped GoPro Camera (HERO3 and later), an Apple iPhone 4S or later with the GoPro App installed, and a BMW with ConnectedDrive and with Apps enabled. The smartphone must be paired to the car, either through the proprietary iPhone USB cable or via the BMW Accessory snap-in adaptor for iPhone.
The first collaboration between the two brands happened in the summer of 2014, and the solution allowed drivers to control the GoPro cameras with the onboard infotainment system’s controls and a dedicated app.
So, what’s the deal with the app updates? Well, starting summer 2016, the BMW M Laptimer app will allow drivers to control a connected GoPro camera directly from the app.
This addition is an improvement, as it saves time for those who want to enjoy their track time to the fullest, and who also like to film their experiences.
Furthermore, the app also sends a reduced resolution video to the user’s smartphone via Wi-Fi, which can be viewed while the driver relives the run next to the map view on the BMW M Laptimer app.
In other words, if a BMW M driver goes to a track day with a GoPro and a smartphone, they can view the recording of them on the track while the Laptimer app shows a graphic depiction of their track position, as well as other telemetry information.
The user can toggle the camera’s sleep mode to conserve battery life between shots, and the developers of the app included six pre-set filming modes. These have self-explanatory names, like “Leisure Drive Facing Out,” “Night Driving,” “Winding Road Time-lapse,” “Straight Road Time-lapse,” and others.
The hardware required to use all the mentioned functions includes a Wi-Fi-equipped GoPro Camera (HERO3 and later), an Apple iPhone 4S or later with the GoPro App installed, and a BMW with ConnectedDrive and with Apps enabled. The smartphone must be paired to the car, either through the proprietary iPhone USB cable or via the BMW Accessory snap-in adaptor for iPhone.
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