My GoPro experience:
I have a Hero 3 "black edition" (because I'm racially sensitive)
I've only used it maybe 8 times since I purchased it new, and it is now a brick.
https://gopro.com/support/articles/getting-started-with-gopro-app
When I bought the camera, I downloaded the android app. This is really a great idea because the camera does not have a viewfinder. With the app, I can see what the camera sees, allowing me to position it for best picture. The app also allows me to start and stop the video remotely, so I don't have to be at the camera. And the app lets me change format, mode, etc.
There are other features, but those were the ones I made use of.
I never had any trouble getting the camera and phone to communicate, but sometimes the video feed would not show up on the phone; that is, I could not see what the camera was seeing. This could be frustrating.
The most frustrating thing is that the camera recently "froze up". I used the tips for resetting it, and it worked. Once. Then about a week ago it froze again. None of the tips worked. It is just an expensive plastic brick now.
https://gopro.com/support/articles/camera-freezes-up
"If your camera is freezing up, that usually means that you need to update the camera's software or there are some issues with the SD card."
I take issue with this. First, if the camera worked on Sunday, then it should work on Tuesday. The camera does not magically decide it needs a software update. Second, I use the SD cards sold on the GoPro website. Third, if the camera will not even power on, then how the **** do you apply that software update?
Chances are, I'm going to replace my POS GoPro with an
Amkov AMK5000.
It's a lot cheaper. And if it breaks, I can buy 4 more for what I spent on a single GoPro.