Zlogspot - PocariSweet 77

Another day, another clone of the Insta360 Nano.  But despite its odd robotic appearance, the Hi720 offers some advantages over other 360 camera accessories. Ever since the Insta360 Nano became popular, camera manufacturers have been scrambling to create their own 360 camera accessories.  Many of them are audacious clones of the Nano but some, like the Hi720, bring new capabilities to the table. Like the Insta360 Nano, the Hi720 can be either connected to a smartphone or used as a standalone 360 camera.  However, the Nano only works with iPhones, while the Hi720 works with iPhones and Android phones.  It works by using a removable connector that can be replaced with USB Type C or Micro USB (the connector is currently compatible with only Samsung or Huawei phones).  It can also connect to phones wirelessly. A wireless connection would be useful for triggering the Hi720 remotely with the smartphone and/or using the Hi720 while having it plugged into a USB power source.  (But please note,

I've updated my tutorial for the Xiaomi Mi Sphere, including a faster workflow. Here is a detailed tutorial for Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K 360 panoramic camera.  This tutorial has been updated for Mi Sphere iOS app 1.6.4 and Mi Sphere Android 1.6.4.12888 and above. Here is the video: Xiaomi is available here: https://goo.gl/kO0CuA   (GearBest ships to 260+ countries, and I usually get my orders from them in just one week from China to Los Angeles) Photos: https://roundme.com/tour/147936/view/374315/ Video for comparison: https://goo.gl/qtE3tn Workflow and other info: https://youtu.be/GxuwONmLTGE Unstitched files to try: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4RnW2_ZeadSamJpSURuQzktSEU Contents: 00:32 - taking photos and videos without a smartphone 04:15 - shooting photos with the app (including why) 09:18 - shooting videos with the app 10:22 - viewing and sharing photos 13:43 - viewing and sharing videos 25:26 - Summary Changes from previous tutorial (mostly after 13:34): 08:36 - both

Here's a way to make your Insta360 Air appear invisible in 360 videos.  It works to a lesser extent on the Insta360 Nano as well. INTRODUCTION You may already know that turning a 360 camera invisible for photos is easy.  You just have to use a monopod or selfie stick that doesn't have a ballhead, so the selfie stick will be right in between the 360 camera's lenses.  If a 360 camera's vertical horizon correction is not perfect, the horizon may end up topsy turvy, which is relatively easy to correct for 360 photos using apps such as edit360 for iOS or Theta Converter for Android .  My friend Ben Claremont (Life in 360) has a video about this technique . For 360 videos, this same trick is harder to do.  Most 360 cameras can't correct for the horizon rapidly enough to keep the video level (two exceptions are the Garmin Virb 360 and the Xiaomi Mi Sphere ).  It's not so easy to correct a constantly undulating horizon in a 360 video -- there are software for it such a

Essential Phone was announced today.  Not just another Android phone, the Essential Phone has cutting edge features, including a unique 360 camera accessory. Essential PH-1 is a new phone from Essential, a company founded by Andy Rubin, one of the founders of Android Inc.  It has unique features such as 2560 x 1312 screen that covers almost the entire front surface of the phone, a dual lens rear camera, the latest Snapdragon 835 processor, and a titanium body. Of particular interest to us is that it has a 360 camera accessory that has magnetic connectors to attach to the phone.  Here are the key specifications of the camera: - two 12mp sensors - each lens has a 210-degree field of view - video resolution is 3840 x 1920 @ 30fps. - aperture: f/1.8 - four microphones for 3D ambisonic sound recording I didn't see any mention of the photo resolution or the live streaming capability.  It seems as if it doesn't have image stabilization, because in one of their videos, they used a smar

There are now several 360 cameras designed to attach to your smartphone, but Ion360 U is the first hybrid device that is both a 360 camera and a smartphone charger case. Ion360 U is a 360 camera accessory with both a 360 camera component and a smartphone charger component.  Rather than draining your smartphone, it will actually charge your smartphone battery while you're using it. Here are a couple of product videos: Here are the key specifications: - photo resolution: 8MP (I think this means that it's 4096 x 2048) - video resolution: 4K - compatible with iPhone 7, iPhone 7+, Samsung S8, Samsung S8+ - live streaming - up to 2 hours battery life - shipping around July 2017 - available in black or teal You can preorder here for $100 off ($249 instead of $349).   You can also follow their official Facebook page  and their Twitter account . What do you think of the concept?  Let me know in the comments!

Some updates on the Xiaomi: - Over the weekend, Xiaomi updated the Mi Sphere app for iOS to give it the same features as its Android version, including stabilization! - There's a rumor that Xiaomi is working on a desktop app.  See the evidence. - Meanwhile, I used my Xiaomi Mi Sphere to take some 360 videos while swimming.  Check out the video! iOS APP UPDATE Xiaomi updated the Mi Sphere app to version 1.6.4 which added several features, including: - can export stabilized 360 video - shutter speed up to 32 seconds in photo mode - video editor Here is a short sample stabilized video: However, the 360 video seems to be missing 360 metadata (the Android version has 360 metadata on export). I expect they'll fix this in the next update.  More importantly, the maximum resolution is still 2304 x 1152.  This seems to be a hardware limitation therefore I don't expect the resolution to increase unless perhaps the next iPhone is powerful enough to stitch the Xiaomi's video at full

DCRainmaker posted a new sample from the Garmin Virb 360, this time highlighting one of the Virb's stabilization modes, called "Follow" which is smart enough to maintain a view toward the direction of movement, an incredibly useful feature. Here is the video: To understand Virb's follow stabilization, let me contrast that with the conventional image stabilization in the Insta360 Nano , Insta360 Air and Xiaomi Mi Sphere :  on these three cameras, when the camera is stabilized, then it will hold that view regardless of where the camera is turned.  This is excellent for providing maximum stability. But what if you are moving and you want the camera to keep facing the direction where you're moving?  On the Nano, Air and Mi Sphere, the app itself won't be able to adjust the view.  It is possible to use software to re-set the heading every time I change my direction, but it's tedious and won't look natural. The Virb's follow mode is unique in that the h

Drone vlogger AndyRC took the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 on his race drone and got some insane aerial videos! You have to see this! I'll just let the videos speak for themselves.  Don't forget to pick up your jaw from the floor. Here's the first video: Here's the second video \ Here's a third video: The first video uses the Xiaomi's stabilization while the second is unstabilized (I sent Andy an older version of the Xiaomi app).  I thought they're both amazing, although I thought the stabilized one was more eye popping. Here is a video by Andy RC on his thoughts on the Xiaomi and how he used it for his aerial videos: It's funny how Andy RC noted that Xiaomi's drone started out similar to the Xiaomi Mi Sphere - great hardware but buggy software that wasn't fully translated to English.  Over time however, Xiaomi put out firmware and app updates and by the end, it was a "near perfect drone." This innovative aerial video by Andy RC just sh

VRDL360 is a 360 camera with 7K photos and 3K video that will be launching on or around June 12, 2017.  Should you get one? VRDL360 is a new 360 camera that will be crowdfunded and is launching in a couple of weeks.  It looks very similar to the Ricoh Theta S, but offers better specifications: - Photo resolution: 7K (I am guessing it to be 6912 x 3456) - Video resolution: 3K (I am guessing it to be 3008 x 1504, but could be 3456 x 1728) - Live streaming: 3K (I am guessing it to be 3008 x 1504) - removable Micro SD up to 128GB Here is a video about it: On paper, the VRDL360 specifications look pretty good, and do beat those of the market leader Ricoh Theta S seemingly in every way.  Moreover, it appears to have a thin body just like that of the Theta, and with a small distance between the lenses, it will be less susceptible to parallax stitching error. Moreover, even though they don't say it, if VRDL360 has live streaming capability, it will likely have an in-camera stitching option

Happy Memorial Day to all readers in the US! I will be away for the weekend, doing a lot of tests: 3DR Solo with Aerial Kit for Kodak SP360 4K -- aerial 360 videos, without the drone in the shot! Underwater housing for Kodak SP360 4K -- this may have the best stitching short of getting a 360bubble Night sky shots with the Xiaomi Mi Sphere and Theta S Underwater testing with Xiaomi Mi Sphere and other cameras An accessory that will let you shoot third person views, hands-free! These and more next week!  If you want to talk to other 360 Rumors readers, you may want to check out the 360 Cameras Group on Facebook !

As reported in Cinema5D , videographer Jean-Marie Cannie created 3D printed mounts to attach 360 cameras and other equipment to a DJI Mavic Pro, including a configuration with two Samsung Gear 360 cameras, one above and one below, that enable the Mavic to be stitched out of the shot. If you want to take aerial 360 videos without the drone in the shot, you can use the Kodak SP360 4K Aerial Kit for the 3DR Solo drone or a Gimbal Guard SP360 dual mount for the Mavic or Inspire .  Jean-Marie used the same concept to design mounts for the Samsung Gear 360 (or other cameras), which is more affordable than ever thanks to the low cost of the 2017 Samsung Gear 360, and the even lower cost of the 2016 Gear 360.   Here is a sample 360 video from two Samsung Gear 360 2017 cameras . You can buy the 3D printed parts from Monsieur Cannie's shapeways shop .  Notably, the bottom mount will not block the downward sensors of the Mavic, which are used to keep the Mavic stable. Coincidentally, I just o

The 2017 Samsung Gear 360 has finally launched in the US for a remarkable $229 !  And there's a promo to get it for even less.  I also wanted to demonstrate the 2017 Gear 360's image stabilization. The 2017 Samsung Gear 360 is the most affordable 4k 360 camera.  It was launched about a month ago in Korea, Germany and a few other countries.  It is finally launching in the US.  Officially, the launch date is tomorrow, which is why it's not yet on the Samsung US website (as of today May 25), but online retailers such as Amazon have already made the US version of the Gear 360 available . At just $229, it is the lowest cost 4K 360 camera (based on MSRP).  Moreover, Samsung has a new promo that lets you buy the 2017 Gear 360 for just $49 if you get a Samsung S8 or S8+ within the promo period  (May 25 to June 19). Although the Gear 360 is the lowest cost 4K camera, it is actually a pretty good 360 camera for both 360 photos and videos, and it is compatible with more devices than i

There's a new third party tripod mount for Insta360 Nano that could be even better than Insta360's own Nano Mount tripod adapter. The Aobelieve Security Mount ($13.99) is a tripod mount designed specifically for the Insta360 Nano.  Instead of a clamp like the Nano Mount, it secures the Nano between two plastic pieces that are molded to fit the Nano's contours. I saw the Aobelieve a few weeks ago on Amazon but it was quickly sold out before I could even buy it, and it was not sold anywhere else.  Fortunately, it came back in stock and I snapped it up immediately. The Aobelieve is made of lightweight plastic, with a silvery finish to match that of the Nano.  The bottom has a metal standard 1/4-20 tripod insert. To attach it, you place the top part over the Nano's head then you slide the bottom sleeve over the Nano's body.  The top part clips onto the bottom sleeve securely.  I do mean securely , as you'll see below.   Besides holding the Nano securely, one of th

The first 360 video editing app for iOS will soon be available! V360, the first 360 video editing app for Android, is coming soon to iOS.  V360 enables you to assemble a 360 video montage from individual 360 video clips.  You can trim each clip and add music (which will be mixed with the audio on your ). I got the chance to try an alpha version (0.0.1) and the interface is just as familiar as it is for the Android version: - you select individual 360 video clips that will be added to the montage - you can edit each clip to trim it, rearrange, delete or add more clips - you can add background music.  There are some royalty-free music that you can choose from (and they sound pretty good to my ears), or you can choose from your phone's music library. - you press save and voila, the 360 video is rendered, complete with 360 metadata, ready for upload to YouTube, Facebook, or other sites. The app works intuitively, and there is no loss of image quality compared to the original videos.  V

The new Garmin Virb 360 is now available for preorder on Amazon or B&H Photo .  But before you preorder it, here are some things you ought to know: 1.  You can only get 5.7K video if you stitch the video with expensive third party desktop software such as Autopano or Video Stitch.  (According to DC Rainmaker, the Virb 360's desktop software, Virb Edit, will be updated "in the near future" to allow stitching of the 5.7K files.) Regardless of whether you use third party software or a future version of Virb Edit, stitching 5.7K is a time-consuming process.  Stitching 5.7K video will take a while, depending on your desktop processor and your RAM (expect it to take hours for around 30 minutes of footage). 2. Since Virb has no desktop software for stitching 5.7K video yet, the buttery smooth stitching you see in Garmin's 5.7K videos appear to be stitched using third party apps.  There's no guarantee that you can get that same quality of stitching if ever Virb Edit

Garmin has launched the Virb 360 and features stabilization, in-camera stitching, and more, exactly as I predicted ! Key features: - 5.7K video - 15mp photo --> new info - waterproof to 10 meters - 4K video with stabilization - 4K in-camera stitching - voice command --> new info - 360 audio - live streaming and video sharing - G-Metrix overlay - can use Bluetooth microphone as external microphone --> new info - can record nonstop for an 1 hour --> new info - replaceable lens Full specifications here .  In short, the features are as I stated, including the features I predicted ! :D Strangely, the live streaming only works on iOS products, and only at a paltry 1280 x 720, to either Facebook or YouTube. The Price: $799.   Available for preorder here .   Here are some caveats before you preorder.  (Yes I am definitely ordering this.) Here is the promo video: Here are more product videos: Here is a 360 video: Here is the stitch line - ridiculously smooth, if you ask me, which s

Here's a new 360 photo from the highly anticipated Kodak PIXPRO Orbit360 from Kevin Cruz, and it looks pretty impressive! The Kodak PIXPRO Orbit360 is a new 360 camera with a unique asymmetric lens design, allowing it to function as three different cameras: an ultrawide, a hemispherical camera, or a fully spherical camera.  One of its lenses is the same as that of the Kodak PIXPRO SP360 4K, which I found to have the best overall video quality in last year's 4K video comparison .  At the same time, having both lenses in the same camera makes it much easier to shoot and process photos and videos.  This combination of convenience and image quality is why the Orbit360 is one of the most highly anticipated 360 cameras in 2017. A few weeks ago, Kodak Orbit360 beta tester Kevin Cruz shared sample videos .  Now he has posted a 360 photo from the Orbit360: The 360 photo looks quite impressive in its detail and dynamic range, especially on the smaller front lens (the one facing Kevin), p

Here are sample 360 videos from Sonicam, a professional 3D 360 camera that has 360 spatial surround audio. Sonicam is a professional 3D 360 camera with 64 microphones to provide 360 surround audio.  It can record in 4K 360 video, with realtime stitching and live streaming.   I saw their booth at NAB Show and got to see the Sonicam, which was about the size of a grapefruit. You can now see  sample videos from Sonicam , including samples that demonstrate 360 audio. Sonicam is launching its crowdfunding program on Kickstarter tomorrow, where it is expected to be available for $2,000, which is half of its $4,000 MSRP.

A photographer claims that he dove with his 2017 Samsung Gear 360 12 meters underwater without any kind of underwater case and was able to take photos.... The shooter uses the pseudonym  Aris Tocrate .  According to him, not only did the camera survive, but the photos look excellent, with seamless stitching notwithstanding the refraction of the water. Here's a crop showing the seamless stitching, notwithstanding the water's refraction. He posted two samples.  Here's a screenshot from his other post on the Samsung Gear 360 2017 group. I discussed it with one of my friends and my friend found another post by the same user, showing the exact same photo, but he posted it to the Nikon Keymission 360 Facebook group, also claiming he took the shot without a case: It therefore appears that this is just a prank (1 month and 22 days late I would say).  The truth is that the 2017 Samsung Gear 360 (available here) is water-resistant but NOT waterproof.  If you want to use it underwa

Gearbest has a flash sale with discounts on a couple of VR headsets and some action cameras that can be used for 360 camera rigs. HIGH RESOLUTION VR HEADSET: PIMAX 4K Pimax's 4K VR headset is a desktop VR headset with a 4K (3840 x 1920) screen.  The per-eye resolution is 1920 x 1920, which is significantly higher than that of the HTC Vive or Rift (1080 x 1200).  Upload VR tried it and they said that it was crisper than anything they had seen .   Pimax 4K is on sale at GearBest for $375  with free shipping. HOMAGE TO GOOGLE DAYDREAM: MI PLAY 2 Xiaomi's Mi Play 2 is a Google Cardboard viewer based on the design of the Google Daydream headset (but I don't have anything to indicate that it is an actual Daydream headset with NFC codes etc.).  It fits phones with screens from 4.7 to 5.7 inches.  It looks like a comfortable Cardboard viewer.   It's on sale for $23.99  with free shipping to the US. 4K ACTION CAMERAS ON SALE There are several 4K action cameras on sale. They migh