Tag Archives: panoramic

GoPano 360 degree camera with new app updates, case at CES

We originally took a look at the GoPano lens attachment from EyeSee360 last year when it was released -- the lens sits on the back of your iPhone, and allows you to take a full 360 degree picture with a free iPhone app. Since the project went live (it was funded by Kickstarter), EyeSee360 tells TUAW at CES that it's sold very well, and there are updates coming for both the product and the app.

For the app, the company is planning an update soon that will add some social sharing options. Already, the app will upload 360 degree video to the main GoPano.com site, which it would like to be seen as "The YouTube of 360." These videos don't need an iPhone or any special software to be viewed, so while the original video may be warped (the lens basically shoots a circle of video on the iPhone's screen, and must be put through the company's software to be seen correctly) users can both save and share their videos online through the main site.

The app will be updated in a few weeks, however, and that update will bring options to send the videos directly to Twitter, Facebook, or services like Dropbox, so we'll see more 360 videos than ever online. There will be a Facebook app for embedding the 360 videos, too. "The goal," according to the rep from EyeSee360, is to eventually "take it to broadcast" television, so the company was also showing off a prototype version of a full lens made for a high-end Red camera as well.

The RED camera rig

Finally, the company is also planning an update to the lens, though all they had to show us so far was a very early model, not anywhere near ready for release just yet. The new model follows what they said was a whole lot of customer feedback -- customers are worried that the lens (which currently is just inserted into the custom iPhone case) might fall out, so EyeSee360 is working on a version that instead slides and locks in to a slot over the iPhone's camera, meaning that even if the phone is moved around, the lens should stay securely fastened on there.

Again, that model isn't set for release just yet. But it's clear EyeSee360 has plenty of ideas on how to improve its lens, and plenty of orders post-Kickstarter to fulfill. As more and more users upload and share 360 degree videos created with the GoPano, it'll be interesting to see where those videos end up and how they're used in the future.

GoPano 360 degree camera with new app updates, case at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Create Beautiful Panoramas with 360 Panorama – iPad App Review

360 PanoramaThere are some times when a plain old photograph just won’t do, and a video just isn’t quite right either. For the moments when you really want to capture more than just a simple snapshot and want to actually give somebody the chance to enjoy the full view of something or someplace, 360 Panorama can be just what you need.

Using the camera on your iPhone or iPad 2, start your panoramic photograph on the far left of your scene and pan to the right until you are finished. 360 Panorama will automatically take photographs as you move and stitch them together to create your final image.

Learning to use this app is really easy. Point and click to begin and then slide your device slowly across the horizon, the app snapping pictures all the while. The trick is in perfecting it. My first several attempts made something that looked a little neat but also really choppy and not worth of sharing. Fortunately there is an on-screen grid that gives you a sense on whether you’ve kept the device at the same height and level as you slide it around.

Once you have a picture you are proud of, share it online (upload to a website directly from the app), post to Facebook or Twitter or e-mail it directly to your friends.

Want to remember where you took that last panorama? Every photo is GPS tagged and has a compass heading.

360 Panorama Screenshot

You may want to consider other alternative uses for the panoramic photographs. Real estate agents could use them to give potential buyers a good view of a room. A hotel or bed and breakfast could use it to show off their amenities.

What I liked: I like that this app works on both the iPhone and the iPad 2, because I can’t see myself taking my iPad along on a hike or other travels where I am most likely to want to snap a panoramic photograph.

What I didn’t like: This isn’t something you can do in a hurry, because it really relies on having a steady hand and plenty of patience. Fortunately, retaking your panorama is very easy so you can keep trying until you are satisfied.

To buy or not to buy: If you enjoy photography, this is a neat little app that you could have some fun with. Be sure to grab it quickly while it’s still free!

App Name: 360 Panorama Version Reviewed: 4.0.3 Category: Photography Developer: Occipital Price: Free (for a limited time) Score:

Kogeto Dot takes panoramic video with the iPhone 4

The Kogeto Dot is an interesting little device. It's a lens that attaches to your iPhone 4 and allows you to shoot 360 degree panoramic video with the iPhone's little camera. Engadget tried it out, and they found it a little awkward -- you have to hold the iPhone perpendicular to the floor as you shoot, which means you can't actually see the screen unless you're holding it high above your head. But usability really isn't the emphasis here -- the lens comes with an app that will straighten out your video and even allow you to stream it right from the iPhone, so portability is the main driver in this case.

The company also has a standalone panoramic capture system already, so they've got some experience in the field to play off of, even if the actual iPhone implementation is a bit hacky. The Dot is currently available for preorder for US$98, pending actual production of the item. It'd be cool to see some video shot on location in this way, though for most panoramic shots, odds are you'd have gear built more specifically for the task.

Kogeto Dot takes panoramic video with the iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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