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Hi720 is a 360 camera accessory for both iOS and Android that can also be used wirelessly


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 haven't confirmed if it can do this!)



Here are the key specifications:
- two 210-degree lenses
- two 4mp OV4689 sensors
- video resolution: 1920 x 960 @ 30 fps
- battery life: "continuous 2 hours"
- 1GB internal memory and removable Micro SD up to 128GB

On eBay, Hi720 is selling for as low as $96.

New updated video tutorial for Xiaomi Mi Sphere


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 iOS and Android now allow 32 second shutter speed
11:52 - app has been translated fully
13:34 - why you should not use the share function in the app
16:03 - both iOS and Android now exports stabilized 360 video just like Android
16:30 - Android can now export without freezing / getting stuck
17:07 - exported videos now have 360 metadata (Android only; see suggestions for iOS)
17:25 - direct sharing to social media
18:57 - what to do if your phone is crashing on export
21:47 - faster workflow with Micro SD card
exported photos now have 360 metadata
both iOS and Android now have video editor

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or contact me via Facebook.com/360rumors

How to turn your Insta360 Air or Nano INVISIBLE in your 360 video (also works for 360 photos)

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 as Skybox Mettle but they are expensive.

The issue with the Garmin Virb360 is that it's not cheap at $799.  Xiaomi Mi Sphere is affordable enough at around $300, but only yields full resolution with very high-end phones (Samsung S7 or equivalent).

Meanwhile, the Insta360 Air and Insta360 Nano both have stabilization and in fact were the first consumer 360 cameras to have it.  With the Air and Nano's stabilization, it becomes easier to hide the selfie stick / monopod.  See this sample video:


HOW TO TURN YOUR INSTA360 CAMERA INVISIBLE
1.  You will need three things:
     a.  your smartphone.
     b.  An Insta360 Air or Nano.
          - Insta360 Air Type C; or
          - Insta360 Air Micro USB; or
          - Insta360 Nano
     c.  a Benro MK10 selfie stick tripod.

2.  On the Insta360 app, go to settings, and watermark. Choose "None".

3.  On the Benro MK10, remove the ballhead.

4.  The Benro MK10 also comes with a unique smartphone tripod adapter that is the slimmest that I've found.  You'll need to remove the mirror on the tripod adapter because it makes the adapter thicker and more visible.  I used a nail as a wedge and it popped off.

5.  For best results, remove your smartphone's armor (if any).

6.  Attach the Insta360 to your smartphone directly (for best results, don't use an adapter), and attach the smartphone to the tripod adapter.  HERE'S THE KEY: You need to position the tripod adapter AS CLOSE to the camera as possible.  You may also experiment with facing the screen outward (as in the photo) or inward (toward the frame of the adapter), using the live preview to see which makes the selfie stick and tripod adapter less visible.

7.  For best results, extend the Benro MK10 to its full length (or extend it as far as possible from the handle).



That's all there is to it!  Of course, every phone is different, so you should use the live preview to tweak your phone, adapter, and camera's position for best results.

If you found this video helpful, please hit the like button and please subscribe to the 360 Rumors YouTube channel.

Essential Phones 360 camera has 4K 360 video and 3D sound


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 smartphone gimbal to stabilize the video.

Because the 360 camera has a larger than usual overlap (compared to typical 360 cameras with 190 degree field of view) and because of the short distance between lenses, the stitching looks quite smooth, as shown in the samples on their webpage.  As for the actual image quality, it's hard to tell from the samples on their webpage because they are shown at a small size, which makes nearly any 360 camera look good.  I'll withhold judgment until I see full size 360 video samples.

To me, what is most noteworthy about the 360 camera accessory is Essential's internal perception of it. First, Essential made their 360 camera proprietary (it can't be used with any other phone because of the magnetic connectors).  Second, Essential also offered a very good price for the camera: just $50 more than the phone by itself, at least for the introductory period.  These seem to imply that Essential thinks that a majority of their customers will get the 360 camera accessory.

So, what do you guys think of the Essential Phone's 360 camera?  Let me know in the comments!

Thank you very much to Tony Anastasi, Martin Smith (Roto Studios), and Oliver Pecha (Collect 360) for bringing this to my attention!

In the meantime, if you like the concept of a 360 camera accessory but don't plan to switch phones, check out the Insta360 Air for Android (Type C or Micro USB), Insta360 Nano for iPhone, or Giroptic iO (for iOS or Android).  These three 360 cameras have live streaming, and in addition, both Insta360 Air cameras have realtime stabilization.

Ion360 U is a 4K 360 camera and smartphone charger case


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



What do you think of the concept?  Let me know in the comments!

Xiaomi updates the Mi Sphere iOS app; PC software rumor; stabilized underwater 360 video


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 resolution.  Thank you very much to Zim, Andrew Falzon, and one more reader (he even listed the changes, but I'm sorry I can't find your message!) for bringing this to my attention!

DESKTOP APP
One of the biggest issues with the Xiaomi is that there's no desktop app.  This forces you to use your phone, which makes the workflow much less convenient compared to other 360 cameras.  However, it appears that Xiaomi is working on a desktop app.  On their mini-site for the Xiaomi, there is a placeholder for a desktop software:

If you click on PC client right now, it just sends you back to the home page.  However, I hope this really does indicate that they are working on a desktop app, which would make the Xiaomi more usable for many more people (especially those who don't have a phone with Snapdragon 820 or higher processor).  Thank you very much to Zim and tech vlogger Pepe Vazquez for bringing this to my attention!

STABILIZED UNDERWATER VIDEOS
Meanwhile, I also took the Xiaomi swimming.  The Xiaomi is water resistant but not waterproof.  I didn't want to risk ruining mine, so I used a smartphone waterproof pouch. This is the case that I used:  it's called the Stalion waterproof pouch (mine is black, but in retrospect, blue is more invisible).

Here is the video:


I've used this pouch for other 360 cameras such as the 2017 Samsung Gear 360, Insta360 Nano (by itself, not with a phone), and Ricoh Theta S.  If you want a pouch that can fit the original 2016 Gear 360 or the Nano with a phone, you need this larger case.

BTW in case you're wondering about that snorkel mask, I think it works well.  It gives a clear view that doesn't fog up, and the water doesn't come in.  It's more sanitary than a regular snorkel when sharing it.  I also like that the mask has a GoPro-style attachment.  The disadvantage is that you can't go very deep with it due to water pressure because you won't be able to hold your nose and blow.   The one I got is this one.

If you are interested in the Xiaomi Mi Sphere, here is a Facebook group for it.

New Garmin Virb 360 sample shows unique stabilization mode


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 heading can lock onto the direction of movement instead of a static direction (it can do that too in another stabilization mode).  While locked to that direction, the viewer is nonetheless free to 'look around' the 360 video.

The video also demonstrates the Virb's remarkable stitching.  Ray rode his bike along busy streets with many buildings.  Normally, buildings are a very unforgiving subject that can reveal stitching errors easily.  Here's how the buildings typically looked like along the ride. The stitch line, in case you're wondering is diagonal (around 45 degrees from upper right to lower left).  

Were it not for the sun's glare, I think the stitch line would have been undetectable!  Moreover, you can see that the stitching is smooth from all the way at the top of the building to the car parked on the curb, showing seamless stitching over a wide range of distances (from near to far).

Here's another scene, also with a diagonal stitch line.


Having said that, there was a visible warping right at the stitch line, visible in some of the scenes:
But to me, it did not look too distracting because the overall geometry was correct.  For example, in the sample you can see that the angle of the gutter was perfectly aligned on both lenses.

BTW Ray said that the video here was stitched in-camera and then stabilization and the G-Metrix overlay was later added with Virb Edit.

I'm very much looking forward to the Virb, which is now available for preorder from Amazon or from B&H Photo.  If you can afford it, the Virb seems to be the most amazing and practical 2D 360 camera that's been announced to date.  (Yes I ordered one and will be testing it as soon as I get it.)  Meanwhile, it is also possible to have stabilized follow mode (in addition to the normal lock mode) with the Guru 360 gimbal or Feiyu G360 gimbal.

Insane aerial videos with Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 camera!


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 shows one of incredible possibilities from the Xiaomi's realtime image stabilization.  The software is still quite picky at this point (allowing full resolution only on Snapdragon 820 and above), but the amazing things you can do with it make it worth getting a used Samsung S7 just to render it, in my opinion (plus you can use it for Samsung Gear VR).  Xiaomi is still on sale for $255 at Gearbest (there are 3 days left).  A used S7, especially with a cracked LCD or other cosmetic flaws can be found on eBay for under $250.

Meanwhile, Garmin Virb 360 is being released in about 2 weeks, also with realtime stabilization.  It is more expensive at $799, but it has more features than the Xiaomi.

VRDL360 is a slim 360 camera with 7K photos and 3K videos; should you get one?


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.
The specifications seem somewhat similar to those of the Xiaomi Mi Sphere 360 camera, which also has two Sony 16mp sensors and also has a slim body.  However, there are a few differences:
+ Xiaomi has no live streaming (at this time)
? VRDL360 may have in-camera stitching option
- Xiaomi's video is 3.5K (3456 x 1728).  VRDL360 has said that its video is "3K" which could mean 3008 x 1504, but may mean 3456 x 1728.
- Xiaomi has image stabilization.  VRDL360 hasn't said whether their camera has stabilization.

There are also many things we don't know yet:
- How good is the lens?  Xiaomi's lens is sharp across the entire frame (except right at the stitch line) and has decent resistance to flare.  The Xiaomi's only weakness is susceptibility to purple fringing near the stitch line.
- The quality of the stitching.  Xiaomi has pretty good stitching.  VRDL360's slim body seems to suggest that it will have good stitching too, but we don't know.
- Will VRDL360 have image stabilization?  If not, that's a serious disadvantage compared to the Xiaomi.  The tiny planet videos they showed seem like they might be stabilized, although it's hard to tell from just a tiny planet video.
- Is it compatible with both Android and iOS?  (Xiaomi can be used with both Android and iOS, but see below re app reliability).
- How reliable is the app?  Xiaomi's app works well with high end phones (Snapdragon 820 or better) but so far has limited video resolution with other phones, including iPhones.
- How much is the VRDL360?  Xiaomi is quite affordable at around $270.  Will VRDL360 try to undercut it?  And if crowdfunding backers can get it at "50% off," will it be substantially cheaper than Xiaomi?
- Is the company behind VRDL360 reliable?  Xiaomi is a well established company, well known for its phones and its action camera in partnership with Yi Technology.   On the other hand, I've never heard of VRDL360.  Moreover, many crowdfunded projects suffer delays or fail completely, leaving backers with limited recourse.  FWIW, VRDL360 is being promoted by ComingSoon Tech, which also promoted the Beoncam, a wearable hemispherical camera that seems to be on its way to production.

 In summary, the VRDL360 seems to have intriguing specifications, but there are still many unanswered questions.  Nonetheless, I think it is worth keeping a close eye on them.  You can sign up to be notified about their Kickstarter here to receive a notice of when it will begin (typically, the lowest prices are for the earliest backers).

360 Camera Dual Mount for DJI Mavic captures 360 aerial videos without the Mavic in the shot


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 ordered a Mavic from Gearbest a few days ago.  I will definitely try this out!

Aobelieve tripod mount for Insta360 Nano


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 the advantages of the Security Mount is that it is completely invisible to the Nano.  Here is how its nadir looks, in comparison to that of the Insta360 Nano Mount tripod adapter (reviewed here).

BTW, at $13.99, it also costs much less than the Nano Mount ($30), which is prone to having its price inflated by resellers whenever the supply dwindles (sometimes the price climbs to an unconscionable $70).

On the other hand, the Security Mount does have a couple of disadvantages.  First, compared to the Nano Mount, it's not as easy to attach the Security Mount. It could be tricky if you're wearing gloves, for example.

More significantly, it is very difficult to remove the Nano from the Security Mount.  Once clipped together, it takes a herculean effort to unclip the two parts.  They really should just rename this the Pitbull Mount.  I can guarantee it will hold the Nano no less securely than the effin Jaws of Life.  

The other disadvantage is that it is very lightweight.  Whereas the solid aluminum Nano Mount has substantial weight and can be used as a tabletop stand for the Nano, the Security Mount is very light and the center of gravity would be high near the Insta360 lens, and it is vulnerable to being tipped over by accident.

To mitigate these disadvantages, I filed off a little bit of the clip to make it slightly easier to pull apart.  As for the weight issue, I attached glued some lead weights from my son's pinewood derby car kit, which were flat enough that they did not make it any harder to insert the Nano.

RECOMMENDATION
So, which would I recommend for a tripod mount for the Nano?  If you have the strength to use the Aobelieve, that's what I would recommend because of its invisible profile and yes, its security as well.  But if you work a lot with gloves, or you have carpal tunnel syndrome or something, I would stick with the Nano Mount.

The Aobelieve is available here.  There are variants here that include other accessories, at a higher price.  The Nano Mount is available here.

V360 is the first 360 video editing app for iOS; heres a preview


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.  V360 will be a very useful tool for 360 shooters on iOS!   I don't have an ETA yet, but I will let you guys know as soon as I find out!   In the meantime, if you want to sign up for the iOS beta, check out getv360.com.
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