360 rumors

Felix and Paul Studios are raising the ante with an underwater 360 video based on Cirque du Soleil's "O." Felix and Paul Studios have been creating 360 videos that have been featured for the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR .  They've been commissioned to create several 360 videos for Cirque du Soleil, such as Ka: the Battle Within , Zarkana , and Inside the Box of Kurios . Their newest 360 video for the Cirque du Soleil is a technical tour de force.  Entitled "Dreams of O," it is based on Cirque du Soleil's water-themed show "O," and includes underwater sequences. Besides requiring a 360 camera rig that can be used underwater, the video also created challenges for lighting and color. Dreams of O is available as a free download for Samsung Gear VR on the Oculus Store .

Check out this 360 video from a Samsung Gear 360 mounted on top of a MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter as it flies to the edge of space! Migflug is a company based in Switzerland that offers commercial flights on jet fighters.  Their ultimate package is a flight to the edge of space on a MiG-29.  On one of these flights, they attached a  Samsung Gear 360  on top of a MiG-29. The Samsung Gear 360 was mounted to the vertical stabilizer using a custom-made mount: The  Samsung Gear 360 's lenses were exposed as the MiG-29 flew at speeds almost to Mach 2 but the Gear 360 was fine. Here is the video: Here is a review of the Samsung Gear 360 .  Also check out the Samsung Gear 360 Wiki and Resource Page ! via The Aviationist

The Insta360 Nano is a 360 camera for the iPhone, designed for ease of use and convenience.  However, it can also be a powerful filmmaking tool if used with the right technique, as demonstrated in this short video. Wiebe de Jager is a filmmaker based in the Netherlands.  He created this short 360 video, entitled The Hague 360 using nothing but an  Insta360 Nano .  The video incorporates sophisticated techniques such as beat-syncing and time lapses ( recently added via firmware update ), and shows the potential of the Nano. The video shows some purple fringing but that is now resolved in the most recent firmware update .

VR is a largely visual experience but a recently-released app for Samsung Gear VR (reviewed here)  tries to show viewers what it's like to be blind.  Called Notes on Blindness , it is narrated by John Hull, a writer and theologian who gradually became totally blind.  As John loses his vision, he reflects thoughtfully on the experience of what it's like to be blind and how he perceives the world with his new condition.  Viewers see a VR representation of John's experiences as he narrates them.  The images are computer-generated in realtime. As you would expect, the audio plays a very important role, and the sound quality is amazing, especially on a headset.  Thunder, for example, sounds incredibly realistic. Some scenes of Notes on Blindness are also interactive and use the Gear VR's controls. Notes on Blindness is a thought-provoking VR experience that showcases the power of VR as a medium for building empathy.