360 rumors

Some news on the Ricoh Theta: the Theta apps for iOS have been updated to add support for 4K timelapse videos.  Ricoh also posted some spectacular 360 photos from Everest. Ricoh updated the Theta+ and Theta+ Video apps for iOS to allow 4K time lapses on iPhone 6S and above.  No word on an Android update. There was some speculation on whether this could be a sign of the impending release of the 4K Theta.  I personally don't think so...  but I could be wrong. Meanwhile, Ricoh shared these 360 photos from Everest by a Ricoh employee Olivier Vriesendorp . Here is one of them: Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

The latest update to Insta360 Air added 3K mode not just for high-end smartphones as originally promised, but apparently for more, if not most, compatible Android phones.  Compare the samples! Insta360 Air is a 360 camera accessory for Android phones.  When it was first announced, Insta360 said that it would have a resolution of 2560 x 1280, but that high-end phones such as the Huawei P9 or Samsung S7 would have a higher 3008 x 1504 video resolution. A couple of weeks ago, Insta360 released version 1.4 of their app to add 3K mode, although the exported videos seemed to be missing 360 metadata.  Version 1.4.2 of the app, released last week, fixed the 360 metadata and in addition, unlocked 3K mode for more Android phones, if not most of them. Here is a sample 3K video from the Insta360 Air on a Samsung S8 plus: Here is a sample 3K video with the Air, this time on a Samsung S6, which was not originally among the phones that was specified as being capable of shooting in 3K on...

Insta360 updated the Nano app to add several features, including a tiny planet live stream, stickers, and Snapchat support. As reported by my friend Sarah Redohl at ImmersiveShooter , Insta360 updated the app to version 1.10 and added several new features.  I've tried them out and they're pretty cool! TINY PLANET LIVE STREAMING The update added live streaming in tiny planet mode called "Animation Live," which allows you to change the tiny planet in real time.  To my awareness, Insta360 Nano is the first 360 camera to have that feature.  Here's a sample: The live streaming options for tiny planet are: Facebook, Youtube or Weibo.  I didn't see an option for Twitter / Periscope. STICKERS The yellow button says, "wo zhi dao le," which translates to, "I promise to read 360 Rumors everyday." :) The update also added a myriad of stickers.  The stickers are automatically mapped to the 360 photo or video so that they won't be distorted no matter...

Here is a video tutorial on using the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 camera.  I also have late-breaking news on possible workarounds using third party software. The Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 3.5K panoramic camera currently appears to offer the highest video quality for 360 cameras for $300 or less, and it is one of the few that offer manual exposure controls.  Together with fairly smooth stitching, edge-to-edge sharpness, and a 24mp photo resolution, it offers an excellent package for those looking for an entry-level or even intermediate 360 camera. The only problem with the Mi Sphere is that its software is not straightforward and has quite a few bugs.  In this video, I will show how to use Xiaomi and hopefully demystify the Mi Sphere's software. As you saw in the video, the Mi Sphere has a few issues when stitching or exporting videos.  I therefore recommend trying out some files from the Xiaomi on your phone before buying it. iOS app Android app Unstitched samples for yo...

The Mac desktop stitching software for the 2017 Samsung Gear 360 is now available! Here is the link to the Mac software . Here are the requirements for the software . I don't know yet if the 2017 stitching software can also stitch photos and videos of the original Gear 360. Samsung also posted the requirements for the PC version of the desktop software (Gear 360 Action Director 2).  In case you missed it, the link to the new Action Director software is here .  The new software can work with both the original and the new Gear 360.  The software can be activated with either the original Gear 360 or the 2017 Gear 360's serial number. Meanwhile the 2017 Gear 360 is still pretty hard to find outside of Korea and parts of Europe.  However, you can buy it on eBay where reseller prices have dropped to as low as $260 (just $10 more than the MSRP) . Thank you very much to Axel Baumann of  www.video-tv355.de for sharing this info!

Realtime stabilization has now been added Insta360 Air, the first 360 camera for Android phones.  Here's a demo and a tutorial for upgrading the firmware required this feature. Here's the demo video and tutorial: HOW TO INSTALL Before you begin, here are two tips for installation: 1. When connecting the Insta360 Air to your phone, connect the Air directly and not through an adapter.  This will minimize the chance for errors. After installing, you can go back to using the adapter. 2. You'll be inserting and reinserting the Air a lot.  To avoid smearing the lens, you can put the Insta360 Air in its silicone rubber case upside down.  You'll still be able to insert it into your phone. Here are the steps. 1.  Install the Insta360 Air app version 1.4 or above on your smartphone. As of April 27, version 1.4 is still not live on Google Play Store but you can download the beta version from Insta360.com.  Use your phone to go to Insta360.com .  On the upper lef...

You can now download the Insta360 Air app from the Google Play store .  Although you can't shoot with it until you get the Insta360 Air, the app does include a sample video from the Insta360 Air. The sample video shows image quality similar to that of the  Insta360 Nano for iPhone .  However, please note that the Air's resolution can be either 3008 x 1504 (identical to the Nano) or 2560 x 1280, depending on your phone.  Higher end phones such as the Samsung S7 series and Huawei P9 benefit from the higher resolution. I also noted that the app required an update, but I wasn't able to update it a while ago.  I'll try again later. RELATED POSTS: Hands-on with the Insta360 Air

LG 360 Cam , one of the most affordable fully spherical 360 cameras, received an update to its app that added several new features including 360 audio. The LG 360 Cam app received an app update, which is supposed to add several features: 1. 360 audio :  With 360 audio, the sound will change to reflect the direction the viewer is looking at, including directly above or below. Here is a sample video with 360 audio: 2. 360 preview .  Until now, when viewing a live preview on the app, you could only see either the front lens view or the rear lens view.  The update is supposed to add a true 360-degree preview. 3. Bottom logo sticker .  The update adds the ability to add a watermark.  I'm not sure if the watermark is customizable. 4. LED on/off .  The update adds the option to turn the LED on or off. I tried the update but I wasn't able to access any of the new features.  It appears that a firmware update is required.  However, I haven't been able to up...

If you are using the Ricoh Theta desktop app, please do not update your Adobe AIR to version 24.  There is an incompatibility between the Theta app and version 24 of AIR which will prevent you from viewing photos or videos.  Until Ricoh issues a fix for their software, please hold off on updating Adobe AIR to version 24.

360 PhotoBall is an Android app that enables you to print 360 photos on paper which you can then assemble into a ball. 360 PhotoBall is available on the Google Play store for $0.99 . Thank you very much to Pepe Vazquez for bringing this to my attention! For a high quality print of your 360 photo, printed seamlessly in full color on a sphere (both on the inside and on the outside), check out Scandy !

The Construct is a free software that allows you to link 360 photos into a virtual tour. The Construct is a software that enables you to create virtual tours by linking 360 photos.  The tours can be seen on the web (here) or through viewers such as Samsung Gear VR or Google Cardboard using theViewer app ( Gear VR ; Android ; iOS ).   [As usual, please review the privacy settings before installing any app.] Here are sample virtual tours created from theConstruct . TheConstruct is currently free when you sign up on their website , and according to the developer, the basic functionality will remain free, but they will charge for customization options in the future. Thank you very much to Danny Mydlack for bringing this to my attention!

Ricoh updated the Ricoh Theta S app to add multi-shot bracketing. With this feature, the Theta can automatically take a series of shots at exposures that you select.  You can also use it for white balance bracketing.  This is useful for HDR and other applications.  The update requires that your Theta be updated to firmware 1.82.  It also works only for the Theta S (it won't work on the Theta SC ).  HOW TO USE MULTI-SHOT BRACKETING. 1.  First, you need to connect the Theta S with your smartphone and run the Theta S app.  Under shooting method, select "multi bracket." 2.  In the multi bracket shooting dialog box, click on the plus sign to add a desired exposure: 3.  In the next screen, select the exposure you want and tap on "Done." 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add more exposures / settings as needed: 5. Press the shutter button on the app to begin the bracketing shots. OBSERVATIONS The multi-shot bracketing affords a lot of con...

As promised by Nikon , they have issued an update to the firmware and app to address connectivity issues with the Keymission 360 (reviewed here) .  Here is the link for the firmware: http://downloadcenter. nikonimglib.com/en/products/ 337/KeyMission_360.html To update the app, go to your smartphone app store. I will update this post after testing the new firmware and app.

You can now use your Ricoh Theta S  or Theta SC to shoot tethered with photos and videos downloaded to your desktop using Theta S Control , a free app for Windows. Theta S Control is an app for Windows (desktop, mobile, and holographic) that allows you to control the  Ricoh Theta S  or Theta SC from your desktop or Windows phone.  Among the functions supported are: - Get preview thumbnails and download camera files to your device - Get camera state and info - Remote photo shutter - Remote video shutter - Live stream view - Option to sync time and gps information from your device to camera - Silent shutter option Unlike conventional tethering via USB cable, Theta S Control uses Wi-Fi, i.e., your PC connects wirelessly to the Theta's Wi-Fi signal. Theta S Control is available for free download from the Microsoft Windows store .

B. Braun Future Operating Room is a newly-released free VR experience where you become a surgeon in a future operating room, using nanobots and other tools to treat your patient.  The app is a free download on Steam and is available for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift (Oculus Touch required).

In celebration of winter, you can now add a 3D snow or 3D snowflake effect to your Ricoh Theta 's 360 photos!  To add the effect, upload your shot to theta360.com then add the hashtag #snow3d for snow or #snowcrystal3d for snowflakes. Here is a sample of a photo with 3D snow . Here is a sample with 3D snowflakes . The falling leaves effect is the latest among other 3D effects that were added to the Ricoh Theta: -  cherry blossom petals (#sakura3d ) -  fireflies (#firefly3d ) -  rain (#raid3d) -  butterflies (#butterfly3d) -  UFOs (#ufo3d) - falling leaves (#momiji3d)

You can now connect the Ricoh Theta S or Theta SC  to a Playstation 4 to see your Theta photos and videos in VR with a Sony Playstation VR (reviewed here) . Ricoh and Sony announced that you can now view photos and videos on the Ricoh Theta S or Theta SC directly with a Playstation VR, without having to transfer the photos or videos to a memory card. You will need to update the Theta S/SC to the latest firmware, and you need to update the free Media Player app on the PS4 to the latest version.  1.  Once the Theta and Media Player are updated, you connect the Theta by turning it off, and connecting it via USB to the PS4.  2.  You then hold down the Wi-Fi button on the Theta until the LED on the camera starts flashing. 3.  On Media Player, a list will popup and you select “Ricoh Company, Ltd. RICOH THETA S” (or SC, as the case may be). 4.  On Media Player's options menu, look for “VR Mode" and switch it to "On." 5.  Choose the photo or vi...

Facebook recently began supporting 360-degree photos. However, the upload process was rather quirky and required dragging and dropping on the desktop . Fortunately, with the Facebook update on July 7, you can now upload 360-degree photos via the mobile app. Just create a new post and tap on the photo icon, and choose a 360-degree photo. When you upload the photo, it will automatically be recognized as a 360-degree photo. I've tested it successfully on Facebook for iOS (version 59.0) with the iPhone 6, and Facebook for Android (version 84.0.0.20.70) with a Samsung S6 running on Android 6.0.1.

The Insta360 Nano app is now available on the App Store!  Of course we can't use it until we get the Insta360 Nano, but it's at least comforting to know the Nano won't be delayed due to the app. The app has a very simple interface: This is the shooting screen.  You can switch from photo to video.  There does not seem to be other settings such as for changing exposure.  But we won't know until we get the camera at the end of July. This is the gallery tab.  It allows you to see the photos from your iPhone's Camera Roll or the Nano's memory, or both. This is the settings tab.  Thankfully it has a vertical orientation correction.  You can also see the calibration mode (for smoother stitching) and the Live mode for live streaming. Interestingly, the app includes a way to send feedback directly to Insta360 for product issues or product suggestions. I'm looking forward to getting the Nano!