360 rumors

Here is a full review of the Xiaomi Mijia Mi Sphere 360 camera, which has become one of my favorite 360 cameras for its excellent image quality and incredible image stabilization. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Xiaomi Mi Sphere is an excellent 360 camera that has the highest image quality for both photos and videos among cameras around $350 or less (for photo quality, I would say there is no better 360 camera unless you are willing to buy a Panono).  On top of that, its image stabilization really works, and it works very well.  On the other hand, the Mi Sphere has significant drawbacks that you should review before buying it. Here is the video review: WHAT'S IN THE BOX The Xiaomi Mi Sphere includes: - the camera - a mini tripod / handle - a Micro USB cable - a water resistant pouch The Xiaomi is very well made, with a sleek matte black outer finish with hidden LED indicators (like the Theta).  The frame is metal, which makes the Xiaomi feel solid but also helps to radiate heat (...

Here is a brief tutorial on a few ways to avoid shaking in your tiny planet videos. Here's the video: To recap, stabilization isn't just for spherical videos.  It's also very useful for tiny planet videos.  Indeed, any shaking tends to get exaggerated in tiny planet videos, so even though the shaking is not going to cause any nausea, stabilization is critical for tiny planet videos.  There are three ways to stabilize the video to avoid shaking: OPTION 1 . Use a stabilized gimbal. Gimbals tend to have the most stability among the three methods.  Another advantage is that a single gimbal can often be used to stabilize any of your 360 cameras, or even your smartphone. The two most affordable gimbals for 360 cameras are: Guru 360 ($299): https://goo.gl/vMCD8l Feiyu G360 ($349 or $359 with extension handle): http://amzn.to/2rWF6Ia OPTION 2 : stabilized 360 camera. A few cameras have gyro-based stabilization: the Insta360 Air, Insta360 Nano, Xiaomi Mi Sphere, and Garmin Vi...

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 so...

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 s...

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,...

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...

Google announced that there will be 20 new cameras in 2017 that will be certified for compatibility with Google Street View. Google announced a new Street View certification program, and also announced that there would be 20 cameras "released over the coming months" in 2017 that would be certified under the program. There are four different types of Street View certifications: 1. Mobile ready - can upload to Street View directly from their mobile app without needing a desktop. 2. Auto ready - can be used to take Street View photos from a car "with the highest accuracy." 3. VR ready - these cameras take not only photos but also "geometry" and can generate connected photos. 4. Workflow ready - tools (with or without cameras) that can publish to Street View. Among the interesting companies mentioned are: - Giroptic : mobile ready.  This is interesting because the iO does not meet the minimum resolution for GSV.  I don't know if this means the Giroptic 360...

Insta360 Pro is almost here.  In addition to 8K 360 video and 6K 3D 360 video, Insta360 Pro can also live stream in 4K.  Insta360 posted a tutorial and demo of Insta360 Pro's live streaming feature. Here is the tutorial: You can see a sample 4K live stream from Insta360 Pro here: Insta360 Pro is available with free shipping from B&H Photo , or can be ordered directly from Insta360.com . It is currently scheduled to ship at the end of May.  Shipping dates are tentative, so if your project is time-sensitive, please check with B&H Photo or Insta360 before ordering.

Insta360 demonstrated a 4K live stream from the Insta360 Pro, one of the hottest new cameras for 360 video professionals.  Check out the live stream video! Insta360 Pro is a professional 360 camera that can capture up to 8K 360 video in 2D, 6K 360 video in 3D, or 4K video live streaming (in 2D or 3D).  It is also the only professional 360 camera with realtime image stabilization (see demo here) .  Whereas professional 360 cameras are generally priced in the 5-digit range, the Insta360 Pro is only $3,499, within the range of independent filmmakers and even prosumers. Now here is the live stream video from the Insta360 Pro in 4K 360, posted on YouTube. Insta360 had to reduce the bitrate to 6mbps due to the slow internet connection at their office.  However, the sample still looks impressively detailed.  The stitching also looks quite smooth, which is impressive considering that the stitching is template-based. Based on these samples, and previous samples I've view...

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...