Photography

GoPano micro captures 360-degree video on iPhone

GoPano micro captures 360-degree video on iPhone
The GoPano micro is a lens and software system that allows 360-degree interactive videos to be shot with an iPhone
The GoPano micro is a lens and software system that allows 360-degree interactive videos to be shot with an iPhone
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The GoPano micro is a lens and software system that allows 360-degree interactive videos to be shot with an iPhone
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The GoPano micro is a lens and software system that allows 360-degree interactive videos to be shot with an iPhone

If you've seen the rock video for Professor Green's Coming to Get Me, then you'll know just how fascinating 360-degree interactive video can be. Viewers are able to continuously change their point of view, looking in front of, behind, beside or even above the camera at any point in the action – it's never the same video twice, if you don't want it to be. While such technology could mean big things for feature film production, it's also set to shake up your home videos ... starting with the GoPano micro 360-degree video system for iPhone.

The micro was designed by engineers at Pittsburgh tech start-up EyeSee360. The company, which is made up of alumni from Carnegie Mellon University, has previously developed the GoPano Plus, a 360-degree lens for use on digital SLRs. While the Plus is priced at US$699, however, the micro is expected to sell for about $80.

The current prototype attaches to the lens of an iPhone 4, via a custom case. Users then simply record a video, simultaneously catching everything visible within a 360-degree horizontal loop around the lens (they can select what point of view appears on the phone's screen as they're shooting, but that doesn't affect what's recorded). When they're done, proprietary software allows viewers of the footage to navigate within the panorama using the phone's touchscreen, panning left or right whenever they see fit. The company is also developing a web platform, where users can share their videos.

Although the GoPano micro is not yet available for general purchase, people interested in helping to fund its development can get one for a pledge of US$50 or more.

An example of a video shot with the technology can be seen – and manipulated with your mouse – below.

6 comments
6 comments
CliffG
Extremely cool.
windykites
This is brilliant!. It must have a fairly large file size, but memory is cheap these days. It is amazing how the mouse can pan the picture on the demo video.I hope it gets into production
Daniel Moore
Neat! Add Livestream and going on the road will never have \"boring\" or \"are we there yet\" heard again.
Gadgeteer
windykites,
The file size won\'t be any bigger than regular 720p videos taken on the iPhone. The resolution is still limited by the built-in camera and resolution by and large determines file size. You will lose some detail while viewing because it\'s digitally zooming into a portion of the image and removing the distortion.
georgzel
been done before by sony with their hd bloggie camcorder including 360 lens and software. http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product-detail.do?prodId=SEL-M-185795&catId=SEL-yf-dncat-30037 search for sony MHS-PM5K , kit is around $100 for camcorder, lens, and software. see also http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/360one.html for lens from kaiden inc.
Oliver Bartels
Videos über 360° mit dem IPhone - RESPEKT!