2017 has almost come to an end and with the start of 2018 looming there’s going to be the usual influx of new gadgets and gizmos from events like CES and Mobile World Congress (MWC). Yearly updates aren’t an unusual thing anymore – just look at smartphones – and it seems as though tech giant Samsung has a new Gear 360 camera in the works if newly released images are to be believed.
LetsGoDigital, the German website that’s very good at uncovering patent filings – it recently found the HTC Vive Focus and Vive Eclipse trademark applications – reports that Samsung filed a new patent application with the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) along with some images for a 2018 Gear 360 model.
Currently no specifications have been reveal regarding the new camera but as you can see from the images supplied the design has been overhauled somewhat from the 2017 model. The lens housing is far more bulbous and slightly titled – so the lenses are no longer level, and the bottom of the grip is no longer flat, instead it’s rounded with a couple of feet to support it when placed on flat surfaces.
The look is far more playful in its design, almost mimicking some sort of cartoon character – there’s even what look like eyes printed on the front of the lens. The design also looks far more streamlined than the present model with two buttons on the front, one for activating record and another grey button. There doesn’t seem to be a display panel or any of the menu/Bluetooth buttons.
This likely means Samsung is putting more of an emphasis on smartphone controls for fine tuning specific recording functions.
As the 2016 and 2017 models were introduced around February/March time it’s more than likely that Samsung will make some sort of formal announcement around the time of MWC 2018 which takes place at the end of February. When it does, VRFocus will bring you the latest details.