Choose Your Own Adventure in Insta360 Ticket Competition

Ever wanted to jet off on some exotic holiday, not somewhere with an all-inclusive bar but a proper adventure where you can take those sort of photos that make others jealous on Instagram? Well now you can (sort off) thanks to 360-degree camera manufacturer Insta360, which is running a travel competition.

Insta360 Travel Competition

Entering the contest is fairly easy, all you need to do is follow this link, enter your name and email and that’s it. For course there are a couple of cravats as with any competition. The offer is a round-trip ticket for one-person with the ticket value up to $1500 USD in total.

The competition runs from today until 12th August, with the winner being announced through Insta360’s official Instagram and via email on 13th August 2018. As far as VRFocus can tell there are no other terms and conditions stipulating what countries can enter or when the trip needs to be taken by.

There’s also no mention of a 360-degree camera which seems a little silly as surely Insta360 would love the winner to take some awesome 360 pictures to advertise its devices.

Insta360 ONE selfie-2

Insta360 has a range of cameras to suit those keen on taking immersive snaps and videos of their travels. From the diminutive Insta360 Air for Android devices to the full on Insta360 Pro which is capable of stereoscopic 360 stills and video in up to 8K from six 200° lenses. The company’s most recent product is the Insta360 One, launched in 2017 the camera shoots 360-degree video and photos at resolutions of 4K, has a 70 minute battery life, an F2.2 aperture, and its compatible with iOS and Android devices.

Remember there’s only a couple of weeks to go until the competition closes if you fancy a solo journey somewhere. For any further updates fro Insta360, keep reading VRFocus.

Insta360: Neues Video für die „epische“ 360-Grad-Kamera

Mit einem neuen Teaser macht Insta360 neugierig auf seine neue 360-Grad-Kamera. Diese stellt das Unternehmen am 28. August offiziell vor. Insta360 hat zwei interessante Kameras im Angebot, die allerdings preislich und von der Leistung weit auseinanderliegen. Zwei Modelle erweitern ein iPhone oder Android-Smartphone um eine 360-Grad-Kamera, die Pro-Version mit sechs Sensoren bietet bis zu 8K Auflösung. Das neue Modell könnte die Lücke schließen und damit neue Anwender-Kreise ansprechen.

Insta360: Neue 360-Grad-Kamera in Anmarsch

Die Insta360 Nano für das iPhone sowie die Insta360 Pro haben wir euch schon vorgestellt. Das Nano-Modell liegt bei knapp 200 Euro. Das Modell für Android, die Insta360 Air, ist etwas einfacher aufgebaut und in der Regel für unter 150 Euro zu haben. Sie bietet aber eine für diesen Preisbereich ähnlich gute Bildauflösung wie das Nano-Modell von bis zu 3K. Ein ganz anderes Kaliber hingegen ist die Insta360 Pro, für die man knapp 4000 Euro hinblättern muss. Sie macht Videoaufnahmen mit bis zu 8K Auflösung und konkurriert dadurch mit wesentlich teureren Kamera-Systemen wie beispielsweise die Nokia OZO. Wenn man die Videos mit der Insta360 Pro in 3D aufnimmt, reduziert sich die Auflösung auf immer noch gute 6K. Am 28. August wird das Unternehmen eine neue Kamera vorstellen, mit der man 360-Grad-Videos erstellen kann. Ein jetzt veröffentlichter Teaser gibt schon einen kleinen Ausblick und macht neugierig.

Das Video verrät noch keine Details über die neue Kamera und gibt Raum für Spekulation. Die Seite UploadVR beispielsweie geht angesichts des Videos davon aus, dass eine Art Selfiestick zum Einsatz kommt. Der ließe sich einfach aus dem Video entfernen und wäre somit unsichtbar. Unklar ist auch noch, ob es sich um eine Stand-alone-Lösung wie die Pro handelt oder die Kamera ein Smartphone voraussetzt. Der Slogan „Alles wird episch mit One” weist eher auf eine Stand-alone-Lösung hin. Am 28. August werden wir mehr erfahren, wenn Insta360 seine Kamera vorstellt. Wir halten euch auf dem Laufenden.

(Quelle: UploadVR)

Der Beitrag Insta360: Neues Video für die „epische“ 360-Grad-Kamera zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Video: Insta360 Teases New Type Of 360-Degree Camera

Video: Insta360 Teases New Type Of 360-Degree Camera

Insta360 is one of the companies in the 360 camera space that has been on an absolute tear. Last year it announced the Insta360 Nano which is a popular iPhone-attached 360 camera capable of doing Periscope and Facebook live streaming. Since last year, it also released an Android variant called the Insta360 Air and a professional camera called the Insta360 Pro that can shoot 8K 360 video.

It looks like Insta360 may be launching something to bridge the gap between the Nano and Pro cameras. Currently, the Insta360 Nano sells for $199 and Pro sells for $3499, and the capability differences between the two cameras are quite vast in terms of photo and video quality.

Insta360 is now teasing a new camera with some video footage that we expect will bridge this vast capability and price gap between the Nano and Pro. Based on these videos we’re seeing, this new camera looks like it could have some sort of high-speed capability and it might take 360-degree videos from an entirely new angle.

From the video, it appears to operate with some sort of selfie stick that places the stitch line between the cameras right on the selfie stick, making it appear invisible and easily removed. Additionally, it likely highlights the standalone nature of the camera itself since I wouldn’t expect that they have a phone swinging around like that on a selfie stick.

Insta360 have proven to be the most full-featured platform for 360 video and photography and it will be interesting to see how the company’s products will evolve with the market and perhaps even how the market reacts to their own capabilities.

The company is teasing that we will know more on Aug. 28.

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Periscope Gets Native Insta360 Air Support

Livestreaming has become a feature of life for many people. The idea of sharing an experience over the internet with people hundreds or even thousands of miles away is not a new one, but the addition of 360-degree video means that unique experiences such as concerts or sport events can now be much more immersive for the viewer. Even more so with the latest update to Periscope, the Twitter-owned live-streaming app has been released and it contains an update that allows users of the Insta360 Air to broadcast live 360-degree video directly from the app.

Earlier this year Periscope introduced native support for the Insta360 Nano, which is the iPhone counterpart to the Insta360 Air, the introduction of Android support means that both Android and iPhone users can freely stream 360-degree live footage through the Periscope app using Insta360 cameras.

Insta360 specialise in creating compact, easy-to-use 360-degree cameras designed to work with smartphones to capture share and broadcast 360-degree photos and videos in a way that is simple to install and use. The Insta360 Air uses a plug-and-play system that clips directly into the micro USB port of an Android smartphone. At present, Insta360 cameras are the only 360-degree cameras that are natively supported by the Periscope app.

Anyone using the Periscope app can view the broadcast through a smartphone and look around to view every angle with simple touch controls. Periscope users can announce their broadcast through Periscope’s Twitter integration.

The Insta360 Air camera costs $129 (USD) from the Insta360 web store. Further information can be found on the Insta360 website.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Insta360 cameras as it becomes available.

A Guide to the Best 360 Cameras Your Money Can Buy

There’s always been two barriers to 360 degree video content: price and quality. Thanks to the rapid adoption of the Samsung Gear VR and now with nearly a year under the belts of the consumer editions of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, those two issues are becoming less of a worry. A selection of consumer-grade 360 degree cameras are now available, and VRFocus has endeavoured to find the best option for you, whether it’s stills, video or – oddly – home security you’re looking to deliver.

The Ricoh Theta range has often been considered cream-of-the-crop, but the argument remains that it stands tall simple because it was early and cheap, not because it actually did a good job. Significant improvements have seen the hardware become more popular with each iteration, but in VRFocus’ collective mind the range is still lacking in many respects. Instead, below follow today’s best picks for affordable, high quality 360 degree cameras.

Samsung Gear 360

The most obvious of the selection, the Samsung Gear 360 is a popular choice, and with reason. Launched at £349 GBP, a recent price drop saw the diminutive device reduced to just £249, making it a bargain by anyone’s measure. A mid-range capture quality is bolstered by the ease of the stitching process; automated for those unaware of what editing actually looks like. Furthermore, the ease of sharing content makes the Samsung Gear 360 ideal for anyone looking to use the camera for their holiday snaps or life events, even if it’s not quite equipped to make you into a warzone journalist.
ALLie_Go_360_Action_Camera

ALLie

An interesting device, the ALLie camera (which took it upon itself to adapt the term ‘selfie’ for its 360 degree needs) is intended as a stationary device. Unlike the Samsung Gear 360, the ALLie intended for monitoring or webcasting. It can capture footage, though the software provided is unwieldy at best and requires a wi-fi connection, so catching real-life on the street is not always an option. For a more mundane task however, such as home security, the ALLie can be set in place once and forgotten about, given the end user a 360 degree live stream of whatever they determine valuable enough to monitor.
Vuze camera image

VUZE 360

The most expensive camera on the list – and with reason – Humaneyes’ VUZE 360 is billed as a ‘prosumer’ device. A step-up from the likes of a 3D printed Go Pro rig or even the Samsung Gear 360 then, but still way behind the likes of Nokia’s OZO, the VUZE 360 is an elegantly designed camera. Capable of recording in resolutions of up to 4K, stereoscopic 3D and with a field-of-view of 120×180, the VUZE 360 is certainly no slouch on the technical specifications, hence warranting that $799 USD asking price. However, VRFocus has yet had little time to experiment with the proprietary software Humaneyes has packaged with the device, so be sure to look out for more details on theVUZE 360 coming soon.

Insta360 Air camera

Insta360 Air

This is different. This is not a VR quality camera. This is not an immersive video capture device. This is the Insta360: designed for sharing your wares on social media platforms. It’s quick, efficient, reasonable quality and – above all, for some – directly compatible with YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Stitching is handled automatically by the software that the camera itself is the smallest of any on this list; easily fitting in a pocket or small bag. It’s compatible with Android smartphones as standard (and PC hardware via a transfer cable) and is built for those moments of immediacy that would otherwise be lost forever – the exact opposite of the ALLie, essentially. The Insta360 Air is never going to compete with the VUZE 360 in terms of quality, but then it’s not supposed to. It has its own niche carved out for it, and does a pretty good job right there.

 

Insta360 Crowdfunds 360-Degree Camera Accessory For Android Phones

Insta360 Crowdfunds 360-Degree Camera Accessory For Android Phones

Social 360-degree media is a growing force with new applications, peripherals, and even phones built around the media becoming more and more readily available to consumers. Recent mobile 360-degree options we covered were geared to Apple and devices out of the US but there’s a new development. Insta360 is all about the creation of 360 media through mobile accessories and is planning a 360-degree clip-on for Android phones via IndieGoGo.

The Insta360 Air is a lightweight camera meant to live-stream or capture 360-degree video for sharing on social media. It has a sleek design with a few colors to choose from and it fits the aesthetic of popular smartphones. It is said to use a dual fisheye lens, captures 3k stills with 2k videos with stabilization tech, and can be paired with Insta360 Air mobile app for a gallery, capture, and 4 viewing modes (flat, VR, sphere, and planet). The app also includes editing tools for the 360-degree media.

The Insta360 Air comes in various packages on IndieGoGo , with the single device starting at $99 and a couple of them for $169. The other bundles are combinations of the device and different accessories such as an android cardboard VR viewer and tripod. There are a couple accessory- only collections as well. They asked for $20,000 to complete the project and fundraising is at $23,856 with a month left.

The Air has moved from concept to funding in a short time, with the prototype defined just in September of this year. The 2nd prototype is planned for December 10th with samples to be ready on December 30th. Though much after this will likely depend on how well the samples come out, the team is planning to preview the accessory at CES in January and start shipping out to backers in February. It’s an aggressive timeline and hardware crowdfunding projects often see unanticipated delays or costs.

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Insta360 Bringing 360-degree Videos to Android with Air

In July the Shenzhen Arashi Vision Company launched its take on 360-degree cameras with the Insta360 Nano. The camera fitted to iPhone 6 and its various versions, to enable users to capture immersive photos and videos. Now the company has launched an IndiGoGo crowd-funding campaign for its next product, Insta360 Air.

The Insta360 Air is an Android compatible version, with a design similar to other round cameras like Gear 360 and 360fly. Working in similar fashion to its predecessor, the Insta360 Air will be able to live-stream on platforms such as YouTube, or users can share videos and pictures on Facebook, Twitter, Messenger and WhatsApp.

Insta360 Air

Featuring a 210-degree dual fish-eye-lens and real-time image stitching the Insta360 Air, can shoot 3K stills (with selected Android smartphones such as Samsung S7) and 2K videos.

The IndieGoGo campaign is looking to raise $20,000 USD, and after a day already sits on $16,755. Funding tiers for backers to secure a device start from $99 for the camera in one of three colours, Matt Black, Rose Pink, Silver White and Rich Gold.

“Android is the most common device in the world, so our aim for the Insta360 Air is to offer an affordable professional grade 360-degree camera for everyone,” said Liu Jingkang, Insta360 CEO and founder. “The camera combines the world’s love of cameras, social media and virtual reality all-in-one.”

Checkout the full spec list below, and keep reading VRFocus for all the latest announcements from Insta360.

 

Insta360 Air Specs:

 

Compatibility Android phones (laptops and computers via transfer cable)
Sharing Immediate share on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Messenger and WeChat
Livestreaming On any 360° platform which includes YouTube, Insta360 server via link
Panoramic Video Talk 360° video talk on Skype and other meeting software
Image Stabilization 360° electronic image stabilization system
Image Stitching Real-time stitching
Warranty One year for camera, one month for accessories, special terms applied to certain regions with specific local regulations
Apps Insta360 Air, Insta360 Player
Camera Dual 210° degree fish-eye lens
Minimum Aperture F2.4
Shutter Speed Adjustable
Photo Capture Resolution 3008 x 1504 (3K)
Video 2560 x 1280 (2K). On some Android systems, 3008 x 1504 (3K). Systems include latest Android mobiles such as Samsung S7, S7 edge, and Huawei P9
Dimensions [Metric] 38mm diameter, 39.5mm height
Dimensions (US) 0.12ft diameter, 0.13ft height
Weight 26.5g
Connector Micro USB /Type-C
ISO Adjustable