Samsung Launches The Gear 360, A 360-Degree Camera For Everyone
In the verge of virtual reality coming to consumers this year, 360-degree video capture cameras are also on the horizon. These cameras are bridging the gap between VR headsets and available VR content by letting almost anyone to create virtual worlds through photos and videos. To address this, Korean tech giant Samsung has launched its own 360-degree camera, the Gear 360.
During the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, Samsung announced its contender in the consumer VR capture hardware with the Gear 360. The company launched the camera to compete with other companies, such as LG, Nikon, Ricoh, and Kodak, which also have their own 360-degree cameras to launch.
The Samsung Gear 360 has a dual f/2.0 fisheye lens with 15 megapixel image sensors capable of capturing high-resolution (3840×1920) 360-degree video, as well as 30-megapixel still images. Samsung has designed the Gear 360’s lenses to be used simultaneously or even in single lens mode. With the single lens mode, it is possible to capture 5-megapixel, 180-degree images just by using one lens. The company states that the camera is designed to be user-friendly, with usability right out of the box. The Bright Lens 2.0 aperture ensures even low light conditions are properly lit and in focus.
Key hardware features of the Gear 360 include a DRIMe5s image processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD card (Up to 128GB), .05-inch PMOLED display, accelerometer and gyro sensors, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) and a removable 1350mAh battery.
The video the Samsung Gear 360 records is output in MP4 (H.265) and JPEG for stills, which makes it that much easier to share with others or upload on YouTube. It is compatible with Samsung smartphones including the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6. PCs are also supported via an app called Gear 360 Action Director.
The Samsung Gear 360 is seen to benefit businesses with a market on travel and tours. By being able to capture destinations and showing it to their customers, businesses will have a whole new way to interact with their customers by letting them see the places they want to go to even before they get there.
According to DJ Koh, Samsung Electronics’ President of Mobile Communications Business, “Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the mobile experience to extend beyond the smartphone. Following last year’s Gear VR release, Gear 360 continues to push the limits on immersive content — providing a visual experience that makes capturing and sharing life’s moments even easier.”
The Samsung Gear 360 camera will be available in the second quarter of 2016, but information on its pricing has yet to follow.
For more information on the Samsung Gear 360, please visit the following websites:
http://fortune.com/2016/02/22/samsung-gear-360/
http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/21/11081450/samsung-gear-360-camera-video-specs-mwc-2016
http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-360/
