The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge weren’t the only things to be unveiled by Samsung yesterday night. Along with their flagship devices, Samsung also unveiled the Gear 360, a spherical camera that can shoot 360-degree videos with the help of the S7 and S7 edge. It is being scheduled for sale later this year.
Unlike LG’s rolling bot, the Gear 360 isn’t entirely round; it has a flat bottom so it can rest on flat surfaces and even comes with a tripod mount. It’s supposed to make shooting and sharing 360-degree videos and pictures easy for the average user. The Gear 360 is mostly featureless on the outside, with just menu, record, and power buttons and a tiny monochrome PMOLED screen dotting the white plastic finish. There’s also a slot for the microSD card (up to 128GB supported) and a swappable battery, both of which are hidden behind a small door. Users should note that this isn’t a GoPro; the camera is only dust resistant and splash-proof, so don’t expect it to live after taking it scuba diving or spelunking.
The camera shoots 30-megapixel spherical photos and 3840 x 1920 video
After you shoot your 360-degree scene you’ll have to use a companion app on your S7 or S7 Edge to stitch together the various pictures to form the 360-degree video or image. So far, the camera is only compatible with those two smartphones with Samsung saying that it will be compatible with other “select Samsung smartphones”. There has been no word as to the compatibility for other smartphone devices. Luckily a PC-version of the stitching app is also available for download. You’ll also be able to view the pictures or video through Samsung’s Gear VR.
But that’s not all; Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was also part of the reveal event at the MWC in Barcelona, taking to the stage to reveal that more than 1 million hours of video have been watched in Gear VR. Zuckerberg also announced that Facebook will be bringing its dynamic streaming technology— which compresses 360-degree video on the-the-fly—to the Gear 360, depending on where the user is looking. He also hinted at “social VR apps”.
