We've talked about virtual reality several times here in the past, and we'll continue to do so for the foreseeable future. That's because VR is the future. It just is. There will come a day when you binge-watch all of your Netflix shows or play the latest Call of Duty while wearing a VR headset. Right now, virtual reality is still a fairly expensive thing, and that prohibits your average every day user from getting involved. But the day is coming when tools like the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift will be affordable for almost everyone, and that's when you'll see them become as normal as the smart phone.
But if you're one of those folks who just has to stay on the bleeding edge of technology (no judging here; I'm one of those people as well), then you're probably looking to get involved in VR immediately. If you're also a content creator, you'll be glad to know that Samsung is soon releasing the Gear 360 VR Camera.
The VR Camera is a sphere with a camera on opposite sides. It connects via Bluetooth to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones from Samsung, allowing them to serve as viewfinders for the camera. You can also edit the photos and videos you snap with the VR Camera using your phone. And the Camera is designed to be outdoor friendly; it is dust and splash-resistant.
The cameras themselves sport 15 megapixel sensors with f/2.0 lenses, and each provides a 195-degree field of view. Once you've shot a video or photo, the proprietary algorithm stitches the media together, giving you a VR photo or video that you can explore in standard VR style. The videos output at 3840x1920, and the photos are 30-megapixels in size.
Once shot and stitched, you can explore the 360-degree photos and video using your phone or even in one of those sweet VR headsets, provided you decided to plunk down the hefty chunks of change required to purchase them. You also have the option of just using a single lens on the camera for standard yet high-resolution photographs.
The VR Camera isn't designed for professionals. It's targeted towards people who love capturing their adventures and want to do so in a new way. The release date and price have not been revealed by Samsung, but this looks like a very cool alternative to the Go Pro.
What do you think?