2016 could turn out to be a big year for virtual reality as more companies are developing hardware and software to make this happen. One way to make videos truly immersive is to capture them in 360 degrees because no matter where you turn, it will seem like you are really there. 360fly, a company which has been making products to capture these kind of videos has now released a new generation camera which will be displayed at CES 2016. The 360fly 4K camera features a 360-degree single-lens video camera capable of live streaming and it’s built to be water resistant thanks to its IP6X certification. It’s also built to withstand a little abuse as it can survive falls from 1.5 m.
The camera sensor on the 360fly 4K now captures four times the resolution of the first-generation camera, so it produces 360-degree 2880 x 2800 pictures. Additionally, the camera is capable of recording in a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio at 2560 x 1400 resolution with a field of view of 178 x 100 degrees (204 diagonal), for those situations where a 360-degree video is not required. Users can also capture 360-degree time-lapse video, so they can program the camera to capture each picture in intervals of 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds. The 360fly 4K camera can also be used as a surveillance or monitoring device, as it will start recording after it recognizes any sound or movement. The camera can also be activated without a smartphone, as users just need to shake the camera and it will start recording, this is useful in situations where users can’t reach their smartphones or they can’t press the button because they are wearing gloves.
The built-in GPS sensor on the 360fly 4K allows users to tag locations, and since it is powered by the Snapdragon 800 processor, the integrated sensors such as barometer and accelerometer can track altitude and speed, so it can be included in their videos. A ring around the button lights up in certain colors depending on the mode the camera is currently in. The camera is equipped with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, and its battery can last for two hours. There’s an optional Micro-HDMI dock to project a live stream of the 360-degree video. Since 360fly wants to enable users to create their own content, from the mobile app for Android and iOS devices, they can shoot, edit and share their content. The new camera will retail for $499, while the older model will cost $399.