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Google Debuts Interactive VR Photography App 'Cardboard Camera' on iOS

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Google today announced the launch of Cardboard Camera for iOS, which lets users "capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos" without the need for technical VR equipment. Photos taken with the app are three-dimensional panoramas in which users can tap and drag to look around "in all directions," with sound recording the moment the photo is taken that plays back each time the image is revisited.

cardboard-camera-800x319.jpg
A few examples of Cardboard Camera's interactive panoramas​


Cardboard Camera uses a similar photography style as panoramas in the iOS camera app: users simply hold their iPhone vertically, tap the record button, then rotate slowly in place to capture their surroundings. Users will also be able to share albums filled with VR photos directly within the app by generating links to email, text message, or share on social media.
Whether you're hiking on the Olympic Peninsula or attending your cousin's wedding, go beyond the flat photo or selfie. With Cardboard Camera--now available on iOS as well as Android--you can capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos. Just like Google Cardboard, it works with the phone you already have with you.
Click to expand...
The company said that if any of the VR photos taken with Cardboard Camera are viewed on Google Cardboard, anyone "can relive those moments as if they were there." Previously, Cardboard Camera was available on Android, with more than 5 million photos captured on the platform.

On iOS, users can download Cardboard Camera on the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Debuts Interactive VR Photography App 'Cardboard Camera' on iOS
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/09/12/google-cardboard-camera-ios/
I've really liked 360 Panorama, which lets you capture a full sphere and doesn't care which direction/pattern you take. But with Cardboard viewing, this one may tempt me away!
 
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Mactendo said:
3D panoramic photos with sound. Apple, why it's Google and not you?
It should be a feature of standard Camera/Photos apps.
Click to expand...

Why does Apple need to be first with everything? Competition on a level playing field is good. I wonder which platform this performs better on? More consistently? Was easier to develop? iOS or Android?
 
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I just tried it. It does the same thing as Apple's panorama feature in the iPhone, but instead it goes all the way around 360° instead of 180°.
Also..... You can just save it to your camera roll.... but if you want to share it as a continuously connected spinning panorama, it gets uploaded to god knows where Google servers to be kept by them for eternity, with no option to allow you to delete it.
So in typical Google fashion, they're data mining the hell out of you.

Deleted
 
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Mactendo said:
3D panoramic photos with sound. Apple, why it's Google and not you?
It should be a feature of standard Camera/Photos apps.
Click to expand...

coolfactor said:
Why does Apple need to be first with everything? Competition on a level playing field is good. I wonder which platform this performs better on? More consistently? Was easier to develop? iOS or Android?
Click to expand...

Mactendo said:
QuickTime supported spherical VR back in 90's. It was a cool feature.
Click to expand...


Apple indeed had this DECADES ago, with QuickTimeVR (QTVR), cylinder (then later) spherical interactive panos, with directional sound, and hotspots that you could click to go to URLs, embed audio commentary, additional connected panos...

Sadly, just before releasing all the great touch-enabled iOS tech that would be perfect for QTVR, Apple killed it off/let it die. (Key personnel left and joined Google, from what I can recall)

I still wish Apple had continued QTVR development, and included basic QTVR tools with iPhoto/Photos, and Pro-level QTVR features in Aperture.

Sigh.

I still have all my old QTVR gear and SW...



apple.com/feedback
 
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Actually works pretty good creating a fake 3d effect with one camera. Nice touch with the audio to compensate for the still photo.

Needs ability to pan up and down but it's a good start and save to camera roll with audio. But for now just leave them in app. Maybe in iTunes you can drag them out to share. Checking.

If there was a way to capture video on the front and back cameras simultaneously it may be possible to take videos. Especially with some type of plastic lens kit.

Going back out to take a few more be photos. My brother is at the shore maybe I can get him to record a few.

Also works well with my $19 Mattel vr headset from walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/View-Master-Virtual-Reality-Starter-Pack/46136841
[doublepost=1473708020][/doublepost]Sadly the photos saved in the camera roll don't look like the 3d information is saved but I'll have to test this theory.
Also in iTunes App File Sharing there is no cardboard camera app so we can't back up our photos or share them without using a google login.
 
jwdsail said:
Apple indeed had this DECADES ago, with QuickTimeVR (QTVR), cylinder (then later) spherical interactive panos, with directional sound, and hotspots that you could click to go to URLs, embed audio commentary, additional connected panos...

Sadly, just before releasing all the great touch-enabled iOS tech that would be perfect for QTVR, Apple killed it off/let it die. (Key personnel left and joined Google, from what I can recall)

I still wish Apple had continued QTVR development, and included basic QTVR tools with iPhone/Photos, and Pro-level QTVR features in Aperture.

Sigh.

I still have all my old QTVR gear and SW...

apple.com/feedback
Click to expand...
I had a CD including a super cool wired QTVR tour of Paris. With sound and photos and everything. It was bundled with one of the PowerBooks sold back then. Always was wondering if there were such disks for other cities.
 
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MacRumors said:
which lets users "capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos" without the need for technical VR equipment.
Click to expand...

Unless there is some depth analysis going on, can someone explain how this is three-dimensional? Last I checked, it's still taken from one perspective, so while you can project it separator to each of your eyes in the cardboard app, I don't think it's giving a unique perspective to each eye.

As an aside, I've been using the Google Street View app to capture 360 degree (including up-down if you want to spend the extra time) panoramas. It's the best app I've ever used in 5 years of panorama apps, and saves the full images directly to your camera roll without any internet connection necessary. Also supports google cardboard, although no sounds. I highly recommend it! You can even pretend you have a fish eye camera by screenshotting the app, and post to Instagram for cool nerd credit!
 

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coolfactor said:
Why does Apple need to be first with everything? Competition on a level playing field is good. I wonder which platform this performs better on? More consistently? Was easier to develop? iOS or Android?
Click to expand...
FIRST?

They'd be far from first on phones good Sir!

If someone asks them for this feature NOW, they are asking for the infamous "not first, but best" implementation you're supposedly expecting from Apple.
(Although I have to say, the "not first, but best" mantra is really softened these days, they are beat to many things in both speed and execution)

Glassed Silver:mac
 
iPhone 8 will have built in live VR capabilities and remove the need of a headset by projecting the image directly into you eyes.
 
jacjustjac said:
Unless there is some depth analysis going on, can someone explain how this is three-dimensional?
Click to expand...
Some analysis is going on. While rotating you are changing the angle you look at the objects around you so it kind of works like a dual camera.
 
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jacjustjac said:
Unless there is some depth analysis going on, can someone explain how this is three-dimensional? Last I checked, it's still taken from one perspective, so while you can project it separator to each of your eyes in the cardboard app, I don't think it's giving a unique perspective to each eye.
Click to expand...
3D in the sense that sticking your head inside a box and looking around the inside is still technically 3D.
 
Pakaku said:
3D in the sense that sticking your head inside a box and looking around the inside is still technically 3D.
Click to expand...
I only see it as 2 dimensions, you still can look up-down and left/right, but each eye gets the same image, so your brain can't guess what's closer/further.
 
jacjustjac said:
I only see it as 2 dimensions, you still can look up-down and left/right, but each eye gets the same image, so your brain can't guess what's closer/further.
Click to expand...
The sample pano in the app with the fire has a clear 3D effect where the smoke is. And looking at images they are not the same, objects are shifted a bit left and right. There's some depth although not a big one.
 
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