JB Hi Fi is set to be the first mass retailer to launch the brand new 4K 360fly action camera, it will go on sale this weekend at selected stores.
360fly’s first 4K 360-degree action camera joins a 1080p model, also coming later this year will be a new 360fly drone that will push the the Solo 3DR drone into the bottom end category because it is only Go Pro 180 degree capable.
The spherical-shaped cameras feature a single 360-degree top-mounted that captures 360-degree video without stitching multiple videos together.
The 360fly camera which is already being used by TV stations in Australia, for live sports coverage, can be mounted on a variety of sports equipment from helmets to surfboards as well as to a tripod.
The cameras transfer 360-degree videos via Wi-Fi to a connected smartphone or tablet, whose 360fly app uploads them to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social-media channels. On a tablet or phone touchscreen, users can move the video with a finger to view a scene from all angles. The video can also be viewed in one horizontal 360-degree spread.
The 360fly 4K camera is waterproof to 10 metres and offers a battery life of up to an hour and a half.
New features available in the 4K version include LIVIT live-streaming compatibility, front-facing camera mode, time-lapse video, GPS, telemetry-data capture, and expanded internal memory.
With LIVIT live streaming, users can live stream 360-degree content through the LIVIT mobile app. The front-facing camera mode, also called first-person point-of-view mode, captures a video or picture in traditional point-and-shoot style, recording videos and pictures with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 178- by 100-degree field of view.
With time-lapse video, users create a 360-degree time-lapse video by selecting 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 30- or 60-second shutter intervals.
The device captures telemetry information through its altimeter, accelerometer, and GPS sensor, which also tags locations. Users can track altitude and speed, and third-party applications can be used to overlay telemetry data onto 360-degree video content.
Internal memory goes to 64GB.
Also new is color-coded lighting around the OnePush control button and the bottom ring of the mounting dock for better visibility and mode recognition.
The details are as follows:
• Front-Facing Cam (“First-person POV Mode”): Not all situations require a 360-degree field of view. During those times, 360fly 4K users can select “POV Mode” to record video or capture a photograph in the traditional point-and-shoot style. “POV Mode” records in a 16:9 aspect ratio at 2560×1440-pixel resolution, with a field of view of 178×100 degrees (204 diagonal).
• Time-Lapse Video Mode: Tell a story in a dramatic fashion by capturing a 360-degree time-lapse video. Users can select 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60-second shutter intervals.
• Telemetry: The 360fly 4K camera features a built-in GPS sensor to tag locations, an altimeter, and an accelerometer – all powered by an advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Users can track altitude and speed, and use third-party applications to overlay the data into their existing 360-degree video content.
• Expanded Internal Memory: The 360fly 4K camera boasts 64Gb of internal memory. With increased storage, there’s no need to pause your adventures to offload video.
• OnePush™ Button Color-Coding: For clearer visibility and mode recognition, the 360fly 4K camera features an enhanced design with color-coded lighting around the OnePush button and the bottom ring of the mounting dock.
• LIVIT Live Streaming: In partnership with LIVIT, camera users can live stream their 360-degree content across the LIVIT mobile app – so your friends and family can see all the action in real time; no editing or uploading required.
The new model is retailing for $849.95 which is $156 more expensive than the same 4K 360fly camera in the USA which is retailing for US$499.