The Next Web did a great job of explaining what Occipital’s new Panoramic 360 app does (for iPhone 4, $.99 today only, already #3 on the app store) but I’ve had a few days with the app, so thought I’d add my two cents.
First, here’s some panoramic photos I’ve done with the Occipitalapp:
DogPatchLabs
Outside, Pier 38
Jason Kincaid, inside Techcrunch’s offices
Inside the Half Moon Bay Ritz
Outside the Half Moon Bay Ritz
Along Highway 1
On the beach in Pacifica
Their blog covers why speed matters and how they are using the app.
Why is this “bad ass”? (That’s what Techcrunch’s Jason Kincaid said yesterday when I showed him the app). I recorded an audio clip to explain why this is so cool.
http://www.cinchcast.com/cinchplayerext.swf
Basically, it is the easiest to use, and most immediate, of all the ways to make panoramic photos. I’ve used a bunch of others, but they all require you to take about 20 images, while spinning around, then using software to “stitch” together the images. This doesn’t always work very well and, while the new 360 Panoramic app, doesn’t always work perfectly — you can see seams in some of my images where I stopped and started — with the new app you get to see the results instantly and can try again, while with other apps you have to wait a minute or two while the processing works.
This is yet another example of how the mobile phone’s sensors are changing what’s possible and I hope we see more examples like this soon.
Some tips?
It works better in bright spaces, especially outdoors. Why? Because the camera can capture images faster which makes it more likely you’ll get a smooth panoramic capture.
2. Try to spin the camera, or yourself holding the camera, smoothly. If you don’t, sometimes images come out with weird jaggies.
3. Panoramic imaging works best if you spin the camera keeping the lens in the same place. I’m experimenting with putting my iPhone on a monopod to make it easier to smoothly spin the camera. Using a tripod probably will be best, to get smooth captures.
This has a lot of implications for real estate agents, by the way, who can use it indoors to capture rooms. Thanks Occipital for letting me try it early, appreciate that!
Scobleizer 
Sounds great, i’ll test it here in the UK as we’ve got lot’s of snow which is rare.
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This product sounded interesting. But when I clicked on the links you have in the post to panoramas that you created, well, all I can say is Wow! That is very cool!
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I find that it doesn’t do a full 360. It cuts like the last 20 degrees off. Is it just me or do i need to try it in more situations.
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Try it more, there are some problems with the stitching, though, and the team says they are working on ways to make that even better in the future.
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“This has a lot of implications for real estate agents, by the way, who can use it indoors to capture rooms.”
Sound great in theory, but very poor in quality. Please don’t play this off as a replacement for real panoramas done correctly-not even close. Who really wants their home marketed with bad imagery?
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I’ve done a number that aren’t that poor and most agents can’t afford the equipment, or services, to do it right. This will at least let more do it.
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I don’t think you play up the real strength here – the new sharing capability. In terms of quality, those “take 20 shots” apps can be dramatically better (like high quality photos blown up to panorama scale), but I think what makes this insanely cool is the ability to view it online. The “occip.it” panoramas are instantly viewable on all computers and smartphones – I expect nothing less than an instant Twitter/Facebook sensation. Even with sometimes so/so quality (compared to a carefully composed iPhone4 shot), it’s an incredibly compelling way of sharing where you are.
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Robert, How does it compare to “Gotta See This!” by Boinx? (product page: http://www.boinx.com/seethis/)
I just bought 360 just now, but the Boinx app lets you just turn in a circle and capture the panoramic photo in real time as well.
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Boinx doesn’t show you the panorama WHILE you are recording it. It also doesn’t do a true panorama the way 360 Panorama does. Not even comparable.
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Alrighty. Time for me to try 360 out then. Thanks for sharing Robert.
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Sorry, it’s working here on a variety of computers. It also generates a JPG that works on non-Flash computers. But, yes, the app itself is an iPhone app only. So, Android users will need to wait to play.
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thanks for the kudos for the TNW post. your photos are well done to say the least…
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I bought a tiny Sony DSC-W350 for my Panaormic pictures. It was $99 at the Sony Store.
Here is a panoramic shot I took with it 2 weeks ago at Yosemite: http://twitpic.com/3c3uf0
It’s decent with regular pics though. If a camera dedicated to Panoramic photos sucks that bad, the iPhone app has to be worse, you’d think. I will have to fire this app up and do a review on StartupGazette this weekend.
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Now that’s what i call an app!! Cheers for the heads up.
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