So far, the process of creating
VR video is still the same: use the 360 degree camera, waiting for its software
to do the stitching stage, and then the video is ready to share. Whatever the
camera you use: Ricoh Theta, Samsung Gear 360, or the professional cameras such
as GoPro Odyssey, Nokia Ozo and Lytro immerge; the three steps above are still
required for the process.
But now a company named
VideoStitch wants to offer something new, namely livestreaming VR video. To
realize this mission, this company introduces Orah 4i which is claimed as the
first 360-degree camera in the world that could broadcast the recording video
live!
The size of Orah 4i is relatively
small, with a weight of only about half a kilogram. Its aluminum frame wraps
four fisheye f/2.0 lenses and four Sony Exmor sensors. There are also four
microphones to create ambisonic audio, which means the sound that's heard is
coming from the angle where you're watching the final video.
The 360-degree video will have 4K
resolution, but to be able to broadcast the result directly, Orah 4i must be
connected to an additional unit named Stitch Box by using an Ethernet cable.
Stitch Box is basically a
computer unit that's equipped with an Intel processor, Nvidia graphics card and
a 120 GB SSD. Its function is to complete the stitching process of 360 degree
video quickly, so it can be broadcasted only within 30 seconds after the
recording.
The Stitch Box requires its own
power supply. This of course makes the solution that's offered by VideoStitch
becomes less portable. Even so, users can also connect the Stitch Box to a
battery pack so it will be easy to carry.
Apart from that, Orah 4i and
Stitch Box will really simplify the process of creating and sharing VR videos.
Users only need to connect a smartphone that has been equipped with companion
application, and then use it to broadcast the video to a variety of social
media.
Orah 4i selling price is not
cheap, because essentially the consumers will get a 360-degree camera along
with a separate computer unit. The VideoStitch offers it for $ 3595, but during
the pre-order on www.orah.co/preorder/, the buyers could receive 50 percent
discount.