So you are addicted to watching videos on planet’s largest video site ? Well, you are about to get even more glued to YouTube, as the Google-owned video site has now announced, that it has added support to upload 360 degree videos shot from a selected list of compatible cameras.
While 360 degree videos can be shot only from a few selected cameras, like the Ricoh’s Theta and the Kodak Pixpro SP360, that capture everything around the shooter, viewing a 360 degree video won’t be limited to those camera owners any more.
YouTube says, that viewers with Android devices or desktop owners can almost immediately start viewing the currently available 360 degree videos, without the need of any additional add-on. For users with Android smartphones and tablets, they can simply go to the existing YouTube app, and view different camera angles by moving their phone/tablets around.
As for desktop owners, you can simply visit YouTube on your browser (we would prefer Google Chrome, for obvious reasons) and use your mouse/trackpad to drag the point of view around.
As for iPhone/iPad users, well, YouTube says it is working to get the feature out on Apple devices soon. Obviously the went to release the feature on Android first.
While 360 degree videos are no way near to getting mainstream, they still have a brightening prospect, largely due to the immense focus which tech giants like Facebook, Microsoft, Sony and Samsung are paying towards Virtual reality headsets.
Facebook had earlier acquired Oculus VR for an astounding $2 Billion, Microsoft announced its Hololens VR headset earlier in January. As for Samsung, the company announced its Galaxy Gear headset in its recently concluded pre-MWC event in Barcelona, while Sony gave a facelift to its Morpheus VR headset.
Youtube as released a list of compatible cameras, which include Bublcam, Giroptic’s 360cam, IC Real Tech’s Allie,Kodak’s SP360 and Ricoh’s Theta. The company also released technical info on GitHub, along with a script, to insert correct metadata in uploaders’ video files.
