Spinacle Inc. introduces NoMatterWhat, the $40 smartphone accessory for 360° imagery.
The device, which weighs around 30g, is made up of two ultra-wide angle lenses that position over a smartphone’s front and rear camera.
360° images - including little planets - can then be created through the NoMatterWhat app. The app syncs the pictures from the front and rear camera into a single 360° stitch. The app is made by Spinacle Inc., which launched a popular 360° video capture app a year ago.
Currently NoMatterWhat supports still images only, but the maker’s are claiming to add support for 360° video and live streaming later this year.
At the moment the device is compatible with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus only. We do not have any information about whether the accessory will be made available for other smartphones.
NoMatterWhat: Images of two halves?
Those that are tech savvy will immediately think of the rather obvious potential flaw to the product. Yes, the front and rear cameras of iPhone 7’s feature different resolutions, of 12MP and 7MP.
Wont’ the difference in image quality between the two cameras be obvious in a 360° image? Well, from the promotional images we have seen, the stitch between the two halves can be seen (see example image above).
That said, we are looking out for the stitch. Plus, most people will view such 360° imagery on their smart devices, where such differences in quality are usually less noticeable.
We haven’t used the accessory yet, but would be particularly interested in the quality of the wide angle lenses themselves. At $40 we are not expecting much, but are prepared to be surprised.
Ultimately, NoMatterWhat is a novel idea and one that is sure to broaden the reach and appeal of 360° content.
NoMatterWhat: Pricing and Availability
NoMatterWhat is available for pre-order until September 22 and costs $39.99. The estimated delivery schedule is between 3 and 6 weeks.
Currently, NoMatterWhat is compatible with iPhone 7 and 7 Plus only and comes in four different colours. More information about the accessory can be found on the NoMatterWhat websi te.
