360 VR Tour of the Newsroom

Samsung is about to release a simple, easy-to-use 360 degree camera that can record both high quality video and very detailed still images. Uploading to the web is extremely easy and integration into a website is very simple.

Here are some samples of what the 360 degree VR camera can do. They're easy to embed into a standard PD story format; the video is a standard YouTube video and is embedded the same way we already add videos.

The YouTube player now understands 360 degree videos and will allow you to scroll around in the video (just click and drag with your mouse or if you're on a mobile device, use your finger). No new coding is required; our editors and producers can just use the YouTube shortcode they currently use to embed video.

The first video is a walking tour of the newsroom, George Pickett carried the camera around like the Statue of Liberty as he strolled around. The video is a little wobbly but shows the potential of wading into a crowd with the camera held high.

The next video is a static video in the photo department. You can look around the room to see what's going on (Kent is working 'behind' the camera) and listen in on the nearby conversations.

Imagine the storytelling possibilities of a camera like this: we can put the reader into the middle of a city council meeting, show them the 4H animal auction at the County Fair or document the mood at a protest outside city hall. Technology like this puts the reader into the middle of the story in a way we've never been able to before.

Below is text scraped off the Samsung Gear 360 site just to fill out the page to a more typical article length. You can stop reading and try out the video...

BARCELONA – February 21, 2016 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd today announced the Samsung Gear 360, a 360-degree camera that lets consumers easily create, view and share their favorite experiences through video and still image content. Gear 360 is designed for travel, festive gatherings and every activity in between to provide an all-encompassing visual experience. The new camera leverages the best of the Samsung Galaxy experience so users can become the creator of their own virtual reality content to enjoy through Gear VR.

“Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the mobile experience to extend beyond the smartphone,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “On the heels of last year's Gear VR release, Gear 360 continues to push the limits on immersive content – providing a visual experience that makes capturing and sharing life's moments even easier.”

Compact Design with High Performance for Every Activity

Samsung Gear 360 is equipped with dual fisheye lenses, which both have 15 megapixel image sensors, giving users the ability to capture high-resolution (3840x1920) 360-degree video that also supports 30 megapixel still images. Users are also able to shoot 180-degree wide angle video and images with only using one side of the camera lens. Built for any time of day, Gear 360 offers Bright Lens F2.0, which creates high resolution images even in low-light conditions, where users can create full panoramic videos.

With a light and compact, spherical shaped design, Gear 360 maximizes portability to film on the go or for indoor activities. Gear 360 features a user-friendly tripod and is also compatible with a wider selection of accessories and mounts currently available on the market.

The Galaxy Experience

Samsung continues to push the boundaries of hardware, software and services to create devices that are designed to improve how consumers connect, share, organize and get more out of life. The company is redefining what is possible, beyond the limits of today's technology, by introducing a constellation of seamless mobile experiences.

When Gear 360 is synced with a Samsung smartphone, users will be able to preview content in real time when recording. Also, Gear 360 will automatically bring up filmed content for users to view and save on their smartphone or to upload and share directly on social channels including Google Street View. For a real 360 viewing experience, users can simply watch self-created content through Gear VR. All these features will be available through a dedicated mobile application for download from Galaxy Apps, Google Play and PC software for more in-depth editing capabilities.

Gear 360 is compatible with select Samsung smartphones including the newly released Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and Galaxy S6.

Gear 360 will be available starting Q2 2016 in select countries.www.samsungmobilepress.com or news.samsung.com/galaxy.

For more information, visit