Samsung is plotting a new 360-degree camera to launch alongside the Galaxy S8 next year, apparently.
A new report by specialist blog Sammobile says that Samsung is currently developing a ‘Gear 360 Pro’, a 360-degree camera that will succeed this year’s Gear 360. It’s supposedly set to launch at the same time as the Galaxy S8, which we’re currently expecting to arrive between February and April next year.
Samsung announced its first consumer-grade 360-degree camera – the Gear 360 – at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress earlier this year. It launched alongside the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, but has only been shipped in a limited number of markets. We’re guessing Samsung was simply testing the waters with this device.
Samsung’s Gear 360 pictured alongside a Gear VR and Galaxy S7
But if the ‘Gear 360 Pro’ does launch next year, it will be a sign that Samsung had reasonable success with the Gear 360. Here’s what we can expect, according to today’s report:
“The Gear 360 could bring improved image and video quality as well as more features, but we are not sure about its aspects as of now. The South Korean smartphone giant is also working on the Gear 360 Manager app for the iOS platform, bringing iOS support for its 360-degree cameras. However, we don’t think iOS support will be released any time soon.”
Landscape shot in Switzerland, taken with a Samsung Gear 360
Samsung is currently beta-testing the Gear Manager app for iPhones, which adds iOS support for Samsung’s smartwatches and fitness trackers. So it’s no surprise that company may be hoping to extend this support to its Gear 360 camera too.
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What would you like to see from the Galaxy S8? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
