IC Real Tech, sister company of IC Realtime for professional integrators, is now shipping the consumer-oriented ALLie Home 360 x 360 degree video camera. Modeled after IC Realtime’s IC720 pro-grade camera, the ALLie features similar immersive-video functionality but at a fraction of the cost ($599).
To be demonstrated at CES 2016 (LVCC #11647) product features a dual-megapixel-sensor 360 X 360 degree camera that captures HD motion video up to 4K resolution from floor-to-ceiling and completely around itself (360-degrees vertically by 360-degrees horizontally), thus eliminating blind spots.
There’s a built-in hard drive for recording, and IC Real Tech also offers a cloud-based storage service.
The compact, portable form factor of ALLie Home, which is about the size of a baseball, makes it suitable to move from room-to-room, or even take outside to capture events such as sports, parties or concerts. ALLie Home connects to display devices via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 4.0. The camera also integrates both a microphone and speaker for two-way communication.
Video and audio from the camera can be played and manipulated through iOS and Android apps, as well as Zeiss and Oculus VR virtual-reality headsets.
QUALCOMM SAYS
The major consideration for the chipset was the limited camera footprint. Since not much space was available, engineers had to be extra sensitive to the placement and performance of electronic components. Bringing many components close together could make them heat up quickly and cause performance problems, especially since the cameras were designed to be constantly recording and processing.
Next, the chipset had to be powerful enough to accommodate the existing software architecture features, such as stitching two live images together, face detection, pattern tracking, and voice command.
Dmitry Kozko, president of IC Real Tech, noted that the Snapdragon 800 not only met all these stringent requirements, but was also the most advanced, ready-out-of-the-box solution for the teams to work with. And with the requirement for a strong foundation to create software that accommodated an array of needs, easily integrating with existing architecture was of paramount importance.
Kozko’s familiarity with the power of Snapdragon comes from previous experience. Kozko, who is also president of IC Real Tech’s sister company focused on 360-degree camera solutions designed for motorsports, 360 Racing, is using the Snapdragon 805 processor in cameras mounted atop Formula E cars.
Even Qualcomm, developer of the Snapdragon processor used in the cameras, is impressed with the implementation – so much so that the silicon giant featured ALLie in a Snapdragon promo piece and case study.
“The end product needed to balance the demands for fast computation with the power efficiency requirements of a small-sized product with heavy continuous use,” Qualcomm explains.
New at CES 2016: ALLie Go and VR
At CES 2016, IC Real Tech will introduce two brand new products in the ALLie consumer line.
The first is ALLie Go, a portable version of the Home product, featuring a rechargeable battery and accommodations for mounting to the body or sporting equipment. The Wi-Fi camera will retail for $599 and is expected to beging shipping in mid-2016.
In addition, IC Real Tech is introducing the ALLie VR headset, which is compatible with smartphones ranging from 3.5- to 5.7-inches in screen size. The ALLie VR App and built-in optics come together to display immersive video streaming from the ALLie cameras, as well as 3D movies, gaming and personal videos that might be hosted on the smartphone.
With adjustable precision optics, and leveraging the high-definition display of the smartphone, performance is crystal clear and in stunning high-definition. The ALLie VR will begins shipping in January 2016.
Finally, borrowing from the Google Cardboard design, IC Real Tech is offering the new ALLie Cardboard VR headset, good for the company’s own cameras as well as other compatible VR sources. The headsets are currently available for purchase in 225 Brookstone retailers in the U.S. for $24.99.
As part of its 360-degree video initiative, Facebook recently stated that it is working with IC Real Tech to create in-app “publish to Facebook” options that will make it easier for users to share their 360-degree content.
