IPhone photographers stand
to obtain a whole new dimension thanks to a Kickstarter campaign launched today.
Poppy is really a Viewmaster-like case and an accompanying photography app that
whenever fitted onto an iPhone 4, 4S, 5, and ipod itouch turns the device into
both a 3D camera along with a 3D video viewer. The merchandise was created by
former Urbanspoon founder Ethan Lowry and Snapvine co-founder and MediaPiston
founder Joe Heitzeberg.
Poppy functions by utilizing mirrors to capture two stereographic video images while using iPhone’s single camera lens. The accompanying app then combines these streams right into a single 3D video that's viewable on a Poppy as well as every other 3D viewing device - including 3D TVs or perhaps a standard screen with red/blue glasses. The unit can also be used to view third-party 3D content for example Hollywood movie trailers and other content online. There are no batteries or sensors inside the Poppy, as all image processing is handled through the iDevice.
Lowry and Heitzenberg have
already completed Prototypes from the Poppy, one of which I was able to demo a
week ago. The device is well constructed and appears like it rolled off a
production line, aside from its absence of any visible branding. The founders
curently have their overseas manufacturing facility selected and therefore are
turning to Kickstarter to raise $40,000, that will go to final tooling and also
to fund the initial production run of Poppy devices. This really is Lowry and
Heitzenberg’s first hardware product, nevertheless the Santa Barbara residents
have chronicled their journey from Web design into the maker world on their own
Hack Things blog.
A fascinating result of Poppy’s design is that it creates a fully immersive viewing experience, like browsing a pair of binoculars. This is ill-suited for consuming long form content, however for short and even mid-length content it’s a pleasing experience. A downside of the look, although one that would be hard to avoid with a product offering this functionality, is it is too big to put in your wallet and thus will not always be available once the perfect 3D moment comes up. The device itself is roughly five inches by four inches by 2 " in dimension, if I needed to eyeball it, but is lightweight given its size. It’s probably that owners will decide to carry the device strategically, much like a DSLR, to events that lend themselves to 3D videography. Otherwise, it can make a fun coffee table consumption tool and conversation piece.
Behind the Poppy mobile app, the founders intend to create a Vine- and Instagram-like video social networking dedicated to 3D content. Users can share content because they create it to their private and public follower graphs and also take in the content shared by others. The only real drawback is that the this consumption experience is going to be limited by one’s access to their Poppy hardware or any other 3D screen. Those fleeting moments in line in the grocery store or on the train are most likely better suited to traditional photo and video content, or Dots, while consuming Poppy content will have to be saved for a more “leanback” place and time.
For those interested in Poppy, a Kickstarter contribution of just $50 could make you the proud owner of among the first production devices created - that are expected to ship before the end of the season. Final retail pricing is not set, but expect the entire to end up closer to $99. I expect the unit to a hit among photography lovers, and hipsters, as well as action sports fans. By doing so, it could follow a similar trajectory as GoPro in the early days, before it was a mass cultural phenomenon.
An Amazon look for 3D video cameras (further filtered for camcorders) returns 200 results which range in price (and quality) from $55 as much as $3,000, many of which require special lenses and accessories to aid 3D filming. Poppy’s advantage, apart from its price, is that it turns what's already the world’s most popular camera Body that also happens to be connected to the internet - right into a 3D camcorder, and achieves this in a durable and hipster-chic form factor.
Despite many years of promises and excitement, 3D video remains a distinct segment market. For that reason Poppy will surely begin as a novelty, assuming it’s successful in reaching its Kickstart goals. But there’s a noticeable difference between artificially adding 3D to some Hollywood movie for marketing effect and also the joy of creating this highly engaging content yourself as you're watching your kids play on the playground or perhaps your friends perform skateboard or basketball tricks. The second, being personal, is likely to be much more engaging and fun, both to produce and to consume.
Poppy functions by utilizing mirrors to capture two stereographic video images while using iPhone’s single camera lens. The accompanying app then combines these streams right into a single 3D video that's viewable on a Poppy as well as every other 3D viewing device - including 3D TVs or perhaps a standard screen with red/blue glasses. The unit can also be used to view third-party 3D content for example Hollywood movie trailers and other content online. There are no batteries or sensors inside the Poppy, as all image processing is handled through the iDevice.
A fascinating result of Poppy’s design is that it creates a fully immersive viewing experience, like browsing a pair of binoculars. This is ill-suited for consuming long form content, however for short and even mid-length content it’s a pleasing experience. A downside of the look, although one that would be hard to avoid with a product offering this functionality, is it is too big to put in your wallet and thus will not always be available once the perfect 3D moment comes up. The device itself is roughly five inches by four inches by 2 " in dimension, if I needed to eyeball it, but is lightweight given its size. It’s probably that owners will decide to carry the device strategically, much like a DSLR, to events that lend themselves to 3D videography. Otherwise, it can make a fun coffee table consumption tool and conversation piece.
Behind the Poppy mobile app, the founders intend to create a Vine- and Instagram-like video social networking dedicated to 3D content. Users can share content because they create it to their private and public follower graphs and also take in the content shared by others. The only real drawback is that the this consumption experience is going to be limited by one’s access to their Poppy hardware or any other 3D screen. Those fleeting moments in line in the grocery store or on the train are most likely better suited to traditional photo and video content, or Dots, while consuming Poppy content will have to be saved for a more “leanback” place and time.
For those interested in Poppy, a Kickstarter contribution of just $50 could make you the proud owner of among the first production devices created - that are expected to ship before the end of the season. Final retail pricing is not set, but expect the entire to end up closer to $99. I expect the unit to a hit among photography lovers, and hipsters, as well as action sports fans. By doing so, it could follow a similar trajectory as GoPro in the early days, before it was a mass cultural phenomenon.
An Amazon look for 3D video cameras (further filtered for camcorders) returns 200 results which range in price (and quality) from $55 as much as $3,000, many of which require special lenses and accessories to aid 3D filming. Poppy’s advantage, apart from its price, is that it turns what's already the world’s most popular camera Body that also happens to be connected to the internet - right into a 3D camcorder, and achieves this in a durable and hipster-chic form factor.
Despite many years of promises and excitement, 3D video remains a distinct segment market. For that reason Poppy will surely begin as a novelty, assuming it’s successful in reaching its Kickstart goals. But there’s a noticeable difference between artificially adding 3D to some Hollywood movie for marketing effect and also the joy of creating this highly engaging content yourself as you're watching your kids play on the playground or perhaps your friends perform skateboard or basketball tricks. The second, being personal, is likely to be much more engaging and fun, both to produce and to consume.
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