Lacking a preview, it was all but impossible to record. Since it doesn’t use Bluetooth, you won’t be able to broadcast live, and I wasn’t able to see a preview on my iPhone 6S while recording video (though there was a preview on the iPhone 7). The Gear 360 can’t live broadcast through the iPhone app, and unless you’re using an iPhone 7, you won’t be able to see what you’re recording.Įach time you want to use your camera, you’ll need to connect to the same Wi-Fi network, so it’s not exactly plug and play. As with all 360-degree cameras, the lenses are designed to capture a scene above and below the main shooting area, and it was extremely difficult to hold the camera without seeing at least a bit of my hand in the bottom of the screen. While the new 360 is easier to hold than the first-generation model, my fingers tended to get in the way quite a bit. The Gear 360 app on the S8 lets you broadcast live and watch videos with your Gear VR. You can also view videos with the Gear VR headset, if you have one. Dual mode shows the front and the back images at the same time, and Panoramic mode crams the whole scene into one single shot. Stretched mode eliminates the fish-eyeing, and flattens the image. 360 degree mode gives you a standard circular image, while round mode is sort of like a bug’s-eye view, projecting from the ground up. In addition to selecting which camera you’d like to use (front, rear, or both), there are several shooting modes that will change how videos are captured. The Gear 360 also makes adorable sounds when its buttons are pressed, giving it a BB8 or R2D2 vibe. The Gear 360’s light yet sturdy design is definitely travel-friendly (you get a bundled strap and sturdy case), and the 1,160 mAh battery is more than capable of capturing a lengthy recording session. As you record or broadcast, you’ll see a live preview of what’s being shot, and when you’ve finished, your recording will be saved to an in-app gallery.Ĭontrols are super simple, with a pair of buttons for power and menu on the side, and a large recording button on the front. There’s a gallery that shows the photos and videos you’ve taken, and a live broadcast button that streams your content to YouTube or Facebook. Once the two are paired, you’ll see a series of options. The Gear 360 has a minimal design with a simple set of buttons. Galaxy S8, S7, and S6 users, as well as Note5, and Galaxy A5 and A7 owners, will barely need to do anything other than turn the camera on, and wait a few seconds for a connection to be established. To get started, you’ll need to download the Gear 360 app from the iOS or Galaxy app store, and follow some simple setup instructions. The Gear 360 is easier than ever to use, as long as you own a Samsung phone.

What does the samsung gear 360 app do