Even back in June when the Dot iPhone camera accessory from Kogeto was a wee Kickstarter project, it seemed like a pretty neat idea. Now, the Dot is all grown up and out in the world, and we've got one in our hands to see how it works in practice.
360-degree video with your iPhone
The Dot is a relatively simple accessory with one goal: It lets you shoot panoramic 360-degree video with your iPhone. But unlike most other panoramic photo accessories, the Dot handles the processing and presentation of your videos a little differently. Once the video is processed, you can watch it directly on your phone, navigating the panoramic footage by swiping your finger as you watch.
Upload your video to Kogeto's DotSpots website to share it with the world. Videos uploaded in this way can also be navigated by clicking and dragging to spin the view around (for folks who aren't using touch-sensitive devices). Browse through a fascinating collection of videos on DotSpots, including everything from the view at the bottom of a skateboarding pool to a mini-tour of Canal Street in New Orleans.
How it works
The Dot consists of two parts â€" the physical accessory itself and the app that records and processes the video. The app, Looker, is free. The Dot itself is a lens attached to a plastic frame that clips onto your iPhone, simple to install and remove. The Dot's drawstring, microfiber cloth carrying case doubles as a lens cleaning cloth.
To make your own panoramic video, download and install Looker, attach the Dot, and launch the app. All you need to do to record a video is tap the record button on the Shoot tab.
Before you begin recording, however, there's one important additional step to take. See that big red circle? That's a calibration tool. Center that circle around what you're seeing on the screen. Don't worry if you can't actually make much of anything out â€" it will become clear after everything's de-warped during processing. If the red circle isn't centered, your video will end up an unwatchable mess. We figured this out through frustrating trial and error. Unfortunately, it's not spelled out anywhere in the initial documentation we received with the Dot, so learn from our mistake!
You shouldn't have to recalibrate very often, but definitely take a glance at this setting before you shoot any once-in-a-lifetime video.
Why it's cool
The Dot is, admittedly, something of a gimmick. That said, it's a pretty fun gimmick with a plethora of applications. Taking video of a concert or a sporting event with both the performers and the audience in the shot adds dimension and immersion for viewers. You could also record an interview and capture both the interviewer and the interviewee without having to use cuts and editing. Capture the entire scene at a festival without having to rotate your camera, which can be bumpy and jerky if you don't have a tripod.
Ease of installation and use are definitely the Dot's strong points. Assuming you have a strong data connection, it might actually take you longer to get the Dot out of its packaging than to get it installed and ready to use. Just don't forget to center that red circle to calibrate it before you shoot your first video!
Room for improvement
There are a few areas where the Dot does leave room for improvement, though Kogeto is planning to address most of them in future updates. The first is the three-minute limit on video length. This means you probably won't be able to capture even one entire song of a concert, for example. This limit is slated to be eliminated in an upcoming update.
Second, since the Dot fits snugly over your naked iPhone, you'll have to remove anything more substantial than a screen-protecting film in order to hook it up. This might not be a big deal if you just use a basic case (or none at all), but if you have something more robust like an Otterbox or Lifeproof case, it can be a pain to have to take the case off just to use the Dot.
The most frustrating thing about using the Dot for us was the position of the camera itself. The app doesn't use your phone's built-in shutter buttons to start the video; you have to push the record button in the upper right corner of the phone's screen. The camera, however, is on the back of the phone, and to record a video that's right side up, you have to hold the phone screen side down.
This means that you have to push the button to start recording, then flip the phone over and steady it while you're taking video, and then flip it back over to stop â€" which in turn means you're losing several seconds of your video to blurry shuffling as you get it in position. It also means that you can't actually see what you're recording as you record it, unless you're holding the phone above your head.
Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done about this issue because Apple doesn't allow third-party apps to use the volume button as a shutter release, as you can while using the built-in camera function. Kogeto is aware of the issue and hopes to address it as soon as it's able.
Is it worth it?
The Dot retails for $79 and comes in an array of amusingly named color choices, from Hug-Inspiring Pink to Surprisingly Attractive Green.
Whether or not the accessory is worth the price really depends on how much you appreciate the fun and unusual aspect of a navigable 360-degree video. Personally, we think it's pretty fun, but suspect that the glamor might wear off after a while. That said, while it might be a gimmick, it's definitely is a very well-made, high-quality, fun-to-use gimmick.
Tecca rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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