Month: April 2016

April 27, 2016
A combination of changes at YouTube and Ricoh’s new video driver (UVC Blender) now means that it is straightforward to stream 360° video live.

I’ve experimented a little with it, and am not yet sure if it is good enough for what I want to do with it. The picture is what it has always been – not brilliant, but ok; but on Live streaming, I’ve experienced some very poor sound; worse than when just uploading video, and irrespective of whether I use the camera’s microphone or external mikes.

April 23, 2016
My new table arrived in the week, and has spent the last few days lying on the floor. I did the necessary assembly – attaching the legs with bolts – but being solid oak it was just too big for me to turn over by myself.

Today I had 3 boardgamers visit, so that was a job easily done, and we then christened the table. I think it looks fantastic.

April 20, 2016
I love my Theta S camera, but I found when using it on a pole, it was a bit of a handful to hold that steady and get out my phone to trigger the picture. Moreover the frustration of having to log on to the camera’s own WiFi each time – fine for an extended session of images, but not exactly conducive to a quick snap.

The simplicity of this 3D printed device is wonderful – the camera fits into the housing, held in by the tripod screw; and a lever arrangement physically pushs the button on the pull of a string. Easy to rig, and simple to use. They even include a matching ring to put on the end of the string.

April 16, 2016
As those of you who have met me know, I am a big chap. Getting clothes my size – as it happens, I have no problem getting shirts to fit me; several high street shops do shirts and fleeces that fit me, and bigger. For trousers I have to shop around a bit, but I have a couple of shops I return to who I am happy with.

It seems odd, but my biggest problem is with simple stuff things like underwear and pajamas. This is complicated by my preference for 100% cotton, which narrows my options. My current batch of well-fitting (and well-worn) underwear is nearly in holes. Attempts to replace them a few months back – from the same supplier/make – ended up with them being returned as they were grossly undersized – and this is not me getting bigger without noticing – a pair of underpants labelled 4XL actually measured 34″ around the waist. The supplier investigated and found all of their newly imported stock was, in fact, the same size, despite being differently labelled.

April 11, 2016
More 360° nonsense for those of you not yet bored.

This is getting surreal. Checking on what was up on HugVR today, I found the Canadian chap I was talking to last night experimenting with another guy in England, attempting a two way VR hookup.

April 10, 2016
Last night, long past my sensible bedtime, I found myself chatting to a chap in Canada who was broadcasting his lounge in 360°, on hugvr.com. Hugvr is still in Beta, but is a site for live streaming 360° video. I’ve taken to checking it out on my way to bed, as a large proportion of people playing with it are in the States.

For this chap, it is his job – he has started a company producing and consulting in VR for sales, education and entertainment; I’d come across him chilling and playing with kit, but when he knew I had the same camera as the one he was using tonight, he was interested in my opinions on quality. Then when he found I was an amateur musician, he really got excited, and got his guitar out, and we spent time discussing how cool live streamed 360° could be for virtual house concerts.