It’s been months since the GoPano micro lens was successfully backed on kickstarter.com and most of the backers are a little disappointed with the time it’s taken to get the product to market. The other 360 lens launched on kickstarter.com was the kogeto dot360 – a product which is also having similar production problems.
Problems aside, GoPano have released their application for the iPhone. So I wondered if it would work with my DIY Sony Bloggie lens (similar in design to the kegoto product). To my surprise it did – you can view the you tube video below.
The obvious surprise was that I can’t believe anyone will really like using the lifetime dot360 product. Given that you have to orientate the phone horizontally you’ll inevitably have harsh movement at the start and end of the clips – coupled with the unnerving sense that it’s not recording.
Update
I’ve used a bit of sugru to attach the Bloggie lens to an old case I had lying around. Although it doesn’t look as good as the dot it works very well.
Are you referring to Kogeto? Have either product hit the stores yet? Online or brick and morter? I hear one has received backing from a VC? Is that true?
Adam – yes the kogeto (silly typo). The GoPano micro is now shipping but with the launch of the iPhone 5 next week it will be a while before it will be if use.
The kogeto hasn’t started shipping yet – the plan to ship at the end of October. They too have the iPhone 5 issue.
With regards to funding – I don’t think there were any large VCs involved – both products were successfully funded by individuals through the kickstarter platform.
I wanted to say thanks to you for this great read!! I’ve got you bookmarked to see new stuff you post.
I think if you do a search of the SEC website, the amount of money raised a registered private placement far exceeded the amount of money Kogeto raised on Kickstarter.
Also both GoPano and Kogeto’s initial products are tooled for the iPhone 4, not the iPhone 5. There are 60MM iPhone 5 units out there?
While they spend a few weeks re tooling for the iPhone 5′s 8 megapixcamera, a stunning leap in quality, I suspect both companies can sell thousands of units , maybe even a multiple of that, on the dozen or so internet sites they are offered on, and a few brick and mortar venues.
The real challenges will be who gets in to the Apple Store first? And who devises a unit for the Android market. And how to finance the growth. Sales won’t be the issue, financing production will be.
I meant 60 MM iPhone 4 units NOT 5s. The first year forecast for iPhone 5 is substantial as well.
Don’t forget that Kogeto has the “lucy” so the VC may be interested in the company in general.