Gear News Week: Insta360 debuts in a drone company, DJI is surprised with 8K 360 camera
360 Camera Company Insta360 has entered the drone market using a spin-off brand called Antravity. The new company hasn’t released a drone yet, but is about to be launched and may be slightly different from current market leaders like DJI. Antigravity’s drone is expected to be 360 cameras at 8K resolution. It will also fall under the 250g weight limit, meaning it does not require a license.
This 360-degree camera makes sense from the company that makes our favorite 360 cameras, although the purpose of shooting directly into a drone is questionable. Think of it as a 360 camera, about 260 degrees available lens. This is not a new idea. There is a mount to connect the Insta360’s X5 camera to the drone, but taking off and landing like this is awkward, and Antigravity’s drone might be a little simplified.
Antigravity’s new drones should arrive later this month. Once we have time to test, we will conduct a full review. –Scott Gilbertson
DJI announces 360 cameras
Ironically, as Insta360 encroaches on DJI’s drone supremacy, DJI uses its first OSMO 360’s first camera to wading into the world of 360 cameras. It can capture 8K video at 50 frames per second, slightly surpassing the Insta360’s X5 camera, shooting 8K at 30 fps. OSMO uses a square 1-inch HDR sensor that can be directly connected to DJI’s wireless microphone using OSMOAUDIO and maintains the OSMO magnetic quick release system for quick installation.
Even more interestingly, DJI claims that the OSMO 360 can shoot 8K video at 30 fps for 100 minutes, 20 minutes longer than the Insta360 X5. It also weighs only 183 grams, 17 grams lighter than its top competitors. You only need to shoot as a single lens at 4K 120 fps and can switch between front and rear lenses without pausing.
The OSMO 360 has not yet been launched in the U.S. but is available worldwide at $550. Just like DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro Drone, Americans can still book from retailers like B&H and Adorama.
NetGear announces entry-level Wi-Fi 7 grid system
Provided by Netgear
The first wave of Wi-Fi 7 grid systems is very expensive, but they are affordable. Netgear’s latest version is the Orbi 370 series, which is an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 7 grid. While you only get the familiar 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands instead of the 6-GHz band, you do get some of the other benefits of Wi-Fi 7, including enhanced security, down-latency and multi-continuous link operation (MLO), allowing you to connect on both bands at the same time. MLO also works with Backhaul, which is the traffic between the main router and the node.
