We’ve made no secret of our admiration of the iPhone 3GS’s video capabilities — Apple has managed to integrate a video camera that’s both easy to use and surprisingly high quality into an already-stellar device. But for all its merits, the iPhone 3GS suffers from being, well, a phone. No matter how good the phone’s video quality is, it’s still prone to shakiness as its director moves around. And while the microphone may be high quality, its position at the bottom of the phone definitely isn’t ideal recording whatever you’re pointing the camera lens at.
Fortunately, an answer is on the way for all you mobile videographers. A new startup called OWLE (Optical Widgets For Life Enhancement), is currently working on a mount that should resolve most of these issues. The mount, which you can see in the images and videos below, gives you a much more stable way to hold the phone, making it much less prone to bumps and shakes. The mount also improves your recording quality by including a 37mm camcorder lens and a front facing microphone, which plugs into the phone’s headphone/mic jack. There’s also planned support for external lighting and power. All in a package that could slip easily into a backpack or laptop case. In short, this is exactly what you need if you frequently use the iPhone for video.
Unfortunately, it will still be a while before you can get your hands on one. OWLE plans to have a limited production run completed by late August, which it will distribute to bloggers and other press to help get the word out. A full production run is currently slated to be completed by Christmas, at a retail pricepoint in the $30-50 range, including the accessories. There are also a few shortcomings from the hardware side: because the included microphone plugs into the phone’s mic jack, it only supports mono. The company is planning another version that will plug into the phone’s 30-pin adapter (which would enable stereo recording) but that won’t make this model.
In the demo video below, OWLE also pleads with Apple to begin fully supporting Qik on the iPhone 3GS — something that we’ve also been hoping for, and would make the device even more appealing. You can sign their petition here.
Awesome !!
Not Awesome.
Nokia N82 can do better than that without ANY Accessory or any additional software.
can you add more app to your n82 ? I don’t think so. i’m a big fan of nokia … but 5 years ago. the nokia’s era is end.
Tell me about it. Apple sucks.
The guy in the video looks a bit like Obama
looks like he might be intentionally working that angle
that would be so sad….
you guys are idiots.
@tdc – they are silly, yes. But your stupid cat picture makes you the idiot.
P.S. I tapped this out on my iPhone while dropping a deuce at work!
I’m very impressed by the sound and video quality from their accessory. I truly believe we are going to see some amazing new apps and accessories in the next 5 to 10 months. I am also anxious for the day when the iPhone is no longer limited to AT&T. I put college on pause to start an iPhone Apps company. Its in my best interest as well as other developers and the consumer for the iPhone to be made available on other carriers. The Qik app dilemma is a perfect example of this. Hopefully the iPhone will be on Sprint and Verizon in 2010. I hate it for QIK they seem to have an amazing application that can impact our society in a way twitter has. Could you imagine millions of people around the world with this app? How would this change breaking news? Again, I’m impressed by the accessory and very impressed by the App. I’m sure they are ecstatic now that the iPod Touch will have a Video Camera.
Yes, I’m gonna ditch my old iPod Touch for the new one whenever it comes out.
in some countries during “breaking news” your online transmissions will be rather short. very soon after such incidents happen, all public cell towers are shutdown.
it would work better on wimax, but not sure about their performance with state radio jammers.
so, of course you’ll be able to get some live ground reporting, but only during peaceful time.
no “war nerd” live reporting for you!
Just found out that WiMax is coming to Central Virginia after 2 years of fighting with the FCC about it. Very excited!
I agree that in some instances “breaking news” would be cut short. These instances would be when a political regime chooses to hinder what will become a natural form of breaking news in the future. I would like for people in the world to have the ability to broadcast current events with a device found in their pocket. Maybe that’s not possible in Iran, but the fact that its possible in the US and isn’t happening is a bit upsetting to me.
War Nerd live. That’s funny. I could see this happening. I’ve already been contacted about doing a music video strictly with an iPhone 3GS. So I’m sure someone, somewhere, is thinking about creating their own online or mobile news channel that would utilize the iPhone 3GS and accessories as its only video hardware.
@williamherring
You should get back to school. Building a future on iPhone apps isn’t prudent.
Sounds great…will get it for my site once it’s available.
Awesome !!
i can’t believe it .wow
That is so cool.. that would make me buy an iphone..
This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. It won’t stop me from buying a HD camcorder or anything, but for creating video content whilst traveling etc it seems brilliant. Signed up for the waiting list, and hopefully I can get an early unit as a blogger. :)
This looks very cool. I’ll have to check it out
Sounds cool. Looks very much prototype though. Kind of like the first ever post on the CrunchPad.
Hi:
Awesome presentation …..I am sold. I am getting my iPhone 3GS on July 14th and ready to buy the product as well as function as a live tester.
The presenter (surely he is the CEO) has done a terrific job and I predict that his company OWLE will be a big player in the video accessories market.
And oh.. if a UFO lands in my backyard I’ll definitely need one of these babies ;-)
(Hint: watch the video at the end)
I have to get this! Awesome.
I just need to get my 3GS first! :)
Wow, now this is cool. If they are decently built and include universal mounts on the lens and shoe, this could be a really be a cool product.
Love seeing something design something tangible for the iPhone, instead of another dumb app.
Wow, now this is cool. If they are decently built and include universal mounts on the lens and shoe, this could be a really be a cool product.
Love seeing something design something tangible for the iPhone, instead of another dumb app.
Tsk, sloppy journalism with poor subediting – what’s that arbitrary string of characters “lense” doing there? Presumably you meant the word “lens”, only you couldn’t spell it properly.
$50…. Very sweet price point.
Hier sind Sie richtig! Original Zubehör für dein Handy – BlackBerry, Samsung, HTC und iPhone – größte Auswahl an Taschen, Ladegeräten, Schutzfolien, Headsets
Really?! This pattern gets really old. Phones have been doing video, and doing it as well as the iPhone, for literally years. Apple FINALLY puts the feature on its phone, and suddenly the same old roundup of credulous clowns start saying “OMG!!! Imagine what you could do if you can record video ON YOUR PHONE!!! This changes everything!!!”
Really, don’t you ever get tired of looking like an ignorant fool who is oblivious to the world until Apple fills you in on where the industry has been going for years?
They should incorporate a battery pack into the case since streaming video over 3G is sure to gobble up power.
Agree with Lee; how cool is an expensive add on to make one of the worst video phones on the market slightly less crap… except that it is now about the size and weight of a decent HD camera, just without the battery life… or storage… or optics.
Next from Apple… the round wheel.
Love Ive’s designs and UI but will get excited by iphone once features are more advanced than 4 year old mid range Sony Ericsson or Nokia
What you’re missing out on though is that iPhone has done all the revolutionary stuff.
No other phone has an App store like the iPhone, and sure there are tons of crap applications, but you can get pretty impressive games and utilities for a couple of dollars or even free.
In many ways the iPhone is still catching up, but there is no phone that is as complete as the iPhone.
@DSVA
Trolling much?
Frankly, DVSA is correct. I’ve been watching the 3Gs fanfare on this blog with some interest as it seems to me to be slightly surreal that people are celebrating the iPhone as a video-capable device when there are so many far superior options on the table, namely from Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. The 8.1MP SE C905 takes photos and video that is just as good as any mid-range compact digital camera. While the other features of this model leave a fair bit to be desired, for real photo fanatics the C905 is a no brainer. The camera is the single most important non-phone feature of a mobile for me, and unfortunately the iPhone 3GS really is looking like a lame duck.
As for the OWLE device, I find the whole thing a bit bizarre. There is a very simple trick for taking stready pictures with ultracompact cameras that virtually every cameraphile knows: simpy hold the device at both ends and twist your hands in opposite directions while taking a picture. You’ll be surprised, it really works.
If TechCrunch is taking this crapgadget seriously I can’t take TechCrunch seriously.
This gadget is redundant. The reason the iPhone camera is so popular is because its part of a bigger package of components. If I had to carry around a compass, GPS, phone, camera, video camera, MID, and whatever else the iPhone has morphed into with apps I would just wouldnt do it. And noone else would either. The iPhone camera isnt useful because it takes great video. It doesnt take great video. It takes fast and easy mobile video. If your going to lug around another device so that you can take better video, why not buy a nice camcorder?
If these guys are for real they need to make this thing much smaller and nicer looking. Looks like some video game controller from 1980. Whats the point if it lacks portability. Useless IMO no one will buy this. Might as well buy a real camera , which will dwarf the iphone’s video recording capabilities
why buy a $pendy digital camera or camcorder if you already have an iphone and there’s a $50 accessory that will get the job done? not every iphone user has a lot of money to throw around.
It does look a bit chunky… but so does Oprah and nobody complains…
Great idea, the merge of two markets.
Just wanna tell you that 3G S is already jailbroken. I had mine done.