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[DesertHOG]

Ride the Million Dollar Highway with me and have a look around using either your mouse or the WASD keys to navigate up, down, front and back. This is a 2-part video and each video will be about 30 minutes long. The route starts about half way between Coal Bank Pass and Molas Pass. We not only ride Highway 550 but also take a quick tour through Silverton, CO and Ouray, CO. There are a couple of stoplights on 550 due to some much needed road repairs. A front looking view will primarily give you a view of the back of my Harley Jacket, my hoodie, and my helmet. Looking to the left and right gives you a great view of the Rockies and trees that are about 1 week past fall color peak. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did.

Also, the noise of the rushing wind is a bit annoying. You may want to turn the volume down a bit.

Notes
At this time you can only view the video in 360 using 1 of 2 methods.
1. Use a Google "Chrome" Browser
2. Use an Android based Phone

Equipment used to produce this video as a Kodak Pixpro SP360

Comments
Affordable 360 video at consumer level pricing is relatively new. There are 4 or 5 different manufacturers in various stages of development. This Kodak device is actually manufactured by JK Imaging LTD who licensed the Kodak name. The technology requires software to take the 360 panorama video and prepare/unfold for upload to YouTube. The processing is real-time, so the longer the video, the longer the processing takes. 33 minutes of video takes 33 minutes to process. The software provide with this Kodak is extremely rudimentary and could use a lot of improvement, even the file management capability didn't allow me to process other than by connecting the camera to my laptop. The video data is 1440x1440 and unfolded it produces 720 HD but I think the information having to cover 360 likely further degrades the image quality Kodak has an updated version that had been announced called the SP360-4K, it will produce video data in the 2880x2880 30fps format. I don't know that the quality will be twice as good. I do know the list price is expect to be around $500. The list price of the current version is $349 and I picked mine up on Amazon Warehouse open-box bargain bin for $244.

I will post Part 2 when I get home. I also have some GoPro video and will prepare that for posting as well.

I hope you enjoy this experiment. Please take the time to view as much as you can stand. The lighting in the beginning of the video is poor. It gets better after the sun moves lower on the horizon.

[Twolanerider]

I kept spinning the view round and round and round continuously until I barfed on my keyboard from motion sick....

Ok, cool camera  .

[Twolanerider]

Recording in 360 is requiring how much greater data capacity than a comparable quality single perspective GoPro shot of the same duration?

[DesertHOG]

Recording in 360 is requiring how much greater data capacity than a comparable quality single perspective GoPro shot of the same duration?

Yeah.. I may have worded that poorly. What I was trying to express is that there is a lot more visual information, all around, and that I think makes the quality of the video look as though there is data loss at 720p. As for the storage required for the data is is the same as any other 1440x1440 video. The source video at 33 mins was 4GB in size. After the unfolding process the side of the video file was half at about 2GB. I am not smart enough to understand everything that is going on here but there are articles on it all over the internet.

Hope you enjoyed your eggs as much the 2nd time around as the 1st.

[JCZ]

I knew we could count on you Simon.  This is a great service for the members of this forum.  For those that were at the GTG or have been there at other times to reminisce and for those who haven't been there....to motivate them to get out and see what this country really has to offer.   

Thanks a bunch Simon...I know you put a lot of effort and time in to these videos and it's appreciated.

[Twolanerider]

Yeah.. I may have worded that poorly. What I was trying to express is that there is a lot more visual information, all around, and that I think makes the quality of the video look as though there is data loss at 720p. As for the storage required for the data is is the same as any other 1440x1440 video. The source video at 33 mins was 4GB in size. After the unfolding process the side of the video file was half at about 2GB. I am not smart enough to understand everything that is going on here but there are articles on it all over the internet.

Hope you enjoyed your eggs as much the 2nd time around as the 1st.

Thanks Simon.  I really liked the effect.  Being able to pan over and watch over your left shoulder to the view on that side was outstanding for much of the video.  Am surprised the overall storage requirement is as small as it is.  Thanks so much for the heads up on the camera and taking the time to share the video.

[DesertHOG]

Thanks Simon.  I really liked the effect.  Being able to pan over and watch over your left shoulder to the view on that side was outstanding for much of the video.  Am surprised the overall storage requirement is as small as it is.  Thanks so much for the heads up on the camera and taking the time to share the video.

Thanks for the kind words. Look for Part 2 to be uploaded in a day or two. The scenery between Silverton and Ouray is quick spectacular and dramatic.

[JCZ]

Thanks for the kind words. Look for Part 2 to be uploaded in a day or two. The scenery between Silverton and Ouray is quick spectacular and dramatic.

The Switzerland of America.....that's the one that will motivate everybody to go ride southwest Colorado! 

[RGlideKid]

Really awesome stuff, Simon.  This really raises the ante for us photographers who have to stop and shoot.  The ability to pan and see either the left or right side view or where you've been is especially attractive to me.
Here I was thinking a Go Pro might be fun to have and then you go and do this!  Amazing stuff and we appreciate the effort it took to bring it to us!   

[TinSpinner]

Cool stuff Simon! It's like google street view from a different perspective.

[GregKhougaz]

Thanks, Simon!       Makes me want to go back.   

[Jswerve]

Well, it's different. Unless the quality can be increased I prefer your HD stationary videos...

[2k]

Well, it is a different look for sure but I got to agree with Jesse. It's really hard to beat a stationary forward look camera. Sort of made me dizzy at times. Thanks for the post, Simon. Never really looked from that angle.

[cambo]

Very cool Simon. I might have to get me one of these! Could you replace the original soundtrack with music instead?

[bandit]

Well done  , a beautiful reminder for my last trip up there.

thanxs