arampan
Posts: 197
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Registered: 9 Oct 2005
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EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 2 Feb 2009 at 14:52 GMT
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A client of mine wanted a quick and easy, no fuss solution to creating low resolution VRs and video walkthroughs. One of the products I looked at was the EGG Photo360 from EGG solutions. I contacted them with a specific list of requirements
1. Must be able to be used on HD video camcorders
2. Must be able to remap to flatened jpeg panoramas
3. Must be able to remap to jpeg in batch processing
I was assured my requirements would be fully met. In a hurry to complete the project, I ordered one unit for test. When it arrived, we tested it on some HD camcorders and immediately discovered that the size of the mirror is much larger that a 0-360 and thus it would get cropped off when using with a HD camcorder. HD Camcorders are all 16:9 format. 5:4 old style video cameras work fine.
The next problem we discovered was that the EGG software bundled could not remap the image and output to jpeg panoramas at all ! When I emailed EGG for an explanation I was given some link and asked to download a free 3rd party remapping software from another website.
When I tried the other software, there was no batch processing function and each had to be manually remapped.
Lastly, It seems that the mirror design is so unique that even the EGG's own software seems to produce distorted VRs.
I emailed several times asking for a refund and to return the product without any success. My last email to them was not replied. Looks like I won't be getting a refund for this. I can only blame myself for my haste and stupidity in believing every word they said. (They actually called me on the phone to discuss and made these "promises")
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jimmyd
Posts: 174
Location: United States
Registered: 6 Nov 2004
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 2 Feb 2009 at 15:52 GMT
updated: 2 Feb 2009 at 16:12 GMT
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So let me get this right, they stopped providing support once they received your money?
Shocking!
If you paid by Credit Card I would call them (your CC provider) directly and tell them your situation. In most cases they will do all the dirty work for you and credit your account on the spot for the amount in question. Part of being a CC acceptor (i.e business) is allowing customers a realistic ability to return the product for whatever the reason, as long as it was done so with haste.
The longer you wait on this the less your CC provider can do for you. Once again, this assumes you paid by Credit Card.
Regards,
j
EDIT: BTW, you shouldn't have to kick yourself for believing a company when they say you CAN do something. It's human nature (or at least I think it should be) to believe people when you are buying products from well known suppliers. So no, you are not stupid and shouldn't feel the need to blame yourself.
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mediavets
Posts: 1980
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 2 Feb 2009 at 17:05 GMT
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arampan said: When I tried the other software, there was no batch processing function and each had to be manually remapped.
Did you try this software?:
www.eyesee360.com/photowarp/
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stu360Precision
[360 Precision]
Posts: 67
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Mar 2005
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 2 Feb 2009 at 20:52 GMT
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One idea - maybe the remapping program is getting confused by the 16:9 image? I'd take that image into PShop and extend my canvas to make a 4:3 image and try running that through - may help?
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arampan
Posts: 197
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Registered: 9 Oct 2005
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 3 Feb 2009 at 15:07 GMT
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It's not the remapping program that is the problem
1. the videos/images captured by the HD cameras are not stretched. They are in native 16:9 format.
2. the EGG's mirror is so large that it is cropped when shot in 16:9 format
3 squeezing the already cropped, 16:9 images/videos using photoshop/finalcut will do nothing to solve the problem.
To simplify... these guys made unrealistic promises and quoted false specifications.
Using a 4:3 camera will produce an un-cropped image but their remapping software still produces proprietary java outputs that look distorted...
As for the refund, it has been several weeks already. I've given up and I'd like my review to serve as a caveat emptor to would be buyers.
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Thomas Krueger
Posts: 358
Location: Genoa, Italy
Registered: 3 Mar 2006
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 3 Feb 2009 at 16:14 GMT
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Hm, didn't you had a look or asked about the solution of www.eyesee360.com ?
In the past Michael Rondinelli always offered a good service. Before and after buying from him.
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FotoFred
Posts: 27
Location: Chicago, United States
Registered: 4 Jan 2007
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Re: EGG Photo360 - My review and experience.
Posted: 4 Feb 2009 at 22:47 GMT
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After seeing the initial blurb from them looking for resellers, I looked at their site. If that was any indication of the company, I was unimpressed. The site did not function well at all. I emailed them about it and was told it was me, not their site.
Go figure..
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