Panorama photos are a great way to understand the cut-off size of the scene or environment you’re looking at, even if you can’t be there live.
While Apple has its own panorama feature in its iOS Camera app, there was only one app that took panoramic photos hands-free. The app is called Cycloramic and was first introduced in 2012 after the iPhone 5 was released. The app developers took advantage of the new iPhone’s straight-edge design and allowed the device to automatically rotate while standing up using its vibration motor, capturing a full 360-degree panorama in the process.
It’s a pretty unique app, but the iPhone 6’s new curved edges make the Cycloramic app completely obsolete. The device cannot stand up on its own, so what’s left to do?
Fortunately, the developers of Cycloramic have come up with a clever solution, but you will need an extra tool to get the app to work with your iPhone 6. The good news is that this extra tool came with your iPhone 6, so there’s no need for it. purchasing an extra accessory to make the app work with the new device.
The extra accessory you need is the wall charger that came with your iPhone 6. If you’re not sure exactly how this will work, here’s how to use Cycloramic with the iPhone 6.
Hands-Free Panoramas
First, before you can take panoramic photos with Cycloramic, you need to get the new Cycloramic app that works with iPhone 6. $1.99 on iTunes App Storeand if you’re whining that you’re going to have to pay for a newer version of the app, blame it on Apple.
Once the app is downloaded, open it and tap the red circular arrow at the bottom to get started.
Cycloramic has two modes: Guided and Hands-Free. Guided mode is essentially like Apple’s built-in panoramic feature in the iOS 8 Camera app, but Hands-Free mode is the mode you want. Select Handsfree if it is not already selected.
Because of how you have to use the app with iPhone 6, you can only use Handsfree mode with the front camera in landscape.
Now, place the wall charger on a flat surface with the ends facing up. Place iPhone 6 horizontally between two tabs so that the screen tilts up (and the back tilts down). You essentially use the wall charger as a stand for the iPhone 6 while it rotates.
All you have to do is start the panorama! Sit back and watch as your iPhone 6 spins a full 360 degrees, only with the help of its own vibration motor and wall charger.
Once done, it automatically saves the panorama to your Photos app and you can share it as you wish from there.
The Cycloramic app’s Guided mode is basically like Apple’s built-in Panorama feature in the iOS Camera app, where you start from one side and slowly scroll over the landscape while keeping your phone as flat as possible. This is a great feature in the Cycloramic app, but pretty redundant as it’s already built into the iOS Camera app.
The real feature is the hands-free mode, which is only $1.99 on its own. If you never want to take a selfie photo with a large group of friends, the Cycloramic app is an efficient and fun way to do just that.
