u/allenhuffman

Recently, we had a phone stop receiving SMS texts. It can send them, and everything else works, but no receiving. This is obviously a problem since so many two factor authentication codes come from texts.

It last worked about two weeks ago. Since then, it has been tried in Kansas, Missouri, and several places in Iowa, so it is not tower related, like Mint support keeps saying.

We also have two phones both on Mint, and the other one works just fine.

Anyone encountered this?

I took my first "one shot 360" images back in 2005, but didn't get a dedicated 360 camera until early 2015. I am just now becoming aware of the differences/evolution in the metadata stored in JPG 360 images:

• 360cam - no FOV metadata in the exported JPGs.
• RICOH THeta m15 - no FOV metadata
• RICOH Theta S - no FOV metadata
• DJI Osmo 360 - no FOV metadata

Insta360

• X series - metadata!

When I get to the Insta360 cameras (ONE X2 and X6 for sure, assuming X3 and X4 as well), I see they do export with two FOV entries:

exiftool image.jpg | gep FOV

Initial View Vertical FOV Degrees: 95
Initial Horizontal FOV Degrees  : 100

Is exporting this metadata unique to Insta360?

This topic came up when I tried to add 360-degree photos to my online photo galleries using the JAlbum software. I was initially testing with some RICOH images from 2016. JAlbum chose a zoomed-in level that made them hard to view without first zooming out in the web page viewer.

EDITING the zoom level from within JAlbum MODIFIES the JPG file, *adding* a Horizontal FOV entry to these old images. If I use an Insta360 exported image, it honors the value (but a bug in the viewer handles it backwards, but that’s a different story).

Does anyone here have experience with multiple camera types, and understand why some add this metadata, and others omit it?

Updated description: "Some X6 360 photos get rejected by Facebook" perhaps.

UPDATE: I have had images 74MB that upload just fine, then ones that are 67MB and 71MB that fail 100% of the time (personal page, group, or business page). I have tried Chrome browser as well. File size may have nothing to do with the failures. These are 15520x7760 images from the X6. I have renamed the two images that fail for me and placed them with the others in case you want to try them (maybe a problem with my Meta account):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2959i0mxsdj5z5z1phwz7/AJDu4cdojp_gCDzBAMbliww?rlkey=zd9c0gq6ldfx5h6p2k1mtj5t2&dl=0

Apparently, the 120MP image sometimes is too large for Facebook. I uploaded about ten images and two of them get rejected. I have one at 56MB that works, then one at 67MB that is rejected.

To get them uploaded, I use Graphic Converter (Mac) to compress them down to a smaller file size.

Searching for the largest file Facebook accepts shows me these should work -- but even Facebook's own help does not specifically address 360-degree photos where the width is 2X the height. Perhaps that is part of it.

It gives the annoying "Oops" error.

https://preview.redd.it/5iayhcgw65kh1.png?width=2358&format=png&auto=webp&s=18965d3bb07a5327ca82d4662568210e552ba97f

https://preview.redd.it/skh440k51gjh1.png?width=3164&format=png&auto=webp&s=8eec75e3b5fb57f5916bfe86d6e27ffab34e3a10

I have done about 10 raw footage comparison videos to help me see the differences in these three cameras. This is not a "once size fits all." For folks who only shoot in bright indoor light, X5 seems great enough, but for areas where glare are bright sun is common, less glare on the X6 and you can see the sky instead of a "white blob" on the X5.

I noticed on this one that the cars that drive by are sharp and in focus on the Osmo, but blurry on the Insta360s. This could be artifacts of PureVideo mode, but the Osmo was in their equivalent and seems to handle it much better. Any ideas on what this is?

I was quite impressed with some of the Osmo footage (and the Osmo 360 2 is supposed to be even better, for folks in countries where it will be sold). (Video: https://youtu.be/BvAMitaUNNs)

Here's a weird one. The X6 sees the digital billboard as the little squares (look up multiplexing if you are curious about what is going on) while the X5 must have a slower frame rate and the effect is not as noticeable. I also notice as I pass gas station signs you can see how the signs are refreshed frame to frame and it looks different. But the billboard looking like an 8-bit display was unexpected ;-)

UPDATED - Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mpc1PjAlcs

https://preview.redd.it/kftaf8iw6ejh1.png?width=2940&format=png&auto=webp&s=106ef0439a85350e3ee205fa414cfa39bcb913a4

https://preview.redd.it/o8p93v6n0ejh1.png?width=2940&format=png&auto=webp&s=33f635c030ae1541699fe69c9c1ce2f2bda884a4

I was putting together more comparison videos and noticed this. What causes the X6 to actually show more of the sky rather than a washed out blob of white? Video: https://youtu.be/XzA2QvkrJlY

One thing I will be curious about is the color accuracy of the new camera models. Each time a new X camera comes out, it seems the colors are a bit different from the previous model (looking at trees, sky, etc.). When I first compared Osmo 360 to the X5, I found I much preferred the Osmo in low light conditions. If there was "medium" light, I thought the X5 looked better. But, even in those cases, the color was very different. Here is a screenshot from a comparison video I posted last year.

What color are the walls? An iPhone 14 Pro camera gives a third variation of color: https://www.disneyfans.com/photos/themeparks/SilverDollarCity/SilverDollarCity2025/GrandfathersMansion/index.html#img=20250418_172411_iPhone.jpeg

And a Canon G5X gives another version of the color: https://www.disneyfans.com/photos/themeparks/SilverDollarCity/SilverDollarCity2024/GrandfathersMansion/index.html#img=20240427_165059.jpg

And now we wait...

https://preview.redd.it/7vrcrfnjfkih1.png?width=2054&format=png&auto=webp&s=02150b0962a320686456a4e7d242a0cc53e20073

Thanks to the 5-year warranty, Sandisk is about to replace the 2TB Sandisk Extreme drive I bought in 2023. It is this model, though I paid $150 for it when I bought it back then.

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/sandisk-extreme-portable-2tb-external-usb-c-nvme-ssd-black/JXJ62C9ZSV/sku/6427551

The drive is directly connected to my computer and, while on power and in normal use, will eject itself throughout the day, giving me a warning about that. I have tried multiple cables.

Support 'bot pointed me to an article about a firmware update for this specific issue, but my drive shows no firmware update available.

Support human got details from me and then requested serial number and purchase receipt so they can begin a warranty replacement.

I wanted to ask about it here and see if this is a more widespread issue with this particular model. Replacing my drive with the same model that might have the same known issue does not seem to be beneficial.

Anyone else encountered this? Sandisk support thinks there is something wrong with the drive, but I want to know if it is just "my" drive, or "all" or "many" of the same type of drive.

This information comes second hand, so I have no specific details:

Someone was having interference issues with WiFi and such, and eventually contacted the FCC. The FCC looked into it, then responded saying it was due to a "pirate radio station" in the area.

Does anyone know about any actual "pirate radio stations" in the area? I know there are plenty of people with personal FM transmitters they use for Christmas light displays and such, and those are legal as long as they don't exceed a certain power level. But I also know Amazon sells units that exceed these power levels, making them easy to obtain.

I forget if it was the Insta360 X5 release, but there was a YouTube "reviewer" that had posted their video unlisted (possibly for approval by Insta360) and someone figured out or got the link and was able to capture it and share it before the release date.

Does anyone remember how this happened? I expect we will see this type of thing happen again since "unlisted" videos can be watched by anyone with the link. I know I had one of my unlisted videos get views once, but that was due to a "play random video" thing folks had online that would get lucky and find random links, listed or otherwise.

July 11, 2009 - Incredible Pizza Company

I do not know the exact years this was here, but I have video from 2008, and someone shared a photo of them working there in 2014. I recently shared this photo to one of my Facebook pages and the reactions went crazy (like 185,000+ views in the past 24 hours). Normally stuff I post is lucky to get a few hundred views.

Does anyone remember this place? It was at the intersection of 86th St and Douglas Ave in Urbandale. In the comments, someone said they knew the owners -- so it sounds like it was a franchise. The HQ company is based out of Springfield, MO.

Anyone know who was behind it?

I got my first digital camera in 1996. I have been through many models over the years and always prefer smaller point-and-shoots. If I can't operate it with one hand, and look through an eyepiece so I don't annoy people around me with a lit up screen in dark areas, I won't buy it.

My G5X is about 10 years old. Buttons stick. Eyepiece rubber is partially disconnected. Clock resets if I don't swap the battery REALLY quick (I usually burn through 2+ batteries a day when traveling).

B&H referred me to two places that may be able to clean up this camera and get the buttons to work. I assume they won't be able to do anything about the other issues.

In 2026, would you fix up a G5X, or use the repair money towards a new point-and-shoot? Last time I bought a camera, there were plenty of options. Today, not so much. Places like B&H suggest P&S cameras that are in the $1500-$2000 range, and I wonder why I'd get with one of those versus just sticking with my old Canon.

UPDATE: This has been recreated by someone else, and has nothing to do with project type. A simple 1080 project with an image 12000x12000 works on M2/M4, but if you go to 12001x12001 the M4 export will silently fail (no error) while M2 handles it just fine. Bad images created using Apple Preview and Graphic Converter. On FB someone did this test and go the same results but used another tool to export the image and THAT export worked, so it does look like a combination of image creation and how images are handled.

Here is a frustrating one. I wanted to benchmark an M4 Mac mini against an M2 MacBook Air by exporting the same project on both. The project works fine on the Air, and I copied it directly to the 1TB drive in the M4 mini. Both systems have 24 GB RAM.

When I open the project, it loads and plays fine. When I export, it begins then just stops, leaving a weird temporary named mp4 file. No errors or anything. Just stops.

This is about as fresh and clean a system as one can make. The only thing that has been done was me creating an account then logging in to Apple so I could download FCP to it.

Anyone else seen this? The previous FCP has a big crash with 360 video projects, but this update from a week ago resolved that. I can export this known working project just fine on the Air, but not on this M4. Restarts have not helped.

I have an open ticket with Apple Support investigating crashes that happen with 360 video projects. It has been escalated into engineering, and I am told they are aware of some issues.

Does anyone here edit VR 360 video projects? Has it been working for you?

When I tried to do some new 360 projects this year, I was getting constant crashes. A factory reset of the Mac did not help, and eventually, with support, I installed a fresh clean copy of macOS with nothing else on it except Final Cut Pro. I was able to recreate the crashes easily, using nothing but built-in FCP items (placeholder, titles, tpancisions, sfx clip). Once we were able to do it at that level it eliminated conflicts, hard drive formats, etc. etc.

Just curious if anyone else here works with 360 video and has been fighting this. If it "works for you," what is your system?

I am familiar with the regulars at the CCS forum (https://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/) but expect it is like every other group I follow -- one group of people is there, another group is on some Discord, others are on a Facebook group, etc.

At my day job I maintain six active boards that run PIC24 variants. All but one are built with the CCS PCD compiler tools. One new project I started with Microchip's compiler to help make porting over some Wiznet stuff (http, snmp) easier. I much prefer the "ease" of getting stuff done with the CCS tools, but the quirks of its C-like compiler sometimes are very frustrating.