Flir One case turns Apple's iPhone into a high-end thermal imaging camera
Thermal imaging company Flir has announced that pre-orders for its new One iPhone case -- which will let outdoorsmen, HVAC contractors, and people who simply like to see how hot things are convert their iPhone 5 or 5s into a thermal camera -- will begin Wednesday, with the device coming to Apple retail stores in August.
The Flir One will offer users the ability to view live infrared imagery when paired with a companion app, and the company imagines a variety of uses for the accessory, ranging from home improvement to security. Flir hopes the One's relatively modest $349.99 price tag -- a significant discount from the company's other cameras, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars -- will inspire even more creative applications.
"Based on technology that was formerly reserved for the military, Flir One is the first in a new generation of affordable thermal imaging devices designed to inspire imaginative and innovative uses by consumers," Flir Chief Executive Andy Teich said in a release. "This represents a revolutionary step forward for both Flir Systems and thermal imaging."
Homeowners could use the Flir One to find and fix air leaks to make their home more energy efficient without needing to hire outside contractors, for instance, or campers could use the camera to observe nocturnal creatures. The Flir app also allows for the creation of time-lapse and panoramic thermal images.
Flir will begin accepting pre-orders in the U.S. on July 23 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time at flir.com//flirone. The camera will make its way to Europe as well as Apple retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada in August.
The Flir One will offer users the ability to view live infrared imagery when paired with a companion app, and the company imagines a variety of uses for the accessory, ranging from home improvement to security. Flir hopes the One's relatively modest $349.99 price tag -- a significant discount from the company's other cameras, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars -- will inspire even more creative applications.
"Based on technology that was formerly reserved for the military, Flir One is the first in a new generation of affordable thermal imaging devices designed to inspire imaginative and innovative uses by consumers," Flir Chief Executive Andy Teich said in a release. "This represents a revolutionary step forward for both Flir Systems and thermal imaging."
Homeowners could use the Flir One to find and fix air leaks to make their home more energy efficient without needing to hire outside contractors, for instance, or campers could use the camera to observe nocturnal creatures. The Flir app also allows for the creation of time-lapse and panoramic thermal images.
Flir will begin accepting pre-orders in the U.S. on July 23 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time at flir.com//flirone. The camera will make its way to Europe as well as Apple retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada in August.
Comments
Been waiting for this to come out when they announced it last year. Will be picking one up for sure. For automotive/racing use they are fantastic. I just couldn't justify spending a couple thousand for one.
I use to use Flir products for a long time, I first used and IR system for finding hit spots on electronics back in the 1980's it was made by Huges, then I move to Flir, their systems was the better because of the software, they have really good real time and post processing capabilities.
It is amazing what they can cram into a small package. They use to require LN2 to keep the detector cool, then a cyro-pump. The IR sensors must have gotten so go they the can work at room temperatures.
I wonder how much memory the program uses on an iphone.
It's actually an ultra-low end thermal camera. 80x60 pixels. Normal low-end cameras are 160x128 and commercial ones go as high as 640x480. The normal mode for this camera is to enhance the resolution by overlaying a visible image onto the thermal one.
Perfect for data center use. Scan the racks to find any machines that are running hot, probably dead fans. Also for scanning PDUs to see if they are overloaded. or have hot cables. We had a 440V cable melt one time. With something like this we could have been keeping records and would have noticed a spike in heat in advance of complete failure..
Whatever the resolution might be, it's more than sufficient. What it does, seems pretty sophisticated. The price is unbeatable. I've used far more expensive devices. The features they have are not required most of the time, and the extra resolution serves little purpose most of the time either. This is perfect for the purposes it's been designed for.
The only problem is that it's designed for the older devices. By the time it's available, Apple's new models will be out. I really would like to buy this, as I've got a number of uses for it. But I don't want to keep my iPhone 5 in order to do that, as I'm planning to buy a new phone in December.
Won't this just make everything look like a ghost or Sasquatch?
You say this as if it's a bad thing - I see the new market (courtesy of Rule 34): Hot Thermal Imaging Action
Does it do video (Terminator vision clips!) or just stills....?
A Flir One plus a pistol might be the end of our gopher problems.
Nah. A small tractor pulling tank of water from hole-to-hole is what you need.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mu-thermal-camera-a-great-tool-to-save-on-energy-costs
It's a large research hospital, my brother is a director also. He was forced to set up a demonstration/test since she had gotten everyone worked up about it and filed a formal complaint for fraud/waste/abuse. In the end she looked like a fool. He still laughs about it.
There is a huge difference. The original cameras were closer to $30k from Flir. Some were $60k. They had /have specialty courses to actually get certified on how to read and Interpret the results. You can't seriously think there's any parallel between a .99 app for a phone that does not have thermal imaging capability to one that was specifically designed for it.
There's a .99 app on the App Store that will find ghosts too! Yea, it's amazing! They're really there!
Just to throw it out there, If you own and are certified to use a Flir camera you can bill yourself out (with the camera) for around $2,000 per hour depending on the client.
I call bull sh:t on the .99 app scenario unless the entire group involved are/were extremely mentally challenged. I have seen organizations buy one after they have used someone else's services and had their employees sent to the classes required to operate them.
Don't get your hopes up for buying the item mentioned and billing yourself out either. It's meant more for recreation.
Every hospital should own a Flir camera or an equivalent. Being able to look at electrical gear - transformers, panels, battery backup systems, capacitors (you get charged for your largest electrical load, a capacitor will drop your load requirements and lower the bill) and understanding if they are overloaded is very important. I'm not even the electrical industry. My card says "Material Sciences". Nice sounding I suppose. I test everything basically.
Throw one of those supposed iPhone screens my way and I can tell you the exact chemical makeup. I'd put it through a few more tests than a "Jack knife" and sandpaper!
Agreed, for medical purposes it can be used to diagnose broken joints/inflammation.
Sorry what?