Pivo is an interactive smartphone pod for shooting amazing panoramas and tracking shots

The best camera is the one you have on you – we all know that. But so is the best stand. And it turns out your own stands – as in, hands – are rubbish for pro tracking shots and seamless panoramas. Enter: Pivo ($79). Shove your smartphone into this dinky interactive pod (149g; 63mm across; 10-hour charge), fire up the app (Android/iOS), and you immediately gain access to a wealth of creative options. Pivo can have your phone track movement – your own or anything from moonwalking shoes to puppets. And ‘Quick Create’ modes provide timelapses with movement, flawless panoramas, tiny planets, videos that switch between two subjects, and those vitally important ‘ManyMe’ shots when you just have to recreate Abbey Road‘s cover every time you’re near a zebra crossing.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.