Flir One case that gives your iPhone thermal imaging capabilities goes on pre-order

Flir One (image 001)

An accessory maker called Flir at CES back in January announced its novel case promising to give your iPhone true thermal-imaging capabilities.

Based on technology that was formerly reserved for the military, the Flir One case brings high-end thermal imaging to your iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s, giving the iconic smartphone Predator-like vision.

The case is coming to Apple retail stores in the United States, Canada and Europe in August and today the company has started accepting pre-orders…

The Flir One is not a gimmick like fake infrared effects you frequently see in photography apps on the App Store. This case uses the same thermal imaging technology Flir sells to law enforcement and the military.

There’s a rechargeable 1,400mA/h battery inside which extends your iPhone’s battery life by 50 percent while powering the thermal imager for up to two hours.

Flir One (image 002)

According to a media release, the case weighs just 3.9 ounces and was designed to detect a broad range of temperatures.

Check out the promotional video below.

There’s a spot temperature measurement display via the the Flir One app, which will be available in the Apple App Store at a later stage.

The app will allow users to apply various effects (B/W, W/B, Rainbow, Contrast, Arctic, Hot/Cold and Iron), add visible spectrum detail to thermal images, get an at-a-glance overview of the case’s battery level and more.

Key Flir One highlights include:

  • FLIR ONE TimeLapse: Turns a series of thermal images into a seamless time-lapse video, revealing changes in temperature through time.
  • FLIR ONE Paint: Share fun and dramatic photos that selectively display color and thermal elements.
  • FLIR ONE Panorama: Turns a series of contiguous imagery into a single panoramic image.

A word of caution: Flir One doesn’t like shiny materials because they reflect their surroundings rather than generate heat signatures.

The pricey $349.99 accessory can be pre-ordered via Flir’s webstore.