Visit Australia without leaving home with the Qantas VR app, Koalas not included

By Jayce Wagner November 14, 2016

best tech under $100 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Australian airline Qantas has unveiled a new VR app, aptly named Qantas VR, which will allow users to visit Australia remotely. You’ll be able to take part in guided tours of national parks and world-famous landmarks, all without leaving the comfort of your own home.

Of course, Qantas hopes that you’ll be so impressed with your virtual visit to Australia that you’ll book a flight to see it in person — and that functionality is built right into the app.

“Our aim with the new virtual reality app is to connect with travelers by showcasing parts of Australia they might not be familiar with,” said Qantas executive Olivia Wirth.

Qantas first rolled out a VR program last year, offering up Samsung Gear VR headsets in First-Class cabins and lounges. The Qantas app, which launches today on iOS and Android, was developed in partnership with Australian VR firm, Start VR.

“The app allows us to share the story of Australia to an international audience in a way that is more intimate, engaging, and interactive than we have been able to tell it before,” said Kain Tietzel, CEO and Creative Director for Start VR.

The app isn’t just a way to sell flights to Australia, Tietzel says, but rather a way to allow a broad international audience to experience the cultural and historical heritage of Australia. The VR experiences available on the App run the gamut from relaxing river cruises on the Yellow Water Billabong, to guided tours of Australian Aboriginal rock art, and helicopter flights over the iconic Uluru.

The new Qantas app allows users to experience the VR tours in conjunction with a Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, or other compatible headset like the Google Daydream. Alternatively, you’ll be able to just watch the videos in landscape mode from within the app if you don’t have access to a compatible VR headset.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A staff writer for the Computing section, Jayce covers a little bit of everything -- hardware, gaming, and occasionally VR.

Computing

Best HP laptop deals: Get a 17-inch workhorse for $370 and more

An open HP Spectre x360 16 sits on a table, angled so that the screen and keyboard can be seen.

HP is one of the best laptop brands on the market, and if you're thinking of picking up a new laptop, then you may want to consider one of its many varieties of laptops. Not only that, but HP usually has some form of deal going on each of its sub-brans, so whether you're looking for an HP Omen gaming laptop or a Spectre X360 2-in-1 convertible, you'll likely find a good deal on it. Of course, it can be hard to navigate the dozens of different types of laptops HP has, which is why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite deals to help save you the trouble. That said, if you can't find quite what you're looking for below, be sure to check out these other great laptop deals and gaming laptop deals as well.
HP Laptop 15z -- $250, was $500

If you need a budget laptop for basic tasks, you can't go wrong with the HP Laptop 15z. With its AMD Athlon Silver 7120U processor, AMD Radeon Graphics, and 8GB of RAM, it's going to be a dependable device for doing online research and working with productivity apps. The laptop features a 128GB SSD with Windows 11 Home pre-loaded, and a relatively large 15.6-inch HD screen for its low price.

Computing

Some Intel CPUs are about to take a big performance hit, report says

Intel's 14900K CPU socketed in a motherboard.

High-end Intel CPUs are about to lose some significant performance, according to a new report from BenchLife (via VideoCardz). The outlet claims Intel has sent guidance to motherboard partners to implement the Intel Default Settings on Z790 motherboards, following a wave of reports of instability on recent high-end Intel CPUs.

According to the report, these default settings will enforce a PL2 of 188 watts. Intel maintains power limits (PL) for its processors. PL1 is the base power, or the power that the processor can sustain for long periods of time. PL2 is the maximum boost power, which the processor can hit for brief spurts when under a heavy load.

Computing

Best Buy laptop deals: Cheap laptops starting at $159

Apple M1 MacBook Air open on a desk with plants in the background.

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop, Best Buy is a great outlet to turn to. It carries some of the best laptops on the market, and often you’ll find many of the best laptop deals taking place at Best Buy. And while it’s a great place to land some savings on almost any device, including tablet deals, headphone deals, and smartwatch deals, the Best Buy laptop deals you can shop right now are worth taking a look at. Among them you’ll find many quality laptop options at some of the best prices we’ve seen, so read onward for more details. And if Best Buy doesn’t have what you’re looking for, you can check out some of the best Amazon deals and best Walmart deals, where you’ll also find a discounted laptop or two.
HP 14-inch laptop — $159, was $180

The HP 14-inch laptop is a fast and fun computing device. It's a great option for anyone searching the best laptops for high school students or the best laptops for college. It has an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of system RAM that combine to push through homework assignments, work presentations, and hours upon hours of binge watching. The 14-inch screen sports HD resolution and makes this HP laptop a great way to enjoy movies, photos, and other digital content. The HP 14-inch laptop is able to reach up to 14 hours of battery life on a single charge, making it a great all-day option for people who like to do their work on the go.