From Oculus Quest to a Facebook redesign, everything announced at F8 2019
Facebook F8 is finally here, and Facebook has taken the wraps off of a number of new products and services, including a major Facebook redesign, a Messenger desktop app, and more. Here's everything Facebook announced at Facebook F8 2019, its annual developer conference, held on April 30 and May 1.
Google Creative Lab’s new AR experiment helps you learn how to draw
Google's Creative Lab has developed an experiment, called Drawalong AR, that could make it a little easier for aspiring artists to follow YouTube tutorials. The experiment essentially leverages Google's ARCore to create a kind of virtual tracing paper on a phone's display.
The best 360 cameras you can buy
Immersive 360-degree video is still a newcomer, nowhere near as ubiquitous as the like of acton cams. Still though, there are dozens of 360 cameras on the market to choose from. To help you narrow down which one best fits your needs, we've rounded up a collection of our favorite 360 cameras.
Digital Trends Live: Facebook data security, Ubisoft helps Notre Dame, and more
DT Live talks Facebook and Instagram security issues, Ubisoft's plan to help rebuild Notre Dame, the theft of 100 Car2Go vehicles, and more. We are also joined by Emily Teteut of littleBits and Snap the Gap, Jennifer Sendrow of New York Public Radio, and DJ and producer Zeke Thomas
The VR goggles you wear to shoot alien ships is helping Magna design car parts
Canadian automotive supplier Magna has started using virtual reality in its research and development department. The technology helps engineers see what they're working on without making (and, sometimes destroying) a prototype, so it saves time and money. VR also brings international teams closer together.
Sony patent describes glasses with eye tracking for VR headsets
A curious patent from Sony shows off prescription glasses that feature eye-tracking capabilities for a virtual reality headset. The patent also infers that the headset that the glasses are paired with already has eye tracking, deactivating the feature when it senses that these glasses are in use.
Army uses modified Microsoft HoloLens 2 for ‘real-life game of Call of Duty’
The U.S. Army gave CNBC an exclusive look at its modified Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented reality headset. The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), shows the location of allies and opponents on a map, offers thermal imaging capabilities, and helps soldiers aim by displaying their weapon's reticle.
Nintendo is bringing the latest Zelda and Mario games to its VR headset
The Nintendo Labo VR Kit launches this month and two of the Switch's biggest games, Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild, will get free VR support via a software update that goes live a couple of weeks after the VR Kit launch. Odyssey will feature bonus VR levels while BoTW can be played in full.
A Google patent hints at a new attempt at an augmented reality headset
Google may be working on another augmented reality headset. The company was awarded a patent for an augmented reality headset. Unfortunately, the patent isn't entirely specific as to what the headset will look like, but it at least highlights that Google is working on one.
Valve may have accidentally leaked the ship date for its VR headset
Valve published three Index store pages early and, while they featured mostly placeholder text, they revealed the 2019 ship date for the VR HMD. The individual pages show off the Index itself, details on the controllers, and the base station that will track the HMD and controllers.
Nonny de la Peña wants to put virtual reality within Reach
Immersive journalism uses virtual reality to put viewers inside true stories and up close and personal with the subjects. Nonny de la Peña is a pioneer of the medium and hopes to make it more accessible with Reach, her WebVR platform.
Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs brings 3D demolition into your living room
Angry Birds is releasing its next entry in the spring of 2019 with a new spin. Bringing 3D environments and destruction, Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs uses augmented reality to add a new dimension to a classic series. Free-to-play and launching on iOS, pre-orders are available starting March 19.
New Sony patent suggests a wireless PSVR headset could be on the way
Images and documents in the Japan Patent Office appear to suggest that Sony is planning a wireless version of the PlayStation VR headset. It isn't clear which system it will be used for, but the sketches show a console that looks like the PlayStation 4 or its "slim" version.
Forget folding phones, the Insta360 EVO camera folds in half to shoot 360 video
The Insta360 EVO is a ... flip camera? Unfolded, the Insta360 Evo shoots 3D in 180 degrees, folded, the new camera shoots in 360 degrees. Designed for dual formats, the camera is launching with what's essentially a pair of 3D glasses for your phone, not your face, the $30 reverse phone case HoloFrame.
Apple’s AR Glasses could pair up with your iPhone in 2020
Apple has been working on augmented reality glasses, but on March 8, some more details on the project were released. According to an investor note sent by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple's AR glasses will be mass manufactured starting in the fourth quarter of 2019, but not later than the second half of 2020.
Nissan designers use HaptX VR gloves to shape future cars
New car designs usually start out as clay before becoming metal, but designers are now swapping clay for pixels. Nissan is using virtual reality gloves from HaptX that give designers a tactile feel of virtual models. HaptX claims its tech could massively streamline the design process.
Microsoft unveils $3,500 HoloLens 2 at MWC 2019. Here’s what you need to know
The HoloLens 2 is Microsoft's upcoming next generation augmented reality headset. The company announced the new HoloLens at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 in Barcelona. Here's everything we know so far.
Here’s how to watch Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 press conference
Microsoft's WMC conference was the stage for the unveiling of the next generation of its HoloLens mixed reality headset. Falling on the very first day of the annual event in Barcelona, the event was live at 11 a.m ET on Sunday, February 24 via the stream here.
HP’s high-resolution VR headset provides comfort and Windows Mixed Reality
HP reportedly has a new VR headset on the horizon with a design that prioritizes comfort and enhances clarity with ergonomic upgrades and an exceptionally high resolution. Here’s a look at a few of its features. The new headset is also supposed to run on the Windows Mixed Reality platform.
Bringing realism to VR is complex, but these developers found a way in holograms
Awake: Episode One is an ambitious attempt to make virtual reality feel far more real through the use of volumetric capture, rather than more traditional motion capture recording. It has a unique look but its motion, action, and acting make it incredibly lifelike. Here's the story of how it was made.
Samsung files a VR patent featuring a curved OLED display
Curves aren’t just for televisions anymore. And they just might enhance your next VR experience. Samsung recently filed a patent featuring a new VR headset that has a curved OLED display. The existence of the patent could indicate that the new curved design could join Samsung’s collection of VR headsets.
Could the next Microsoft HoloLens be announced at MWC 2019?
Microsoft's next-generation HoloLens could be coming soon. After not having a presence at Mobile World Congress for three years, Microsoft is now sending out media invites for a press conference during the annual event in Barcelona, set for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 24.
The Teslasuit could turn Black Mirror’s terrifying ‘Playtest’ into a reality
We spoke with Teslasuit co-founder Dimitri Mikhalchuk about AR/VR gaming at CES 2019. With haptic feedback, motion capture, climate control, and biometrics, the future of the Teslasuit and virtual/augmented reality looks promising. It also sounds a bit like a Black Mirror episode.
These shoes let me stroll through ‘Skyrim,’ and I desperately want to go back
After being funded in just two hours on Kickstarter back in October 2018, Cybershoes has earned itself a place among some of the coolest VR walking and running tech at CES 2019. Compact, easy to use, and incredibly fun, they stand out among the competition, but will they become a staple?
These are the coolest virtual and augmented reality gadgets from CES 2019
CES 2019 had plenty of VR and AR gadgets on display, including headsets that completely change how you experience virtual reality, and some that don't even require a PC or a phone to run. Other technology offers a better way to exercise. This is the best VR and AR tech at CES 2019.
The best VR headsets at CES 2019 could bring the technology to the mainstream
While there weren't a ton of new VR headset on display at CES 2019, the ones we saw led us to believe that VR could have a real moment soon, both from a gaming and business standpoint. From the Oculus Quest to the Pico G2 4K, these are the best VR headsets on hand at CES 2019.
HTC Vive Pro Eye hands-on review
Little detail was given about the Vive Pro Eye during the HTC Vive press conference at CES 2019, but with the announcement of integrated eye tracking, plenty can be said about the potential of the headset. Hands-free VR, less demanding high-quality experiences, and intuitive software are all on the table.
Oculus’ Quest is the headset that will make me (and you) a VR believer
After my demo with the Oculus Quest, I realized why it's taken me so long to buy into VR. Without excessive wires or complicated setup, and a price point that makes sense for tech that just isn't there yet, Oculus' upcoming standalone headset could be the one to make VR hit the mainstream.
The Vive Pro Eye uses Tobii eye-tracking technology to make VR more lifelike
HTC revealed the Vive Pro Eye with eye tracking support at its CES 2019 press conference. We now know that Tobii will be the company responsible for integrating the eye-tracking technology. Tobii is a mammoth within the traditional gaming eye-tracking space, supporting some of the biggest games for PC.
Camera records real-life scenes to design virtual worlds using a single device
Creating virtual reality worlds may get a bit easier in 2019 -- the Axis is a camera module that records a 180-degree depth map, allowing designers to reconstruct the scene for virtual or augmented reality. Demoed at CES 2019, the Axis uses two lenses and IR sensors to create a depth map of the scene.
HTC brings two new headsets, a VR browser, and ‘Netflix for VR’ to CES 2019
HTC Vive brought a ton of announcements to CES 2019, including two new headsets, a new subscription service, and a new user interface that completely transforms how applications are launched. More information on the headsets, including pricing and release dates, will arrive later this year.
Forget 8K, the Insta360 Titan records 11K that can still play back on smartphones
The Insta360 Titan is an 11K 360 camera -- and a 10K VR camera -- yet software allows the footage to be played back at full resolution, even on smartphones. Unveiled at CES 2019, the camera also uses the largest sensors in a standalone 360 camera yet with the Micro Four Thirds Format.
Smelling is believing: Feelreal’s odor vision may be coming to VR headsets
VR headset users may soon be able to smell their favorite VR videos and games. A new VR mask from Feelreal offers its own version of Smell-O-Vision, allowing users to experience certain scents while using their headsets. Users can choose from 255 different scents to accompany their VR experiences.
ZSpace’s laptop brings education to life with its own 3D technology
Education and training organizations can extend their teaching into the third dimension with the ZSpace laptop. The compact portable computer comes equipped with a 3D-capable screen that pulls images right out of the display when the bespoke 3D glasses are worn. The new ZSpace laptop is available now.