Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip will take VR, AR to the next level
Qualcomm introduced the world's first platform dedicated to extended reality (XR) with the launch of its Snapdragon XR1 chip and headset design. XR is an umbrella term used to group virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. Vuzix, Pico, Meta, and HTC's Vive are already signed on.
With software ‘magic,’ Insta360 will soon allow 8K playback on smartphones
Sure, 360 cameras can shoot in 8K resolution, but many devices can't handle that large file size. But by re-prioritizing, Insta360's upcoming software allows for 8K playback while only down-sampling the angle you're not looking at. The news comes with a new remote and Premiere Pro plug-in.
Hololens can be used to navigate the blind through buildings faster
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology developed an application for Microsoft's Hololens that can steer visually-impaired individuals through an unfamiliar, complex, multi-story building. This "non-invasive" method relies on augmented reality and 3D sound to navigate wearers.
Qualcomm expected to reveal Snapdragon chip dedicated to VR, AR next month
Qualcomm is expected to reveal a Snapdragon XR1 all-in-one chip next week during the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara. It will be optimized for "extended reality" (XR) experiences, which is an umbrella term covering augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality applications.
Microsoft patent could make playing ‘NBA 2K18’ in VR feel more realistic
Microsoft filed for an AR accessory patent, and it's a drag! But that's a good thing for VR experiences. Dubbed the side clutch, the accessory mimics resistive forces through its haptic feedback motors to make interacting inside virtual worlds feel more realistic. It's just the law of physics at work.
A 4V camera for shooting holograph-like content is coming from RED, Lucid
A camera capable of shooting 4V content for the RED Hydrogen One's holographic-like display will launch shortly after the smartphone. RED and Lucid are working to develop a prosumer camera capable of shooting 4V and 3D, expected out before the end of the year. The 8K camera will also stitch in real time.
Oculus Go review
Standalone and mobile virtual reality is aimed at bringing VR to the masses – but so far companies have largely failed to really make a splash in consumer consciousness. Can the new Oculus Go change that? Find out in our Oculus Go review.
Leaked docs show Google may be cooking up a stand-alone AR headset
Leaked documents claim that Google is currently working on a stand-alone headset design for augmented reality. It will be based on one of two Qualcomm processors designed for Internet of Things devices. It may also be tied to a similar device reportedly in the works at AR headset provider Meta.
First preproduction units of the Pimax ‘8K’ VR headset to ship to testers in May
The Pimax team updated its Kickstarter post, reporting that preproduction models of its 8K VR headset will ship this month to 10 participants in the closed beta. If approved, the upcoming headset will go into production and begin shipping to Kickstarter backers in June along with the 5K model.
Gamers aren’t convinced by Windows Mixed Reality headsets
Steam gamers aren't convinced that Windows Mixed Reality headsets are a viable alternative to the more established Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets. After months on sale, just 5 percent of all VR users are wearing WMR hardware, and those numbers have been falling over the past few months.
Google’s ARCore 1.2 brings social AR experiences to your phone
Google has launched an update to ARCore that should help make augmented reality on Android a little more social. On top of that, Google also announced "Vertical Plane Detection," which will help AR apps detect real-world objects like walls, which in turn will allow users to place objects in the real world.
Like the internet? Google wants to attach it to your face
Google announced the new WebXR APIs to help developers create augmented and virtual reality experiences for the browser. The move will create a more immersive web experience, allowing VR and AR content to be viewed on mobile VR headsets, desktop VR devices, and on the mobile web through Magic Window.
Samsung’s wireless mixed reality headset could launch this year
Get ready to cut the cord to your mixed reality glasses! Samsung is reportedly working with Microsoft to launch a wireless mixed reality headset. The device will support both augmented and virtual reality technology, and it could launch this fall at the IFA show, ahead of Apple's rumored 2020 debut.
Facebook confirms it’s making a big move with many of its executives
Facebook's leadership structure looks a bit different now -- but even users that don't care about the who's who of Facebook could see the effects as the company creates teams for privacy tools and blockchain technology. The change creates three divisions for Facebook, each with a number of different teams.
These four virtual reality experiences will make you feel real emotions
At this year's Tribeca Film Festival, four exceptional virtual reality experiences felt real enough to inspire actual emotions in real life. Join us as we take a closer look at 1,000 Cut Journey, Vestige, Hero, and The Day The World Changed.
Here’s everything we saw at the action-packed Google I/O 2018 keynote
Google I/O 2018 is finally here, and boy are there some great announcements to go over. From improvements to Android, to updates to Google Assistant, to a revamped Google News, to improvements to Google Maps, here's everything we saw at the Google I/O 2018 keynote.
7 ways we’ll interact with computers in the future
The means by which we interact with computers are changing. So put down your mouse and keyboard, because here are seven of the ways we’ll interact with machines in the decades to come. From voice control to brain interfaces, get ready to meet the future of computer interfaces.
Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream review
Mobile virtual reality has a lot of problems. You need to use your phone, which can overheat and eat up your battery life. Standalone VR is the future, and the latest entry is Lenovo and Google’s wireless Mirage Solo with Daydream. It offers six degrees of freedom.
Funding Nemo: Kickstarter underwater drone streams 4K footage from the deep
Looking for a way to make your summer trips to the beach a bit more memorable? Newly launched on Kickstarter, Nemo is an underwater drone that offers 4K streaming from up to 100 meters beneath the waves. From VR to high-res stills snaps, here's why this one sounds great.
Facebook wants to make your virtual self appear as real as possible in VR
Photorealistic avatars would make your virtual self appear as real as your physical self in virtual reality, and Facebook revealed that has been making progress on the technology to make that happen. This would help to blur the line between the real and virtual worlds as you step into virtual reality.
QooCam twists to swap between 4K 360 and 3D 180 with Lytro-like refocusing
Can't decide between 360 shots or the pricier but more immersive 3D? The Kandao QooCam is a $399 camera that twists to swap between 4K 360 and 3D 180. Using depth mapping, that 180 view can also shoot first and focus later while both modes can capture stabilized video stitched in real time.
Oculus confirms second-screen support is coming to Oculus Go
Oculus VR's John Carmack confirmed that second-screen support is coming to the Oculus Go and that implementing the current demo into the mobile apps for iOS and Android will "take a little while." This will allow owners to "cast" their experiences to an external display seen by friends and family.
Facebook teases new Oculus prototype with mechanical ‘varifocal’ lenses
VR is still maturing, as a platform, and Oculus is fully aware of its inherent issues and limitations. Today, May 2, at Facebook's F8 keynote, Oculus unveiled a new prototype designed to combat some of the persistent visual hurdles that VR continues to struggle with: focus, and field of view.
Facebook steps into 3D memories and photos without a specialized camera
Facebook is working to make even the photos captured before 3D and 360 cameras existed a thing of the past. The experimental A.I. tool re-creates spaces from images, then pastes the actual image inside the space. 3D Photos will come to the news feed even sooner, however, using only a smartphone camera.
Facebook and cinema firm Red team up to build a more realistic VR camera
Facebook's virtual reality camera prototypes are continuing to move forward -- this time, with the help of cinema camera company Red. The two companies announced a partnership to build a professional, probably expensive VR camera using Facebook's depth sensing and Red's high dynamic range sensors.
More than 1,000 experiences are available for the Oculus Go VR headset
The Oculus Go VR headset may be a new platform, but there is no shortage of experiences. That's because it's compatible with apps and games developed for Samsung's Gear VR, which is also powered by Oculus. You can find more than 1,000 experiences, some of which are designed specifically for Oculus Go.
Oculus Go wireless VR headset hits shelves today for way less than a Vive
In an age when leaks spoil every surprise, Facebook came very close to surprising everyone with the launch of its highly anticipated Oculus Go stand-alone VR headset in today's F8 keynote speech. As announced at the F8 developer conference, the Oculus Go will hit store shelves today.
8 Amazing accessories that could make virtual reality even more immersive
Virtual reality headsets can be pretty darn amazing, but its controllers could certainly do more to make the virtual experience even more immersive. From brain zapping technologies to full body haptic suits, here are eight examples of technology which promise to take VR to the next level.
Facebook F8 attendees will reportedly receive the Oculus Go
An image posted on social media suggests that all Facebook F8 attendees will receive Oculus Go headsets on May 2. If true, it's likely Facebook will reveal an imminent release date for the headset. Amazon recently started taking and sold through pre-orders and retailers seem to already have it in store.
China’s new sci-fi amusement park is powered entirely by virtual reality rides
You won't find traditional roller coasters and games at China's new Oriental Science Fiction Valley amusement park. Instead, the theme park, which cost $470 million to develop, is powered by 35 virtual reality attractions, giving you an immersive experience and offers a glimpse at the future of amusement parks.
Disney and MIT made a jacket that mimics feeling of snakes slithering on you
By inflating and deflating various air-filled pockets, this smart haptic jacket designed by Disney Research, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon can simulate a wide range of sensations. These include everything from racing heartbeats to the sensation of slime dripping down a person’s back.
VR horror series ‘Campfire Creepers’ showcased at Tribeca Film Festival
Stories told around the campfire are a horror movie staple, and veteran director Alexandre Aja has brought the genre into virtual reality with a new anthology series. With the premiere of the first episode at the Tribeca Film Festival, the first two episodes are free to watch on Oculus and Gear VR.
Apple’s wireless, mixed-reality glasses could launch in 2020
Apple is said to be working on its own mixed reality headset that combines AR and VR to compete against Oculus, Magic Leap, HTC Vive, and Microsoft HoloLens. The standalone glasses offer a wireless experience, 8K-per-eye resolution displays, a custom processor, and other top specifications slated for a 2020 release.
Mozilla’s ‘Hubs’ builds a chatroom in VR for any browser and headset
Mozilla introduced a new social experiment called Hubs on Thursday that creates a private chat room in virtual reality. It's based on WebVR, meaning it works in any browser and on all mixed reality headsets spanning Google Cardboard to the HTC Vive headset. It's primitive for now but shows potential.