Google is rolling out a real world application for its most ambitious virtual reality effort: letting shoppers see what they might buy without leaving home. The Alphabet Inc. unit on Wednesday introduced two new retail partnerships, with BMW and Gap Inc., deploying its 3D-scanning project called Tango.
Category: Virtual Reality
[CES 2017] Samsung NEXT launches $150m fund for global startups
Samsung NEXT announced Thursday it will create a $150 million venture capital investment fund, called the “Samsung NEXT Fund,” to increase support for global startups pursuing advanced software and services innovation. Formerly known as Samsung Global Innovation Center, the organization also announced its rebrand to “Samsung NEXT” along with the launch of the fund at the Consumer Electronics Show in Last Vegas.
CES 2017: Asus ZenFone AR, ZenFone 3 Zoom launched and here are the details
After months of rumours and speculation, Asus on Wednesday announced the ZenFone AR and ZenFone 3 Zoom at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. Notably, the ZenFone AR is the world’s first smartphone to be both Tango and Daydream-ready; the latter is Google ‘s virtual reality platform.
Sony planning VR beyond gaming, says Hirai
The PlayStation VR is Sony’s biggest and boldest push yet into virtual reality, but consumers can expect more from the company in the TV and music realms, its CEO said in Las Vegas on Wednesday. “With PlayStation VR, we were able to provide you dramatic, transformational gaming experiences and our ambitions for VR are not limited just to gaming,” said Kaz Hirai at a news conference at the CES show.
Viveport Launching VR Subscription Service, App Stores For Arcade And Enterprise Customers
HTC’s VR app store responds to growing VR marketplace with first-ever monthly app subscription service for consumers; also announces dedicated B2B storefronts /PRNewswire/ — Viveport, the HTC global app store, today announced at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show that it is introducing the first-ever app subscription service for virtual reality content. Viveport will launch a monthly subscription service in early 2017.
Kygo Releases The “Carry Me” Premium Virtual Reality Experience
Set to the hit song ‘Carry Me,’ this revolutionary new music experience transports users into a stunning visual world where they are immersed in beautiful environments of oceans, forests, mountains, skies and a final epic sweep of the cosmos. Using music as the underlying force to drive the visuals, the experience utilizes advanced CGI techniques that enable a dramatically better experience compared to static 360 video capture.
From Goldthorpe to the Great Wall of China – in seconds
Visiting the Queen, or standing on the Great Wall of China in an instant became a possibility for youngsters within a ‘virtual reality’ lesson that fully captured their attention. Google representatives thrilled children at Goldthorpe Primary School when they called by demonstrate what can be done using virtual reality.
This tiny little desktop PC can power a massive VR experience
You might worry about pulling this compact desktop PC off your table while you’re wearing whatever VR headset you’ll be using with it. You see, there’s no great wireless VR headset yet, so you still need to be tethered to a computer to enjoy all that virtual reality content.
Mobile Virtual Reality: Head-Mounted Displays, Accessory Devices, and …
Tractica estimates that more than 88% of all consumer-grade VR head-mounted displays sold in 2016 were mobile, and the firm anticipates that the mobile domination of the VR market will continue for years to come, with mobile HMDs constituting three-quarters of annual consumergrade HMD shipments in 2021. Despite the momentum behind mobile VR, however, Tractica’s analysis indicates that there is much work still to be done.
Cheaper ‘mixed reality’ smart glasses that do both AR and VR are coming
The mobile chipmaker’s upcoming Snapdragon 835 processor will also power a new breed of augmented reality/virtual reality headsets that present mixed reality experiences similar to what Microsoft’s HoloLens offers – at a fraction of the cost. The R8 and R9 AR/VR headsets from ODG resemble a pair of biker shades, albeit with a camera smack in the middle of the nose bridge.
Smart tech: This year’s CES big on artificial intelligence
The first week of every new year brings a slew of eye-opening technology for gadget lovers at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the 2017 edition will open Thursday. The exhibition provided a preview on Tuesday, which revealed that this year’s show will concentrate on the growing use of artificial intelligence in consumer devices.
2016 was a pivotal year
I’ve been writing about technology for a long time and, as I look back over the years, I can’t think of any that have been more momentous than 2016 when it comes to tech news. Not all the news was good, but it sure was significant.
First interactive 3D video hologram displays live footage of internal organs
UK scientists are developing an interactive holographic video created from an MRI or CT scan that can display live footage of internal organs in front of a user where features can be rotated, enlarged, and isolated, delivering a breakthrough in medical imaging and education. Popping in to your local hospital may be much more revealing in as little as three years thanks to engineers at Holoxica Limited, who have invented a moving 3D video hologram.
CES 2017: Asus ZenFone AR leaked, will be Daydream-ready Tango phone
Asus has plans to unveil two devices at CES 2017 during its ‘Zenovation’ press conference – the ZenFone 3 Zoom, and the ZenFone AR. It appears Asus had accidentally published a press release on its website post-dated January 4, revealing some details of the upcoming smartphone.
The Potential of Virtual Reality for the Investigation of Awe
The emotion of awe is characterized by the perception of vastness and a need for accommodation, which can include a positive and/or negative valence. While a number of studies have successfully manipulated this emotion, the issue of how to elicit particularly intense awe experiences in laboratory settings remains.
A Very Bad Definition
It’s the start of a new year and that means thousands of articles, posts, and essays forecasting the future. Some are thoughtful and intelligent.
Best Buy Essentially Knocks Off $150 From Oculus Rift’s Price Tag
If one of your resolutions for the new year is to try out virtual reality, then Best Buy has got your back. The retailer’s limited time offer on the Oculus Rift is not to be missed if you’re in the market for a new virtual reality headset.
7 hottest tech trends of 2017
Happy new year everyone! From the entire BYTES team, we wish you all a terrific 2017. This entire last week, I and the team reflected on the tech trends of 2016 and to be honest we were wowed ! In our last issue we showcased the top tech stories that made the headlines.
Life 33 mins ago 7:46 p.m.Race along a zipline at 70mph in VR
Zipline Adventures offers a half-mile-long ride the longest in Texas on which riders can reach speeds up to 70mph. Lake Travis near Austin, Texas, is a pretty escape from the city that offers relaxation and recreation.
Virtual reality is more than gaming tech – and it’s here to stay
Say the words ‘virtual reality’, and most people picture a niche community of enthusiasts, or gamers eager to get their hands on the latest tech. But the extent of virtual reality’s evolution in recent years – to the point where it is a completely immersive experience – has rapidly accelerated the growth of the industry.
PS4 Exclusives Coming In 2017 Highlighted By Sony
Sony was primarily focused on hardware in 2016. The year brought us the PlayStation 4 Slim , the PlayStation 4 Pro as well as the company’s first virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR .
Top Gaming Stocks to Buy in 2017
According to analysts at SuperData,2016 has been the best year yet for video games, with the total market value hitting $91 billion this year. Driving this growth is exciting new technology and expanding platforms bringing in new gamers worldwide.
Nation-Now 16 mins ago 11:45 p.m.You can get a taste of virtual reality at Facebook pop-up stores
Pat Walsh, 25, tries out a Facebook virtual reality experience at Denver International Airport on Dec. 27, 2016. Consumers and travelers may have bumped into these pop-up Facebook “stores” over the holidays at airports and malls.
Will a wireless HTC Vive 2 headset be unveiled next week?
The HTC Vive is arguably the best VR headset that money – admittedly a lot of it – can buy right now. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect though, and despite only being a few months old, a second-generation model with improved features is already reportedly on the way.
The Best Personal Technology of 2016
Traditional broadcast TV services have stagnated over the past couple of years, while over-the-top services such as Amazon Video, Netflix and the BBC’s iPlayer led the way. Sky’s Q dragged broadcast TV kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a modern interface, fast box and service that put time and place shifting at the heart of it.
Why connecting all the world’s robots will drive 2017’s top technology trends
If you want to make predictions for the future, you need to find the trajectory of events in the past. So to work out what shape digital technology will likely take next year, we should look back to the major developments of 2016.
Why 2016 a vibrant season to the computing industry
As the semiconductor industry matures and consolidates, the year 2016 has been a vibrant season to the computing industry with latest breakthroughs. A year ago, analysts were divided over whether virtual reality would gain traction in 2016 or just crash and burn again.
From Amazon Echo to Oculus Touch: Best Personal Tech of 2016
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Augmented and virtual reality headset market takes off
The worldwide augmented reality and virtual reality headset market is expected to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 108.3 percent, reaching 76 million units by 2020, according to International Data Corp.’s newly launched AR/VR Tracker. The more affordable VR devices will continue to lead the market in terms of volume, IDC said.
9 ways to trail blaze virtual reality in 2017
If 3-D marketing is part of your listing proposal, bring VR goggles to listing appointments and invite prospects to explore the tour virtually. Going the extra step will help agents stand out to clients.
5 ways museums are using technology for new experiences
From 3-D scanning and 3-D printing, to virtual reality and special apps, these technologies are being applied in a multitude of ways. Still other technologies are being tested and developed as museums seek to ever broaden public access.
First-time VR users open a new reality on Christmas and start freaking out
The year 2016 may have been the year when virtual reality didn’t quite hit the mainstream, but that’s mostly because most people didn’t have a VR headset. That all changed on Sunday, as so many woke up on Christmas morning to discover a VR headset under the tree.
5 ways museums are using technology for new experiences
In this Sept. 10, 2015, file photo, Alexis Hyde, right, looks at an interactive display of a CT scan from a Peruvian mummy of a woman with two children at the Natural History Museum, in Los Angeles.
Senior leader at Facebook’s Oculus arrested after allegedly…
Dov Katz, a senior leader at Facebook’s Oculus VR virtual reality subsidiary, has been arrested after allegedly soliciting sex from a police officer posing as an underage girl, reports Seattle’s King 5 news . communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.”
10 festive digital marketing stats from this week
Your team is not like any other. You’re addressing specific challenges and opportunities with a particular skill set.
10 festive digital marketing stats from this week
Your team is not like any other. You’re addressing specific challenges and opportunities with a particular skill set.
5 real estate marketing trends to watch out for in 2017
Real estate marketing is evolving at a rapid pace, especially when every agent is jumping onto the online advertising bandwagon. Facebook Ads are increasing in popularity; therefore, there is a short window for agents to get a good ROI on this marketing strategy.
System Update: The 20 very best video games of 2016
Virtual reality has arrived for the mainstream and the Nintendo’s Wii U is on the way out. The hottest console to have is a blast from gaming’s past , and the two biggest-name consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, have seen their first mid-generation hardware upgrades.
360RIZE Commemorates Two-Year Anniversary of its 360Abyssa VR Underwater Camera System
The 360Abyssa is on its fourth iteration and has been used by leaders in cinematography, research and media to film spherical 360 video content underwater. 360RIZE , formerly 360Heros, Inc., is commemorating its 360Abyssa underwater 360 video camera system having been on the market for two years.
Samsung Gear VR Internet app gets WebVR support
The problem with smartphone-powered virtual reality experiences is the dearth of significant content for the platform. At least compared to the likes of the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.