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  1. John Callaham
    Meta Quest Gaming Showcase showed off VR versions of Bulletstorm, 7th Guest and more by John Callaham Just a few hours after Meta surprised many people by officially revealing its Meta Quest 3 VR headset, the company held its annual online Quest Gaming Showcase. Over 20 upcoming VR games were either revealed or got new updates as part of the event. The Meta Quest blog has a solid recap of all the VR games that were shown off during the Games Showcase. However, not all of them will be exclusive to Meta's headsets. Indeed, many of the games will also be coming to Sony's PS VR2 and even Valve's SteamVR platform. One of those games will be Bulletstorm VR, an adaptation of the great 2011 sci-i first-person shooter from developer People Can Fly. Here's what you can expect: Utilize everything from your Flailgun to Bulletstorm’s iconic energy leash to perform creative acts of carnage on your enemies. Effortlessly switch between melee and ranged combat to perform an array of unique Skillshots on your adversaries to earn additional experience and boost your abilities. These range from kicking an enemy into a cactus, to impaling them on rebar, to shooting them in the groin. In Bulletstorm VR everything is a weapon, and you’re encouraged to get as creative as possible when racking up your kill count! Another VR game adaptation that's coming this year is The 7th Guest, the classic 1990s adventure game. This new version is being developed by Vertigo Games. Here's what you can expect: The team is using volumetric video capture to recreate the FMV (full-motion video) storytelling of the original game, bringing the classic adventure to life like never before. And for the first time ever, the iconic mansion is being recreated in full 3D—though don’t be surprised if it starts shifting around you. After all, it’s haunted. Both games are due out later this year. Some of the other highlights of the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase include: Asgard’s Wrath 2 - This is a sequel to Meta's in-house developed VR title, The new game will continue its theme of players battling mythical creatures and even god in this fantasy RPG. Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord - Announced at last year's Quest Gaming Showcase, we got to see a new story trailer for this multiplayer co-op game based on the movie franchise. PowerWash Simulator VR - Yes, this cult hit game where you wash down things is perfect for a VR game, and later this year we will get our wish. Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR - This was the only game that was announced during the showcase but that we didn't see any footage. Ubisoft's hit franchise is coming to VR with more info to be revealed at the Ubisoft Forward streaming event on June 12. As we reported earlier, Meta revealed the Quest 3 headset, which will have a lot of improvements over the current Quest 2. It's due later this fall with a starting price of $499.99.
  2. John Callaham
    Meta Quest 3 gets a surprise reveal to beat Apple to the VR punch, due this fall for $499.99 by John Callaham In a surprise announcement, Meta officially revealed the first details for its Meta Quest 3 VR headset. This move is clearly designed to take some of the attention away from Apple's expected announcement of its own mixed reality headset that could come on June 5 at WWDC 2023. In a blog post, we got some early info on what we can expect from the Meta Quest 3: Quest 3 combines our highest resolution display yet and pancake optics to make sure content looks better than ever. To power those extra pixels, this will be the first headset to feature a next-generation Snapdragon chipset developed in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies. That next-gen Snapdragon chipset delivers more than twice the graphical performance as the previous generation Snapdragon GPU in Quest 2—meaning you’ll get smoother performance and incredibly crisp details in immersive games. Meta claims that the Quest 3 headset has a 40% slimmer optic profile compared to the Quest 2. The headset's hand controllers will also ditch the outer tracking rings which gives them a "more streamlined and ergonomic form factor". The headset itself will have two 4MP RGB color cameras and a depth sensor. All the games that support the Quest 2 will be supported with the Quest 3. The Meta Quest 3 will launch this fall at a price of $499.99 for the 128GB model. The current Quest 2 headset is getting a price cut to $299.99 for the 128GB version and $349.99 starting on June 4. In addition, both the Quest 2 and the more expensive Quest Pro is getting a big software upgrade soon: Quest 2 and Pro will see an up-to 26% CPU performance increase with an up-to 19% GPU speed increase for Quest 2 and 11% for Quest Pro. Meta will be holding its Quest Gaming Showcase later today starting at 10 am Pacific time (1 pm Eastern time). It will showcase a number of VR games, including one made especially for the Quest 3.
  3. John Callaham
    Even Apple executives reportedly have doubts about its upcoming mixed reality headset by John Callaham With less than a month to go before Apple is expected to officially announce its long-awaited mixed reality headset, a new report details some of the reported internal troubles and conflicts at the company for this device. Bloomberg reports, via unnamed sources, that the headset, which is expected to use the Reality brand name, that Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken a mostly hands-off approach to the team that's making the product. That's in contrast to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs, who was known to get heavily involved in the making of its signature devices like the iPhone. Other Apple executives have reportedly expressed doubts about the headset's success. One of them, hardware executive Johny Srouji, reportedly called the product a "science project". The report also claims that Apple has cut its projected annual sales of the headset, which may cost as much as $3,000, down to just 900,000 units, compared to original annual sales estimates of 3 million units Previous rumors suggest that the headset will be able to support millions of previously made iOS apps with only a minimal amount of updating from developers. Apple is also reportedly working directly with some developers. It's supposed to have a 3D interface that will reportedly allow owners to run first-party Apple apps like Safari, FaceTime, and the Apple TV app. In fact, the headset is supposed to let you watch movies and TV shows from Apple TV as if you are watching them from a desert or other virtual location. Gaming is also supposed to be a major part of using the headset, but details have yet to leak about this use. Apple is still expected to reveal the headset at the WWDC developers conference on June 5. However, it's not expected to actually go on sale until sometime in late 2023 at the earliest.
  4. Chasethebase
    Apple has reportedly demoed a version of its rumoured mixed-reality headset to executives by Steve Bennett It has recently been reported that Apple has presented its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Mark Gurman states that the event was a "momentous gathering" which marked a "key milestone" for the company ahead of the headset's public announcement, which is expected to be in June this year. Ever since 2018, senior executives within Apple have had a chance to see how the headset has been developing, but in previous years this has been a look at the project's progress rather than showcasing the complete device. There were more than a few caveats highlighted at the meeting however, which Gurman went on to detail: Moreover, the device will start at around $3,000, lack a clear killer app, require an external battery that will need to be replaced every couple of hours and use a design that some testers have deemed uncomfortable. It's also likely to launch with limited media content. The event itself was used to get the top members of staff within Apple to back the platform in full, seen as the next major step for the company, bringing in the first new product line since the AirTags in 2021, and the HomePod in 2017 before that. Source: MacRumors
  5. John Callaham
    Meta Quest 2 256GB and Meta Quest Pro VR headsets get big price cuts by John Callaham Meta has decided to lower the price of two of its virtual reality headsets. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today (via CNET) that starting March 5, the 256GB version of the Meta Quest 2 will have its price lowered by $70 to $429.99. The high-end Meta Quest Pro will see its price go down by $500, from its current $1,499.99 price to $999.99 (Meta cut the price temporarily to $1,099.99 for an earlier holiday promotion). According to Meta, the price cut will go live for the Meta Quest 2 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK, and the US. The Meta Quest Pro price reduction will go live on March 5 in the US and Canada. The other territories where the headset is sold will have to wait until March 15 for their price cuts. The price reductions for Meta's VR products come just a few days after Sony launched the PS VR2 headset for the PlayStation 5 game console with a price of $549.99. So far, the company has yet to comment on any sales results for the PS VR2. Meta is rumored to launch the Meta Quest 3 later this year. Of course, the world is waiting for Apple's rumored AR/VR headset, which may make its public debut in June at the company's WWDC event.
  6. Anushe Fawaz
    Meta teams up with Microsoft and Accenture to bring workspaces to Metaverse by Anushe Fawaz Meta unraveled the Meta Quest Pro today at Meta Connect 2022. The company’s VR headset brings workspaces into Meta’s virtual world and adds features like eye-tracking, pancake optics, better controllers, and more. The VR headset targets creative individuals like architects and builders and brings their workspaces into Metaverse. Last year, Meta launched Meta Horizons Workrooms (Beta), which created a VR space for work teams to collaborate. The Meta Quest Pro expands on the existing features by adding more expressive avatars that depict emotions more accurately due to eye-tracking and face-reading technologies. It also added breakout rooms, similar to the ones on Zoom, where a separate room can be created for teams from a bigger presentation. Next year, individuals will be able to join the Workrooms via Zoom as well. Additionally, Meta Quest Pro brings improved pancake optics with higher contrast than the Meta Quest 2, which display text clearly in VR and reduce the bulk in front of the headset. Meta also added sticky notes, 3-D models (launching next year), three virtual screens, and a Magic Room. The Magic Room – coming next year– is a hybrid system that can connect remote individuals virtually with ones present physically in a room. Meta Quest Pro controllers also have a 360-degree range of motion, comprise precision gestures, and provide haptic feedback, such as vibrations. Other than this, Meta mentioned its collaboration with Microsoft to bring productivity tools to the Meta Quest 2 and Pro. These tools include the integration of Microsoft Teams with Meta Quest letting users share an immersive meeting experience. Individuals can access personalized apps, settings, and content through Microsoft 365 on Meta Quest products. Similarly, users can interact with 2-D content, such as Word and Excel documents from Meta Quest’s VR spaces. Furthermore, users can join meetings on Microsoft teams through workrooms using their Meta Avatars and enable security and management through Azure Active Directory and Microsoft Intune. Meta and Microsoft will also collaborate with Accenture to “transform the way they engage employees, interact with customers, or create products and services in the metaverse.” Thus, interested individuals can join the Software Vendor Program to provide AR/VR/XR-related solutions. Furthermore, Meta unveiled the addition of 3-D immersive views and 3-D models for creators and architectures through Autodesk and Adobe’s collaboration. It stated: “Next year, Adobe’s Substance 3D apps for professional 3D creators, designers, and artists are coming to Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2, so anyone can model 3D objects and join collaborative reviews inside VR with our controllers. And Adobe will bring Adobe Acrobat to the Meta Quest Store, enabling PDF document viewing, editing, and collaboration – major advances for productivity in VR.” Next year, Meta plans to launch a subscription for businesses called Meta Quest for Business that would include more tools and features to provide greater control. Additionally, it would add Azure Active Directory to ensure security on the virtual platform.
  7. LoneWolfSL
    Meta unveils enterprise-focused Quest Pro VR headset that costs $1,500 by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe During its Connect keynote today, Oculus unveiled its next-generation virtual reality headset, the Meta Quest Pro. Described as the first high-end enterprise VR product from the company, the all-in-one headset has an innovative slim design, eye tracking, LCD displays with quantum dot technology, mixed reality support, and more. The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ platform is powering the new hardware, which Meta says is 50% more powerful than what's inside the Meta Quest 2. The all-in-one headset touts 250 GB of storage, 12 GB of RAM, and 10 sensors, with five being on the inside and five out. Meta says the Pro headset has major improvements over its consumer-focused headset. Starting with the lenses, the two LCD displays offer 37% greater pixels-per-inch for major sharpness gains and a 1.3x larger color gamut than the Quest 2. The high-res outward-facing cameras of the headset also offer mixed reality experiences in full-color. The new eye-tracking and "Natural Facial Expressions" features will arrive disabled by default, but they can be enabled for more expressive avatars in games and other experiences. Meta says the captured images for this data are deleted after processing and are not sent out of the headset. Newly designed Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers with built-in sensors that remove the need for the outside hoop seen in previous iterations as well as a lens spacing adjustment dial on the headset to accommodate various inter-pupillary distances (IPDs) will be present in the Pro package too. Moreover, the new Touch Pro controllers are compatible with Meta Quest 2 headsets. "We believe VR devices will help usher in the next computing platform—becoming as ubiquitous as laptops and tablets are today—and that people will use them in their everyday lives to access the metaverse," added Meta regarding its new VR hardware. "With its cutting-edge technologies, Meta Quest Pro represents an important step toward that future." The Meta Quest Pro launches on October 25 and is now available for pre-order for $1,499.99. Accessories such as a full light-blocking facial interface, Link cable, and official VR earphones are also available as separate purchases. The base package includes the Meta Quest Pro headset, Touch Pro controllers, stylus tips, partial light blockers, and a charging dock.
  8. Anushe Fawaz
    Meta plans to host Meta Connect on October 11 by Anushe Fawaz Meta has disclosed that it is hosting the Meta Connect event in October this year. The company event talks about developments in the metaverse and virtual and augmented reality. It will also be debuting a face-tracking and eye-tracking-equipped VR headset. Last year, we shared our vision for the metaverse. Learn about where we are today, and what's coming next. Join us on October 11 for Meta Connect. Learn more: https://t.co/JJzA4VRiYR pic.twitter.com/feQEPX0qqg — Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) September 6, 2022 Last year, Facebook was renamed as Meta at the Meta Connect event. In the second Meta Connect, the company will launch the Meta Quest 2 VR headset, as reported earlier. There will also be announcements of new features and products at the event and discussions about the metaverse. Furthermore, on-demand sessions for creators and developers will be accessible at the show's end. Meta describes the annual event by saying: “Meta Connect is a one-day virtual event that explores the building of the metaverse and the future of augmented and virtual reality. Industry leaders will share the latest technologies and developer sessions will cover how to use them.” The event will be live-streamed on October 11, 2022. Although speaker sessions are to be a part of the event, Meta has not disclosed any further details about the speakers. Additionally, while the company is busy preparing for the show, it’s also facing a €405 million fine by the Data Protection Commission in Ireland for sharing children’s data such as phone numbers.
  9. Chasethebase
    The next Meta VR headset will be available from October by Stephen Bennett During an interview on the The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed that the successor to the Meta Quest 2 will be at the Meta Connect conference in October, which is an annual event that Meta (previously, Facebook) hosts to announce upcoming features and products from the company. Mark stated the following while talking about how the new headset will be focused on tracking facial expressions and displaying them on the virtual avatar, focusing on areas such as eye contact through VR and making it more seamless: "When you're on a video call, you don't actually feel like you're there with the person. To me, what virtual reality unlocks is that it really convinces your brain that you're there" Considering that Meta recently announced that the Quest 2 headsets will receive a $100 price increase this month, and without a targeted price or spec sheet for the new headset, it remains to be seen where it will fall in the lineup of VR hardware that Meta provides. Looking to the future of VR and the Metaverse, with other companies such as Apple looking to enter the market, it will be crucial for Meta to get the price to value ratio correct on this new headset. Source: Ars Technica
  10. Alap Naik Desai
    Sony PSVR 2 will get 'See-Through' view, obstacle mapping, boundaries, and more by Alap Naik Desai The Sony PSVR 2 headset, a virtual reality (VR) accessory for the PlayStation 5 console, will receive several new features. The new integrated front-facing cameras will be used for "See-Through" view, "Cinematic Mode", and more. Sony posted a new blog revealing a host of new features which will be available via an update for PSVR2. The See-Through mode will unlock a pass-through view. The mode, activated using the headset or selecting a card via the projected display, will allow users to see what’s in front of them. PSVR 2 game developers will begin to access the latest user experience for PSVR 2 in a new system software release coming soon as part of the ongoing development. There are lots of exciting things to look forward to for PSVR 2, and we can’t wait to share more details about our next-generation virtual reality headset that takes a dramatic leap forward in gameplay innovation. Sony claims the See-Through view is designed to help players find their PSVR 2 controller and check their surroundings without taking the headset off. The company assures the See-Through view does not have any recording option. The virtual card that unlocks the See-Through view is available in the Control Center. It also offers other PSVR2 settings, such as adjusting the play area. The new update also helps users play safely without bumping into furniture. The PSVR 2's outward-facing cameras can automatically detect furniture and other obstructions in a room. The headset will be able to create a 3D model of the play area. Gamers can use the feature to map furniture and other potential objects to avoid. Players will also be able to manually set or adjust the boundaries of the play area. The headset will offer a visual warning to the player once they get too close to a predetermined boundary. The upcoming update will also unlock Cinematic Mode. This feature takes the VR headset beyond gaming. It will offer direct access to the PS5 system and UI as well as all non-VR game and media content on a virtual cinema screen. Content in Cinematic Mode will be displayed in 1920×1080 HDR video format with 24/60Hz or even 120Hz frame rate.
  11. Alap Naik Desai
    HTC Desire 22 is a mid-range Android smartphone 'built for the metaverse' by Alap Naik Desai HTC has unveiled its metaverse-focused smartphone. The HTC Desire 22 seems to be a capable “mid-range” Android smartphone that could compete with similar offerings from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others. HTC was undoubtedly one of the biggest Android smartphone manufacturers just a few years ago. However, its less-than-aggressive approach, coupled with intense competition from Chinese mobile makers, left the company behind. The HTC Desire 22 could be the company’s comeback phone. And this time, HTC is not trying to compete in the premium market. The HTC Desire 22 Pro is priced at £399.00. The smartphone has a mid-range spec sheet to match its price. The Android smartphone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset with 5G network connectivity. The SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. HTC has opted for an LCD screen instead of OLED. The HTC Desire 22 runs Android 12 out of the box. Desire 22 pro is the phone to carry you into the future. Learn more: https://t.co/QOev17nRSQ#htc pic.twitter.com/Hrwrp5iNmw — HTC (@htc) June 28, 2022 The smartphone packs a decent size 4520mAh battery and features IP67 water and dust resistance. The HTC Desire 22 sports a triple camera setup on the back. There’s a 64Mp f/1.79 main camera, a 13Mp f/2.4 ultra-wide sensor, and a single 5Mp f/2.4 depth sensor. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and video stabilization are some of the other highlights of the device. Strangely, HTC is offering the Desire 22 in Black color only. The company had previously teased that it was readying a “high-end” device focused on the metaverse. As it turns out, the HTC Desire 22 can mirror its screen to the Vive Flow headset. The company relies on Miracast to wirelessly show the phone screen on the VR headset. Needless to mention, this doesn't seem to be a path-breaking or innovative feature. HTC hasn’t produced any “flagship” Android smartphones since 2018. It did attempt a rather lackluster comeback with the blockchain-focused “Exodus” device in 2019. Both the devices weren't able to win back customers. Perhaps the HTC Desire 22 might change the trend.
  12. hellowalkman
    Leaked memo reveals Microsoft isn't too cheery about its HoloLens deal with the U.S. Army by Sayan Sen Almost a year ago in April 2021, Microsoft bagged a near $22 billion contract with the U.S. Army for delivering Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), based on its HoloLens mixed reality headset technology. As per the deal, 120,000 such headsets will be built for use by the U.S. military, for use by on-foot soldiers as well as military vehicles later on. From there, fast forward a few months to September 2021 is when the initial equipping and testing of the gear was set to begin. And if you are wondering how that went, according to a new report by the BusinessInsider, a leaked internal memo has revealed that the Redmond giant isn't too cheery about the feedback it is going to receive. David Marra, the General Manager for AI and Mixed Reality at Microsoft, and others working on the project, were addressed in this memo, and apparently it even admits that the reliability of the IVAS hasn't improved much since previous test events: We (Microsoft) are going into the event expecting negative feedback from the customer. We expect soldier sentiment to continue to be negative as reliability improvements have been minimal from previous events. If you are wondering which event was being referred to in the memo, the U.S. Army, on Monday is set to receive and trial these headsets before the start of its fifth Soldier Touchpoint (STP 5) training operation in May 2022. Overall, the company is expecting the U.S. Army to be underwhelmed by the HoloLens' poor low-light and thermal imaging performances. Also apparently, 34 of the devices were already used by Microsoft employees - probably for testing - and were sent up to the Army in their unpackaged states. This negative outlook, however, can be viewed somewhat as a positive too, suggests another Microsoft worker: Sounds like the Army is coming in with low expectations to [sic]which might be advantageous as the expectations/delivery delta might not be big. In the middle of all this, Frank Shaw, the Corporate Vice President of Communications at Microsoft, restored diplomacy in the conversation stating that the event will be a "part of an ongoing process to engage directly with the soldiers to further improve and enhance the device". Source: BusinessInsider
  13. rahul.naskar
    Apple's AR/VR headset may run realityOS, giving FaceTime exciting new features by Rahul Naskar We've been hearing rumors about Apple's AR/VR headset for years, but except for a few tidbits, no major leaks surfaced on the internet until recently. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, has revealed some exciting details about the upcoming Apple headset. According to Gurman, FaceTime will be one of the most exciting features of Apple's mixed-reality headset. The mixed-reality headset will get a virtual reality version of the FaceTime experience. Gurman says Memojis and SharePlay could be central to the FaceTime on the AR/VR headset, making the whole experience 'fairly lifelike'(via Macrumors). Moreover, in his Power On newsletter, Gurman backs the rumors that suggest the headset will be powered by what Apple is calling realityOS, internally codenamed "Oak." I imagine a virtual reality version of FaceTime where you can be in a conference room with dozens of people. Instead of seeing their actual faces, you'll see 3D versions of them (Memojis). I assume the headset will be able to determine a person's facial expressions in real time, making the experience fairly lifelike. I would also look for heavy use of SharePlay in the new realityOS, allowing multiple headset wearers to experience music, movies and games together. If you're not an iPhone user, FaceTime is a fancy name for Apple's video and audio chatting platform. Broadly, it's similar to other platforms such as WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom, etc. However, FaceTime is exclusive to iPhone users. The SharePlay feature, on the other hand, lets you share whatever you're watching or listening to with the other people on the FaceTime call. SharePlay is very similar to the Amazon Prime Video Watch Party feature. Coming back to mixed-reality headset, Apple was supposed to launch it in this year's WWDC event, but the latest rumors suggest that the headset might be delayed until 2023 because of development issues. Rumor has it that Apple is now preparing the AR/VR headset for a launch at WWDC 2023 event.
  14. zikalify
    Meta is working on gloves to bring the sense of touch to the metaverse by Paul Hill One of the obstacles that needs to be addressed for developing a comprehensive metaverse is emulating the sense of touch. Taking on this challenge, one of Meta’s Reality Labs Research teams is developing haptic gloves that are comfortable, customisable, and most importantly, capable of reproducing a range of sensations in virtual worlds including texture, pressure, and vibration. The work to develop these gloves is still in the early stages of the research process and they reflect this in an accompanying video as they look quite clunky. As they become more practical, Meta hopes to sell these gloves allowing you to pair them with your VR headset or AR glasses. The firm said that the gloves will transform your mixed reality experiences making them more immersive. https://www.facebook.com/Meta/videos/haptic-glove-research/920124292224079/ Meta said that it has been working on the haptic gloves for the last seven years and that it has had to develop new techniques, technologies, and disciplines. Meta provided several examples of how it has innovated below: Perceptual Science: Because current technology can’t fully recreate the physics of the real world in VR, we’re exploring the idea of combining auditory, visual and haptic feedback for things like convincing a wearer’s perceptual system that it’s feeling an object’s weight. Soft robotics: Existing mechanical actuators create too much heat for such a glove to be worn comfortably all day. To solve this, we’re creating new soft actuators — tiny, soft motors all over the glove that move in concert to deliver sensation to the wearer’s hand. Microfluidics: We’re developing the world’s first high-speed microfluidic processor — a small microfluidic chip that controls the air flow that moves the actuators. The use of air (a fluid) means we can fit many more actuators on the glove than would otherwise be possible with electronic circuitry. Hand tracking: Even with a way to control air flow, the system needs to know when and where to deliver the right sensations. We’re building advanced hand-tracking technology to enable it to identify precisely where your hand is in a virtual scene, whether you’re in contact with a virtual object and how your hand is interacting with the object. Haptic rendering: Our haptic renderer sends precise instructions to the actuators on the hand, based on an understanding of things like the hand’s location and properties of the virtual objects (such as texture, weight and stiffness) that the hand comes in contact with. Given the clunky nature of the gloves and the fact that the firm still has challenges to overcome, it is not yet ready to have the haptic glove research leave the lab but it is excited with the progress it has made so far and the potential that the project has.
  15. Jay Bonggolto
    Oculus is making it easier to invite others to play with you, along with other features by Jay Bonggolto Oculus is making it easier to invite other users to play a game with you using two new options. The fresh capabilities are part of a new software update for the Quest virtual reality system that also introduces new Messenger features and security changes. Through a new “Invite to App” button, you can select who to invite to a game or an app by sending a pop-up notification to your friends or recent teammates. The button will appear in the Quest universal menu, although it will be available only in a few compatible VR apps. The people you invite will be visible in your multiplayer session, with the ability to view and manage your teammates right from within the universal menu. The capability will be available soon in several games such as Beat Saber, Blaston, Demeo, Echo VR, ForeVR Bowl, Hyper Dash, PokerStars VR, and Topgolf with Pro Putt. If you'd like to bring the shared experience outside the VR headset, you will soon be able to generate a link for supported games and apps and share it with others so they can join the fun. To do that, you can simply head over to the Social tab in the Oculus app and pick the VR app where you want to start a session. This update is coming to the Oculus app on iOS and Android. You will also get to decide when the invite link will expire. Messenger, which launched on Quest earlier this year, is also getting send and read receipts as well as reactions emoji on Oculus. The browser app will also let you save and autofill your passwords as well as set an unlock pattern in the new Security Settings panel to secure those passwords. These updates will roll out soon as part of Oculus software version 31.
  16. Jay Bonggolto
    Facebook confirms it won't restock the Oculus Rift S VR headset in stores by Jay Bonggolto Facebook's Oculus Rift S is running out of stock in main retail stores and the company won't be replenishing the virtual reality headset any longer. This was confirmed by the Menlo Park-based tech giant to UploadVR. Today's news doesn't really come as a huge surprise after Facebook unveiled the Oculus Quest 2 last year. The $299 VR headset marked a shift in the company's focus from a PC-only gear like the Rift S to something that can work both as a standalone VR headset and a PC-tethered headgear. Naturally, the launch of the Quest 2 signified the end of the Rift S as well as the first-generation Quest. As per UploadVR, the Rift S is no longer available to purchase via its official online storefront in the U.S. or through Amazon. It also seems that the headset has sold out in some physical stores of Best Buy and can no longer be purchased. Support for the Rift S will stay in place, of course, as promised by Facebook last year. A representative from the social media giant also confirmed that the headset continues to be up for grabs through a few channels globally. While the future of Facebook's VR efforts now rests upon the Quest 2, the headset still has its share of challenges in the market. For instance, it was recently the subject of an antitrust investigation in Germany after Facebook made it mandatory for customers to have a Facebook account before they can use the VR headset. Source: UploadVR
  17. indospot
    Apple is reportedly working on an expensive "niche" VR headset by João Carrasqueira Facebook's Oculus Quest 2 For years, Apple has been rumored to be working on virtual reality or augmented reality headsets, but we have yet to see any of those reports materialize. If you were hoping for even more reports without official confirmation from Apple, today is your lucky day. According to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to launch a standalone VR-focused headset at some point in 2022, but it will be a high-end niche product, with Apple reportedly having "conservative" sales expectations. The virtual environment will include gaming, communication, and video content, and while AR support will exist in some capacity, the report claims it will be limited. While Apple has displayed more interest in augmented reality so far, the focus for this headset is on VR, and the goal is simply to get people ready for an eventual pair of AR glasses, which are also in development with the codename N421. The VR headset, with the codename N301, is apparently going to be a premium piece of hardware in more than one way. The report claims Apple is using some of its most powerful processors in the device, with performance edging out the Apple M1 chipset in the latest Mac devices introduces in November. On top of that, the headset has a fan to keep running cool. Additionally, the displays will also have "much higher resolution" than existing VR headsets. However, that will go along with a price tag that's also significantly higher than that of rival products, with some insiders even claiming each Apple Store may only sell one device per day. Interestingly, the inclusion of high-performance components and a fan made the headset too big and cumbersome, so Apple has seemingly removed the space that would allow users with glasses to actually wear the headset. Instead, the company has designed a way for prescription lenses to be inserted into the headset for users that need them. Apple is also using a fabric exterior to help the device be lighter considering the weight of its internals. According to the report, the headset is in late prototyping stages, but it hasn't been finalized and could still change significantly or be canceled altogether before making it to market. Apple has been making investments in the VR space, though, so it wouldn't be surprising if something is afoot.
  18. Jay Bonggolto
    Oculus will require first-time users to log in with a Facebook account starting in October by Jay Bonggolto Oculus announced today a few significant changes that will alter how users access their accounts in the future. After January 1, 2023, the Facebook-owned virtual reality firm will shut down support for all Oculus accounts. In preparation for that change, Oculus is requiring all first-time users of its devices to log in with a Facebook account beginning in October. If you already have an existing Oculus account, you will have the option to merge it with your Facebook account, although you can opt out until January 1, 2023. After that date, you can still choose not to merge your accounts, but you won't be able to use the full functionality of your VR device. However, you will need a Facebook account to use future Oculus devices, even if you have an existing Oculus account. Oculus said in a blog post that the upcoming change is meant to give people "a single way to log in to Oculus" and integrate Facebook's features into the VR platform. That said, users who sign in using their Facebook account will retain their existing VR profile and control what information about their Oculus activity will be shared on their Facebook timeline. Additionally, Oculus will adopt Facebook's community standards and a new additional VR-centered policy. Oculus is also working on a way to let you continue using your purchased content even after support for your Oculus account is ended. However, some games and apps are expected to stop working due to features that need a Facebook account to function. In the future, the company also plans to allow multiple users to log in to the same device using their own Facebook accounts.
  19. Jay Bonggolto
    HTC to launch standalone Cosmos Elite headset and External Tracking Faceplate in April by Jay Bonggolto HTC announced today that it will begin selling the standalone Vive Cosmos Elite head-mounted display in April along with a pre-installed External Tracking Faceplate. There's also a standalone version of the faceplate as well. The Vive Cosmos Elite started rolling out to consumers earlier this month for $899, featuring 2880 x 1700 of combined pixel resolution. The headset-only package will retail for $549 along with a redemption code for Half-Life: Alyx and six months' worth of free Viveport Infinity, both of which are also available for the $199 standalone faceplate. The HMD's flip-up headset design allows you to switch between reality and virtual settings. The Vive Cosmos Elite and the External Tracking Faceplate also support Vive’s peripherals including its wireless adapter and the Vive Tracker. Both the standalone Cosmos Elite headset and faceplate will be available beginning next month, with shipping dates varying by region. Cosmos Elite Headset availability: China and Taiwan - April 16 EU and the UK - April 27 U.S. and Canada - May 1 Australia, Korea, and New Zealand - May Saudi Arabi and the UAE - May 18 Japan - To be announced External Tracking Faceplate availability: Korea and Taiwan - Late April U.S. and Canada - May 1 EU and the UKUK - May 15 Australia - May Middle East - June 10 Japan - To be announced The faceplate is compatible with base station versions 1.0 or 2.0 as well as the original Vive or Vive Pro controllers. You can also swap it with the original inside-out tracking faceplate that ships with Vive Cosmos.
  20. Jay Bonggolto
    HTC Vive Cosmos Elite is now available for preorder, shipping on March 18 by Jay Bonggolto HTC unveiled its expanded lineup of Vive Cosmos headsets for virtual reality fans a few days ago, including the Vive Cosmos Elite. Today, the company has opened pre-orders for the headset and it will ship with an external tracking faceplate onboard for 360-degree tracking of an entire room (via Engadget). COSMOS Elite is now available for preorder, shipping on March 18th. Experience the most precise tracking, crystal clear resolution, comfortable fit and flip up design. https://t.co/p9FlkE3VYG#HTCVIVE#HTCVIVECosmos#CosmoeElite pic.twitter.com/GnZjt2A7t7 — HTC VIVE (@htcvive) February 24, 2020 HTC claims the headset's Base Station 1.0 system offers up to 15 square meters of space for an immersive VR gaming experience. It features 2880 x 1700 of combined pixel resolution and its flip-up headset design allows you to switch between reality and virtual settings. Its motion faceplate is also sold separately and it comes with six camera sensors to expand your range of motion. Its wide field and six-degree-of-freedom support also provide accurate inside-out tracking. The Vive Cosmos Elite will begin shipping on March 18 to consumers for $899 and pre-orders are now live on HTC's website. Also, you can get a six-month Infinity membership if you pre-order the headset.
  21. vishal1082
    Valve Index starts at $499, begin shipping late June with preorders starting tomorrow by Vishal Laul Valve revealed the Index last month without a notice; promising to “upgrade your experience,” the VR headset was confirmed to be bundled with the new Valve-designed "Knuckles" controllers and the SteamVR 2.0 base stations, with availability planned for June 15. All that was missing was the price, which was to be revealed on May 1 – alongside the opening of preorders. Just a day early, Valve today announced everything there is to know about the Index. It’s designed and developed in-house by Valve – not in partnership with HTC. Index uses two custom-built 1440x1600 panels, providing the same resolution as the Vive Pro. However, the Vive Pro relies on AMOLED panels with PenTile subpixels, while the Index is using LCD panels with full RGB subpixels. As a result, the Index loses out on the true blacks that AMOLED can produce, but the subpixel arrangement helps reduce the infamous screen-door-effect. Also, while the Vive and Vive Pro both have a 90Hz refresh rate, the Index pushes it to 120Hz with an experimental mode going even further at 144Hz. Valve claims that the Index will comfortably fit 95% of adult heads as it offers not just adjustment for inter-pupillary distance (IPD), but also lens-eye distance, the rear strap, and the top strap. As for the field-of-view, Valve says it should be “20 degrees more than Vive for the average consumer.” Audio is a major focus as well; the Index features what Valve is calling “near-field off-ear” speakers. It’s worth noting because these headsets do not touch the ears – they sit at a distance, allowing users to listen to the real-life environment around them. Valve ships the Index with its new Index Controllers, codenamed “Knuckles.” These controllers strap onto your hand, which means you can let go of them and move your hand and fingers naturally; finger tracking is included as well, for each finger – including the thumb. It can also detect the force of a user’s grip. As an effect, this allows for a more natural interaction in the virtual world with users being able to pick up objects using their hands as they would in the real world. Index Controllers come with in-built rechargeable batteries with seven hours of battery life, per Valve. Index also ships with Valve’s upgraded SteamVR Tracking 2.0 base stations. These have been in the works for a while, and as expected, are smaller, lighter, quieter, and consume less power. It’s also possible to use four of these together. It’s worth noting that the Index will work with older base stations that were available with the Vive, but the new base stations won’t work with older headsets, such as the Vive or Vive Pro. Pricing is, perhaps, the most important bit; here’s how it goes: Index by itself is $499, but it doesn’t include the controllers or the base stations. If you have previously purchased a Vive or Vive Pro, you can simply buy the headset and use your older controllers and base stations. Index with the new “Knuckles” controllers bundled is $749, but without the base stations. Once again, these will work with older base stations. Index with the new controllers and the new base stations – the complete bundle – will punch your wallet with $999. This is, essentially, the cost of the complete VR system. Valve is also selling the new controllers separately for $279, and the new base stations for $149. If you do end up buying into Valve’s pitch for the perfect VR system, you are required to be equipped with at the minimum an Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 480, though GTX 1070 or higher is recommended. Valve has made a handy app to judge whether your PC is ‘Valve Index Ready’. Index will plug into the PC via DisplayPort and one USB port; USB 2.0 will work, but USB 3.0 is required for the camera passthrough feature. You will also have to supply power separately. Alternatively, if you own one of the newer GPUs with a VirtualLink port, a separately-purchasable $39.99 cable will allow you to plug the headset into that single port for display, power, and data. Additionally, the base stations will also need to be powered individually – if you end up buying four base stations, you would be using four power sockets. Valve Index will work on Windows, macOS, and Linux; preorders open tomorrow, available here, and begin shipping starting June 28 in the U.S. A slight delay from the original June 15 date. via UploadVR
  22. vishal1082
    Valve Index will launch on June 15 with preorders opening in May by Vishal Laul Valve Index will begin shipping on June 15 with preorders starting on May 1, as confirmed by Valve following an inopportune appearance of Index’s product page on Steam. First spotted by Twitter user Wario64, the product page was a bit scarce on information, but did reveal more than what Valve teased; per the product page, the headset will ship with two face gaskets – one narrow, other wide – and will connect to a PC over DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.0. An AMD RX 480 or Nvidia GTX 970 are listed as the minimum requirement for the graphics card, along with 8 GB of RAM. It will also feature integrated headphones, and as can be asserted from the product image, these will be of the open-back variety - which is not very common for VR. It will be quite interesting to see the effects of this on immersion, considering that the open-back design would make users more aware of their real surroundings. Interestingly, the VR headset also comes with a power adapter, which could mean that it needs external power. Along with Index’s product page, the pages for its controllers and base stations also went live momentarily. As expected, the headset will rely on Valve’s SteamVR 2.0 Base Station for tracking. Also, the knuckle controllers are now called Index controllers, and feature rechargeable batteries. Valve, while confirming the information, did say that although the details contained on these product pages are accurate, they are not comprehensive. In other words, there may be a lot more to this headset than currently meets the eye. The image above (brightened) shows that the headset appears to have a removable faceplate, beneath which is a gap – a slot –, as well as a port. It is far more visible in some of the leaked photos of the headset. Valve said that it would reveal more information about Index in May. As the preorders are meant to go live on May 1, that’s likely when the company will reveal all of Index’s capabilities, and its price. Source: Index product pages (Images 1, 2, 3), Wario64 (Twitter) via RoadToVR
  23. vishal1082
    Valve reveals its very own VR headset, called the Index by Vishal Laul Valve today teased its very own VR headset; revealed without a notice, the headset is named Index and will supposedly be in the hands of consumers by May later this year. As can be seen in the image above – which is all Valve has shown so far –, physical IPD adjustment is presumably present, a notable exclusion on the new Oculus Rift S. That’s an important feature, as Oculus founder Palmar Luckey explained in his rant about the Rift S. Interestingly, the Index appears to have cameras embedded within. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the headset will rely on inside-out tracking. After all, the HTC Vive also comes with cameras, but to render a chaperone of the real world in the virtual environment. Valve’s lighthouses – which it has improved since the original launch – provide superior tracking, though inside-out tracking would be far more convenient. Valve could be using a combination of the two technologies or giving an option to use either. Valve has also been working on a new set of VR controllers, called the Knuckles. These were originally revealed at Steam Dev Days in 2016, but they appear to have changed drastically since then. In a recent video, the folks at Node Studios demoed their new VR game, Boneworks, using the new Knuckles controllers. Knuckles will feature finger tracking, and at least in the video by Node Studios, appear to be working with the HTC Vive – meaning that they work with lighthouse tracking. Index’s rather more important specifications, like the display resolution and field-of-view (FoV) offered by the lens design, remain eluded from us for the time being. Though, as far as rumors are concerned, it will apparently feature a 135° FoV. Gabe Newell of Valve said last year that Valve has been jealous of Nintendo due to the latter’s ability to finely integrate both its software and hardware. Nintendo’s Labo Kit being a great demonstration of that. Newell also said last year that Valve would, once again, develop and ship more of its own games soon. Erik Wolpaw, one of the writers who worked on Half-Life 2 Episode 1 and 2, Portal 1 and 2, and Left 4 Dead, rejoined Valve earlier this year as well. It’s clear that a lot is going on within Valve. There is a big push to make Linux gaming seamless, and an overhaul for the Steam Library interface has recently been shown off as well. There’s also a new mobile app confirmed to be in development, along with several other new features and improvements for Steam. In other news, Valve has also decided to halt further updates for Artifact and will be reworking game mechanics, due to worryingly poor reception since its release last year.
  24. vishal1082
    Oculus announces the Rift S, a successor to the Rift by Vishal Laul Oculus today announced the Rift S, a successor to the flagship Rift headset; featuring inside-out tracking, slightly higher resolution, and improved lenses, the headset is developed in collaboration with Lenovo. Starting at $399, the headset is described as an “evolution not a revolution” by Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell. Its design is entirely new – in many ways inspired by the work Lenovo has done with its Windows Mixed Reality headset – but some of the changes aren’t going to be to the liking of enthusiasts. As mentioned, the display resolution gets a slight upgrade; the original Rift used dual PenTile OLED panels with a combined resolution of 2160 x 1200. Rift S, on the other hand, uses a single LCD panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1400, which is the same panel as the one used in Oculus Go. However, the refresh rate is reduced from 90Hz on the Rift to 80Hz on the Rift S. Also borrowed from the Oculus Go are the headphones; replacing the on-ear headphones, the Rift S now has near-ear speakers built into the strap – now featuring a rigid “halo” design and made out of plastic, much like the strap on the PlayStation VR headset. There’s also no physical IPD adjustment, with Oculus opting to rely on software to resolve that problem. Oculus is also ditching its external sensors for positional tracking; the Rift S uses cameras for “inside-out” tracking, much like the Oculus Quest. Though, the Quest utilizes four cameras for the tracking while the Rift S uses five – two in front, one on each side, and one on top. Rift S will also ship with the same Oculus Touch controllers that will come with the Quest, with the tracking ring moved to top rather than bottom, making the IR LEDs in the controllers visible to the IR cameras in the headset for tracking. At the end of the day, the Rift S appears to be a product of compromises with its existence based only on an attempt by Oculus to linger to its roots. This was somewhat expected; the more ambitious “Rift 2” headset was reportedly canceled by Facebook months ago, following which Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe announced his departure. Iribe was heading Oculus’ PC VR development. Asgard’s Wrath by Sanzaru Games, Stormland by Insomniac Games, and Vacation Simulator by Owlchemy Games, are the three titles that Oculus is featuring for the Rift S. Oculus also says that cross-play between Oculus Quest and Rift S titles will be possible. Oculus will be launching the Rift S at $399, which is quite a big difference when compared with the launch price of $599 for the original Rift headset. Though, it’s only $50 more than Rift’s current price. It will be available for purchase in spring later this year. Interestingly, the Quest was also announced to be launching in spring this year for $399, meaning that both Quest and Rift S will be launching around the same time, at the same price. Oculus Rift, meanwhile, will remain available for purchase via the Oculus Store and retail partners "while supplies last."
  25. Abhay V
    HP's next-gen Windows Mixed Reality headset will sport a new design and high-res displays by Abhay Venkatesh Microsoft showed off the first consumer Windows Mixed Reality head-mounted displays (HMDs) from partners such as Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo back in October 2017 at an event in San Francisco. The devices launched alongside the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, with prices beginning at $299. The HMDs came with different designs, but similar specifications such as a 1440X1440 resolution display, and framerates of 60fps for PCs with integrated graphics and 90fps for systems with discrete graphics. While not much in the way of a refresh to many of these devices happened, Samsung launched its second-generation HMD, the Odyssey+ in October 2018, with improvements to specifications and the design of the device. Soon, another new headset may be on the way, as HP is also readying it next-generation HMD, as per the folks at RoadtoVR who got an exclusive preview of the unannounced Windows Mixed Reality headset, codenamed ‘Copper’. The report states that HP is re-designing its HMD from the ground up, and from the looks of it, it does seem like a significant update. The device now sports an Oculus Rift-like design with the head straps going through the sides and above the head, meeting at a circular structure at the back. The device is also expected to come with a heathered material on the front where the cameras for tracking are located. The headset is said to be lighter, making it more comfortable to wear, and it will also feature better mechanicals to make it easier to put on and remove. As for specs, the next-generation device will offer a 2160X2160 resolution display per eye, making it the most pixel-dense display in a Mixed Reality Headset yet. In comparison, Samsung’s new Odyssey+ sports a 1440X1600 resolution display per eye. Undoubtedly, the denser display makes for crisp, clear images, bringing much-needed improvements to the experience. The denser display also helps mask the screen door effect (the effect caused by the unlit spaces between any two pixels), negating the need for additional components like the diffuser on Samsung’s Odyssey+. HP states that the improvements to the HMD came from its Enterprise customers and that the customers didn’t consider the field of view a large area of concern as much as the resolution and comfort. The firm is planning on bringing this headset to its Device as a Service for VR offering as part of the Z by HP brand. While HP did not reveal details about the launch date or pricing, the company did confirm that it will be selling the device to both, enterprises and consumers. Windows Mixed Reality has been receiving improvements in the latest test builds for the next major Windows 10 update, which might almost certainly be called the Windows 10 April 2019 update. The platform has also begun seeing increased relevance in gaming, so it will be interesting to see how well ‘Copper’ will be received, and if the improvements encourage more users to consider it. Source: RoadtoVR Via Thurrott