oculus

Today we're looking at what's likely an internal testing device made by Apple for the near-future release of AR/VR experiences aplenty. This isn't the first we've seen of this sort of hardware - it's not particularly unlike hardware used by HTC and Oculus/Facebook for their own VR headsets. This new leaked look at Apple hardware is almost certainly meant for internal testing only, as it has a certain... unrefined sort of look.

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Google started the idea of using a smartphone as the heart and soul of a VR headset and others immediately jumped on the prospect of an affordable VR system for the masses. That included Samsung who worked with the makers of the Oculus Rift to launch the Gear VR for is high-end flagships. That phase of the VR market, however, was rather short-lived and Samsung slowly "forgot" to update its headsets to be compatible with its latest phones. Now Oculus itself is putting some nails in the Gear VR coffin by pulling out active support for the apps that make it barely usable.

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In an announcement today, Facebook's VR company Oculus revealed plans to release an updated user interface for its Oculus Quest headset. Oculus calls this a 'major update' to its system, one that will bring a more 'flexible and social' experience for users. Headset owners can expect multi-window support for 2D applications, a redesigned universal menu, and more.

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Earlier this week, Sony announced that it was dropping out of PAX East due to concerns over the current coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. Today, it announced that it's made the same call for GDC, which is scheduled to happen next month in San Francisco, California. Sony isn't alone in making the decision to skip GDC, as Facebook has joined it in dropping from the show.

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Oculus can perhaps be credited for having revitalized and popularized what was, until recently, simply thought of as a technological experiment. After the Oculus Rift, the now Facebook-owned company launched other VR devices, including ones that don't need to be tethered to a computer to work, the Oculus Go and the Oculus Quest. It seems, however, that the sun is setting for its first standalone VR gear as the Oculus Go is slowly but surely pushed to the background in favor of the Oculus Quest, even in the one sector where it might have seen massive adoption.

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If you're interested in checking out the Oculus Go but you've held off on buying one thus far, it looks like your patience has paid off. Facebook and Oculus have cut the price of the Go, bringing it down to a starting price of $149. This is a permanent price cut too, and it applies to both of the Oculus Go models Facebook offers.

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Facebook is building its own Android alternative, with an in-house team cooking up a replacement to the OS that will leave future VR, smart home, and other products less reliant on Google. Currently, products like Oculus Quest, the standalone virtual reality headset, and Portal, Facebook's video-call display, are based on customized versions of Google's Android.

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Oculus and Facebook made a lot of announcements at Oculus Connect 6 in September, but one of the biggest announcements was that Oculus Quest would be getting a hand tracking feature. With hand tracking, users will be able to ditch the controllers and use their hands to interact with objects in VR. Originally scheduled to go live at some point next year, Oculus has moved up release and will be launching the hand tracking update for Oculus Quest this week.

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Facebook has acquired Beat Games, the company behind hit virtual reality game Beat Saber. The acquisition will help Facebook 'bring VR to more people around the world,' the company said as part of its announcement. Beat Saber's team will join Oculus Studios as part of this deal but will independently operate in Prague. What will happen to Beat Saber? Not much, so don't worry.

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Back during Oculus Connect 6, Facebook announced that it would be bringing Oculus Link to the Oculus Quest. At the time, the company didn't give us a release date for the future, but today is the big day. Oculus Link has landed on Oculus Quest in beta, giving you a chance to tether your Oculus Quest to your PC to tap into that extra horsepower.

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There are few game developers who have achieved rockstar fame as much as the two Johns of the former id Software. And of the two, one is moving on from games or at least from working on games directly. John Carmack will always be remembered for his pioneering work not only iconic franchises such as Doom and Wolfenstein 3D but also for pushing the computer gaming industry as a whole. At 49, however, he wants to be remembered for something else as well: making an impact in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

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Oculus may have its Rift S as its premiere VR headset but that requires users to be tethered to powerful and immovable PCs. It did launch the Oculus Go and later the Oculus Quest this year but while the latter is designed to be independent and capable, it was far less useful because of its software. As promised last month, Facebook-owned Oculus is rolling out a new firmware that brings a ton of new features that finally make its premiere standalone VR headset.

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