Back in 2016, Valve debuted its vertically oriented "Knuckles" controller for use with SteamVR. The device remains exclusive to developers, but a new EV2 model has just been unveiled with a number of refinements that translate to improved controls in a VR environment, including new sensors that detect finger movement and grip strength.
The Sony PlayStation might be getting a lot of flak lately over its Fortnite cross-play snub, but PS fans can now gloat over the Xbox rivals over one aspect. The PlayStation has its own VR system and, if things continue as they are now, the Xbox won’t. Microsoft is now practically going back on its own marketing that plays up the Xbox One X as being capable of “high-fidelity VR”. And beneath its reason is the simple fact that it doesn’t foresee making money out of console VR.
Children aren't the most receptive when it comes to needles, but virtual reality is helping change that. A new study details research into the use of VR headsets in the doctor's office, specifically as a tool to distract kids from the mild pain associated with getting a shot or blood drawn. Turns out, the majority of kids stop caring about the needle when there's a headset strapped to their face.
Be cautious when you see the headlines for this device - most people want to say one of two things. One, this is the device that will bring VR mainstream! Two, this device isn't any different than any smartphone VR system, and isn't worth your time. Today we're going to be real about this situation: If you've got $200, you want to own a VR headset, but you don't want to pay $400 for a full-powered PC headset plus full-powered PC (probably a thousand more dollars, or more), then this is your key: Oculus Go.
When it comes to major, non-mobile VR platforms, there are often only two names thrown around: VIVE and Oculus. Less known is an admittedly more restricted VR platform, one that requires you to have a very specific hardware. That is PlayStation VR, PS VR for short, one of the youngest in the market. Its selection of apps has been pretty limited and more on the gaming side. On Tuesday, however, PS VR will get serious with the addition of SculptVR to its short roster.
Netflix is preparing to launch a new original drama television series called Kiss Me First, and it has released the first trailer for that show. This is the latest among several Netflix originals that center around futuristic technology, making it a suitable addition to the service's growing science fiction library.
Inside the Microsoft HoloLens 2 augmented/mixed-reality headset is tipped the most major appearance of Qualcomm's own XR1 VR chip. This processor isn't technically as powerful as the Qualcomm Snadpragon 845, but according to all the information we have on the XR1 so far, it's made for and capable of running a device just such as this. The hardware itself is tipped to be coming to the market starting in early 2019.
Oculus Venues is only a few weeks old (officially at least) but it's definitely sprinting out of the gate. Oculus Venues is a way to watch and "attend" live events using your VR headset, and Oculus is getting the ball rolling with perhaps the event to end all events: the World Cup. If you're trying to discover if there's an audience for sports streaming via VR, hosting the biggest sports event in the world is a good way to find out.
If the Star Trek Holodeck is the virtual reality dream, then Sandbox VR has got closer than most. Opening in new pop-up locations in San Mateo, CA, as well as other US cities, ahead of fixed centers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, it's a tried-and-tested group VR experience that has already seen success in Asia. Now, it's hoping to bring that experience to the US.
For years now, Sega has offered a catalog of classic Genesis and Mega Drive games through Steam. These games can be purchased separately or in a bundle featuring all 59 of them, but regardless of how you purchase them, they're all launched through a Steam compilation called "Sega Mega Drive & Genesis Classics." Sega has pushed a new update to Classics, and chief among the new features is support for virtual reality headsets.
Qualcomm has revealed its latest chipset, the Snapdragon XR1, but rather than phones it's intended for Extended Reality headsets like AR smartglasses and untethered VR. Slotting in beneath the Snapdragon 845 as a more affordable "XR" option for device-makers, it's part of Qualcomm's attempt to capture entry-level standalone systems.
At Display Week, Apple engineers took telling peeks at next-gen screen technologies of several telling sorts. Hardcore Apple devotees might find themselves at a crossroads in years to come, if what we're seeing Apple look at this week gets utilized in future Apple product. Especially when it comes to those Apple fans who use the iPhone because they've always used the iPhone, not because of new features - the next generation might be hard to swallow.