YouTube is one of the best places to find content, and that includes virtual reality media. 360-degree content is all over Google’s platform, and now, those with VR headsets connected to PCs will be able to access that properly.
Content for virtual reality is being created at a tremendous pace as the field sees more and more consumer devices and interest. Hoping to address how most 3D content is still created on 2D screens, Google is releasing Blocks, a simple tool for creating and sharing objects in virtual reality.
HTC’s upcoming January 12th event carries a rather generic “for U” invitation. The latest rumors point to three new devices this quarter, with the first possibly being an underwhelming phablet. However, a leaked video from Evleaks shows that HTC might be focussing on customization and possibly a Vive phone.
I tried the HTC Vive for the first time last year, and one of the most memorable parts of that first dive into VR was Google’s Tilt Brush. Basically, it’s a VR version of “paint” that lets you doodle in 3D space and create insanely cool virtual worlds of pretty much anything you can imagine. It’s magical.
Now it appears that Google is set to make the experience even better, allowing multiple Tilt Brush players to create together in real time…
With Google I/O starting next week, veteran tech journalist Peter Rojas has tweeted that Android VR will launch as a dedicated, standalone headset. This corroborates earlier reports and the mention of “AndroidVR” we saw yesterday in the latest Unreal Engine preview.
Along with announcing new mid-range devices at MWC 2016, HTC has announced the price for the Vive Consumer Edition and an early April ship date, with pre-orders beginning on February 29. The final headset features better ergonomics, improved controllers, and smartphone pairing.
Update: HTC has sent a note to investors refuting rumors that it will spin-off the Vive to a separate company owned wholly by Cher Wang.
“Recent media reports in Taiwan, such as by United Evening News, stating that Cher Wang is planning to spin off HTC’s VR operations into an independent entity that will be wholly owned by Wang is incorrect.
HTC will continue to develop our VR business to further maximize
value for shareholders.”
A report from Focus Taiwan this morning claims that HTC is seriously considering, even planning, to spin-off its virtual reality efforts in to a separate independent company. If HTC goes ahead with the plans, it could mean we’ll eventually start seeing headsets like the Vive launch without HTC’s branding on them…
On the heels of showing off a second development kit at CES last week, HTC has announced that pre-orders for the Vive will officially start on February 29th. The price of the virtual reality headset will also be announced closer to the date and shipping is still scheduled for sometime in April.
UploadVR reports that Magic Leap has poached Jeff Gattis, the global marketing head of HTC’s Vive, a virtual reality headset expected to ship by the end of the year.
Comments made by Gattis add fuel to speculation that Magic Leap’s own VR headset is close to launch, but also suggest that it is significantly more advanced than the HTC product he’s been pushing for the past eight months …
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Late last week, I got a chance to give HTC Vive a test run at the Big Android BBQ in Hurst, Texas. I feel almost ashamed to say this, but I hadn’t even touched virtual reality at all — besides Google Cardboard, of course — until Friday. And while this probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to those out there that have already played with devices like Oculus and Vive in the past, I’m absolutely, completely, thoroughly, fully, a believer in virtual reality. Here’s how it went down…
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HTC hasn’t been having the best run lately and that continues today. After promising this past Wednesday at an investor meeting to reinvigorate its line through a new product in October and “improved design and innovation,” the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer has posted bleak earnings results for the month of May with revenue of NT$10.79 billion (US$347 million), down 50% over the same month last year and down 11% from April’s revenue of NT$13.5 billion (US$440 million). Revenue for April was down itself 33% from the month prior and 38% from April 2014.
HTC CEO Cher Wang during an investor meeting yesterday apologized for the company’s poor performance in recent months. According to the Taipei Times she attributed it to “poor operational efficiency and overly conservative marketing strategy amid fierce competition in the global market.”
At MWC 2015 during HTC’s Utopia in Progress keynote, everyone was completely surprised with the announcement of Vive. This is HTC’s amazing new VR headset/experience that was developed in partnership with Valve. Yep. That Valve.
Since the keynote, I’ve actually had a chance to experience Vive and I thought I’d share a little bit of that with you. Let me tell you… It was incredible. This was definitely the most immersive VR experience I have ever tested…
