Today Google launches Earth VR for the HTC Vive for free, giving us a whole new perspective on the world. I remember, back in 2001, how amazed I was to see Google Earth for the first time. I remember huddling around the computer monitor with friends shouting “go to New York City!” “Go to Hawaii!”...
Tag: virtual reality
‘Google Earth VR’ Launches For Free To Let You Fly Around The World
Looking down on the brilliant orange seats, and crisp green grass below me, two thoughts fight for dominance in my skull. The first is concerning all of the terrible losses that have taken place in this stadium throughout a truly depressing season, and the second is how unbelievable it is to be standing on top...
Oculus Is Sending Out More Free Dev Kits For Touch Ahead Of Launch
Got your Oculus Touch pre-order prepped and ready for launch? If you’re a VR developer, you might not need it. Yesterday Oculus posted a quick developer update, announcing that it was sending out yet more complimentary developer kits ahead of launch of the consumer product on December 6th. Kits will be sent out throughout the...
HTC Partners With Autodesk to Bring Professional Design into VR
The 2016 Autodesk University event kicked off in Las Vegas yesterday, and the design software company wasted no time in making some big announcements for the VR industry. For those that don’t know, Autodesk creates software for various industries, allowing designers to make 3D models and environments for professional use. Its services already support VR...
Snap Inc. Prepares For IPO That Could Mean Big Things for Augmented Reality
Snapchat is going public. This huge boost in capital will allow the company to move forward more quickly with some of its more innovative initiatives including its forays into augmented reality. Snapchat is many people’s first exposure to AR through the face-swap and reality bending filters available through the application. Snap Inc. also recently...
‘Project Dali’ Looks Like Adobe’s Answer To ‘Tilt Brush’ And ‘Quill’
An Adobe Research project was revealed via YouTube video, above, showing what looks like an answer to Google’s Tilt Brush and Facebook’s Quill virtual reality art programs. A blog post by Erik Natzke, principal artist-in-resident at Adobe Research, explained some of the thinking behind the project, which is described as being in its “early stages.” From...
Report: Oculus Acquires Computer Vision Company Zurich Eye
Oculus is going on a recruitment drive, with over 100 positions available, mainly in its US offices. But the company is making big moves across the globe. Late last week German site Handeszeitung reported that Oculus parent company Facebook had acquired Zurich Eye, a Switzerland-based group formed of members of the University of Zurich and...
‘Warhammer: Vermintide’ To Get VR Support Before The Year Ends
Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide is a co-operative first-person action game that takes place in the Warhammer universe. It has a style of gameplay you could easily compare to Left 4 Dead, but with a focus on first-person melee combat and taking place in Warhammer’s thick lore. The game was made available on PC initially,...
VR-optimized Forward Renderer Comes to Unreal Engine 4.14, Said to Be 22% Faster
Epic Games touted their VR-optimized forward renderer as the reason why their forthcoming Robo Recall game looks so crisp in VR. Now the tech is available to all Unreal Engine developers in version 4.14 released today. While deferred rendering has become a popular choice in game engines lately thanks to its efficient calculations of lighting...
Sony Pictures Plans to Use Nokia’s OZO to Make VR Content
Sony Pictures has struck a deal with Nokia to create 3D 360 content using Nokia OZO, the company’s professional-quality 360 degree camera platform. Sony has said they’ll be using OZO to create both special 360 content and to livestream their own events. While OZO comes with a hefty price tag of $45,000—along with it accessories like a...