October is shaping up to be filled with Virtual Reality News. Everything from Google’s latest headset to the developments over at Oculus happened this week. Here is a selection of the most significant VR stories this week.
1. Google Daydream Headset
Speculation about Google’s big VR announcement rose to fever-pitch before the announcement 4th October. Now, we finally have the Daydream View, a mobile-powered headset releasing 20th October. Designed to be a lighter, more user-friendly competitor to the Samsung Gear VR, the headset is also meant to be a reference point for all future Daydream headsets. Currently, only the new Pixel phones are compatible with the headset, but as more phones support Daydream, the headset has moveable hinges to support different sizes of handphones.
source: The Verge
2. Latest Oculus Rift pushes social VR
Google wasn’t the only company holding a big event this week. Facebook, who have been pushing the Oculus Rift hard, announced the next step in their headset’s development. Specifically, Oculus’ move towards creating a social space. Users can be transformed into digital avatars and hang out with each other. Social experiences like board games, watching tv together, all of this can be done in Virtual Reality. If even half of the tech displayed here pans out to be true, VR could reach the next level.
Source: Polygon
3. Oculus Rift bringing WebVR
At the same conference, Facebook showed off the Rift’s web browser, called Carmel. This browser is designed to be optimised for use with VR. Aside from an onstage demo, however, there is not lots of information about how VR-ready web browsing is going to look like. More information will likely come down the line, especially how Oculus’ competitors are going to respond to this development.
Source: Engadget
4. Simpsons using VR in 600th episode
Image courtesy: simpsons.wikia.com
VR is in need of a major mainstream application to really get mass appeal. The Simpsons, one of the longest-running TV shows, might well be the answer to that. The ever-present couch gag will, for the 600th episode, have a VR component. Viewers can use Google Cardboard to look in any direction during the gag, called “Planet of the Couches.” Want to have a look? Just want until 16th October when the episode airs.
Source: Slash Film
