Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation
What Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality developers are talking about
HTC's China Regional President of Vive, Alvin Wang Graylin, expects VR headsets to be upgraded as often as mobile phones, meaning every two to three years. This could mean that a new Vive headset will be coming in the next 12 months.
The post Be ready to upgrade your VR headset as often as your phone, HTC exec says appeared first on Digital Trends.
The complexity of the environments and of the actions that you can perform within them requires the ability to design structured Augmented Reality experiences, able to use different tracking techniques in combination.
In this example we see a use case of the technology in outdoor and indoor contexts, using GPS to locate a Point Of Interest; Beacons for navigation in indoor environments and 3D Object Tracking for the recognition of three-dimensional objects and the display of related contextual information.
AR-media SDK, the tool of preference for many developers of immersive applications throughout the world, enables the creation of this type of AR experiences, using different tracking techniques alone or in combination between them to maximize the effectiveness of the content provided and to get a more natural and more rewarding user experience.
Immersive media company Matterport specialises in digitizing real world spaces, with its technology being used by estate agents, realtors and construction companies to showcase homes and other buildings. Last year the company launched Matterport VR, an app that allows user to visit travel destinations or historical landmarks, for Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard on Android. Today the company has expanded support to iOS on iPhone as well.
The Matterport VR app offers a collection of over 300,000 spaces with more than 25,000 new VR spaces added each month the company states. Possibly the largest library of 3D Spaces publicly available, the app is available for iPhone’s with a minimum spec of iOS 9.1 and iPhone 5S. The app also has one click access to more than 150 premium VR experiences,with users able to explore all the public Matterport Spaces in VR.
“Matterport is the fastest way for any company to quickly implement a virtual reality strategy,” said Bill Brown, CEO of Matterport. “While some companies are trying to figure out how to capitalize on VR, our partners have already integrated it into their offerings seamlessly and have been delivering at scale from day one. Companies that move quickly to integrate immersive media are going to deliver a better consumer experience and position themselves for long-term success.”
Today’s announcement follows on the heels of Matterport’s October launch of CoreVR, enabling anyone using Matterport Pro 3D Camera to become a VR content creator.
“We were an early adopter,” said Ross Palazzesi, Managing Director Metricon Homes. “With over 150 display homes around the country, and hundreds of home designs and floorplans, we needed an innovative way for potential customers to explore our broad range of options efficiently. We have more than 90 homes accessible via Matterport CoreVR which allows us to open up our homes to an even broader audience. Buying a home is a big financial and emotional decision, and the Matterport VR app aids in making it a bit easier.”
VRFocus will continue its coverage of Matterport, reporting back with any further updates.
Manchmal benötigt es keine große Ankündigung einer neuen Funktion und trotzdem erhält das Produkt die gewünschte Aufmerksamkeit. Alex Pettitt hat gestern über Twitter seinen 360 Grad Periscope Livestream verbreitet und damit für viel Aufmerksamkeit gesorgt. Periscope ist eine Software, die schon immer auf einen Livestream vom Smartphone ausgelegt war. Im Jahr 2015 wurde das Unternehmen für 100 Millionen US-Dollar von Twitter gekauft.
Periscope hat nun auf dem eigenen Blog auch weitere Informationen zum 360 Grad Feature gegeben. Wenn ihr einen 360 Grad Livestream bei Twitter oder Periscope seht, dann könnt ihr einschalten und mit dem Finger oder der Maus euch in der Welt drehen. Aktuell testet das Unternehmen die 360 Grad Übertragung mit einer kleinen Gruppe an Partnern. Eine breitere Öffentlichkeit soll in den nächsten Wochen bedient werden. Wenn ihr am Programm teilnehmen wollt, dann könnt ihr euch hier anmelden.
Aktuell unterstützt Periscope nur die Insta360 Nano Kamera nativ. Alle anderen Kameras können im Moment nur experimentell verwendet werden und es ist nicht klar, ob ihr eine andere Kamera zum Laufen bekommt. Die Insta360 Nano ist eine 360 Grad Kamera für das iPhone, die auf das Smartphone gesteckt wird und somit eine direkte Verbindung mit dem Gerät besitzt. Die Kamera gibt es bereits bei einigen Händlern zu kaufen:
Total*: 239,00 EUR
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s. Shop
Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 249,00 EUR
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Lieferung in 8 bis 9 Tagen
Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 249,00 EUR
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Lieferung in 8 bis 9 Tagen
Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 253,99 EUR
Versand*: 4,99 EUR
s. Shop
Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Der Beitrag Twitter: Periscope jetzt mit 360 Grad Livestreams zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!
Giroptic vertreibt bereits seit einiger Zeit eine 360 Grad Kamera mit dem schlichten Namen 360cam. Diese kann Videos mit einer 2K Auflösung aufzeichnen und Fotos mit einer 4K Auflösung schießen. Doch das Unternehmen will nun auch eine breitere Masse ansprechen und hat eine Kamera für das iPhone entwickelt.
Bei der 360 Grad Kamera für das iPhone handelt es sich um eine Kamera, die auf das Smartphone gesteckt werden kann. Die Giroptic iO 360 ist kompatibel mit dem iPhone und dem iPad und wird für 250 Euro über die Webseite des Unternehmens verkauft. Das Besondere an der Kamera ist, dass auch Livestreams über Youtube möglich sind und dass zukünftig auch Facebook mit Livestreams der Kamera versorgt werden soll.
Die Kamera besteht aus zwei Linsen mit einem Field of View von jeweils 195 Grad. Ein Mikrofon für Stereoaufnahmen ist verbaut und die Videos erreichen eine Auflösung von 1920 x 960 Pixel bei 30 FPS. Diese Auflösung ist natürlich viel zu gering, um die Aufnahmen auch in VR zu genießen. Bei der Aufnahme von Fotos kommt die Kamera aber immerhin auf eine Auflösung von 3840 x 1920 Pixel.
Doch auch wenn die Kamera aktuell nur mit dem iPhone verwendet werden kann, so will das Unternehmen auch bald eine Kamera für Android Smartphones anbieten. Ob die Qualität in einem sinnvollen Verhältnis zu den Anschaffungskosten steht, ist aber aktuell noch fraglich.
(Quelle: Road to VR)
Der Beitrag Giroptic iO 360: 360 Grad Kamera für das iPhone zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!
On december the 20th 2016 issue #291 of Focus was released on newsstands, the historical magazine published by Mondadori which explores topical themes such as science, innovation, behavior and culture, which is also the most read magazine in Italy.
The novelty is that starting from this issue, Focus is enriched with immersive content with augmented reality, making the reading experience even more engaging and exciting.
Focus readers with a smartphone or tablet can download from the stores the app Focus Realtà Aumentata for Android and iOS, which enables content in AR by simply framing the pages of the magazine to which are associated “augmented” contents.
The cover of issue #291 of Focus and several inside pages of the magazine come to life by showing the reader immersive multimedia experiences related to the contents.
We are talking about 3D animations, 360° videos, thematic tests, mini games and panoramic photos that add information and understanding to the text and images available to the reader, which is not limited to view only, but can interact with and activate a series of additional content according to her curiosity.
The Augmented Reality technology is provided by Inglobe Technologies, which for ten years has been involved in the development of pioneering AR solutions. Back in 2007, when the advent of smartphones had not yet occurred, Inglobe had launched the idea of an AR book on the solar system. A few years later, in 2011, Inglobe has released a whitepaper on innovation in publishing through Augmented Reality.
Today, almost 10 years later, thanks to the advent of the mobile and AR technologies into the mainstream, Focus Mondadori has embarked on a path of high-impact product innovation. In this context, Inglobe oversaw the entire development of the apps for Android and iOS working on contents edited by Mondadori.
The technical features of the project include the recognition of planar images -the pages that trigger AR experiences-, gamification experiences, which allow readers to interact with contents, 360° photos and videos and a range of interactive and 3D tests.
The path taken by Mondadori with the introduction of Augmented Reality in one of its leading editorial products highlights two trends in the publishing industry: the first one concerns the strong need to give new life to this medium that always suffers more competition from new media and new ways of information fruition; the second one concerns the possibility of offering highly engaging content to readers thanks to the opportunities made available by the Mixed Reality. The leading players in Publishing are likely to move towards this direction if they want to keep an updated and attractive product for readers.
Issue #291 of Focus is not a random experiment, but a path that will continue in the future with the regular publication of monthly issues enriched by augmented reality experiences, providing for the adoption of a technological solution specially designed for the publishing industry.
We look forward to the next issue #292, to be published at the end of January.
When vTime first launched back in 2015 it was one of the earliest examples of virtual reality (VR) social networking for the public. Since then the company has expanded its reach, arriving on more and more platforms. Today vTime adds one more, and its a big one, support has now been added for iPhone users.Whether they have a head-mounted display (HMD) or not, iPhone users will be able to make use of vTimes immersive social features, such as meeting within their own 360-degree photos, chat, and sharing images in fully realised virtual environments. iPhone users will get to use vText – the apps own private messaging service – allowing users to stay in contact whether they’re online or offline.
“vTime has come to define virtual engagement for the huge amount of people who already communicate through our network every hour of every day, and all around the world,” said vTime managing director Clemens Wangerin. “We’re fiercely proud of the experience vTime delivers to out users and we’re thrilled to bring vTime to iPhone in time for the holidays. Google VR, formerly known as Cardboard, has been a great platform for us since we launched, and it’s a natural evolution to now bring vTime to the other 50% of the mobile ecosystem. Mobile offers the easiest and most accessible on ramp to virtual reality, and vTime is a true landmark of what mobile VR is capable of. With VR tipped as one of the top trends this Christmas, the impulse purchase price point of Google VR headsets will introduce anther big wave of people to social VR, and we’re proud to be the ones welcoming them on iPhone.”
This iPhone launch is just one part of two major updates coming this month from vTime. Alongside several seasonal surprises and events the company has another a new feature called vCast. This enables users to create, broadcast, record and publish their own content across the whole network. So they’ll be able to experience chat shows, podcasts, panels and more both live and on-demand. vCast is currently in early access accessible by all available platforms.
vTime currently supports Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and iOS and Android for Google Cardboard. Apps for both HTC Vive and Google Daydream are also planned. For any further info on vTime, keep reading VRFocus.
One thing that’s always defined Apple is its ability to shape tech’s future. But lately, it’s been characterized as a company sitting back and watching others drive the next transformation: VR and AR.
Though AR’s true potential will take All this action is precisely where Apple’s absence is felt. Sexy and futuristic VR launches stand in stark contrast to Apple’s own Fall hardware event, where its gadget-centric keynote spotlighted … a new keyboard.
This either means Apple will miss this next tech shift, or that it’s playing the long game. The latter could involve a deliberately late VR/AR entrance, just like some of its past market-defining moves (e.g. tablets, mp3 players).
If it’s a long game, what and when will Apple’s entrance be? Evidence points to AR rather than VR. That’s due to AR’s We can also triangulate Apple’s AR play through recent products. The iPhone 7 Plus’ dual cameras could be a step on the path to a device sensing through stereoscopic vision. That’s a key component of computer vision, which in turn drives AR.
This would put Apple’s 2013 acquisition of 3D-sensing company PrimeSense in more relevant light. Speaking of acquisitions, its 2015 purchase of AR software company Metaio further supports an AR play.
More clues are in AirPods. The tech press focused on the hardware, but the real story could be the new shape of AR. Rather than graphics, ambient audio — via always-in AirPods — could be the new informational overlay.
The iPhone is where Apple generates most of its profits, meaning its operational structure and supply chain are entrenched in the slab format. Any moves in AR would likely start there.
It also aligns with the overall business case for mobile AR. Though glasses are a sexier format, an installed base of 2.6 billion smartphones makes mobile the nearer term (and less glasshole prone) opportunity.
All of this means that Apple isn’t necessarily late to VR and AR… It could simply leapfrog the former to get to the bigger opportunity held by the latter. And because AR’s time horizon is further off, Apple could be just in time.
Nintendo's enduring mascot character Mario will make his groundbreaking mobile debut next month when Super Mario Run launches for the iPhone and iPad via the iTunes App Store on December 15.
The post ‘Super Mario Run’ debuts for iPhone, iPad on December 15 appeared first on Digital Trends.
For consumers looking to get into creating 360-degree videos there are several ways of going about it. They can by cameras which have single lenses (360fly) or duel lenses (Gear 360, Ricoh Theta S), or cameras that can attach to smartphones (Insta360 Nano). But there are even cheaper options to create eye-catching immersive videos, one of which launched today, Pie.
360 video startup Pie, has just released its first app for iPhone on the App Store. With it users can record a new ‘touchable video’ format the company has developed called ‘slices’ (kind of like swipeable 360° GIFs).
To make a Pie video users have two options. The first is to use a consumer 360-degree camera like the ones mentioned above to capture content, then upload it to the Pie app. If you’re using a Insta360 Nano you’ll be able to use shoot videos directly with the Pie app. Video clips are trimmed to 10 seconds – a length which CTO and co-founder Guillaume Sabran says: ‘is long enough to explore a space in 360, but short enough to keep the viewing experience dynamic and interesting.’
But what if you don’t have a 360-camera. That’s when you use Pie’s ‘slices’ feature. Capturing a slice is similar to the process of taking a panorama, with the user scanning the space in front of them, from left to right, for 3 to 5 seconds. These can then be played back, with users swiping their smartphones or moving the device around.
“Until now the difficulty of creating a 360 video has been holding back mass adoption of this new medium,” Sabran elaborates. “We set our self the goal of making the process of capturing, editing, and sharing a 360 video at least 10x faster than existing options.”
“We’ve had a great response to slices, particularly from younger users who have seen 360 videos in their Facebook feed but until now haven’t had a way to make one that was quick, easy, and didn’t involve buying separate hardware,” explains co-founder Jacob Trefethen.
“The fact that slices allow you to move forwards and backwards in time as well as through space was initially an accident we came across while hacking on the iPhone camera. Once we realized what that experience could be like, we couldn’t wait to get it out there. It means you can slow down, speed up, and reverse dance moves, skate tricks, or even just funny faces with a swipe of your finger or just by turning your phone using the iPhone’s gyroscope, the same way you move through a 360 video.”
But Pie isn’t just interested in creating a unique app, it wants to build a mobile social network where users can discover, create, and post 360-degree videos in seconds. Which is why it has raised a seed round from McClatchy, Colopl VR Fund, Sparkland Capital, Stage Venture Partners, Graph Ventures, Matter Ventures, and others to create it.
Co-Founder Ceci Mourkogiannis said: “We are excited about the long-term possibilities of VR as it relates to 360 video, but today we want to serve the 2 billion people who already own smartphones and give them a way to create and watch 360 videos that fits into their everyday lives.”
VRFocus will follow the progress of Pie, reporting back with any new updates.
