LG – Page 6 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

February 28, 2017

LG zeigt Virtual Reality Brille mit SteamVR Tracking auf der GDC

LG wird in dieser Woche eine neue Virtual Reality Brille auf der GDC in San Francisco vorstellen. Der Hersteller soll auf das Tracking-Verfahren von Valve zurückgreifen und somit wird das System auf die beliebten Lighthouse-Stationen setzen.

LG zeigt Virtual Reality Brille mit SteamVR Tracking

Mit der Vorführung von LG werden wir endlich eine weitere Brille sehen, die das Tracking-Verfahren von Valve verwendet. Das LG auf das System von Valve aufbaut, könnte bedeuten, dass wir zukünftig die HTC Vive und die Brille von LG in einem Raum verwenden können. Außerdem wäre es denkbar, dass ihr eure Vive Controller mit der Brille von LG nutzen könnt.

Aktuell gibt es noch keine weiteren Informationen zur Brille von LG, doch Valve verspricht, dass LG eine hochwertige Virtual Reality Erfahrung der nächsten Generation anbieten wird.

LG ist jedoch auch kein unbeschriebenes Blatt und wir hoffen, dass das Unternehmen gut von Valve beraten wurde. Mit der LG 360 VR veröffentlichte das Unternehmen im letzten Jahr eine VR Brille, die für das LG G5 Smartphone gedacht war. Der Formfaktor war zwar cool, doch ansonsten konnte uns das Produkt nicht überzeugen und mittlerweile wird das Produkt bereits für unter 100 Euro verramscht.

Es bleibt dennoch spannend, was uns LG in diesem Jahr präsentieren wird. Auf der GDC soll aber lediglich ein Prototyp gezeigt werden und nicht das finale Produkt. Ob LG die Brille also noch in diesem Jahr auf den Markt bringen kann, ist fraglich.

(Quelle: Road to VR)

Der Beitrag LG zeigt Virtual Reality Brille mit SteamVR Tracking auf der GDC zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

February 27, 2017

What LG’s VR Headset Could Mean for the HTC Vive

It’s no secret that the core technology residing in the HTC Vive was developed by Valve, a company widely respected for their videogame titles and distribution platform Steam, but without any hardware manufacturing experience. It was perhaps due to this reason that the Half-Life creator looked to partner with a company already familiar with product development and distribution for the launch of its first virtual reality (VR) device, but it was no secret that any exclusivity arrangement would be limited. Now it appears as though that close relationship is coming to an end.

While Valve hasn’t gone so far as to directly announce a new partnership with LG, the press communications team today issued a statement concerning the upcoming reveal of a prototype head-mounted display (HMD) that will be revealed at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) this week. Moreover, the Seattle-based company will be hosting demos of LG’s new product in their own booth.

“During the show, LG will be meeting with developers, collect feedback and impressions as part of its efforts to define the first commercial units,” reads the minimalist press release. “Pricing, launch dates, and territories will be announced at a later date.”

This, as might be expected, is a very similar road to that which HTC and Valve took following the original announcement of the HTC Vive back in 2015. The announcement was made by HTC at Mobile World Congress (MWC) with the first hands-on experiences subsequently offered at that year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC). Further software studios were then invited to apply for the development kits, with their own demos and titles shared at later events. Valve were right behind the studios, while HTC continued to push the hardware agenda up to launch in April 2016.

Nearly one year later and HTC hasn’t stopped. The HTC Vive is arguably the most popular high-end VR platform and new accessories, such as the Tracker puck and Deluxe Audio Strap, are seeing significant demand. But that doesn’t mean Valve aren’t entitled to look elsewhere to grow their VR audience.

“We are expanding the world of @SteamVR with our friends at LG.” Tweeted Chet Faliszek, noted Game Writer at Valve, shortly after today’s announcement.

So what does the announcement of a new partnership with LG mean for HTC, and the HTC Vive? Could this be the end of the platform? Could it be that Valve want to move away from HTC or the brand the two companies jointly created? In fairness, probably not. Ultimately, it’s unlikely that the agreement between HTC and Valve for the HTC Vive will be affected in any way, however it’s sure to raise a question in the core VR audience’s head until such details come to light.

Steam VR / SteamVR

February 27, 2017

LG to Reveal VR Headset Prototype Based on SteamVR Tracking This Week

Valve has confirmed that LG is developing a VR headset that will utilize SteamVR Tracking and, ostensibly, the OpenVR platform.

When Valve set out to build their OpenVR platform, they hoped to design it in such a way that the door was left open for hardware makers other than HTC (who makes the Vive) to make their own products that could tap into the system and work with all the same software. Valve’s vision appears to be paying off, as the company has confirmed that major computer electronics manufacturer LG is developing a new VR headset that will be built upon Valve’s platform.

That includes using SteamVR Tracking—Valve’s royalty-free and increasingly open VR tracking technology—Valve has confirmed to Road to VR.

Details on the LG VR headset are slim, but Valve says the is “designed to deliver a high fidelity, next generation VR experience,” and that a prototype will be shown off at GDC 2017 this week, where LG hopes to get feedback from developers on the headset.

Pricing, launch dates, and territories will be announced at a later date, says Valve.

GDC 2017: LG Headset Prototype Will Be Shown At Valve Booth

We just had a juicy bit of information dropped on us by Valve — LG is showing a headset prototype at the company’s booth.

Very little is known about the device right now, though Valve did confirm to UploadVR that this is a SteamVR tracking headset, making it the second such device to be revealed, two years after HTC first introduced its Vive headset and nearly a year after it was released.

According to a statement from Valve, the device will offer a “high fidelity, next generation VR experience.” Though not confirmed, we assume that makes it another PC-based device rather than another mobile-based headset, with LG has dabbled with in the past. The company intends to meet with developers during the event to showcase its prototype and collect feedback. Final pricing and launch dates are not being revealed at this time.

Don’t expect this to be the last SteamVR device; last week Valve dropped requirements to attend a $3,000 class for its platform and 500 companies having signed up to work with its Lighthouse tracking technology, be they new headsets, controllers or otherwise.

SteamVR isn’t alone in licensing VR technology, however. Microsoft is also working with companies like Dell and Asus to produce its own VR headsets using inside-out tracking and running on its Windows Holographic OS.

There are still a lot of questions about this headset to be answered, then, and we’ll be sure to hunt answers down during GDC week.

Here’s the statement from Valve:

LG Electronics will unveil its first VR HMD prototype at this year’s GDC in San Francisco, CA. Being shown in Valve’s GDC booth, the LG HMD prototype is designed to deliver a high fidelity, next generation VR experience.

During the show, LG will be meeting with developers to collect feedback and impressions as part of its effort to define the first commercial units. Pricing, launch dates, and territories will be announced at a later date.

Tagged with: GDC, lg, valve