The 6 best TVs for Xbox Series X in 2024
If you need a great companion for your new console, here are the best TVs for Xbox Series X. This includes picks from Samsung, LG, Vizio, and more.
NFT Spotlight: Love, Death + Art
Please note that the following review is not an endorsement of purchasing the NFTs discussed, and the author does not themself own any of the collection.
The Netflix-produced animated sci-fi anthology series Love, Death + Robots has recently released its third series. To mark that occasion, the show has partnered with a Web3 studio known as Feature to produce an NFT scavenger hunt.
According to the site, QR codes have apparently been hidden within promotional videos and real-world billboards, as well as the episodes themselves. Once scanned, these codes redirect users to a website where they can view artworks and mint them as NFTs.
Minting the NFTs requires users to have a MetaMask or Coinbase wallet. Minting the unlimited NFTs is free except for variable gas rates, and the collection encourages those without an interest in NFTs to simply save them as JPEGs.
The Collection
The collection consists of short clips from season 3 of the show, and as such inherits the production values of Love, Death and Robots, which is known for the diversity of styles between episodes.
Only three of the nine-strong collection (one for each episode of the latest series) are viewable prior to being collected. In one we see a dancing, jewel-encrusted siren, animated in a near photo-real manner. In another, three very different robots look between a clipboard and the viewer, and the final example, from the episode “The Very Pulse of the Machine”, sees a lone figure standing over a strange alien landscape of neon lights in a pose highly reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich’s Romantic classic Wanderer above the Sea of Fog.
It’s a clever way of repurposing content, especially when that content has been created by artists working at the level required to produce one of Netflix’s tentpole shows. The move into NFTs is also one that makes perfect sense for Love, Death and Robots, thanks to both its technological and artistic reputation, sidestepping the weird incongruity of projects like that of TV chef Gino D’Acampo. In other words, more people will be happy to give the NFT collection the benefit of the doubt, instead of denouncing it as a cash grab.
At the time of writing, some 27,000 NFTs have been minted, with a floor price of 0.003ETH (approximately $5 or $6). It’s not a princely sum, but it highlights that there is an appetite for collectables issued in this way and gives people a small amount of motivation to take part in the scavenger hunt. Hiding the codes within promotional material and episodes is a particularly smart choice, encouraging close watching and encouraging the collection to go viral as viewers share the locations they have found codes.
The Background
Of course, this isn’t the first NFT project to base itself around a scavenger or treasure hunt. Last year, The Great NFT Treasure Hunt took a slightly different approach by hiding passwords to wallets containing 32 different NFTs across Southern California, issuing clues to their location via Twitter. And budding metaverse NFTWorlds earlier this year organised a hunt within its virtual worlds with puzzles, riddles and challenges to unlock the twelve words necessary to gain access to a wallet filled with 3ETH and 500,000 of its native WRLD currency.
Nor is this the first intersection of TV and NFTs. Fox has called its upcoming animated TV show Krapopolis “the first-ever animated series curated entirely on the blockchain“, with plans to launch a dedicated marketplace that will sell digital goods including character NFTs and social experience tokens. And Seth Green’s plan to produce an animated show featuring a Bored Ape he owned was recently thrown into jeopardy after he lost the NFT in a hack and it was subsequently resold.
While the collection isn’t much more than a novelty and makes a point of saying that the show or Netflix derives no revenue, it could represent Netflix dipping its toe into the Web3 sector following recent revelations about its poor financial health. It reported a loss of 200,000 paid subscribers in its latest quarterly earnings report and estimated it would lose another 2 million by the time of its next earnings report in July.
The Verdict
The Love, Death + Art collection highlights an interesting way for more traditional forms of media to get involved with NFTs. Done respectfully, as this has been, NFT collections such as Love, Death + Art can serve as a gateway for individuals outside of NFTs to become involved with the space – instead of alienating them. Other TV shows looking to take a similar approach should be aware, however, that without a throughline that connects NFT technology to the programme in question, viewers will likely turn up their noses.
New 4K ‘Spatial Reality Display’ From Sony Has Glasses-Free 3D
The ELF-SR1 is a new ‘Spatial Reality Display’ from Sony that features a 4K screen and glasses-free volumetric 3D targeting professional users.
Volumetric 3D displays are neither easy to produce nor common, as holographic imagery generally requires a mix of stereoscopic screen technology and unique optics, sometimes backed by high-speed eye tracking. Today, the display experts at Sony are throwing their hat into the ring with a new option called the ELF-SR1 — also known as the Spatial Reality Display — which is initially being targeted at professional users in content creation businesses, but with an eye towards future use in consumer-facing applications.
Resembling a traditional computer monitor fixed on a 45-degree recline with a triangular frame, the Spatial Reality Display combines a 15.6-inch screen with a micro optical lens coating and an eye-tracking camera. While the display packs a conventional 4K resolution, the pixels are effectively split into twin 2K arrays for your left and right eyes, using live pupil tracking data and precision alignment of the micro-lenses atop pixels to deliver sharp, realistic 3D imagery. The results are digital 3D objects that appear to be floating right in front of the screen, and switch perspectives smoothly as your head and eyes move.
In other words, if you can imagine computer-generated holograms coming to life and being viewable from whatever angle you prefer relative to the display, that’s what Sony is promising here. Apart from the laptop-like screen size, the only catch is that the volumetric imagery only looks optimized for an audience of one person at a time.
Similar technology appeared in consumer form within Nintendo’s 3DS, but it was obviously far lower in resolution and initially suffered from major headache-inducing issues due to the absence of eye tracking. Beyond using over 40 times as many pixels, Sony’s implementation independently tracks the viewer’s pupil positions on three axes — up-down, left-right, and forward-back — on a millisecond level, enabling the screen to dynamically adjust and render what the viewer needs to see in real time. A “powerful” Windows PC running either Unity or Unreal Engine is required to actually create the 3D content; Mac support is expected in the future.
For the time being, Sony is targeting content creators in the 3D computer graphics field, including filmmakers and animators (such as the Ghostbusters: Afterlife team at Sony Pictures), automotive product designers, architects, and VR/AR content creators. 3D models and environments can be previewed in volumetric and realistic ways, enabling creators to adjust lighting, test object positioning, and check camera blocking ahead of finalizing scenes.
Sony expects that film previsualization will be a major use of the technology in the future. Another suggested use of the Spatial Reality Display will be in car dealerships, enabling customers to examine realistic customized car models without needing to actually see the vehicles in person. Judged against 2D displays, ELF-SR1’s raw specs aren’t exactly mind-blowing — 500 nits of brightness, a contrast ratio of 1,400:1, and approximately 100% of Adobe RGB in color gamut, with an undisclosed refresh ratio — but Sony is confident that users will be wowed when they see the 3D effects for themselves. The unit has 2.1-channel speakers built in and can be paired with optional accessories such as a Leap Motion gesture controller for input or a Sony-crafted stage-like box to contain content and block ambient light.
The ELF-SR1 Spatial Reality Display will sell for $5,000, within the same general price range as rival products from companies such as Looking Glass. It will start shipping in November 2020 and can be ordered directly from Sony’s website.
This article by Jeremy Horwitz originally appeared in VentureBeat.
Amazon devices and other great gifts with delivery by Christmas
Christmas is three days from now, but you can still shop online to buy gifts in time for the holiday. Amazon adds new deals to its Last-Minute Deals campaign daily.
Amazon’s 12 Days of Deals on iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Fitbit, and Instant Pot
Amazon's post-Cyber Monday 12 Days of Deals sales include bargains on many of the most popular devices from top brands. Amazon will continue to add new deals to the site to maintain buyer interest and to stay competitive with other merchants.
Sabrina or Ozark? Netflix has secret games in store for E3
The Netfix video game adaptation Stranger Things will see its third part release this July, and it will be shown at E3 2019. However, Netflix also has other unannounced games that will also be coming to the video game convention.
The post Sabrina or Ozark? Netflix has secret games in store for E3 appeared first on Digital Trends.
This Prototype App Lets Gear VR Users Mirror Their Screens to Other Devices
One of the most frustrating things about introducing people to virtual reality (VR), especially on a Samsung Gear VR, is that they can’t see what you see while you’re wearing the headset. Sony smartly included a mirror feature on the TV screen when using the PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset with a PS4 and most Oculus Rift and HTC Vive applications do something similar. But in the case of the Gear VR and other wireless headsets, you’re out of luck. Mobile devices, by default, don’t have a way of displaying their screens on other, larger screens.
There are some apps and workarounds out there that require installing third-party software on a PC, or things that potentially introduce significant lag, but there still isn’t an accessible and easy to use solution. That is, until now.
“We created a prototype of a ‘live viewer’ for the Samsung Gear VR,” said David Robustelli, Head of Digital at CapitolaVR, in an email to UploadVR. “This application makes it possible to see on a tablet what the Gear VR user is seeing in real-time.”
Robustelli sent me footage of the prototype, which you can watch above, showing a man progressing through a virtual store inside the Gear VR headset. The footage is perfectly mirrored onto a tablet that anyone could then watch to get a better idea of exactly what the VR user is looking at. This prototype application goes a step beyond simply mirroring the footage as well, even allowing creators to track where a user is going and looking while inside a VR application.
“This specific tool focuses on following the user journey though a (digital) showroom and it creates a heat map so store owners can determine how to design their stores based on the users path,” said Robustelli. “The software can also be used to make VR games even more interactive by adding a multiplayer option for the non-VR user.”
Luckily the concept doesn’t end at just tablets, as this application will theoretically work on most any network-connected device, such as TVs and computer screens as well.
“The live viewer was setup through the network of Unity,” explained Robustelli. “The Gear VR is the host, which can connect to any device/screen which allows you to connect to a network. This is in a nutshell how we made it work. So yes, any screen with connectivity would work.”
There’s no word yet on if or when this will become a consumer-facing application, but the usefulness should certainly elevate it above other non-consumer prototypes. CapitolaVR has released pieces of content for VR in the past, such as Duckpocalypse, a simple and fun wave shooter, as well as other prototypes, such as a HoloLens concept for Pokemon Go.
Tagged with: app, gear vr, live viewer, mirror, PC, tablet, tv
’24: Legacy’ Comes To Samsung VR With Prequel 360 Movie
Fans of FOX’s 24 are getting a healthy helping of new this year, with a new series and a new protagonist. For Gear VR owners, there’s a new way to watch it, too.
FOX partnered with Samsung to launch what has to be one of the biggest and most lavishly produced 360 videos yet seen on the latter’s Samsung VR service this week. The Raid, as the clip is called, is not a 360 spin-off of a martial arts movie, but instead a six-minute prequel to the upcoming 24: Legacy, a reboot for the franchise set to premiere on Feb. 5th.
Instead of Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic portrayal as Jack Bauer, the series stars Corey Hawkins as an ex-Army Ranger named Eric Carter that finds himself hunted in a revenge plot after he and his squad carry out an assassination mission on a terrorist leader. Set nine months before the first episode, the 360-degree video shows that mission in action.
It starts off as a fairly intense covert mission, with Rangers silently weaving through a Middle Eastern town. Things quickly descend into videogame-style madness, though, as the crew are spotted and come under heavy fire. The action here is some of the most aggressive, bloody and explosive yet seen in a 360 video, with sparks of yellow bullets ripping past the viewer’s eyes and loud bursts of fire constantly turning your head from one way to the other.
Plot isn’t a huge focus here, though the raid itself plays a major part of the overall story for this season. Much of the piece comes and goes without character interaction, though that isn’t necessarily a problem. The Raid is chock full of explosions and gun fights, making it a thoroughly entertaining action-fest that sticks true to the series’ roots.
Though it’s the best way to see it, you don’t have to own a Gear VR to watch The Raid; it’s also available via Samsung VR’s web portal.
Tagged with: 24: Legacy, action, fox, samsung, tv
’24: Legacy’ Comes To Samsung VR With Prequel 360 Movie
Fans of FOX’s 24 are getting a healthy helping of new this year, with a new series and a new protagonist. For Gear VR owners, there’s a new way to watch it, too.
FOX partnered with Samsung to launch what has to be one of the biggest and most lavishly produced 360 videos yet seen on the latter’s Samsung VR service this week. The Raid, as the clip is called, is not a 360 spin-off of a martial arts movie, but instead a six-minute prequel to the upcoming 24: Legacy, a reboot for the franchise set to premiere on Feb. 5th.
Instead of Kiefer Sutherland’s iconic portrayal as Jack Bauer, the series stars Corey Hawkins as an ex-Army Ranger named Eric Carter that finds himself hunted in a revenge plot after he and his squad carry out an assassination mission on a terrorist leader. Set nine months before the first episode, the 360-degree video shows that mission in action.
It starts off as a fairly intense covert mission, with Rangers silently weaving through a Middle Eastern town. Things quickly descend into videogame-style madness, though, as the crew are spotted and come under heavy fire. The action here is some of the most aggressive, bloody and explosive yet seen in a 360 video, with sparks of yellow bullets ripping past the viewer’s eyes and loud bursts of fire constantly turning your head from one way to the other.
Plot isn’t a huge focus here, though the raid itself plays a major part of the overall story for this season. Much of the piece comes and goes without character interaction, though that isn’t necessarily a problem. The Raid is chock full of explosions and gun fights, making it a thoroughly entertaining action-fest that sticks true to the series’ roots.
Though it’s the best way to see it, you don’t have to own a Gear VR to watch The Raid; it’s also available via Samsung VR’s web portal.
Tagged with: 24: Legacy, action, fox, samsung, tv
The Future Group erhält 20 Millionen US-Dollar für VR Unterhaltungsshow
The Future Group erhält 20 Millionen US-Dollar und möchte die Aufnahmen von der echten Welt mit der virtuellen Welt vermischen und daraus eine neue Show für das Fernsehen erschaffen. Aktuell arbeitet das Team mit über 100 Mitarbeitern, doch der aktuell wichtige Partner wird noch nicht genannt. Im Jahr 2017 möchte man aber eine Ankündigung machen.
The Future Group erhält 20 Millionen US-Dollar
Bård Anders Kasin, ehemaliger technischer Leiter bei Warner Bros., bezeichnet die Entwicklung als „interaktives Mixed Reality“ und als eine neue Form der Unterhaltung. Das aktuell Investment stammt von europäischen Investoren wie Ferd, Aker und 25 weiteren Geldgebern.
Was wir aktuell von dem Unternehmen sehen, ist die Möglichkeit, reale Aufzeichnungen von Menschen in den virtuellen Raum zu überführen. Diese Idee ist nicht gänzlich neu, doch vielleicht wird uns die Umsetzung von The Future Group im nächsten Jahr beeindrucken. Kasin sprach in einem früheren Interview von einer Unterhaltungssendung, bei der Menschen beispielsweise eine riesige echte Zwille aus Angry Birds benutzen und damit auf Dinge in der virtuellen Welt schießen. Außerdem sagt Kasin, könnte man auch ein echtes Auto verwenden und damit durch die virtuelle Landschaft fahren. Damit die Zuschauer aber nicht nur Zuschauer sind, können diese von Zuhause per Tablet oder Smartphone am Rennen teilnehmen.
Das besondere scheint also nicht die Mixed Reality Technologie zu sein, sondern das gesamte Konzept der Show. Die neue Show soll auf dem nächsten MIPTV Event in Cannes vorgestellt werden. Dieses Event wird vom 4. April – 7. April stattfinden.
(Quelle: Venture Beat)
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