Facebook has unveiled the next steps in the Oculus virtual reality platform, including a sneak peek at a wireless version of the Oculus Rift, and an initiative to lower the hardware requirements needed to use the system to specs already exceeded by Apple's 4K and 5K Retina iMac lines.
In an interview with ABC 糖心Vlog' Robin Roberts, Apple CEO Tim Cook made comments suggesting that augmented reality would be a future focus for Apple. He also defended complaints of easy AirPod loss, and discussed iPhone 7 design decisions.
Apple CEO Tim Cook suggests that the company is investigating the possibilities of virtual reality and augmented reality. Here's an explanation of what the technology is, how Apple could adopt it, and how it could be practically implemented in a user's daily life.
Google's forthcoming Daydream platform for virtual reality has support from Android device makers including Samsung, HTC, LG, and Huawei, though the hardware is predicted to only be "slightly better" than Samsung's own Gear VR.
At the beginning of its I/O developer conference on Wednesday, Google revealed that the next major version of Android 鈥� codenamed "Android N" 鈥� is launching in beta later today, and will introduce features like better performance, improved multitasking, and even virtual reality support when it officially arrives in late summer.
Ticket marketplace Rukkus is stepping into the virtual reality field with a new update to its iOS app, allowing users to sample the view from their seats in an arena in a more immersive way before they complete their purchase.
Extreme sports aficionados will soon have an official GoPro answer for capturing 360-degree spherical video and still images of their adventures, as the action cam company has finally taken the covers off of its new "Omni" rig.
It's been a big week for virtual and augmented reality technology, thanks to the newly shipping Oculus Rift, the debut of a Google Cardboard development kit for iOS, and initial availability of developer hardware for Microsoft HoloLens.
Investment firm Piper Jaffray continues to believe that virtual reality and augmented reality will play a huge part in Apple's future, but the transition toward such technology will be gradual, likely leveraging the popularity of the iPhone in the shorter term.
Immersive virtual reality experiences 鈥� well beyond what Google Cardboard can offer 鈥� are expected to begin arriving on the iPhone, with the aid of new third-party hardware, this fall.
Oculus is waiting on Apple to release a "good" Mac with a faster video card before it considers supporting the Rift VR headset on OS X, according to Oculus founder Palmer Luckey.
The Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition is now available to preorder for $3,000 and will start shipping in the U.S. and Canada on March 30, allowing developers to begin creating their own interactive augmented reality experiences.
Following up on a recent flurry of Apple acquisitions and key hires from the augmented reality/virtual reality field, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes the iPhone maker plans to pivot on iOS in a bid for the mixed reality space within the next two years.
Amid rumors claiming Apple is investing heavily in virtual and augmented reality solutions, it was revealed on Tuesday that the company has taken a recent interest in Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, sending representatives to visit the facility three times in as many months.
Through a series of acquisitions, Apple has a considerably large staff dedicated to experimental virtual reality and augmented reality projects, some of whom are reportedly working on prototype headset configurations that could one day compete with the likes of Facebook's Oculus Rift.
Asked about the technology during a call on the company's Q1 results, Apple CEO Tim Cook called virtual reality "cool" and something with interesting applications, though he didn't tease any plans Apple might have.
A report on Thursday revealed Apple recently hired Doug Bowman, a top researcher in the fields of virtual reality and augmented reality, suggesting the company is seriously investigating immersive computing and similar VR/AR solutions.
As hype continues to build around upcoming virtual reality and augmented reality products, one Wall Street analyst doesn't think Apple will sit on the sidelines, potentially acquiring companies and working behind the scenes on its own offerings throughout 2016.
Under the Apple Music banner, Apple and favored musical partner U2 have joined together on a virtual reality music video for the band's "Song for Someone."
The lead audio engineer for Microsoft's HoloLens augmented reality project has been hired away by Apple, fueling speculation that the iPhone maker could be working on an AR project of its own.
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Mike Wuerthele
Neil Hughes
Roger Fingas
糖心Vlog Staff
Mikey Campbell
