The head of VR headset developer Valve has said he is “comfortable” with the notion that the technology could turn out to be a complete failure. Gabe Newell, MD of the game studio, made the statement in an interview with news site Polygon. Valve is co-developer of the Vive VR headset with phone firm HTC. […]
In an interview in UK newspaper The Independent, Apple CEO Tim Cook has offered a shining endorsement of augmented reality (AR), arguing that it is preferable to virtual reality (VR) for many applications. “I’m excited about augmented reality because unlike virtual reality which closes the world out, AR allows individuals to be present in the […]
After a content-starved market introduction, virtual reality (VR) is ready to thrive off a swath of new and compelling content choices. ABI Research forecasts total VR device shipments will reach 110 million by 2021. While mobile device-reliant VR shipments—such as Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream—dwarf today’s other VR device types, standalone devices will see […]
Ahead of the February 18th launch of Season 6 of talent show The Voice in France, commercial broadcaster TF1 has unveiled its first VR experience, and the first to be to linked to an entertainment show in the country. Accessible via the MyTF1VR app, the VR experience will enable users to watch all of the […]
US superstore chain Best Buy has reportedly closed 200 of its 500 in-store Oculus Rift VR demo stations. Best Buy has yet to give a clear indication why the demo stations are being pulled, but Business Insider reports that Best Buy employees have informed them that often “days would go by without anyone wanting to […]
The co-founder and CEO of The LADBible Group, the co-founder and former President of Maker Studios and senior management executives from ITN Productions, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) and Bell Pottinger are amongst the investors backing media entrepreneur Damian Collier’s latest digital venture Blend Media. Blend Media is a 360° video and Virtual Reality content and creator platform […]
Europe’s booming virtual reality (VR) ecosystem now consists of nearly 300 companies, according to the first European Virtual Reality landscape released by The Venture Reality Fund and France’s LucidWeb. Silicon Valley-based venture firm The Venture Reality Fund tracks investments in the augmented reality and VR markets, but most of the action in the past has focused […]
Video compression solutions specialist ATEME’s technology was used for the VR near-live coverage in Ultra High Definition (UHD) of Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, in partnership with Fox Sports and LiveLike. They teamed up to offer a virtual and interactive lounge during the game that presented highlights in […]
Digi-Capital’s Augmented/Virtual Reality Report and deals database recorded VCs and corporate investors pouring $2.3 billion (€2.1bn) into VR/AR startups last year, or over 3 times the $700+ million invested in 2015. 300 per cent investment growth in 12 months is impressive in any sector, let alone such an early stage market. AR hardware player Magic […]
Facebook’s VR business Oculus has been ordered by a court to pay $500 million (€462.4m) to video game maker ZeniMax. The verdict, in a Texas district court, ruled that Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey had failed to comply with a non-disclosure agreement signed with ZeniMax in 2012. Nonetheless, the jury decided that Oculus had not misappropriated […]