Tag: virtual reality

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Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 is $70 off on Amazon and Best Buy

You can buy an Oculus Quest 2 from Amazon or Best Buy and get a $70 digital credit.

The promotion is applicable to both the new 128GB variant introduced in August and the 256GB storage version.

The 128GB Quest 2 is currently listed for $399.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. With the new promotion, you get a $70 digital discount, essentially bringing the price down to $329.99. Similarly, the 256GB headset is listed for $549.99, but with the promotion applied, you spend $479.99.

Purchase the Oculus Quest 2 from Amazon before November 29th with promo code ‘OCULUS70,’ and you’ll receive an email with your digital discount.

Purchase the Oculus Quest 2 from Best Buy and you’ll receive an email with a $70 Best Buy eGift card. If you decide to purchase the Quest 2 in-store, you’ll get a physical $70 eGift card on the spot.

It’s worth noting that last December, a small number of Oculus Quest 2 users experienced skin irritation due to the VR headset’s foam cushion gasket, prompting Facebook to halt the headset’s sale. Further, the company issued a voluntary joint recall with Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to replace the facial foam gasket. The VR headset has since been redesigned to solve this issue and rereleased.

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Image credit: Amazon

Source: Amazon

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Apple’s mixed reality headset could launch in early 2022

Apple’s often-rumoured mixed reality headset could release in early 2022, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an often-reliable source of leaks.

In his latest PowerOn newsletter, Gurman says that Apple’s AR/VR headset will be expensive and that it includes high-end components and features. He goes on to say that it’s possible the rumoured device could be revealed as early as next year and that it will be able to handle “high-quality” VR titles.

Rumours regarding Apple’s mixed reality headset have swirled for several years at this point, with some speculation pointing to it featuring a pair of 8K displays and a price in the $3,900 USD (about $3,852 CAD) range. In a sense, rumours surrounding Apple’s mixed reality headset paint a picture of a device that sounds like a higher-end version of the Oculus Quest 2.

Along with a more traditional AR/VR headset, Apple is also rumoured to have plans to launch augmented reality glasses “years down the road,” according to Gurman’s newsletter.

With rumours surrounding Apple’s AR/VR ambitions appearing so frequently, it’s almost certain that there’s at least some level of truth to them. However, what remains unclear is when we’ll actually catch our first glimpse of the device.

Source: Bloomberg 

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PS2 Classic GTA: San Andreas is coming to VR with the Oculus Quest 2

During its Connect 2021 event, Facebook Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is coming to the Oculus Quest 2.

It’s unclear when the game will release, how much it will cost or even really what the PlayStation 2 classic will look like running in virtual reality (VR). During the event, only a brief snippet of the game in action was shown off. Oculus’ website lists GTA: San Andreas for the Quest 2 as a “project many years in the making.”

Remasters of GTA: San Andreas, Vice City and San Andreas are set to release on November 11th across Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as mobile devices.

As fun as it would be to check out Grove Street in VR, I’m not sure a title like San Andreas could be played from the first-person perspective. That said, GTA V on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 featured a first-person mode, so maybe bringing San Andreas to VR isn’t that far-fetched.

Resident Evil 4 was recently ported to the Oculus Quest. While I haven’t tested out the game myself, it has received pretty positive reviews so far.

During its Connect 2021 event, Facebook also revealed that it’s changing its name to ‘Meta.’ 

Source: Facebook

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HTC unveils its new $649 Vive Flow VR headset with immersive spatial audio

At its annual Vive event, HTC launched its all-new HTC Vive Flow immersive glasses that touts as an all-in-one virtual reality (VR) headset designed for meditation, relaxation and to consume content on the go.

“We believe VIVE Flow can help everyone be more present, more mindful, and more relaxed,” said Jeff Pohlman, HTC head of global communications during the product launch.

Weighing in at just 189g, the new headset features a dual-hinge design and a snap-on face cushion for added comfort. It can be paired with an Android smartphone via Bluetooth, to use the latter as a three degrees of freedom (3DOF) controller or to stream content from the device directly to the headset.

The headset supports immersive spatial audio built into its frame, along with two microphones placed at the front with echo and noise-cancellation for ease of calling. It has an ‘active cooling system’ to maintain low temperatures throughout the headset and your face and adjustable diopter lenses for universal use.

In terms of performance, the Vive Flow features two LCD screens, a 3.2K resolution and a 75hz refresh rate. The headset can be used to play games, watch movies and TV shows, or participate in a range of wellness-related activities and programs.

The HTC Vice Flow is now available to pre-order for $649. Customers that pre-order the headset before October 31st will also receive a travel case, a 2-month subscription to Viveport Infinity, and downloadable content.

It’s worth noting that the HTC Vive Flow does not pair with an iPhone, however, HTC might add iOS compatibility in the near future.

Check out HTC’s launch event below:

Image credit: VIVE

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Mobile Syrup

Leaked images of HTC’s rumoured Vive Flow shows features, pricing and more

HTC’s upcoming virtual reality headset, rumoured to be called the Vive Flow, has leaked in a variety of images shared by the prolific Evan Blass. 

The Vive Flow is reportedly a lightweight headset developed for consumers and is described as an all-in-one VR headset, which means it doesn’t need to be connected to a PC or a phone.

This device is primarily positioned as a media consumption device that offers only some casual gaming. The device is also poised to launch without any handheld controllers and is to be less powerful than the Oculus Quest 2, according to a source that spoke with Protocol.

Additionally, the headset is supposed to feature six degrees of freedom tracking, which means that it should be even more immersive than Facebook’s old Oculus Go device.

The images shared by Blass also reveal that the headset will offer a dual-hinge so that it can fit the heads of most people as well as a snap-on face cushion, adjustable lenses, active cooling system and immersive spatial audio.  Additionally, it will be able to connect with your phone via Bluetooth and work as a VR controller, and offers phone to VR streaming via Miracast.

Blass’ tweet also indicates that pre-orders start October 15th and shipments commence early November. Additionally, it’ll cost $499 USD ($620 CAD), come with seven “free VR contents” (unclear what that is) and comes with a carrying case if you pre-order.

Image Credit: Evan Blass 

Source: Evan Blass, Protocol

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s often-rumoured VR headset could feature 3,000ppi Micro OLED display

Apple’s rumoured virtual reality/augmented reality headset could include a high-resolution micro OLED display with 3,000 pixels per inch (ppi), according to South Korean publication The Elec.

If true, this would mean the headset features one of the highest display resolutions in a VR headset yet. Previous rumours have hinted that Apple is working on two head-mounted devices, including a pair of Apple augmented reality glasses that look like regular glasses and feature built-in AR notifications and a more traditional VR/AR headset.

The Elec’s report says that Apple has requested a sample from APS Holdings, a South Korean company that uses a process called Fine Metal Mask (FMM) to create next-gen OLED displays. Apple has reportedly asked for a sample of APS’ laser patterning FMM screen that features a 3,000ppi.

“Pixel sizes in OLED panels used in smartphones and TVs range from 40 micrometers to 300 micrometers. Those in MicroOLED panel range from 4 micrometers to 20 micrometers. MicroOLED also has microseconds response time and is a likely candidate to be used for VR and augmented reality (AR) applications,” reads the Elec’s report

A previous report from The Information indicated that Apple’s VR headset will feature two 8K displays and a price tag of approximately $3,000 USD (roughly $3,799 CAD).

Though leaks regarding the VR headset’s potential release date are a little all over the place, it’s likely we won’t catch a glimpse of the rumoured devices until at least 2022.

Source: The Elec Via: MacRumors