How virtual reality is created

For years it feels like we've done the same thing. At tech and gaming trade shows across the country, we journalists have engaged with impressive technical demos that demonstrate the capabilities of this long-promised, soon-to-come wave of new virtual reality hardware. But as the first of those PC-compatible headsets get closer to launch (the HTC Vive is still planned for this year, Oculus Rift in early 2016), such tech demos are quickly giving way to time with actual games that real developers are planning to release alongside the hardware. Experimenting on near-final hardware, rather than through downloads on a home development kit, has gone a long way to calming fears of nauseating and/or hard-to-use VR headsets in this first generation. And while these titles are genuinely still in development—meaning they're hard to gauge fully in demos that can last only 10 or 15 minutes—they have given us our best idea yet of the … [Read more...] about Virtually ready: Diving into VR’s most promising PC launch titles

Snapchat’s Spectacles are like GoPros for your face. The sunglasses’ two embedded cameras immediately capture photos and videos when one of the discreet buttons on the temple is pressed. Released today, Spectacles 3 is Snapchat’s latest model, and can now produce three-dimensional photos and videos with animated augmented reality effects.For the past week, I’ve been testing the company’s new, quite pricey $380 face camera, which is currently available in limited quantities on Snapchat’s website. The new Specs seem to be the ultimate ~influencer~ wearable, designed specifically to create eye-popping imagery that will stand out in a social media feed.For normals, the first-person footage captured by the Spectacles is wonderfully — and surprisingly — personal. But the new animated AR video filters don’t add much and, in fact, distract from intimate scenes. The new Spectacles are unquestionably hip. They have steel, rounded frames … [Read more...] about I’m Not Cool Enough To Wear Snapchat’s New Spectacles

To 5G or not to 5G? Galaxy Note 10 delivers 'extremely capable upgrade' for business users Samsung just announced its Galaxy Note series update with the Note 10 and Note 10 Plus. Expected internal updates were made, along with improvements to the S Pen capability and camera functionality. Read more: https://zd.net/2ZGxFST More Samsung Samsung goes rugged: Meet Galaxy Tab Active Pro Samsung steps up B2B efforts Teased: Foldable clamshell smartphone concept Samsung discusses Bixby adoption, SmartThings expansion, and One UI 2 improvements Samsung announces Galaxy Book Flex and Ion: Premium ultra-thin laptops with QLED displays Samsung, IBM team up on platform to track vital signs, health data for first responders How to watch the keynote (CNET) Samsung Bixby 2.0: Cheat sheet (TechRepublic) Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 10 lineup including a smaller-screen version that is designed to expand into the consumer market as well as court more corporate buyers even as it … [Read more...] about Galaxy Note 10: Two sizes so Samsung can expand beyond productivity loyalists