JauntVR
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Alcatel launches a smartphone-free VR headset
Alcatel is not a big player in the global smartphone market, but that fact that it just launched a standalone headset shows how ubiquitous VR is about to become. The Vision doesn't require a separate smartphone like Samsung's Gear VR, but has all the guts of a mobile phone built right in. That includes an eight-core CPU, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, LTE and a suite of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro and proximity sensor.
Jaunt adds Dolby's cinematic sound to its VR library
Immersive, 360-degree video is great, but there's a worry that while the pictures will surround you, the audio will not. Dolby and Jaunt are looking to remedy the situation by launching a dull-sounding but important way for you to find clips that sound as good as they look. The "dedicated VR content portal featuring titles mixed in Dolby Atmos" will showcase footage that are held to Dolby's higher standards for our ears. The films are available, via Jaunt's app, for a range of platforms including GearVR, Oculus Rift, Vive and third-party headsets for Android and iOS phones.
Paul McCartney adopts VR so your grandparents don't have to
For his latest release, Sir Paul McCartney is diving headfirst into virtual reality. As The Hollywood Reporter notes today, the 73-year-old former Beatle has filmed a six-part VR documentary series with Grammy winner Tony Kaye, who also directed American History X and the music video for Soul Asylum's 1993 breakout hit "Runaway Train."
Jaunt's 'cinematic VR' tech will take you around the world
Nothing can compare to seeing the world for yourself, but visiting places through 360-degree virtual reality experiences doesn't sound that bad. Jaunt, the startup that aims to produce a ton of immersive content for everyone's VR devices, has joined forces with a travel agency called Mountain Travel Sobek. They're planning to capture MTS' adventure tours using Jaunt's "cinematic VR" platform to create a series of VR videos. Based on what the agency offers, you can expect to virtually climb mountains, go hiking on the other side of the world and see places of cultural significance you might never see in person.
ABC News introduces VR initiative with 360-degree tour of Syria
ABC News is experimenting with immersive journalism. On last night's episode of their news program, Nightline, viewers had the option to watch an accompanying 360-degree video piece on their mobile phones or computers. The in-depth story, by reporter Alexander Marquardt, took viewers on a virtual journey through Damascus, Syria, where curators are struggling to protect the country's antiquities from destruction. The network collaborated with Jaunt VR, a California-based studio that creates live-action virtual reality experiences, to produce the video that was shot on a special 16-camera device.
'Kaiju Fury!' sets the stage for 'snackable' virtual reality
The 2015 Sundance Film Festival has been taken over by virtual reality, but not every project being showcased here tells a story in a different way. Some filmmakers choose to make experiences based on computer-generated imagery; others prefer a live-action feel for their work. Kaiju Fury!, a 360-degree, 3D cinematic virtual reality film, goes with the latter approach. The project is a collaboration among New Deal Studios, Jaunt VR and the Stan Winston School of Character Arts, which combined forces last year to take more of a traditional narrative approach to VR. The result is a 5-minute short that instantly reminds you of classic franchises such as Godzilla, Jurassic Park and even Gremlins. What I saw at Sundance was a 3-minute version of Kaiju Fury!, which was being screened on a Google Cardboard headset paired with a Samsung Galaxy S5. According to Ian Hunter, who wrote and directed the short, the final cut is expected to be released in roughly two months.
Jaunt VR wants to capture the real world and put it in an Oculus Rift
When Mark Zuckerberg bought Oculus VR last month, he was looking beyond gaming. "Imagine enjoying a courtside seat at a game," he said. "Or consulting with a doctor face to face." Oculus' developing VR headgear can do more than transport us to virtual worlds -- it can help us experience the real one, too. The trick, however, is you have to figure out how to capture the world in 360 degrees before you can share it. Turns out, there's a company working on that; it calls itself Jaunt.
