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HTC's unlimited VR service comes to Valve Index headsets
You'd think that Valve's Index headset would have supported Viveport Infinity from the outset given the premium price and backwards compatibility with HTC gear, but not so -- it's only just arriving now. As of August 29th, the Index has access to the unlimited VR service and its library of games, apps and videos. It costs the same $13 per month ($9 if you commit to a year), but there is a perk for splurging on the headset. Anyone with an Index can claim two months of free Infinity access during a promo lasting through all of September, whether or not you're already an Infinity member.
HTC stops selling phones in UK while patent dispute rumbles on
HTC has stopped selling phones through its UK website while a patent issue plays out. Its handsets are all listed as out of stock, including the Exodus 1 blockchain phone, though the company is still selling them in other nations. They're also available through Amazon's UK site.
HTC's standalone VR kit will stream PC content via WiFi
We're still some way away from getting compact VR headsets that tap into cloud VR services via 5G, but for now, HTC has cooked up something that will let standalone 6DoF kits take advantage of a PC's processing power. In early Q4 this year, the Vive Focus Plus will gain a new feature dubbed Viveport Streaming, which gives it access to all Viveport content on a PC over a 5GHz WiFi connection. This means with that free update, the Vive Focus Plus will effectively double as a wireless headset for any VR-ready PC. The catch? You'll need to be a Viveport Infinity subscriber to enjoy such convenience.
HTC Vive will help more companies jump into VR
Much like how Microsoft has positioned HoloLens as an enterprise-friendly tool for training, HTC Vive wants to help businesses take advantage of virtual reality. The company is launching a new unit today, Vive Enterprise Solutions, that'll be entirely focused on professional needs, be it VR hardware, software or services. It follows the release of the Vive Pro last year, a headset that managed to fix all of the problems of the original Vive, but at a high $799 cost that would really only appeal to businesses and professionals.
HTC's Cosmos VR headset features a sharper display and six tracking cameras
HTC revealed back in January that its forthcoming VR headset, the Vive Cosmos, will be designed with comfort and accessibility in mind. Now, the company has unveiled a few more details about the device. Major features include a vented front design, to help users stay cool, and a flip-up design, which allows users to step out of VR without having to remove the headset.
HTC Vive Pro Eye is now out in North America for $1,599
At CES earlier this year, HTC showed off an updated Vive Pro headset with eye-tracking capabilities that can follow a user's eyeballs in real time. Now, the company has finally made the device available in North America after rolling it out in other parts of the globe. HTC Vive Pro Eye uses Tobii technology to follow users' gaze and ensure the part of the experience they're looking at is as sharp as possible, while the rest becomes background. The technology allows the enterprise headset to deliver realistic images and more immersive experiences.
Sprint turns on 5G service in four cities
Make that three big US carriers that have hopped aboard the 5G bandwagon -- Sprint has launched its 5G service in parts of Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Kansas City. You'll need to wait until May 31st to buy the LG V50 ThinQ or HTC 5G Hub to take advantage of those speeds, but the experience might be better than for some rivals when Sprint is boasting of the biggest "initial" 5G coverage to date.
'Game of Thrones' VR experience lets you join the Night's Watch
If you haven't quite come to terms with Game of Thrones ending, you might be pleased to learn there's a VR title based on the series arriving this week called Beyond The Wall. You'll join the Night's Watch and defend The Wall against an army of the dead in the game, which will be exclusive to HTC's Viveport Infinity subscription service.
HTC Viveport store will support Windows MR headsets on June 5th
HTC is continuing to widen access to its Viveport VR store. As of June 5th, all Windows Mixed Reality headsets will have access to Viveport, including its Viveport Infinity subscription service. Only about 200 of the 600 Infinity titles will work with WMR headsets out of the gate, but this should still significantly expand the catalog of titles you can try using Microsoft's official headset platform. Pony up for Infinity and you'll also get access to 'premium' material on Viveport Video.
What to expect at Computex 2019
Computex offers us a chance to check in on the health of the PC market in an era when it was expected to wither on the vine. At last year's show, the PC industry, either through desperation or a newfound confidence, started to innovate once more. We saw designs with multiple screens, attempts to kill off the keyboard and better ideas around portability. It may have taken far longer than expected, but PC makers have realized they can't simply expect people to buy their products just because. So this what we're expecting, and in some cases hoping, to see this year at Computex when we hit the ground in Taiwan next week.
HTC will release a cheaper blockchain phone later this year
HTC is dead serious about its foray into crypto-phones. Today, the Taiwanese company announced the Exodus 1s, a cheaper version of the Exodus flagship that was launched last year. We don't know much about the mid-range device beyond its price -- somewhere in the $250 to $300 region, according to a spokesperson -- and its release date, which is currently slated for "the end of Q3." The basic specs, including its processor, display and camera setup, are all a mystery for now.
HTC's Viveport Video service will work on rival VR headsets
HTC has introduced a virtual reality video platform of its own on Vive's third birthday, and it will even work on its competitors' headsets. The new service called Viveport Video will give you access to a library of not just 180- and 360-degree videos, but also 2D ones, in a native VR environment. It's now available as a free download on Viveport and Steam, and it will soon be out on the Oculus store.
HTC Streamlink turns VR headsets into big screens for console gaming
One surprise announcement coming out of today's Vive Ecosystem Conference in Shenzhen is HTC's Streamlink, an in-house VR app that lets your PC-powered or standalone Vive headset -- like the new Vive Focus Plus -- receive HDMI signal from any USB video capture card -- some of which can be bought for as low as $65 per piece in China, according to an HTC rep. There are many potential use cases here, of course, but HTC is specifically pitching this as a new way of playing games on your consoles -- namely PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One S -- as well as watching videos from your set-top box.
HTC's work-oriented Vive Focus Plus headset arrives mid-April for $799
If you're eager to don HTC's professional Vive Focus Plus headset, you won't have much longer to wait... although you will pay a hefty sum for the privilege. The company has announced that the Focus Plus will be available through the Vive website in mid-April for $799 in 25 markets around the world. That's a hefty increase over the $599 you'd pay for the enterprise version of the original Vive Focus, but HTC is clearly betting that the Plus' advanced performance will make all the difference for exacting users.
HTC's unlimited VR service launches April 2nd for $99 per year
HTC is nearly ready to launch its unlimited Viveport Infinity service after months of teasing. The VR subscription tier is launching on April 2nd for $13 per month or $99 per year, and will offer more than 600 apps and games for both Vive headsets and Oculus Rift. Your access will also carry over to stand-alone headsets based on Vive's Wave platform. You'll also get perks such as a revised Viveport Video app, monthly 10 percent discount coupons and the occasional freebie.
US conducts criminal investigation into Facebook's data deals
Investigations into Facebook's data handling keep piling up. The New York Times has learned that federal prosecutors are in the midst of a criminal investigation into the data deals Facebook arranged with tech companies. It's not known when the investigation began or just what the focus is, but a New York grand jury reportedly used subpoenas to obtain records from two or more "prominent makers of smartphones." The deals included heavyweights like Apple, Microsoft and Sony.
HTC resurfaces with info on Android Pie for U11, U11+ and U12+
After selling some of its operations to Google, HTC isn't quite the player in the phone business that we remember, but it still has some impressive hardware that could use a software update. Back in August the company announced several phones in line for an upgrade to Android 9 Pie, but since then things have been pretty quiet, even as other flagship phones slowly ticked themselves off of the list. While its Android One U11 Life model is already operating on Google's latest software, the company tweeted Monday that it "anticipates" updates for the U11, U11+ and U12+ in Q2. That could vary based on countries and operators, but there's at least a chance users could see Pie before the likely reveal of Android Q at Google's I/O developer event in early May.
Engadget at 15: A look at how much tech has changed
A lot has changed since Engadget was born, both in the gadgets we use and what we do with them on a regular basis. When the site started in 2004, fitness trackers, voice assistants and electric cars were the stuff of fiction. Now most of these are commonplace, so much so that we put our trust in them on a daily basis. To celebrate Engadget's 15th birthday, here are 15 things that didn't exist 15 years ago.
The final dispatch from MWC 2019
All the phones have been powered down here in Barcelona. Some have even been folded up to make the journey home. After a week's worth of flagships, foldables and 5G, we're departing MWC with a good idea of what the immediate future of phones looks like. We covered a lot of news over the last few days, and it's understandable if you didn't catch all of it. Here are the biggest stories from the show.
HTC's Exodus smartphone is about much more than Bitcoin
'A blockchain phone? But why?' That was my first reaction when I read about the HTC Exodus last year. It felt like a wild, foolish bet from a company that's struggling for sales and relevancy in the mobile space. But then I spoke with Phil Chen, the company's "Decentralized Chief Officer." I'm still skeptical of the product's commercial viability, but I have a better idea of what the Taiwanese manufacturer is trying to achieve. It might sound silly and ill-conceived, but HTC genuinely wants to improve society with this phone.
