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Leap Motion will bring your hands into mobile VR
Leap Motion has been working on making your interactions in VR as realistic as possible, but it's only been available to desktop or console systems. Now, the company has expanded its scope to mobile devices with its new Mobile Platform, designed for "untethered, battery-powered virtual and augmented reality devices." It has built a reference system of its new sensor and platform on top of a Gear VR, that it says it is shipping to headset makers around the world. Leap Motion is also bringing demos of its Interaction Engine (for natural hand gestures) in this portable medium to major VR events this month.
New York Times is making daily VR videos with Samsung's help
The New York Times isn't just dabbling in virtual reality for the occasional special presentation -- it wants to make 360-degree videos as commonplace as the crossword puzzle. The newspaper has launched The Daily 360, a feature that (shocker) offers "at least" one VR video every day, whether it's from a major news story or simply an interesting experience. The first Daily 360 illustrates the aftermath of a Saudi airstrike in Yemen (see it below), but other clips will cover everything from the final days of the US presidential election to Fashion Week.
Game studios go all-out with Halloween events and sales
Game developers thrive on seasonal events, and that's truer than ever this Halloween. It's not just themed skins and game modes, although there are plenty of those -- there are some serious bargains to be had, whether you're a Steam veteran or just getting into virtual reality. Even PlayStation Now has some Halloween goodies. We've rounded up some of the spookier events and sales to make sure you don't miss out.
Watch Samsung VR's latest scripted series this weekend
Assuming you still have a phone to slot into your Gear VR, you'll have something new to watch this weekend. Invisible is the latest scripted series on the Samsung VR platform, and is helmed by Edge of Tomorrow and The Bourne Identity director, Doug Liman. The way Wired describes it, Invisible sounds pretty cool. The five-episode series follows the lives of an ultra-rich, but reclusive family with its hands in just about everything. The reason for living in secrecy? Well, as you might be able to guess from the show's name, certain family members can disappear in plain sight.
Comic books come to VR through an app
You may have felt immersed in a comic book before, but never quite so literally as this. Madefire has released a free Gear VR preview app that lets you read its Motion Books in virtual reality. As you might guess, it's all about depth. Pages now fill your view, and creators can add 3D layers to individual panels. While it's not real 3D (your childhood dreams of exploring comic universes will have to wait), it beats staring at completely flat pictures on a PC or tablet.
Oculus disables Gear VR app on Samsung's Galaxy Note 7
Oculus has pushed an update to the Galaxy Note 7 that disables the Gear VR app on the device, according to several sources. Instead of loading the app, it shows a message (above) stating that "until further notice, Note 7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR." The move is a prudent one, given the device's tendency to catch fire or even explode, and the fact that the Gear VR puts the smartphone in close proximity to your face and eyes.
Oculus brings VR gameplay streams to your Facebook news feed
Facebook has been experimenting with livestreaming gaming for a bit, and now Oculus is coming into the fold. You'll be able to broadcast your Gear VR gameplay to the world's largest social network. From the stage presentation, perhaps unsurprisingly it resembles how the current streams work. Basically, it looks like a status update, and you can tag friends, comment and talk smack. Or, ill-timed words of encouragement from your family members as you blast away enemies. Because that's how Facebook works.
'Minecraft' October updates are big deals for tweakers and VR
Minecraft is close to some updates that could seriously alter how you play if you like to mess with game mechanics... or simply immerse yourself in a virtual world. An upgrade arriving October 18th for Minecraft's Windows 10, Pocket and Gear VR editions will introduce Add-Ons, which let you change how characters and objects behave by tweaking text files. Want giant chickens, or Creepers that trigger huge explosions? It's now relatively trivial. Think of it as an entry point into the world of game mods without having to learn programming.
Xbox controller support is coming to Samsung's Gear VR headset
Last month, Microsoft announced plans to bring Xbox Wireless tech to PCs and other gaming accessories starting with Lenovo's IdeaCentre Y710 Cube. Today, the company went a step further with controller support for Samsung's Gear VR headset. That's right, the Xbox Wireless Controller will soon work with Samsung's phone-driven virtual reality device. Minecraft: Gear VR Edition will be the first game to make use of the feature, but eventually you'll be able to use it on any Gear VR title with controller support.
Oculus makes achievements a part of Gear VR and Rift games
Oculus is joining the ranks of Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Steam and even GameCenter. That's right: Rift and Gear VR games are adding achievements. They're live in a handful of games now including Minecraft and Hitman Go and it'll only be a matter of time before they become the rule rather than the exception. As The Verge writes, the update will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and you'll be able to opt out of sharing the meta-challenge activities if you want. You know, if you're ever embarrassed of playing the inevitable Candy Crush VR in the future.
VR documentary puts you inside the 2016 NBA Finals
The National Basketball Association began experimenting with virtual reality last year, when it used the medium to stream the first game of its 2015 season. Now, the league has teamed up with Oculus on a VR documentary about last year's championship matchup, between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Titled Follow my Lead: The Story of the 2016 NBA Finals, this 360-degree video experience aims to take you where traditional TV can't, giving you a first-person look at the action on and off the court.
Of course EE's hyping wireless headphones on iPhone 7 day
EE's Add to Plan scheme lets anyone taking out a two-year smartphone contract walk away with accessories in exchange for a couple of extra quid tacked onto their bill each month. Launched last year, EE today announced a slight change to the T&Cs. Instead of the cost being spread over 18 months and customers paying a premium for the convenience, they'll now square it away in 11 and pay out no more than the retail price. A wider product range will soon be offered, too, including wearables from Fitbit (from £8 per month), smartwatches and Samsung's Gear VR headset (also £8 per month).
Fox starts the Bundesliga season with a soccer VR broadcast
Fox Sports and NextVR are at it again. The two have paired up for live sports broadcasts in VR before and now they're bringing those immersive views to the pitch in Munich. This weekend marks the beginning of the Bundesliga soccer season in Germany, so what better way to celebrate the kickoff than with a virtual reality live stream. Friday's matchup between defending league champions Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen will be available in VR for owners of Samsung's Gear VR headset. What's more, this is the first time Bundesliga action has been available in virtual reality.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 and new Gear VR headset are available now
Samsung announced a host of new gear earlier this month, the most notable of which is its excellent new Galaxy Note 7 handset, and it's all available now in the US. The phone is now on sale at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Sprint stores as well as at Best Buy, Target, Walmart and a handful of other retailers. If you loathe going to retail locations, you can pick it up on Samsung or straight from the carriers online.
Watching Olympics coverage in VR is fun, but TV is still better
Many people complained about the tape delay and excessive ads for NBC's Rio 2016 Olympics opening ceremony coverage, but there was another option. If you had a Samsung Gear VR headset and were willing to wait a day, you could watch it in 360-degree video as if you were at Rio's Maracanã Stadium. That's what I did, and it was indeed pretty cool: You're immersed in the event and can look at whatever grabs your eye. The execution and technology are still lacking, unfortunately, which degraded the experience, but it's easy to see how it could one day be a spectacular way to view live events.
Six Flags adds a gaming twist to its VR roller coasters
Six Flags first announced that it was teaming up with Samsung to outfit roller coaster riders with Gear VR headsets back in the spring. The theme park company is taking its virtual reality project to another level though, adding a gaming component to the immersive visuals. Before now, the addition of VR to rides just added a different visual experience to the ride itself. With the new "Rage of the Gargoyles," riders take flight in an Apache-style helicopter to battle "blood-thirsty" beasts.
What happened at Samsung Unpacked 2016?
Wondering what all the fuss was about Samsung's Unpacked 2016 event earlier today? Let our Senior Mobile Editor Chris Velazco explain everything you need to know about the new Galaxy Note 7 and its accompanying accessories. Those include an upgraded S Pen stylus, a new and improved Gear VR headset, and the US debut of the Gear 360 camera. Of course, the spectacle of the show may have surpassed the tech, so press play and get a taste of what it was like -- all in just two and a half minutes.
Samsung's Gear VR headset gets a more comfortable design
Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 is neat and all, but its USB Type-C port means it's incompatible with the Gear VR headset you might have lying around. Never fear, though: The company built a new, more comfortable version of its VR face-screen that you'll be able to pick up August 19th, the same day the phone itself goes on sale. I strapped on the updated rig for a bit of face time and, I'll tell you right now, it's pretty fantastic.
We're live from Samsung's 2016 Unpacked event in New York!
Samsung is holding its annual Unpacked event in New York City today, and we're here ready to bring you all the news as it happens. As is often the case with its summer Unpacked events, we're highly likely to see the new Galaxy Note 7 this morning (yup, Samsung is skipping right over "6" in its naming scheme). There have also been rumors of refreshed VR hardware, and the company may have other surprises up its sleeve today. For all the news as it happens, stay tuned in right here -- we'll keep you updated on everything Samsung has to show us today.
Leak: Samsung's next Gear VR works with your old phone
The Galaxy Note 7 isn't likely to be the only treat at Samsung's August 2nd media event... and you may well be happy even if you have no intention of buying a new smartphone. Well-known tipster OnLeaks and French tech site Nowhereelse claim to have both a photo and details of the next Gear VR headset, and it's all good news if true. While the virtual reality gear will reportedly support the Note 7, which should have a USB-C port, it should still support Samsung flagship phones as far back as the Galaxy S6. And it could be a more immersive experience, too -- the new Gear supposedly has a wider 110-degree view versus the 96 degrees of its predecessor, so it'll feel less like you're staring through a porthole.
