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Magic Leap’s Independent Creator Program delivers its first app
Last fall, Magic Leap launched its Independent Creator Program (ICP), which was meant to give developers the funding and support they need to launch apps and games on the company's augmented reality headset. Today, the first app to come out of the program is available. Portugal-based ONTOP Studios has created PuzzlAR: World Tour, an AR version of its popular mobile game, for Magic Leap One.
Facebook snags exclusive VR games for Oculus headsets
Facebook wants to give Oculus a boost by acquiring game studios and signing exclusive deals for VR versions of well-known games. According to The Information, Facebook plans to bring Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell to Oculus Quest and Rift S. Facebook will reportedly invest less than $1 billion in this approach, but The Information claims Mark Zuckerberg is personally involved.
Logitech's G Pro X headset helps you sound like a pro streamer
After teasing it earlier this week, Logitech has now revealed its new gaming headset, designed to help you sound like a professional streamer. The G Pro X marks the debut of Blue VO!CE software, which includes a suite of real-time mic effects that will let you tune your voice based on your individual preferences. Out of the box, you'll be able to select preset filter profiles that match your own voice's unique tone and volume, or you can customize a filter using pro-grade effects such as a compressor, de-esser and de-popper.
Valve releases mod-friendly CAD files for its Index VR headset
You knew that Valve was going to support modding for its Index VR headset when it included a "frunk" just for accessories, but now the company is offering some of the tools you need to make those mods. It's releasing CAD files that can help you model accessories for the headset itself, the base station and the controllers. They're not just basic blueprints -- there are "inclusion zone" models to help you avoid interfering with sensors, and sample accessories give you an idea of what's possible.
Apple hires one of ARM's top chip designers
Apple appears to be making up for its loss of chip designer talent. The company has quietly hired ARM Lead CPU Architect Mike Filippo to serve as a chip architect. It's not certain just what he'll do at Apple, but hes work at ARM focused on high-end CPU designs including the Cortex-A76 and future models like Hercules and Zeus. He also worked on "infrastructure-focused" and "automotive-enhanced" processors, and was instrumental to designs for both AMD and Intel.
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.
Magic Leap says Nreal founder stole its mixed reality secrets
The founder of Nreal -- the company which debuted its $499 mixed reality glasses at this year's CES -- has been accused of stealing AR secrets from former employer, US-based Magic Leap. The Florida startup, which has been working on a mixed reality device for years, says that ex-engineer Chi Xu exploited confidential information to "quickly develop a prototype of lightweight, ergonomically designed, mixed reality glasses for use with smart phones and other devices that are strikingly similar" to the Magic Leap One device.
SteelSeries' $50 Arctis headset is for gamers on a budget
SteelSeries has released an Arctis headset aimed at more budget-conscious gamers, though it uses many of the same components as the Arctis 3, 5, 7 and 9X. The Arctis 1 has the same design, speaker drivers, cushions and noise-canceling microphone as its siblings. The latter is detachable rather than retractable to help convert it from headset to headphones.
Razer launches its first lightweight Kraken headset
Razer's new ultra-light headset could be your well-priced answer to a heavy head and sweaty ears. The wired Kraken X weighs in at just 250 grams, comes with 7.1 surround sound and costs $50. Other features include memory foam ear cushions, glasses-friendly eyewear channels and an adjustable headband, plus a bendable cardioid mic with a tight pickup pattern that suppresses background noise. The two models, Kraken X and Kraken X for Console, are on sale directly from Razer now, and will be available elsewhere later this summer.
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.
Qualcomm made a headset to remind the world it has an AR chip
Last year, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon XR1 chip just for virtual reality devices, but so far, we haven't seen any headsets built to use it. Now, for Augmented World Expo, the company has released its own "Smart Viewer Reference Design" headset in order to reduce AR and VR headset development time. It looks to hold a lot of potential, packing just about every feature you'd want in a VR/AR wearable.
Oculus' next-gen Quest and Rift S headsets go on sale May 21st
After months upon months of waiting, Oculus is finally ready to deliver its next generation of VR headsets. Both the stand-alone Oculus Quest and PC-dependent Oculus Rift S will be available to buy on May 21st in 22 countries, with pre-orders starting today (April 30th). Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft and Walmart are among the outlets carrying both devices. The Rift S is available in just one $399 trim, while the Quest starts at $399 for a version with 64GB of built-in storage, and $499 for 128GB of space.
Valve's Index VR kit goes on sale tomorrow for $999
Valve fans rejoice! The company today unveiled its Index VR kit, which consists of a $500 headset, $279 controllers and two $149 base stations. You can get the entire kit for $1,000 or the headset and controllers for $749, or buy everything individually if you prefer. Pre-orders begin tomorrow.
Lenovo may soon release a Marvel-themed AR headset
Back in 2017 Lenovo released a Star Wars-themed augmented reality (AR) headset. We're guessing that must have worked out pretty well for the company, as a new FCC filing suggests it's now working on new hardware linked to another major franchise: Marvel.
Apple hires the founder of VR content startup Jaunt
Apple just made another key hire to bolster its augmented reality plans. Variety has discovered that Apple recently hired Arthur van Hoff (shown at left), the founder of VR content startup Jaunt, as a Senior Architect for an unnamed team. While it's not certain what he'll be doing, van Hoff is a veteran of multi-camera systems and video creation for AR and VR, not to mention capturing 3D images using depth-sensing cameras. He'd been helping Jaunt shift its focus to AR until he bowed out in December 2018.
Valve's Index VR headset will ship June 15th
You won't have to wait until May to learn more about Valve's Index VR headset. Valve briefly posted (and promptly removed) unfinished pages for the Index that offer both a clearer look at the headset and reveal a June 15th ship date (Engadget has confirmed this with Valve). While the company didn't provide vivid detail about the headset proper, it showed that the Index would included its own headphones. It also appears that you'll have the option of buying separate base stations and Knuckles motion controllers (now Valve Index Controllers) on top of any potential bundles.
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.
Razer’s new gaming accessories cut a few corners to bring prices down
In addition to making its RazerCare protection plans available for peripherals, Razer is expanding its lineup with a slightly more affordable keyboard, mouse and headset, which are all available today. The mechanical BlackWidow keyboard borrows several features from the $170 BlackWidow Elite. It includes Razer Synapse 3 compatibility for deep customization, such as individual key lighting, programmable macros and secondary function assignments.
Apple's rumored AR headset might require an iPhone
More than a year after rumors circulated that Apple would produce an AR headset by 2020, the company seems to be on track to meet that goal. Full production could start as soon as the fourth quarter of 2019, well-sourced Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said this week. But as we get closer, it looks like Apple is scrapping plans for a standalone device and will rely, instead, on the iPhone.
Microsoft chief defends controversial military HoloLens contract
Microsoft employees objecting to a US Army HoloLens contract aren't likely to get many concessions from their company's leadership. CEO Satya Nadella has defended the deal in a CNN interview, arguing that Microsoft made a "principled decision" not to deny technology to "institutions that we have elected in democracies to protect the freedoms we enjoy." The exec also asserted that Microsoft was "very transparent" when securing the contract and would "continue to have that dialogue" with staff.