Giroptic launches a new 360 degree video calling service

Just in time for CES2018 Giroptic launches a new 360 degree video calling service compatible with their popular Giroptic iO 360 degree camera. 

Simply connect the camera to your smartphone to trigger the iO360 app, then select “call” to launch a video call in 360 degrees. All your friends and family have to do is click on the link they receive to join the conversation via mobile or desktop web.

Users can take a call in VR mode’ and slide their smartphone into a variety of HMDs including Google Cardboard, Daydream, Homido VR2 among others.

The 360 degree video calling service .is is 100% free and requires only a WiFi or 4G connection.

An iOS app is available and an Android app should be available soon.

The Giroptic iO camera is available now, priced at $199 USD.

catsandvr.com/blog/

HTC VIVE enters CES2018 with new VIVE PRO Upgrade, Wireless VIVE Adaptor, and major upgrade to Viveport

Heading into CES2018 HTC VIVE announced the introduction of Vive Pro and Vive Wireless Adaptor.

In addition, the company debuted new improvements to Viveport VR and Vive Video. These improvements promise on VR   users higher resolution, improved audio, greater comfort, wireless freedom and immersive content discovery.

Vive Pro is a new HMD upgrade from Vive, built for VR enthusiasts and enterprise users who want the best display and audio for their VR experiences. Vive Pro includes dual-OLED displays for a crisp picture resolution of 2880 x 1600 combined, a 78% increase in resolution over the current Vive HMD.

“There’s a clear need in the VR market for a premium VR experience with high resolution display, integrated audio and the best components available today in a headset,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM U.S., VIVE. “Vive Pro offers an immediate upgrade for both VR enthusiasts and enterprises that want to utilize the best VR experience.”

More details on Vive Pro availability and price will be made available soon.

Vive Wireless Adaptor

Also unveiled today, the Vive Wireless Adaptor will be the first to market with a truly wireless VR headset integration for both Vive and Vive Pro.

The Vive Wireless Adaptor features Intel’s WiGig technology and offers a premium VR wireless experience that operates in the interference-free 60Ghz band, which means lower latency and better performance. The Vive Wireless Adaptor will ship in Q3 to customers worldwide. 

“Wireless VR has been on nearly every VR user’s wishlist since the technology was unveiled,” said Frank Soqui, General Manager Virtual Reality Group at Intel Corporation. “By collaborating with HTC to commercialize Intel’s WiGig technology, we will guarantee that wireless VR meets the most discerning quality bar for home users and business VR customers.”

“Viveport is moving to a VR first experience model, and with the all-new Viveport VR, we are changing the way consumers discover, experience and acquire VR content,” said Rikard Steiber, president, Viveport.  “Until now, there has not been a shopping and browsing experience that takes advantage of the full functionality of VR. Available in early access today, Viveport VR increases interaction with content and offers developers a preview that showcases the quality of their titles and experiences.”

Earlier this year, Viveport launched the world’s first VR subscription service to provide a whole new way to access the best VR experiences for a great price. With more than 1,000 titles available on Viveport today, and more than 325 available for subscription, Vive is changing the way users browse and discover content through Viveport VR.

Via Vive Blog

NextVR looks to bring a more realistic live event experience to VR with announcements heading into CES 2018

Ahead of CES 2018 live sporting event broadcasting specialists NextVR announced three big tech advancements to their platform: six degrees of freedom-enabled content, higher resolution output, and augmented reality support.  For sports fans six degrees of freedom, or “6DoF” will make NextVR events much more like a live sporting event with the ability to move forward, backward, left, right, up, and down. 

It's an #NBAinVR showdown in California! Grab your headset and tune in now for @Warriors vs @LAClippers, LIVE in NextVR. #DubNation #ItTakesEverything #GSWatLAC https://t.co/dFzO1Y0TcG pic.twitter.com/diUoyYfCm3

— NextVR (@nextvr) January 6, 2018

“VR is the most demanding visual medium ever created and we’re just beginning to deliver on its potential to convincingly create experiences that mimic reality. The ability to move naturally inside the experience and the increased ability to see detail add a critical level of presence and realism.”-David Cole, NextVR Co-Founder and CEO.

NextVR also plans to support AR devices in mid-2018 with plans to develop content to “transport NextVR experiences directly into the viewer’s physical world. 

CatsAndVR will keep you up to date with all the NextVR news and all you basketball fans make sure to check out NextVR's NBA offerings this week. 

Don't miss the pulse-pounding @cavs and @Timberwolves action this Monday with #NBAinVR, LIVE in the NextVR app. Also, don't forget to peep a FREE PREVIEW of the Jan. 16 @dallasmavs and @nuggets game. #CLEatMIN https://t.co/XzcKORqtN2 pic.twitter.com/8j4yZNx6AK

— NextVR (@nextvr) January 7, 2018