New Sony patent suggests a wireless PSVR headset could be on the way

Images and documents in the Japan Patent Office appear to suggest that Sony is planning a wireless version of the PlayStation VR headset. It isn't clear which system it will be used for, but the sketches show a console that looks like the PlayStation 4 or its "slim" version.

Gabe Gurwin     March 18, 2019

Forget folding phones, the Insta360 EVO camera folds in half to shoot 360 video

The Insta360 EVO is a ... flip camera? Unfolded, the Insta360 Evo shoots 3D in 180 degrees, folded, the new camera shoots in 360 degrees. Designed for dual formats, the camera is launching with what's essentially a pair of 3D glasses for your phone, not your face, the $30 reverse phone case HoloFrame.

Hillary K. Grigonis     March 14, 2019

Apple’s AR Glasses could pair up with your iPhone in 2020

Apple has been working on augmented reality glasses, but on March 8, some more details on the project were released. According to an investor note sent by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple's AR glasses will be mass manufactured starting in the fourth quarter of 2019, but not later than the second half of 2020.

Arif Bacchus     March 8, 2019

Nissan designers use HaptX VR gloves to shape future cars

New car designs usually start out as clay before becoming metal, but designers are now swapping clay for pixels. Nissan is using virtual reality gloves from HaptX that give designers a tactile feel of virtual models. HaptX claims its tech could massively streamline the design process.

Stephen Edelstein     March 15, 2019

Microsoft unveils $3,500 HoloLens 2 at MWC 2019. Here’s what you need to know

The HoloLens 2 is Microsoft's upcoming next generation augmented reality headset. The company announced the new HoloLens at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 in Barcelona. Here's everything we know so far.

Jeremy Kaplan     May 11, 2019

Here’s how to watch Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 press conference

Microsoft's WMC conference was the stage for the unveiling of the next generation of its HoloLens mixed reality headset. Falling on the very first day of the annual event in Barcelona, the event was live at 11 a.m ET on Sunday, February 24 via the stream here.

Arif Bacchus     February 25, 2019

HP’s high-resolution VR headset provides comfort and Windows Mixed Reality

HP reportedly has a new VR headset on the horizon with a design that prioritizes comfort and enhances clarity with ergonomic upgrades and an exceptionally high resolution. Here’s a look at a few of its features. The new headset is also supposed to run on the Windows Mixed Reality platform.

Anita George     February 6, 2019

Bringing realism to VR is complex, but these developers found a way in holograms

Awake: Episode One is an ambitious attempt to make virtual reality feel far more real through the use of volumetric capture, rather than more traditional motion capture recording. It has a unique look but its motion, action, and acting make it incredibly lifelike. Here's the story of how it was made.

Jon Martindale     April 25, 2023

Samsung files a VR patent featuring a curved OLED display

Curves aren’t just for televisions anymore. And they just might enhance your next VR experience. Samsung recently filed a patent featuring a new VR headset that has a curved OLED display. The existence of the patent could indicate that the new curved design could join Samsung’s collection of VR headsets.

Anita George     January 29, 2019

Could the next Microsoft HoloLens be announced at MWC 2019?

Microsoft's next-generation HoloLens could be coming soon. After not having a presence at Mobile World Congress for three years, Microsoft is now sending out media invites for a press conference during the annual event in Barcelona, set for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 24. 

Arif Bacchus     January 16, 2019

The Teslasuit could turn Black Mirror’s terrifying ‘Playtest’ into a reality

We spoke with Teslasuit co-founder Dimitri Mikhalchuk about AR/VR gaming at CES 2019. With haptic feedback, motion capture, climate control, and biometrics, the future of the Teslasuit and virtual/augmented reality looks promising. It also sounds a bit like a Black Mirror episode.

Felicia Miranda     April 25, 2023

These shoes let me stroll through ‘Skyrim,’ and I desperately want to go back

After being funded in just two hours on Kickstarter back in October 2018, Cybershoes has earned itself a place among some of the coolest VR walking and running tech at CES 2019. Compact, easy to use, and incredibly fun, they stand out among the competition, but will they become a staple?

Felicia Miranda     February 22, 2019

These are the coolest virtual and augmented reality gadgets from CES 2019

CES 2019 had plenty of VR and AR gadgets on display, including headsets that completely change how you experience virtual reality, and some that don't even require a PC or a phone to run. Other technology offers a better way to exercise. This is the best VR and AR tech at CES 2019.

Gabe Gurwin     January 11, 2019

The best VR headsets at CES 2019 could bring the technology to the mainstream

While there weren't a ton of new VR headset on display at CES 2019, the ones we saw led us to believe that VR could have a real moment soon, both from a gaming and business standpoint. From the Oculus Quest to the Pico G2 4K, these are the best VR headsets on hand at CES 2019.

Steven Petite     December 14, 2020

HTC Vive Pro Eye hands-on review

Little detail was given about the Vive Pro Eye during the HTC Vive press conference at CES 2019, but with the announcement of integrated eye tracking, plenty can be said about the potential of the headset. Hands-free VR, less demanding high-quality experiences, and intuitive software are all on the table.

Felicia Miranda     August 23, 2019

Oculus’ Quest is the headset that will make me (and you) a VR believer

After my demo with the Oculus Quest, I realized why it's taken me so long to buy into VR. Without excessive wires or complicated setup, and a price point that makes sense for tech that just isn't there yet, Oculus' upcoming standalone headset could be the one to make VR hit the mainstream.

Felicia Miranda     January 8, 2019

The Vive Pro Eye uses Tobii eye-tracking technology to make VR more lifelike

HTC revealed the Vive Pro Eye with eye tracking support at its CES 2019 press conference. We now know that Tobii will be the company responsible for integrating the eye-tracking technology. Tobii is a mammoth within the traditional gaming eye-tracking space, supporting some of the biggest games for PC.

Gabe Gurwin     December 14, 2020

Camera records real-life scenes to design virtual worlds using a single device

Creating virtual reality worlds may get a bit easier in 2019 -- the Axis is a camera module that records a 180-degree depth map, allowing designers to reconstruct the scene for virtual or augmented reality. Demoed at CES 2019, the Axis uses two lenses and IR sensors to create a depth map of the scene.

Hillary K. Grigonis     January 9, 2019

HTC brings two new headsets, a VR browser, and ‘Netflix for VR’ to CES 2019

HTC Vive brought a ton of announcements to CES 2019, including two new headsets, a new subscription service, and a new user interface that completely transforms how applications are launched. More information on the headsets, including pricing and release dates, will arrive later this year.

Gabe Gurwin     December 14, 2020

Forget 8K, the Insta360 Titan records 11K that can still play back on smartphones

The Insta360 Titan is an 11K 360 camera -- and a 10K VR camera -- yet software allows the footage to be played back at full resolution, even on smartphones. Unveiled at CES 2019, the camera also uses the largest sensors in a standalone 360 camera yet with the Micro Four Thirds Format.

Hillary K. Grigonis     January 7, 2019

Smelling is believing: Feelreal’s odor vision may be coming to VR headsets

VR headset users may soon be able to smell their favorite VR videos and games. A new VR mask from Feelreal offers its own version of Smell-O-Vision, allowing users to experience certain scents while using their headsets. Users can choose from 255 different scents to accompany their VR experiences.

Anita George     December 26, 2018

ZSpace’s laptop brings education to life with its own 3D technology

Education and training organizations can extend their teaching into the third dimension with the ZSpace laptop. The compact portable computer comes equipped with a 3D-capable screen that pulls images right out of the display when the bespoke 3D glasses are worn. The new ZSpace laptop is available now.

Jon Martindale     December 18, 2018

Listen up! White noise device may make VR motion sickness a thing of the past

Otolith Labs believes that it may have solved the problem of virtual reality motion sickness simply by sending a little white noise into the inner ear. Almost entirely noiseless, it reportedly overwhelms the inner ear, making it stop rebelling against the movements in game, making for nausea-free play.

Jon Martindale     December 14, 2018

Seedling for Magic Leap is the most expensive plant you’ll ever take care of

Insomniac Games has officially launched its new game for Magic Leap One, called 'Seedling.' Throughout the game, you can nurture your very own plant life form wherever you are. In our demo, we got to check out what it feels like to take care of a virtual plant using a very expensive machine.

Brenda Stolyar     December 5, 2018

Microsoft’s $480M contract with U.S. military will equip soldiers with Hololens

Microsoft recently won a $480 million contract to equip American soldiers with up to 100,000 of its augmented reality Hololens headsets. Here's what we know so far about the deal -- and how it could provide the United States military with some new cutting-edge technology.

Luke Dormehl     November 30, 2018

A Google patent shows a way to make VR even more immersive

Virtual reality can be a really immersive experience, but it does sometimes it does have boundaries. Google has addressed this problem by patenting shoes with a flexible region on the bottom, and a sensor for which a computer or headset can track to create an endless movement in the virtual world. 

Arif Bacchus     November 15, 2018

Google awarded patent for using eye tracking to detect expressions in VR

Google has been awarded a new patent that involves using eye-tracking technology to infer facial expressions using machine learning in VR. The tech could help make virtual reality a whole lot more immersive than it already is, which is one of the big problems facing consumer VR.

Christian de Looper     November 1, 2018

Oculus VR could upgrade the Rift with a new display in 2019

Oculus may release a new version of its Oculus Rift headset in 2019, though it won't be a Rift 2. The new rumor calls the design the Rift S, and suggests it will have a better display and ditch the external constellation tracking cameras in favor of simpler and arguably less accurate, inside-out tracking.

Jon Martindale     November 1, 2018

From the road to your wrist, see how Android has evolved over the past 10 years

Android started out as just a mobile operating system, but 10 years in it's pretty much everywhere. Check out our round-up of all the different Android variations that have cropped up so far, and what might be coming in the future.

Rose Behar     October 31, 2018

Following the Portal, augmented reality glasses may be Facebook’s next step

Facebook confirmed in an interview on October 24 that it is working on its own AR glasses, Following the launch of its Portal smart display, the move signals the social media giant could be challenging both Apple and Google to rise up in the hardware scene. 

Arif Bacchus     October 26, 2018

With flip-out lenses, the Vuze XR transforms from 2D to 180-degree VR camera

The Vuze XR is a compact, dual-lens camera with an integrated handle and a neat party trick: The back-to-back lenses can flip forward to transition from 360-degree, two-dimensional video to 180-degree, three-dimensional video. The camera is slated to launch by the end of the November for around $400.

Daven Mathies     October 25, 2018

What’s it like to die? This VR experience puts doctors in a dying man’s shoes

A new virtual reality experience by LA-based studio Embodied Labs depicts the end-of-life experience for a 66-year-old cancer patient. It is already being used as a teaching tool in hospices and medical schools. But can VR really make us more empathetic? A recent study says yes.

Luke Dormehl     October 23, 2018

Intel’s augmented reality brings Red Bull Rampage into your living room

The extreme mountain biking action of Red Bull Rampage is coming to your living room (or office, or kitchen) thanks to the power of augmented reality and 360-degree video. Fans can load a scale replica of the course in their mobile devices and follow their favorite riders as they careen down the cliffs.

Daven Mathies     October 23, 2018

Facebook’s reported Rift 2 cancellation caused a rift with Oculus executive

There's new speculation that Oculus co-founder and Facebook executive Brendan Iribe may have quit after differences in vision. It's reported that Facebook's cancellation of the Rift 2, the successor to the original Oculus Rift, may have precipitated the rift between Iribe and the social network giant.

Chuong Nguyen     October 23, 2018

Samsung’s HMD Odyssey Plus gives you a clearer view into the virtual world

Samsung is refreshing its Windows Mixed Reality Headset with its HMD Odyssey+ this year. The new model ships starting today for $500, and promises to deliver a better mixed reality experience thanks to Samsung's new Anti-Screen Door Effect technology. The headset is also more comfortable with better ergonomics.

Chuong Nguyen     October 22, 2018

Microsoft patent highlights a potential VR text input system

Microsoft has been awarded a patent for a new typing method in virtual reality and with console gamepads that leverages a radial wheel. The system has trappings of the Microsoft Surface Dial and could prove a more intuitive way to type out long messages while using virtual reality motion controllers.

Jon Martindale     October 18, 2018

These gloves will make virtual reality feel even more immersive

Virtual Reality can be a truly immersive experience, but a touch of an object in the virtual world doesn't quite equate to a physical touch you would expect. That is exactly what scientists from EPFL and ETH Zurich have worked to address with newly developed thin and light VR gloves. 

Arif Bacchus     October 17, 2018

Here’s how Microsoft’s Hololens is helping NASA build the new Orion spacecraft

Lockheed Martin is turning to Microsoft’s mixed reality Hololens smartglasses to help its technicians build NASA's new Orion spacecraft, which could one day help rocket astronauts as far afield as Mars. Here's how it's helping them replace dusty old, 1500-page paper manuals.

Luke Dormehl     October 15, 2018