Nokia Technology to Unveil Virtual Reality Headset Next Week in a VIP Event

The last news that we heard about Nokia was that the company sold most of its phone business to Microsoft back in 2013. Another news is that Nokia is trying to sell its HERE Maps division to a consortium of German automakers. With all these selling happening, it seems that Nokia current strength is coming from its networking equipment division. This is strengthened further by the ongoing acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia’s previous rival. However, this time, we heard good rumors about Nokia. The company is about to announce its first virtual reality product.

The announcement is expected to take place in a VIP event in Los Angeles next week. In the event, it is also rumored that Nokia is going to announce the development of the HERE Maps division. A few of other good news from Nokia recently such as, the company announced that it will start selling smartphone designs starting in 2016 and it is also involved in software projects development such as Nokia Z Android app launcher.

Virtual Reality products seem to be on the rise lately with major technology companies such as Oculus which is currently owned by Facebook, Microsoft, HTC and Samsung trying to come up with something related to virtual reality which hopefully would be the next big thing in the technology sector.

There is no further detail about the Nokia’s upcoming virtual reality headset and if the rumors turn out to be correct, the VR headset will be the first product from Nokia since 2013.

Nokia Technology to Unveil Virtual Reality Headset Next Week in a VIP Event

Virtual Reality Mask with Nirvana Helmet Allow Gamers Smell and Feel the Action

A new startup company, Feelreal has invented two interesting products which currently seeking for crowdfunding in Kickstarter. One of the products is a virtual reality mask. With this VR mask, it will allow the users to stimulate the smell of the environment shown on the screen. It comes with an odor generator which can take seven removable “smell cartridges” which will then be mixed to create the appropriate scent. The basic smell covers the jungle, flowers, ocean, burning rubber, fire, gunpowder and aphrodisiacs. On top of that, it also can come with special made-to-order scents with additional pricing of $300. The device will also have option to be mounted at the bottom of Oculus Rift VR headset.

The Nirvana helmet, on the other hand, allows user to experience a full sensory stimulation. It comes with a high resolution smartphone display, 3D audio system and a slot where the mask can slide into. On top of that, it comes with micro projection and fabric lining to ensure greater comfort for the user.

Both models connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to the digital entertainment source device. If used continuously, the mask should last about four hours on a single charge whereas the helmet should last about six hours.

For the mask plus software development kit, it is priced at US$250, the helmet at US$500 for the prototype version while the customer version will cost you $600. If it achieved the funding goal of $50,000, you can get the devices later this year.

Virtual Reality Mask with Nirvana Helmet Allow Gamers Smell and Feel the Action

Kickstarter Project Widerun combines Virtual Reality with Your Usual Cycling Workout

A team in Italy has invented a virtual reality device which is used on your normal bicycle and when you use it with Oculus Rift, it will change the environment surround you into a computer simulated environment including the feeling of it. Another good thing is that you do not need to buy another stationary bicycle; you can use your existing bike. The product is named Widerun.

To use it, you need to fit your bike into Widerun’s docking station. The docking station uses an embedded microcontroller to simulate steering, speed and resistance effects corresponding to your virtual environment. There are a few virtual environments that you can choose from, from the city center to a secluded mountain.  It also allows you to sweat without even leaving your home.  Therefore, if it is raining outside, you can still do your usual cycling habit indoors.

Apart from using Oculus Rift, the product also works well with Samsung Gear VR. However, if you do not want to use something on your eyes when you are exercising then you can connect it to your widescreen television. On top of that, you also can purchase a variety of biking environments. Therefore, it is really something that worth to consider especially for cyclist out there.

The Kickstarter funding goal targets about $44,000 with each device costs about $400. If everything goes as planned, the delivery expected in April 2016.

Kickstarter Project Widerun combines Virtual Reality with Your Usual Cycling Workout

Samsung Partners with Oculus to Make VR Headset

Samsung is working with Oculus VR to release Virtual Reality products. Oculus VR is a virtual reality startup company owned by Facebook and the company has kick started the current wave of VR products.

Samsung is handling the hardware side of the product, while Oculus handles the software. It’s a swap deal, Samsung would give Oculus early access to its next generation OLED screens while Oculus would give Samsung early access to its mobile software development kit and helps user interface software development. Oculus continues to make products of its own such as gaming focused PC based virtual reality headset and it’s in need of Samsung’s next generation OLED screens for the product development. Now, let’s see more on the unlikely partnership between Samsung and Oculus.

Though Samsung wants to be the first company in the market to release a virtual reality headset, it’s not ready to invest so much of time and money that Oculus and Sony are. Aside, Oculus wants to make a gaming focused high quality virtual reality headset, but it doesn’t want to rush without required high quality next generation hardware. Thus, these two companies partner with each other to meet their immediate business needs. Oculus makes the software for Samsung’s upcoming virtual reality headset and Samsung makes OLED screens for Oculus’ final product.

The partnership has both risk and benefits. Samsung is a consumer electronics giant and the company investing in marketing and producing its own virtual reality headset hugely grows the medium. If it’s not a good product then it can possibly poison the medium and the product could turn in to another Virtual Boy. It might make consumers even more apprehensive about virtual reality as a medium.

Sources told that Samsung is using an early form of Oculus’ mobile SDK; it’s an exclusive use as part of the deal between the companies. As part of the deal Oculus is getting OLED screens that are of higher resolution than 1080p, the screens will be used in a few of Samsung’s next phones.

Hardware

Samsung’s VR headset uses your phone directly instead of having its own screen. VR headset plugs in to your phone using an existing port most probably via micro-USB and becomes the screen. The headset comes with a built-in sensors and an accelerometer, so any motion tracking functionality wouldn’t consume phone’s processor.

There are few folks who have dev kits are still running the VR headset on Galaxy s4 phones and they say the experience is too good. Said that, the device would run either a Galaxy S5 or potentially its successor and of course it will be tweaked for optimal VR headset performance. The VR headset can be used as a standalone media device or with a paired game controller.

You can see through the phone using the rear camera, which shows a video feed of the outside world to your eyes. It’s a smart addition for more realistic long-term use.

The unit got some buttons including standard Android buttons such as Home, Back and Recent Apps. Visibility to the details of other buttons is too minimal at this stage however it’s been told that none of the buttons are used for interactivity. But, there are chances for changes to these specifications to chance when the final product is made available to consumers.

Software

The dev kit got a basic UI (User Interface); it’s an empty 3D space with various demos. You interact with floating objects by nodding at them. Nodding at an object selects it basically. The interactivity method may be far different in the final product comparing to the dev kit. It’s told that the final software would contain voice, touch and more forms of interaction.

Now, UI and OS are in a very early stage. Oculus’ mobile SDK is in very early stage, the software it’s able to build isn’t close to a finished product. There was some information shared about two different demos, neither of which involved interactivity. First demo, you are at the beach with jamming hippies and the in the second one, you dive from a plane. The sources said that they were impressed with the device.

Samsung may advertize this device as a media player as well. There are very few media experiences for virtual reality headsets. It’s said that gaming experiences are pared down and there are no guarantee Samsung will ship VR headset with a game pad. The company is focusing on larger market instead of just the early adopter who’ll take a chance on VR headset. Samsung and Oculus are taking a risk in partnering on this virtual reality headset and it has attracted a lot of attentions, let’s wait and see how this partnership and product evolves.

Samsung Partners with Oculus to Make VR Headset