Scott Stein

Microsoft’s VR platform gets some key games: is that enough?

VR is all about fine details working together seamlessly. Even a tiny amount of lag ruins a game and a glitchy controller can induce nausea. It’s a holistic thing. So, while I was glad to finally try some games on Microsoft‘s lower-cost, easier-to-setup flavor of Windows VR, I’m a little concerned about how good it …

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 won’t work with older Gear VR headsets

Samsung’s newest phone looks great. But the Galaxy Note 8 has an unfortunate accessory problem: it needs a new VR headset. The Oculus-partnered Gear VR has seen several goggle iterations over the years, the last one arriving alongside the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. According to Samsung, the new Gear VR is just like the old Gear VR… but it’s …

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What it’s like to play Super Mario in AR, and why it matters

Now playing: Watch this: What it’s like to play Super Mario AR 2:51 I’m on the corner of Madison Square Park, slipping a Microsoft HoloLens headset over my face. It’s my first time trying one outdoors. I’m already conspicuous with a massive visor-helmet on. Now I’m jumping over invisible things, and suddenly I’m a sidewalk obstacle. One man watches from …

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Your future AR home movies will look like 80s music videos

In the near future, reality’s going to be transformed through your phone camera. Get ready for some weird memes. A quick video shot using Apple’s upcoming ARKit tools on an iPhone shows a pretty jaw-dropping augmented reality take on the A-ha video “Take on Me.” Someone (that looks more like a video game character than an actual person) is dancing …

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WhatsApp now has 1 billion daily users

There are 7.5 billion people on this planet. And WhatsApp says that 13.3 percent of them are using Whatsapp every day. The news was posted by WhatsApp yesterday. According to the messaging app, which is owned by Facebook, other notable stats include: 1.3 billion monthly active users 55 billion messages sent daily 4.5 billion photos shared daily 1 billion videos …

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Samsung soars ahead of Note 8 arrival

Samsung on Thursday posted its latest earnings, and the news is very good: Overall, the company’s net profit hit 11.05 trillion South Korean won over the last quarter. (That’s about $9.95 billion.) According to The Wall Street Journal, that’s 89 percent up over where Samsung’s earnings were a year ago. And the Galaxy Note 8 isn’t even here yet. The reason, …

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Apple Clips gets its first update, and it’s Disney

Hey, remember Apple Clips? The square movie editor for social media launched in March, and according to Apple, it’s doing great so far, with millions of active users. Apple said Clips would get regular content updates over time, and the first update hits today: mostly, it’s Disney-powered. There are free Disney and Pixar characters and titles, which can be dropped …

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Google Glass returns: This time, it’s professional

A long time ago, before Snapchat Spectacles and Microsoft HoloLens, there was Google Glass. Google’s bold vision of headsets wasn’t as futuristic as it seemed back in 2013 — it was more head-mounted display than augmented reality — and its design as a personal device put most people off. Google Glass is back Wired: Google Glass 2.0 Is a Startling …

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Is the less

Facebook’s Oculus just reduced the price on the Rift, the company’s premium VR headset, to $399. Suddenly, it’s more affordable than the PlayStation VR.  The sale’s only happening for the summer, which is why it’s time to ask… should you take the plunge? Scott Stein Enlarge Image Scott Stein rocks out with an Oculus Rift. Josh Miller/CNET I say yes… …

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Facebook drops the price of its Oculus VR hardware yet again

Facebook‘s Oculus Rift VR headset already got one price drop back in March. Now it’s getting another. As part of the “Summer of Rift” sales promotion Oculus is having, the VR headset and a pair of Touch controllers are down to a combined $399, a $200 drop. (In the UK, it’s down to £399. You can ship it to Australia …

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