Tag Archives: htc

5G phones and other devices will come to 18 carriers in 2019

The promise that we’ll see the first 5G phones by 2019 has now become even more of a sure thing. Eighteen global carriers will start 5G speed trials in 2018, using a new Qualcomm modem that’s built to handle huge amounts of data at almost instantaneous speeds — at least theoretically. The list includes Verizon, …

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Google brings Nest into the game as its AI battles Alexa

Google is bringing gadget maker Nest back under its control as the search giant battles rivals Amazon and Apple in the rapidly expanding smart home market. A big part of the change: Making it easier to add Google’s artificial intelligence technology and Assistant — a digital helper that competes against Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri — into new Nest products. …

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HP entices VR creators with ‘Pro’ MR headset, Core X chips

HP’s most popular desktop workstation, the Z4, has been the province of Intel’s Xeon line of workstation CPUs. Now, in a push to reach more VR-creation pros, the company has added options for Intel’s most powerful consumer-grade processors, the Core X series, along with a commercial version of its Windows Mixed Reality headset. You’ll be able to equip it with …

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Google closes HTC deal to hire phone engineers

Google has completed its $1.1 billion deal to hire hardware engineers from HTC.  “I’m delighted that we’ve officially closed our deal with HTC, and are welcoming an incredibly talented team to work on even better and more innovative products in the years to come,” Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of hardware, said in a blog post.  In September, Google agreed …

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HaptX VR glove makes the virtual feel real

I weigh the rock in my hand, then toss it back to the ground. I run my hand across some tall grass, feeling the stems ripple, flatten and spring back. Then I reach out and take hold of a cloud and pull it toward me. None of these objects exist. The rock, grass and cloud are all figments of virtual …

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2018 could be the year VR cuts the cord

If you fear trying virtual reality and getting tangled in cords, you’re in luck: 2018 could be your year. The last vestiges of tethered cables may finally be going away. But being wireless isn’t the same thing as being hassle-free. What’s the big deal about wireless VR, you ask? Maybe you have a phone-connected Gear VR, Daydream View or even …

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Apple’s iPhone slowdown fix coming… sometime (The 3:59, Ep. 344)

On Wednesday’s podcast, we talk to CNET’s Scott Stein about these stories: Apple will offer a fix for that battery slowdown feature. We just don’t know exactly when.  Apple’s iOS 11.3 will come with new tricks for ARKit.  Virtual reality could cut the cord this year with HTC offering a wireless adaptor for its Vive headset.  The 3:59 gives you …

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Occipital Tracking maps rooms so VR can involve less tripping

When wandering around with a VR headset on, I’m afraid of going too far without someone to spot me. The reason is simple: I can’t really see where I’m going. Odds of tripping over a chair or a table are extremely high. One company seems to have tried to solve that problem, and I tried out the result deep in …

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At CES, VR and AR are evolving right under your nose

When VR first made its major CES reemergence via Oculus Rift years ago, it was jaw-dropping.  Those moments, since, are harder to come by. After a 2017 where VR hardware sales flagged and buzz quieted, AR started to gain steam via phone apps from Apple and Google. Meanwhile, the dream of some next-level “mixed reality” — a holographic blend of …

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Lenovo and Google debut Mirage Daydream VR and camera at CES

I’m in a little Blade Runner world. Rain’s falling, at least as far as I remember. I see a noodle shop in the dystopia. I lean forward to the man behind the counter, the world getting closer to me, and suddenly my chest pops in pain: In real life, I’m seated in a Las Vegas conference room and I’ve just …

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