View 2D Android apps in VR with PhoneCast – S8 only Here is something I have been waiting for, the ability to use my 2D Android applications and 2D games in VR. The way it works is a 2D window is provided in your VR environment. Within that window you can run Android apps! Sweet Right? This GearVR App is call PhoneCast which is already out… Read More
XR and the Continuum of Immersion in eXtended Reality Back in 2016 I did a presentation on the Future of VR. On one slide was titled: VR, AR, MR… XR? Basically wondering how to describe yet another way to experience VR where Virtual World, is mapped to the real world, but its fully immerse, but one or two real things pop through. Ug. So… Read More
VRHackathon this weekend, Dec 2-4 2016. Mixer on Dec 1. Prizes!! Here we go. Another VR hackathon happening in SF (Microsoft Reactor 680 Folsom St Ste. 145 San Francisco, CA 94107) I expect lots of Vives, Oculus and GearVR’s. I should not have to explain to you dear readers at this point what a VR hackathon is. BTW, the site says its sold out, but its… Read More
Controllers for mobile VR will become standard. Thanks Daydream! Although Google Cardboard, Samsung GearVR and the numerous copy cats have basically assumed the user will not have a controller, with exception to some GearVR titles that require a gamepad, the basic UI of most VR apps rely on gaze control or the track-pad on seen on the GearVR. And for a first try at… Read More
Daydream vs GearVR There has been a number of posts comparing the Google Daydream VR experience to the Samsung GearVR. I have been using both for a while now and think I can offer a pretty good evaluation. When I first tried the Daydream I had the same response most people had. It was small, attractive and felt… Read More
President Trump. The Bad.. and perhaps Good Well long time no type. Once I started my recent gig I’ve been too busy to really write again. And surprise, last week my site was hacked. Sigh.. So spent the weekend cleaning everything up (still more to go). However, I have been thinking about writing this post the last 3 days so here we… Read More
The BEST use of deep immersive VR for a promotion, wireless gear VR room positional tracking. I just saw a video that blew my mind. Its not JUST that its a great idea, nor just looking like lots of fun, nor REALLY great combination of xbox tracking and gearVR to allow room scale VR, but the APPROPRIATENESS of the marketing event! Get ready for some serious gushing over the best VR marketing… Read More
Samsung Gear VR Internet is out. And here are 10 things that would make it even better So VR Internet, called ‘Samsung Internet’ for some reason, just came out today. It is a Beta so some things we are going to overlook, like youtube not always loading and playing and drift; instead lets focus on the things I think will make it a great 1.0. Before we start, PLEASE SUPPORT .GIFV. If you… Read More
First video evidence (I’ve seen) of self driving car avoiding an accident All this talk about self driving cars causing accidents, very little about how they avoid them and save lives. So here is the first video clip of a real world situation where a Tesla avoided an accident by stopping way faster than I could have. Also note, its wet. So if a human was driving,… Read More
Review of the first major US live sports event in VR So it finally happened. We got to see a major game, live, in VR. I wish I could say it was great, it wasn’t, but it was good enough to MORE then prove that live or even post broadcast games in VR have amazing potential, and I waiting with money in hand. First, what went wrong.… Read More
Gear VR is a must if you fly Gear VR, the only way to fly. I took two plane trips in the last 2 weeks and decided to see what level of utility the gear VR would be on a flight. Not only was it great, it totally changed the flight experience. In this post I’m going to list my favorite VR apps for… Read More
In 5 years you will no longer need to buy a new car. The coming Autono-cab Now there are exceptions to this of course, but when I tell people that in five years they will no longer need a new car, I get a look like I’m nuts. But once I explain that you are getting a new(ish) car and its a ‘need’ not want, then they are a little less… Read More
The toughest post I’ll ever write. Saying goodbye to my cat of 14 years, Brandi First thing you may ask is; why would I write something so personal in a mostly tech blog. Well this was not always a tech blog. Back when I started, Jan 2008 if you can believe that, I was working mostly from home and had TV news on pretty much 24/7. The 08 election was… Read More
Why the Gear S points to the future of smart watches; beyond Apple’s watch Just to be clear, I still think the Apple watch is the best of a generation, that is, the first smart watch generation. But I’m already looking to the next one and with the Samsung Gear S and LG Urbane, I think I already see it. First the Gear S. I’ve been using it for 2 weeks… Read More
Why MS Cortana is a minor threat to Apple’s Siri, for now. Just read that in June Microsoft will release their voice assistant Cortana for Android and iOS. This is great for those of us who want to try something new who use Android and Google Now search, which is very good, but sometimes you want something a little more conversational. For my friends who have been complaining about Siri not… Read More
One thing about driverless cabs; Joining the mile long club Yesterday a story came out about New York authoring 5000 driver-less cabs for limited use. Here is the thing though. You know, YOU KNOW, some people are going to have sex in those cars. Having condoms you can buy in the car will be a money maker. Basically people will get into the cabs, and… Read More
Win the new Gear VR and Galaxy S 6 phone at the vrhackathon this weekend!! I think its pretty much confirmed but I have not actually seen it, but Samsung is giving away a next gen Gear VR headset AND Galaxy S 6 phone!! Holy cats!!! If you know anything about basic Java programming, you need to get in on this. Like I said in my last post,… Read More
Driverless cabs on NY streets by 2016?? Ehh.. I’m not sure about that Ok, so this article on driver-less cabs just popped up saying NY’s Mayor de Blasio just signed with Google to have them put out a fleet of 5000 driver-less cars in Brooklyn and Queens. They will be called Zippie. Nice. And that is not all; order now and get an ATM machine, vending machine spitting… Read More
VR Hackathon in San Francisco this Memorial Day weekend! DO IT! And Friday is FREE Yeah, I know, who would schedule something on Memorial Day weekend? Hardcore VR hackers, that’s who! So if you have family plans, then you are not fully dedicated to the cause. Ok, that was harsh, but still, you do not want to miss out on this year’s VR Hackathon. Last year was pretty fun…I should know…I… Read More
The First autodrive car you may try will be a rental As of last week we finally have an in service self driving vehicle on the road, however the vehicle is a big rig. So unless you haul 18-wheelers, you are not going to get your freeway autocruise just yet. However, now that we got trucks on the road, its only a matter of time before… Read More