Facebook buying Oculus Virtual Reality for $2 Billion
Facebook has been known for buying out products and companies have been successful were on the verge of success. Usually Facebook would acquire a new social network, an app or some online services, but now Facebook is buying the outcome of a Kickstarter project known as Oculus Virtual Reality. Oculus Virtual Reality was sold for $2 Billion ($400 million cash, $1.6 billion stock).
According to Zuckerberg, mostly nothing will change for Facebook and nothing will change for Ocululus, for now. Oculus is expected to stay at its headquarters, employees will keep their jobs, also Android support for Oculus is still in development. According to Zuckerberg the only thing that has changed is the ownership.
Facebook buying Oculus could be Facebook’s attempt to enter the gaming and home entertainment market. Facebook sees Oculus as the next step in home entertainment, and thus could be Facebook’s first step toward home entertainment.
The deal could also be an example of history repeating itself. Back in 2005, Google bought out Android, and by making it open-source it went onto dominating the market. Facebook could be doing something similar with the Virtual Reality technology by not only being some of the leaders in their field, but they could add incentive for other companies to make drastic strides in their technology, much like we see in the competition between Apple, Samsung, and HTC.
Even though the deal just went though, what do you think about this? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Facebook
The post Facebook buying Oculus Virtual Reality for $2 Billion appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Watch Sony explain Project Morpheus and its VR plans for PlayStation
Virtual reality is (quite suddenly) a big deal. Sony introduced its Project Morpheus prototype headset for the PS4 at GDC, just days ago, and now the company has uploaded the hour-long presentation, including its development, awkward prototypes, the criteria it’s eventually aiming for and some early demos. It’s almost like you were there — which is entirely the point of VR.
Update: As a bonus, there’s even a special PlayStation-sanctioned hands-on.
Work at Apple’s Arizona Sapphire Plant Continuing, Possible Expansion in Works [Mac Blog]
Work at Apple’s new sapphire production plant in Mesa, Arizona is progressing, with contractors working “around the clock and even on weekends”, according to a new report by AppleInsider. It also says Apple may be expanding into another building already existing on the site.
The site says Apple planned to have the facility up and running by February and it may be partially active as work continues. It also published a series of images showing the exterior of the building, though they are not particularly revealing. The building was built by a solar panel manufacturer but never saw production.
Rumors floating around the local electrical industry in Arizona claim Apple may be mulling a project expansion into a building on the site that was previously owned by photovoltaic panel maker First Solar. The purpose of the support structure is unknown.
Apple originally announced the 700-employee manufacturing facility, in partnership with sapphire-maker GT Advanced, back in November. Tim Cook said in an interview that the facility would be making sapphire for a “secret project” with other reports saying the plant will see full production beginning in the second half of 2014.
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Download the Oppo Find 7 wallpaper here
The Oppo Find 7 is one of the more tantalizing smartphone announcements to start 2014: with two variants, both with cutting edge hardware and a 13MP camera which uses Oppo smarts to produce 50MP photos, Oppo has definitely pulled out all the stops in the hopes of catch the Android smartphone giants. The device is also an incredible looker, but one thing that caught many people’s eye is the wallpaper featured on the device at the announcement event. We’re glad to say that we’ve found that Oppo Find 7 wallpaper; check it out below in its full resolution glory:
You’ll more likely recognize the right side of the image as that was the part used on the device for the launch event, but the image as a whole looks fantastic. Hopefully there will be more where that came from as we approach the Oppo Find 7a (the ‘lesser’ model) release date and system dumps find their way to the internet.
What do you think about this wallpaper? Who in your opinion has had the best wallpapers out of all the Android manufacturers so far this year: Samsung, HTC or Oppo? Let us know what your thoughts are in the comments.
Source: Oppo Forums
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Daily Roundup: the future of Oculus Rift, Turkey drops Twitter ban and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Can Oculus survive the Facebook effect?
Yesterday, the internet responded to Facebook’s $2 billion acquisition of Oculus VR with a swift fury. But it’s not all bad news. Our own Marc Perton points out, the deal doesn’t change the essence of the Oculus Rift, or its potential for non-gaming applications.
NASA reveals three spacesuit designs, wants you to choose a favorite
NASA wants to add some style to its futuristic Z-series space suits and they’re reaching out to the masses for help. You can vote online for your favorite of three radical spacesuit designs, but that contest ends on April 15th.
The next version of Android could be truly business-friendly
According to The Information‘s sources, the next version of Android will put much more focus on office-grade security. If the rumor is true, the new OS will allow for apps that require their own authentication and storage on secure chips.
Turkey’s Twitter ban has been overturned
Well, that didn’t last long. The Turkish government’s ban on Twitter was given a “stay of execution” earlier today, meaning the injunction will be lifted until judges have the chance to weigh complaints against the social giant. Twitter also announced it was one of the parties who originally filed a complaint against the decision.
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Filed under: Misc
Windows Phone 8.1’s new store may help you find apps faster
Windows Phone 8.1 may not just add a bevy of software features — it may improve how you find software, too. WPCentral claims to have leaked details of a Windows Phone Store revamp in the OS that reportedly makes it easier to discover hot apps. Featured titles would take center stage in this new portal, and new sections would help you sift through fast-rising apps or specific categories. Upgrades could soon be less of hassle, for that matter. A new My Apps area would let you check for updates without waiting for notifications, and you could (finally!) tell Windows Phone to update apps automatically. There’s no certainty that this storefront will make it into the final WP8.1 release, but you won’t have to wait long for confirmation.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Source: WPCentral
Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 8:45PM ET
It’s not Tuesday, but it is time for the Engadget HD Podcast and we hope you’ll join us for the live recording at 8:45PM. We start this week’s show with the latest virtual reality news from Sony and Oculus Rift — and there’s plenty of it. Netflix is once again in the news as are its frequent foils: Comcast, Time Warner Cable and AT&T. There is always some streaming news, of course, and a few other home theater related items. If you’ll be joining us, take a peek at the topics after the break and then get ready to participate in the live chat.
‘Project Morpheus’ is Sony’s virtual reality headset for the PlayStation 4
Using the PlayStation 4′s virtual reality headset, Project Morpheus
Facebook is buying Oculus VR for $2 billion, plans to ‘unlock new worlds for all of us’
Palmer Luckey says Oculus’ future ‘just became crystal clear,’ but Facebook’s impact is still murky
Oculus founders: Facebook lets us bring the best VR experience to a billion people
Xbox One bundle price drops to $399 on Amazon
MLB.tv and Epix streaming apps are coming to Xbox One
AT&T thinks increased bandwidth costs are Netflix subscribers’ problem
Netflix’s Reed Hastings calls out weak net neutrality rules, ‘reluctantly’ pays ISP tolls
Comcast Xfinity TV adds 18 live-streaming channels with USA, HGTV and more
Latest Apple TV rumors have it teaming up with Comcast for streaming
Several states join the Justice Department in probe of Comcast and Time Warner Cable merger
Sony’s bringing Hulu Plus and Redbox to the PlayStation Vita
PlayStation Network’s first original TV show is an adaptation of the ‘Powers’ comics
Netflix signs Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to original series, but what about Dolly?
Must See HDTV for the week of March 24th: The Walking Dead, Psych, Fez, Louis CK on SNL
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Sonnet Announces Mac Pro 4U Rackmount Enclosure and Expansion Chassis
Sonnet has announced a 4U rackmount enclosure and expansion chassis for the new Mac Pro, allowing users to horizontally mount their Mac Pro in a standard data center rack with PCIe expansion capabilities.
The xMac Pro Server includes three PCIe single-width expansion slots, with room for one double-width and one single-width card, Thunderbolt 2 compatibility, and a mounting kit for additional storage or optical drives. On the back, the rack includes three USB 3.0 ports, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and an HDMI port, with a single USB 3.0 port on the front. It includes a 300W power supply and a 75W PCIe power connector for supplemental power to certain power-hungry PCIe cards.
The new Mac Pro has become the object of desire, but a lustrous finish hides its true beauty—the massive power within. If you’re a pro user in the video or audio industries, the Mac Pro offers the power you need, but lacks the built-in expandability you count on. In order to achieve this engineering feat, Apple® designers stripped away components and space to a minimum, taking out PCIe slots and drive bays, and packed the remaining components into a small cylinder. Its compact size makes the new Mac Pro more transportable and rackable, but prevents onboard installation of PCIe expansion cards. In addition, the computer still requires an enclosure to make it road- or rack-ready and provide convenient cable management. Sonnet’s xMac Pro Server PCIe expansion system/4U rackmount enclosure addresses these issues and increases a Mac Pro’s potential in a big way.
Sonnet claims the xMac Pro Server will ship in June, offering a sign-up sheet for interested customers on its website. Pricing has not been announced.
The company announced Thunderbolt docking stations nearly a year ago but the company has delayed shipment several times.
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Google launches I/O 2014 website with registration opening on April 8
Google developers conference I/O is due to be held in San Francisco, California, for June 25-26th and today the company launched their website for the event.
Registration for Google I/O 2014 will oepn between April 8th at 5:00am PDT until April 10th at 5:00pm PDT. During that time you can register your interest in the event and after the registration has closed, Google will pick random participants from that list to attend the event.
Tickets cost $900 for general admission and $300 for an academic ticket if you are a full-time student, faculty, or staff member at a high school or higher education institution.
If you can’t make it to San Francisco, or would just rather experience I/O on your own schedule, we’ll be bringing I/O to you in two ways. Watch the livestream of the keynote and sessions from the comfort of your home or office. Or, attend an I/O Extended event in your area. More details on these programs will be available soon.
To be eligible to register for Google I/O, you’ll need a Google+ account and be able to pay for the tickets if selected using Google Wallet.
The post Google launches I/O 2014 website with registration opening on April 8 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy S5 versus HTC One (M8)
The Galaxy S5 is the new crown of one of the leading smartphone brands in the world, Samsung. Samsung is currently shipping millions of units of the Galaxy S5, but it seems they might see a little bump in the sale because the all new HTC One is here. The new HTC One is better than its predecessor in a lot of things, and one of them is the improved design. Anyway, detailed comparison between the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S5 is given below. Which phone is better for you? Read and decide.
General Hardware
Starting from the display, the screens on both phones are excellent. HTC One features a 5-inch 1080p display, and the S5 also have a 5.1 inch 1080p display. The pixel density on HTC One is higher than that of S5, but the main point is that you wouldn’t be disappointed with either display as they both are great. But now comes a point where Samsung always fail and HTC always win. If you are a person who’s priority is build quality, then the new HTC One is made for you. Its brushed metallic back and aluminum unibody design is something to die for. While on other hand, Samsung S5 gives a plasticy feel, which is in my opinion, a con. About the weight, the S5 is only weighs 145g, whereas the One weighs 160g; also the S5 is 8.1mm thick versus the HTC One M8′s 9.4mm.
Though the S5 seems to win in the battery category, we can’t hand it to it just yet. With HTC’s new “Extreme Battery Saving Mode”, HTC reported that the phone can have as much as two full weeks of standby time. We still need to test that out, but it seems as though HTC takes the cake on this one.
Camera
The camera is where this gets a bit tricky. Based solely off of specifications, the Galaxy S5 is the clear winner in this category with its 16MP rear-facing camera and 2MP front-facing camera. It has Phase Detection Auto-Focus, Real-Time HDR, and Selective Focus Mode. Sounds great, right? It may be, but HTC has something hiding up its sleeve when it comes to cameras. The One has a 4.1 UltraPixel rear-facer, complete with a depth sensor to complete the pair. It also totes a 5MP front-facing camera for exceptional selfies. The 4.1 UltraPixel camera may not jump out at you right away, but the depth sensor is what makes the pair. The second sensor is there to create a certain depth that just isn’t possible with a single lens. It gives you the ability to focus your shot after the photo is taken, and gives the photo a nice bouquet effect.
In all, if you need the best camera specifications, go with the S5. Though the One has some nice features and is a step up from last years model, we’d still give it to Samsung on this.
Software, user interface and unique features
Starting with the software, both devices are running on Android 4.4 KitKat, but over that, both devices have their own user interfaces. HTC One features the all new HTC Sense 6.0, which will allow you to personalize Blinkfeed and change the theme.
Perhaps the most exciting thing is the Motion Launch gestures. The phone can be switched on by double-tapping the screen, holding the phone in landscape mode or pressing the volume key opens the camera, and the motion controls which automatically detects when you pick up the phone. On the other hand, Samsung has almost always put motion gestures into the software of their Galaxy S line. Not to say they aren’t up to par, but it seems as though HTC put functional gestures into their newest handset, whereas Samsung put just about every gesture feature they could think up, no matter the functionality.
The S5 comes with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, and this one is the most recent version. They have slimmed down the interface a bit, getting rid of the cluttered UI that seemed to get so many complaints in the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S5 has a heart rate monitor, which is great for people who care about fitness and working out. It also has a fingerprint scanner that allows you to unlock the phone, so security-wise, the S5 got the edge.
Each phone has upped their software experience from last years models. If you want feature upon feature, look for the GS5. But if you want a bit more subtle software experience, the One is for you.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great handset, with a great battery life and a strong processor under the hood. But we have to say that HTC One is not just yet another smartphone. It is a strong contender, and it will give a hard time to the likes of S5, Xperia Z2, and Nexus 5 owners. As I said above, if you are into design, the HTC One is for you, but if you are looking for something which is better in security, slim, and light in weight, then the Samsung Galaxy S5 is for you.
It’s all about your preference, because there are a lot of things to choose from. Some people like Samsung’s TouchWiz skin, while others are happy with HTC’s Sense UI. But I will say that at the end of the day, if you buy the Samsung Galaxy S5 or the new HTC One, you wouldn’t be disappointed.
The post Samsung Galaxy S5 versus HTC One (M8) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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