This swarm of robots can fill your grocery delivery order in no time at all
We recently requested a grocery delivery from Ocado in London, and then watched in amazement as the order was delivered right to our door in an electric self-driving “CargoPod” vehicle. Now we’re getting to see the other side of the operation, where a fleet of robots swarm across a grid bigger than a football field, where they complete orders in minutes that would take a human worker hours to fulfill.
Ocado is England’s largest online-only grocery delivery company. It started from the ground up as an online retailer only, so the company had no actual stores to hamper its growth. The robot workers, more than 1,000 of them in all, were developed with the assistance of U.K. manufacturer Tharsus.
To operate efficiently, the robots need to accelerate and decelerate quickly, be able to carry and deliver heavy payloads, and operate for several hours on only a single electric charge.
The vast grid has containers underneath each opening filled with all the products advertised on the Ocado website — more than 50,000 in all. The robots speed across the rails at 13 feet per second, passing within millimeters of each other, retrieving items and ferrying them to a drop-off point on the grid. Human workers underneath then assemble the order and prepare it for delivery.
For restocking, the procedure works in reverse — the robots pick up items from the drop-off point and disseminate them to the appropriate containers.
“The level of performance Ocado can now achieve is a revolution for grocery logistics,” the company says at its website. “The new facility can pick a customer’s order of around 50 items in a few minutes compared to several hours at existing fulfilment centres.”
The basic idea for the automated warehouse came from the shipping industry, Paul Clarke of Ocado told the website co.design, describing how “shipping containers are stacked one on top of one another and then moved around by cranes acting above the stacks.”
It seems like this advanced tech could overcome some of the challenges faced by other online retailers. Because the Ocado system was developed exclusively for grocery delivery, it might face some difficulties transitioning to other industries. That’s why the company is offering it as a service platform, rather than selling the technology outright.
Clarke claims that his company is adding jobs, rather then replacing human professions with robots. Its service is continually expanding, but most of the jobs it’s creating may be in building its massive new automated warehouses.
This swarm of robots can fill your grocery delivery order in no time at all
We recently requested a grocery delivery from Ocado in London, and then watched in amazement as the order was delivered right to our door in an electric self-driving “CargoPod” vehicle. Now we’re getting to see the other side of the operation, where a fleet of robots swarm across a grid bigger than a football field, where they complete orders in minutes that would take a human worker hours to fulfill.
Ocado is England’s largest online-only grocery delivery company. It started from the ground up as an online retailer only, so the company had no actual stores to hamper its growth. The robot workers, more than 1,000 of them in all, were developed with the assistance of U.K. manufacturer Tharsus.
To operate efficiently, the robots need to accelerate and decelerate quickly, be able to carry and deliver heavy payloads, and operate for several hours on only a single electric charge.
The vast grid has containers underneath each opening filled with all the products advertised on the Ocado website — more than 50,000 in all. The robots speed across the rails at 13 feet per second, passing within millimeters of each other, retrieving items and ferrying them to a drop-off point on the grid. Human workers underneath then assemble the order and prepare it for delivery.
For restocking, the procedure works in reverse — the robots pick up items from the drop-off point and disseminate them to the appropriate containers.
“The level of performance Ocado can now achieve is a revolution for grocery logistics,” the company says at its website. “The new facility can pick a customer’s order of around 50 items in a few minutes compared to several hours at existing fulfilment centres.”
The basic idea for the automated warehouse came from the shipping industry, Paul Clarke of Ocado told the website co.design, describing how “shipping containers are stacked one on top of one another and then moved around by cranes acting above the stacks.”
It seems like this advanced tech could overcome some of the challenges faced by other online retailers. Because the Ocado system was developed exclusively for grocery delivery, it might face some difficulties transitioning to other industries. That’s why the company is offering it as a service platform, rather than selling the technology outright.
Clarke claims that his company is adding jobs, rather then replacing human professions with robots. Its service is continually expanding, but most of the jobs it’s creating may be in building its massive new automated warehouses.
Sick of sleepless nights? Bose wants to help with noise-masking earbuds
It’s a common problem for people to not get enough sleep. While this is partially caused by working long hours or too many Netflix binge sessions, distracting noises such as traffic or a snoring partner can be a major hindrance to a good night’s sleep. While it can’t do anything to prevent you from marathoning Stranger Things, Bose is working on a solution to the noise problem in the form of its “noise-masking sleepbuds.”
The largest benefit of these sleepbuds is that they help drown out ambient noise by playing soothing sounds to lull you to sleep. The product’s page makes no mention of the ability to add your own sounds to the list, but Bose says that the device comes pre-loaded with sounds that “have been designed to be soothing and to fade from your attention while effectively obscuring unwanted disturbances.”
Another useful feature is the ability to set an alarm via the app on your smartphone. While those who don’t share a room with anyone else may not have much use for this option, we can see it being very helpful if you need to get up without waking your partner.
One question we have about this device is how well the buds work at blocking sounds without the white noise playing. That could well be one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not this product is a success. While white noise does help many people fall asleep, there are doubtless some who find it more harmful than helpful. Secondly, there are plenty of products and smartphone apps designed around this premise so it remains to be seen how useful this one will be.
Those fears aside, Bose’s upcoming earbuds already appear to have found an enthusiastic audience. As of the time of this reporting, the product’s Indiegogo campaign has already raised more than $426,000. The campaign launched with a flexible goal of $50,000.
The sleepbuds are currently estimated to cost $249, though early backers do receive a rather large discount. As of right now, however, all of the discounted tiers are sold out, though Bose may add more as the campaign continues.
Uber signs an investment deal limiting its former CEO
After plenty of negotiation, Uber is about to get a valuable investment… in return for a few favors. Sources speaking to Bloomberg, Recode and TechCrunch have learned that Uber and SoftBank have finalized a deal that should see SoftBank and an investment group pour $10 billion into the company ($1 billion directly, $9 billion buying existing shares) while limiting the control of former CEO Travis Kalanick. He’ll still have some influence, but he won’t retake the throne — and it’ll end a nasty legal battle, too.
Kalanick reportedly gets to keep a place on Uber’s board of directors, and will have the power to appoint two extra seats. Any future changes will require a majority approval from the board, though. With these changes in place, Benchmark (a key Uber investor) will drop a lawsuit against Kalanick. Recode hears the deal depends on Uber shareholders offering enough stock for sale (SoftBank might have to pay extra otherwise), but it’s clear both sides are at least willing to bet that this will happen.
Provided everything goes through, the deal could solve multiple problems at once. Uber would ease worries that Kalanick might somehow stage a coup, ends a bitter court battle and, most importantly, gets funding it needs to fulfill its strategy. The transportation firm is still bleeding cash, and it doesn’t have a cash stockpile large enough to simply ride things out until it can turn a profit. SoftBank’s investment could give Uber considerably longer to sort out is business model and fulfill long-term plans for self-driving cars.
Update: That was fast. Uber has already confirmed the deal, issuing a statement that this will help “fuel our investments in technology” while helping with expansion and its leadership. You can read the full statement below.
“We’ve entered into an agreement with a consortium led by SoftBank and Dragoneer on a potential investment. We believe this agreement is a strong vote of confidence in Uber’s long-term potential. Upon closing, it will help fuel our investments in technology and our continued expansion at home and abroad, while strengthening our corporate governance.”
Source: TechCrunch, Bloomberg, Recode
VW considers making an electric Beetle
VW’s nostalgia-driven EVs might not be limited to the ID Buzz. VW chairman Herbert Diess told Autocar that his company is seriously considering development of an electric Beetle. And it’s not just because EVs are considered the future of transportation, either. Diess noted that a Beetle EV would, paradoxically, be “much closer to history” — as the company’s new electric platform (MEB) is very flexible, it could return to the rear-wheel drive of the original model. That theoretically raises the possibility of reviving the original’s front storage space, too.
It wouldn’t represent that much of a leap for VW. The company’s inaugural ID concept was a rear-wheel drive hatchback, so it could repurpose that powertrain for the Beetle’s retro coupe chassis much as the current Beetle is essentially a Golf coupe. The ID puts out the equivalent of 168HP and gets up to 370 miles on a charge, although we wouldn’t count on those figures remaining the same.
A firmer decision is expected to come when VW’s board votes on ways to expand its fledgling electric car strategy beyond the 15 models planned so far (only five of which will be VW-badged). However, it’s hard to imagine VW turning down an electric Beetle. The Bug is virtually synonymous with VW, and an EV edition of the car could serve as a flagship that draws customers into showrooms.
Via: Autoblog, Jalopnik
Source: Autocar
Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go — which will be the better VR experience?
The market for mobile-based virtual reality is getting big rather quick. One of the first tastes was served up through Google Cardboard for Android phones years ago. It was soon followed by the Gear VR a premium experience co-developed by Facebook’s Oculus VR, to be used exclusively with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones. Not to be bested, Google opted for a premium experience of its own: the Daydream platform for VR baked into Android, and the accompanying Daydream View headsets.
On the other side of things, we’re about to be bombarded with a group of standalone VR headsets, which aren’t reliant upon either a PC or a smartphone. These standalone headsets might end up filling the middle-ground between entry-level mobile VR experiences and full-on PC-driven, premium setups. One of the first out of the gate will be the Oculus Go, which is set to come in “early 2018.”
With all the different options out there, planning your entrance into VR content might be a little confusing at this point. Hopefully, our Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go explanation will help ease some of the mental pain and provide some clarity about which is best for you.
Specifications
Daydream View 2
Oculus Go
Display:
Depends on phone
LCD, “fast-switch”
Resolution:
Depends on phone
2,560 x 1,440
Refresh Rate:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Software Support:
Android 7.0, Daydream, Google Play
Oculus Home
Field of View:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Tracking Area:
Seated, Standing
Seated, Standing
Built-in Audio:
Via phone
Yes
Built-in Mic:
Via phone
Yes
Controller:
Yes, motion-sensing (included)
Yes, motion-sensing (included)
Sensors:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Connections:
USB Micro Type-B
3.5mm audio jack
Requirements:
Asus ZenFone AR
Google Pixel
Google Pixel 2
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
Huawei Porsche Design Mate 9
LG V30
Motorola Moto Z
Motorola Moto Z2
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S8+
ZTE Axon 7
Stand-alone device
Price:
$99
$199
DT Review:
4 out of 5 stars
N/A
It’s raining cats and dogs
It’s first important to mention that comparing the Google Daydream View with Facebook’s Oculus Go is like comparing a dog to a cat. They’re both domesticated animals that live within the house, but they don’t use the same approach to get their attention requirements met. Like a puppy, Google’s Daydream View is a $100 mobile VR headset that highly depends on a central source for everything it needs, specifically an expensive smartphone.
Meanwhile, the upcoming $200 Oculus Go is a self-contained device that has everything it needs, purring along without the added high-priced smartphone. Unfortunately, we don’t have the official specifications for the Oculus Go just yet given it’s not launching until early 2018. But even if you own a Daydream-compatible phone, the Oculus Go may be a better solution for reasons we will explain later.
Design
Sold in Fog, Coral, and Charcoal color variants, the Daydream View headset measures 6.6 (L) x 4.6 
x 3.9 (H) inches, and weighs 0.58 pounds. It sports a lightweight exterior covered in soft fabric complemented by an adjustable head strap, and an adjustable top strap with a similar color. The headset also includes a soft, removable facepad surrounding special lenses that look into a compartment mounted in the front of the headset. It’s this compartment that holds the compatible smartphone, so you don’t have to.
To some degree, the Oculus Go is similar in design. There isn’t any fabric covering the outer shell, but it does provide soft, adjustable head and top straps for a comfortable fit, and what appears to be an extremely soft facepad so the headset doesn’t dig trenches deep into your face. Inside are two updated versions of the lenses used in the PC-based Oculus Rift headset.
Because this is a self-contained unit, you won’t find an empty compartment on the front of this headset, or the associated door. Instead, you’ll find the power and volume buttons on the top along with an LED to indicate that the headset is powered on. A USB-C port appears to be mounted on the left side for charging the device when it’s not in use.
By comparison, Samsung’s Gear VR headset includes a touchpad, an Oculus Home button, and a Back button on the right side of the device. You won’t find this on the Daydream View and Oculus Go versions, as these inputs were moved to motion-sensing controllers. Samsung recently did the same when it introduced the Gear VR controller although the inputs still remain intact on the latest Gear VR model.
Winner: Draw
Display quality, field of view
For Google’s Daydream View headset, the display quality depends on the compatible smartphone. Technically, there are only 11 smartphones that currently support this headset, and here are their resolutions:
Device
Resolution:
Asus ZenFone AR
2,560 x 1,440
Google Pixel
1,920 x 1,080
Google Pixel 2
2,880 x 1,440
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
2,560 x 1,440
Huawei Porsche Design Mate 9
2,560 x 1,440
LG V30
2,880 x 1,440
Motorola Moto Z
2,560 x 1,440
Motorola Moto Z2
1,920 x 1,080
Samsung Galaxy S8
2,960 x 1,440
Samsung Galaxy S8+
2,960 x 1,440
ZTE Axon 7
2,560 x 1,440
On a technical note, these screens are divided in half. Both sides provide a snapshot of the scene for each eye, only they are slightly different from each other so that the brain is fooled into perceiving depth. Plus, each side blacks out areas of the display not seen through the headset’s lenses to eliminate unnecessary rendering by the smartphone.
Thus, Google’s Daydream platform for Android is designed to only work with Daydream View headsets, and the VR platform created by Oculus for certain Samsung Galaxy phones only work with Gear VR. The only exceptions to this rule are the two Galaxy S8 phones that support both Gear VR and Daydream View. But even with those phones, you can’t play Daydream-based games in the Gear VR headset, and vice versa.
For the Oculus Go, the device includes a built-in LCD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 display. And because Oculus VR developed the platform powering Samsung’s Gear VR headset, all games created and distributed for that headset will work on Oculus Go right out of the box. We suspect Oculus VR had a hand in the design and placement of the Gear VR’s lenses.
According to Oculus VR, the Oculus Go‘s “fast-switching” LCD display was optimized for mobile VR to reduce the “screen door” effect. That’s caused by the physical spaces between each pixel, which are highly visible as “lines” when magnifying a display just inches away from your face. You can clearly see these lines on phones with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and a pixel density of 534ppi, thus reducing this effect would require a high number of pixels crammed into every inch, similar to what Japan Display accomplished in late 2016 with its screens for VR headsets.
As for field of view, Google won’t state any actual numbers for its Daydream View headset just yet — except that it is above 90 degrees. That vagueness may be tied directly to the Daydream-compatible smartphones given they’re not identical in size. Meanwhile, we don’t know the official field of view number for the Oculus Go, but the PC-based Oculus Rift provides a field of view at 110 degrees (as does the HTC Vive). The latest version of Samsung’s Gear VR for its Galaxy-class phones is 100 degrees.
Winner: Oculus Go
Controls and tracking
Thrown into the Daydream View kit is a small rectangular controller with rounded ends measuring 4.1 (L) x 1.3 x 0.6 (H) inches, and weighing 1.4 ounces. Shown above, it includes a nine-axis inertial measurement unit for tracking your motion, similar to the original Wiimote for the Nintendo Wii console. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and provides four inputs: a Home button, an App button, a Volume button, and a clickable touchpad. It can be slipped into a special holster mounted on the back of the head strap for storage.
For the Oculus Go, Facebook’s motion-tracking controller sports an ergonomic, gun-like design that fits more comfortably in your hand. As shown above, it includes a wrist strap so you’re not sending the device through the window, and what appears to be a clickable touchpad mounted just below your thumb. There appears to be a trigger button too along with a Back button, and an Oculus Home button. KAPOW!
Winner: Oculus Go
Performance and requirements
Most phones supporting Google’s Daydream platform rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon family of processors, namely the 820, 821, and 835 chips (Huawei uses its own in-house Kirin 960 chip in its two phones). That said, you’ll likely see performance variations across the 11 devices due to processor speed, how well these chips can juggle background tasks in addition to rendering smooth VR experiences, and the amount of system memory on hand.
The problem with the likes of Daydream View and Gear VR is that that they rely on devices built primarily for communication, not VR. Phones are handling multiple tasks simultaneously, including a long list of apps that stay connected to the internet. Phone processors deal with requests from Android, Google services, carrier-based services, and so much more. Throw VR rendering for each eye on top of that, and your phone will start to heat up from the massive, heavy load.
The Oculus Go will be different. It will supposedly be based on the Snapdragon 835 mobile processor, but it won’t have to deal with all the burdens associated with smartphones. Given its compatibility with Gear VR applications, it will likely be based on Android, but don’t expect pre-installed Google services on the device. What you can expect is high-performing VR experiences because that will be Oculus Go’s sole purpose, eliminating all performance bottlenecks associated with demanding smartphone-based tasks.
Even more, Oculus Go will sport integrated spatial audio, meaning the source of a sound will adjust its position as you move your head, sustaining the illusion of depth and placement on an audible level. You can share the audio with your friends too although the provided press images only show the audio directed inward towards the wearer’s ears. For Daydream View, you can either plug earphones into the smartphone’s audio jack, or turn up the phone’s audio so others can hear the experience.
Winner: Oculus Go
Software
Google’s Daydream View depends on the Daydream platform built into Android 7.0 Nougat and later. VR experiences are delivered through the Daydream app on Google Play and include VR-enhanced versions of Google Photos, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go, and more. It’s not just the basic Android apps though — you’ll also get access to all sorts of other VR experiences such as Hello Mars, VR Karts: Sprint, Virtual Rabbids, Need for Speed: No Limits VR, and so on. You can also install all Daydream-focused Android apps outside the Daydream app, as seen here on Google Play.
Again, we are betting that Oculus Go will be based on Android, but users will likely enter the Oculus Home platform immediately after booting up the device. It’s expected to be similar to Oculus Home on the Gear VR, providing a living room-style virtual space with access to floating panels for browsing apps, accessing your installed library, and socializing with friends on the Oculus Home platform. All applications will be delivered through this interface.
Winner: Oculus Go
Pricing and availability
Right now, Daydream View costs $99 for the headset and motion controller, but that’s in addition to the cost of your smartphone. Meanwhile, the Oculus Go will have a starting price of $199 early next year for the headset and included motion-sensing controller. Currently, there only seems to be one color for the Oculus Go, but that could change before it’s release next year. Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact release date just yet.
Winner: Daydream View
Overall Winner: Daydream View
If you have a smartphone that doesn’t appear on the Google Daydream View list, your device will never be compatible. Google and manufacturers have no plans to bring older phones into the Daydream View fold, so if you’re looking for a great mobile VR experience, the upcoming Oculus Go still may not be your best ticket.
Why? Because standalone mobile VR headsets are just now hitting the scene. Problem is, Google and Qualcomm collaborated to create a standalone Daydream View headset that tracks your movements through physical space. In other words, you get full room-based tracking without the need for external motion detection sensors as seen with the PC-tethered Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets. HTC and Lenovo are expected to produce standalone Daydream View headsets in the United States before the end of 2017.
Right now, there’s no sign that the Oculus Go includes this type of positional tracking, and Daydream View smartphones aren’t physically equipped for the job. That said, you might want to wait and see a full Oculus Go hardware disclosure before making any purchases. You may also want to wait and see how stand-alone Daydream View headsets with full-body motion detection perform in real-world scenarios before taking a financial plunge into mobile VR. More than anything else, the Daydream View is the only of the two options that you can actually go out and get today.
Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go — which will be the better VR experience?
The market for mobile-based virtual reality is getting big rather quick. One of the first tastes was served up through Google Cardboard for Android phones years ago. It was soon followed by the Gear VR a premium experience co-developed by Facebook’s Oculus VR, to be used exclusively with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones. Not to be bested, Google opted for a premium experience of its own: the Daydream platform for VR baked into Android, and the accompanying Daydream View headsets.
On the other side of things, we’re about to be bombarded with a group of standalone VR headsets, which aren’t reliant upon either a PC or a smartphone. These standalone headsets might end up filling the middle-ground between entry-level mobile VR experiences and full-on PC-driven, premium setups. One of the first out of the gate will be the Oculus Go, which is set to come in “early 2018.”
With all the different options out there, planning your entrance into VR content might be a little confusing at this point. Hopefully, our Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go explanation will help ease some of the mental pain and provide some clarity about which is best for you.
Specifications
Daydream View 2
Oculus Go
Display:
Depends on phone
LCD, “fast-switch”
Resolution:
Depends on phone
2,560 x 1,440
Refresh Rate:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Software Support:
Android 7.0, Daydream, Google Play
Oculus Home
Field of View:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Tracking Area:
Seated, Standing
Seated, Standing
Built-in Audio:
Via phone
Yes
Built-in Mic:
Via phone
Yes
Controller:
Yes, motion-sensing (included)
Yes, motion-sensing (included)
Sensors:
Depends on phone
Unconfirmed
Connections:
USB Micro Type-B
3.5mm audio jack
Requirements:
Asus ZenFone AR
Google Pixel
Google Pixel 2
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
Huawei Porsche Design Mate 9
LG V30
Motorola Moto Z
Motorola Moto Z2
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung Galaxy S8+
ZTE Axon 7
Stand-alone device
Price:
$99
$199
DT Review:
4 out of 5 stars
N/A
It’s raining cats and dogs
It’s first important to mention that comparing the Google Daydream View with Facebook’s Oculus Go is like comparing a dog to a cat. They’re both domesticated animals that live within the house, but they don’t use the same approach to get their attention requirements met. Like a puppy, Google’s Daydream View is a $100 mobile VR headset that highly depends on a central source for everything it needs, specifically an expensive smartphone.
Meanwhile, the upcoming $200 Oculus Go is a self-contained device that has everything it needs, purring along without the added high-priced smartphone. Unfortunately, we don’t have the official specifications for the Oculus Go just yet given it’s not launching until early 2018. But even if you own a Daydream-compatible phone, the Oculus Go may be a better solution for reasons we will explain later.
Design
Sold in Fog, Coral, and Charcoal color variants, the Daydream View headset measures 6.6 (L) x 4.6 x 3.9 (H) inches, and weighs 0.58 pounds. It sports a lightweight exterior covered in soft fabric complemented by an adjustable head strap, and an adjustable top strap with a similar color. The headset also includes a soft, removable facepad surrounding special lenses that look into a compartment mounted in the front of the headset. It’s this compartment that holds the compatible smartphone, so you don’t have to.
To some degree, the Oculus Go is similar in design. There isn’t any fabric covering the outer shell, but it does provide soft, adjustable head and top straps for a comfortable fit, and what appears to be an extremely soft facepad so the headset doesn’t dig trenches deep into your face. Inside are two updated versions of the lenses used in the PC-based Oculus Rift headset.
Because this is a self-contained unit, you won’t find an empty compartment on the front of this headset, or the associated door. Instead, you’ll find the power and volume buttons on the top along with an LED to indicate that the headset is powered on. A USB-C port appears to be mounted on the left side for charging the device when it’s not in use.
By comparison, Samsung’s Gear VR headset includes a touchpad, an Oculus Home button, and a Back button on the right side of the device. You won’t find this on the Daydream View and Oculus Go versions, as these inputs were moved to motion-sensing controllers. Samsung recently did the same when it introduced the Gear VR controller although the inputs still remain intact on the latest Gear VR model.
Winner: Draw
Display quality, field of view
For Google’s Daydream View headset, the display quality depends on the compatible smartphone. Technically, there are only 11 smartphones that currently support this headset, and here are their resolutions:
Device
Resolution:
Asus ZenFone AR
2,560 x 1,440
Google Pixel
1,920 x 1,080
Google Pixel 2
2,880 x 1,440
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
2,560 x 1,440
Huawei Porsche Design Mate 9
2,560 x 1,440
LG V30
2,880 x 1,440
Motorola Moto Z
2,560 x 1,440
Motorola Moto Z2
1,920 x 1,080
Samsung Galaxy S8
2,960 x 1,440
Samsung Galaxy S8+
2,960 x 1,440
ZTE Axon 7
2,560 x 1,440
On a technical note, these screens are divided in half. Both sides provide a snapshot of the scene for each eye, only they are slightly different from each other so that the brain is fooled into perceiving depth. Plus, each side blacks out areas of the display not seen through the headset’s lenses to eliminate unnecessary rendering by the smartphone.
Thus, Google’s Daydream platform for Android is designed to only work with Daydream View headsets, and the VR platform created by Oculus for certain Samsung Galaxy phones only work with Gear VR. The only exceptions to this rule are the two Galaxy S8 phones that support both Gear VR and Daydream View. But even with those phones, you can’t play Daydream-based games in the Gear VR headset, and vice versa.
For the Oculus Go, the device includes a built-in LCD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 display. And because Oculus VR developed the platform powering Samsung’s Gear VR headset, all games created and distributed for that headset will work on Oculus Go right out of the box. We suspect Oculus VR had a hand in the design and placement of the Gear VR’s lenses.
According to Oculus VR, the Oculus Go‘s “fast-switching” LCD display was optimized for mobile VR to reduce the “screen door” effect. That’s caused by the physical spaces between each pixel, which are highly visible as “lines” when magnifying a display just inches away from your face. You can clearly see these lines on phones with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and a pixel density of 534ppi, thus reducing this effect would require a high number of pixels crammed into every inch, similar to what Japan Display accomplished in late 2016 with its screens for VR headsets.
As for field of view, Google won’t state any actual numbers for its Daydream View headset just yet — except that it is above 90 degrees. That vagueness may be tied directly to the Daydream-compatible smartphones given they’re not identical in size. Meanwhile, we don’t know the official field of view number for the Oculus Go, but the PC-based Oculus Rift provides a field of view at 110 degrees (as does the HTC Vive). The latest version of Samsung’s Gear VR for its Galaxy-class phones is 100 degrees.
Winner: Oculus Go
Controls and tracking
Thrown into the Daydream View kit is a small rectangular controller with rounded ends measuring 4.1 (L) x 1.3 x 0.6 (H) inches, and weighing 1.4 ounces. Shown above, it includes a nine-axis inertial measurement unit for tracking your motion, similar to the original Wiimote for the Nintendo Wii console. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and provides four inputs: a Home button, an App button, a Volume button, and a clickable touchpad. It can be slipped into a special holster mounted on the back of the head strap for storage.
For the Oculus Go, Facebook’s motion-tracking controller sports an ergonomic, gun-like design that fits more comfortably in your hand. As shown above, it includes a wrist strap so you’re not sending the device through the window, and what appears to be a clickable touchpad mounted just below your thumb. There appears to be a trigger button too along with a Back button, and an Oculus Home button. KAPOW!
Winner: Oculus Go
Performance and requirements
Most phones supporting Google’s Daydream platform rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon family of processors, namely the 820, 821, and 835 chips (Huawei uses its own in-house Kirin 960 chip in its two phones). That said, you’ll likely see performance variations across the 11 devices due to processor speed, how well these chips can juggle background tasks in addition to rendering smooth VR experiences, and the amount of system memory on hand.
The problem with the likes of Daydream View and Gear VR is that that they rely on devices built primarily for communication, not VR. Phones are handling multiple tasks simultaneously, including a long list of apps that stay connected to the internet. Phone processors deal with requests from Android, Google services, carrier-based services, and so much more. Throw VR rendering for each eye on top of that, and your phone will start to heat up from the massive, heavy load.
The Oculus Go will be different. It will supposedly be based on the Snapdragon 835 mobile processor, but it won’t have to deal with all the burdens associated with smartphones. Given its compatibility with Gear VR applications, it will likely be based on Android, but don’t expect pre-installed Google services on the device. What you can expect is high-performing VR experiences because that will be Oculus Go’s sole purpose, eliminating all performance bottlenecks associated with demanding smartphone-based tasks.
Even more, Oculus Go will sport integrated spatial audio, meaning the source of a sound will adjust its position as you move your head, sustaining the illusion of depth and placement on an audible level. You can share the audio with your friends too although the provided press images only show the audio directed inward towards the wearer’s ears. For Daydream View, you can either plug earphones into the smartphone’s audio jack, or turn up the phone’s audio so others can hear the experience.
Winner: Oculus Go
Software
Google’s Daydream View depends on the Daydream platform built into Android 7.0 Nougat and later. VR experiences are delivered through the Daydream app on Google Play and include VR-enhanced versions of Google Photos, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Go, and more. It’s not just the basic Android apps though — you’ll also get access to all sorts of other VR experiences such as Hello Mars, VR Karts: Sprint, Virtual Rabbids, Need for Speed: No Limits VR, and so on. You can also install all Daydream-focused Android apps outside the Daydream app, as seen here on Google Play.
Again, we are betting that Oculus Go will be based on Android, but users will likely enter the Oculus Home platform immediately after booting up the device. It’s expected to be similar to Oculus Home on the Gear VR, providing a living room-style virtual space with access to floating panels for browsing apps, accessing your installed library, and socializing with friends on the Oculus Home platform. All applications will be delivered through this interface.
Winner: Oculus Go
Pricing and availability
Right now, Daydream View costs $99 for the headset and motion controller, but that’s in addition to the cost of your smartphone. Meanwhile, the Oculus Go will have a starting price of $199 early next year for the headset and included motion-sensing controller. Currently, there only seems to be one color for the Oculus Go, but that could change before it’s release next year. Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact release date just yet.
Winner: Daydream View
Overall Winner: Daydream View
If you have a smartphone that doesn’t appear on the Google Daydream View list, your device will never be compatible. Google and manufacturers have no plans to bring older phones into the Daydream View fold, so if you’re looking for a great mobile VR experience, the upcoming Oculus Go still may not be your best ticket.
Why? Because standalone mobile VR headsets are just now hitting the scene. Problem is, Google and Qualcomm collaborated to create a standalone Daydream View headset that tracks your movements through physical space. In other words, you get full room-based tracking without the need for external motion detection sensors as seen with the PC-tethered Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets. HTC and Lenovo are expected to produce standalone Daydream View headsets in the United States before the end of 2017.
Right now, there’s no sign that the Oculus Go includes this type of positional tracking, and Daydream View smartphones aren’t physically equipped for the job. That said, you might want to wait and see a full Oculus Go hardware disclosure before making any purchases. You may also want to wait and see how stand-alone Daydream View headsets with full-body motion detection perform in real-world scenarios before taking a financial plunge into mobile VR. More than anything else, the Daydream View is the only of the two options that you can actually go out and get today.
With Facebook Local, you’ll never have that fear of missing out
App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every Sunday for the latest.
Facebook’s hype has died down throughout the years, but it still keeps users coming back for more when it comes to staying connected with one another. But even though the social media platform has been around for over a decade, there are still new features rolling out and layouts undergoing redesign. This week, we tried out Facebook’s newly revamped stand-alone app Local.
Facebook Local may look familiar to you if you’ve ever used Facebook’s Events app. The company took that already existing app, completely updated it with new features, and Local was born. It’s also already available for download on both Android and iOS.
We live in a world where everything can be made digital, including our invitations for the latest events. Having a birthday party? Make a Facebook event. Playing a show with your band? Make a Facebook event. For those with packed schedules, Facebook will even remind you of the event on the day of. Gone are the days of private and hand-written RSVPs, as now all you need to do is click a button and the entire group will know who’s attending and who’s skipping out.
With Facebook Local, you can discover public events without having to wait for the invite to be sent to you. The best part is, they’re all around wherever you’re currently located. The app also connects to your Facebook account, so you can easily see your notifications when it comes to the more private events you’ve been invited to.
The interface is simple to use, with sections for restaurants, cafes, drinks, attractions, and more. You can also check out specific events your Facebook friends are planning on attending, or ones nearby. At the top is a search bar, if you’d like to type in a specific place and location.
Similar to Instagram, Facebook Local looks aesthetically pleasing. Using the photos associated with the event page, you’re able to scroll through and get a more visual idea of the event aside from the information written out.
My favorite part of the app is that there are also ratings for all the locations listed, in addition to photos and a brief summary of the reviews. Rather than having to read through different reviews, Facebook Local quickly gives you all of the information you need at first glance. You can also “like” a particular place you’ve been to by tapping on the thumbs-up icon in the right-hand corner.
If you’re unsure of what you’d like to do, you can view a map version of where you are. You can choose filters to rule out certain events, or go through all of the different options going on that day or night. Each event is pinned according to its location and when you tap on it, a window pops up with all the details. Tapping on the event itself will bring you to the Facebook event page without actually leaving the app.
To keep track of all the places you commit to, there’s a tab dedicated to your calendar. When you confirm that you’re going via the invite, it’ll automatically show up in your calendar within the app. You can search for all the events you have coming up based on day or month, and you can also see events you’ve gone to in the past.
While using Facebook Local, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Snapchat’s latest Context Cards feature, which essentially provides you with the same information. But with Snapchat, I always feel like I have to do the work with its discover tool, which is why I don’t use it very often.
On the other hand, with Facebook Local, all the information is already provided as soon as you open the app. Simply scroll through the homepage and you’ll find tons of information available to you. Besides seeing events your friends are going to, you can also use the Guides section, which lays out local places to explore based on interests. Whether it’s food, games, or health and fitness, there’s a category to fit everyone’s needs.
Being in a place like New York City, it can feel a bit overwhelming with so much do to. At times, it’s tough to distinguish where to even start. But this app eases the anxiety by seamlessly mapping out all of your plans for you. Not only does it give you ideas on what you can possibly do, but it connects you with what others around you are doing.
I can also imagine it to be especially useful for when you’re visiting another town. It takes out the guess-work by providing you with enough information to actually feel like you’re a local. More importantly, it will definitely take away that feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out) regardless of you are.
Ohio State University fans troll Apple over its infamous autocorrect glitch
Apple’s latest mobile operating system launched in September, but it included a few annoying hiccups and glitches. One of the most noticeable was in the autocorrect feature, where some users who typed in the letter “i” found it automatically replaced with “A [?]” instead. Apple initially suggested a workaround using the Text Replacement feature, but the bug has now been corrected with the release of version 11.1.1 for iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
That didn’t stop the fans at Ohio State University from poking a little fun at the tech giant, however. Between plays during the recent game pitting the Buckeyes against the Michigan State Spartans, the crowd at the Horseshoe began their familiar “O-H-I-O” chant. The student section in the end zone was ready, holding up cards that spelled out “A [?]” instead.
Ohio State trolling Apple ????
(@darrenrovell, @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/u7A563gi1i
— Brian Havrilla (@brianhavrilla) November 11, 2017
The college football pranks at Apple’s expense didn’t stop with Ohio State. This sign was featured during ESPN’s popular GameDay show in Miami, where students often show up with all manner of signs hoping to be featured on the lengthy pre-game broadcast.
Happens to the best of us
A post shared by College GameDay (@collegegameday) on Nov 11, 2017 at 7:02am PST
Ohio State University actually has somewhat of a history with Apple, as well as an ongoing future. The school’s iconic marching band was featured in a 2014 commercial for the iPad Air. The band is known for elaboratel halftime shows featuring a wide range of pop culture. Previous halftime performances have featured tributes to Star Wars, James Bond, and The Beatles.
Beginning in 2013, the band began using iPads to choreograph the intricate designs of their marching band routines. Rather than spending $24,000 per year on paper, the band got a grant to supply all band members with the devices.
The OSU-Apple partnership has expanded to include the academic curriculum as well since 2013. Beginning in Fall of 2018, every freshman admitted to the university will be issued a free 10.5-inch, 256GB iPad Pro. The campus will also feature an iOS laboratory where students can learn Apple-specific coding known as “Swift.”
“I see a lot of potential [in the Apple partnership],” assistant professor Theodore Chao told The Lantern. “Swift is so intuitive — a platform that children can use to code, but also doctoral students and adults can use to build out apps.”
We found a rugged phone cheap enough to batter like you’re supposed to
Smartphones are a crucial tool in everyday life, but more often than not, they tend to be fragile. That’s fine if your phone spends most of its time in your pocket or your hands on the ride to work, but if it spends any time in the great outdoors, you may be (rightly) worried about dropping your phone into a crevasse or a stretch of wet sand. An adventurous lifestyle calls for a phone that can take a beating; luckily, there’s an entire class of rugged smartphones out there. Sadly, most smartphones that are built to withstand the elements also cost a lot of money, and if you’ve already invested in camping gear, you might not want to shell out $800 or so for a new phone.
If you’re willing to look outside of the usual brands, however, there are cheaper options, such as the Doogee S60. If you haven’t heard of Doogee before, you’re not alone. Originally a Spanish company, Doogee relocated to China after changing ownership. Although Doogee is not a household name — at least not currently — the company produces high-quality smartphones with powerful specs.
The aforementioned Doogee S60, for instance, contains a Mediatek Helio P25 processor and an Octa-core CPU that packs a mighty punch. It even packs a welcome 6GB of RAM.
Other features include a 21-megapixel camera, a fingerprint scanner, an SOS button, and a 5,580mAh battery that supports both quick and wireless charging. The 5.2-inch screen has a pixel density of 424 pixels per inch, and the speakers can project loudly (for a smartphone).
All these premium components are worthless if the phone shatters when dropped, though, which is why Doogee built the S60 like an impregnable fortress. The smartphone’s casing is made out of aluminum and high-density polycarbonate, and the screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The phone achieves an IP68 rating, too, meaning it can withstand dust and immersion for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 meters of water.
The S60 runs Android, and if the phone has a weakness, it’s the strange bloatware that comes pre-installed on the device, which can at least be turned off.
The S60 is a great phone, one that can be had for relatively cheap — in some places, you might find it as low as $280. If you spend a lot of time adventuring, it’s certainly a good investment.
David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.
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