HTC’s Peter Chou joins visual effects firm behind ‘Iron Man 3’
No, Peter Chou isn’t leaving HTC. As the company is gearing up to launch its virtual reality platform (and another flagship phone) later this year, the co-founder has decided to pick up a second role at renowned visual effects company, Digital Domain, to strengthen his company’s VR know-how. That’s according to a statement from HTC, anyway. For those who don’t know, Digital Domain is the digital production house behind movies like Iron Man 3 (seems like HTC just can’t get enough of Robert Downey Jr.), Her and Tron: Legacy. It also made animated clips in games including Assassin’s Creed Unity, Destiny and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Chou will officially join the Hong Kong-owned company as an executive director on August 31st, but it’ll obviously be a while before we see what this will bring to the HTC Vive.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, HTC
Via:
Engadget Chinese, South China Morning Post
Source:
Digital Domain
Tags: digitaldomain, digitalproduction, htc, mobilepostcross, movie, peterchou, specialeffects, virtualreality, visualeffects, vive, vr
HTC Vive won’t ship until Q1 2016
The HTC Vive is the lovechild of phone maker HTC and gaming giant Valve that aims to bring VR into the home in an affordable and easy to use way. Many have tapped it as one of the most promising upcoming offerings in the growing VR space which includes well known names like Oculus. Unfortunately it looks like most people won’t be able to get their hands on the Vive until Q1 2016. Today at PAX Prime expo, Valve released a statement saying that “HTC will offer the first commercial Vive units via a limited quantity of community and developer systems” later this year, “with larger quantities shipping in calendar Q1 2016.”
Announced in March, developer units have been around since May and it’s disappointing that we won’t see mass shipment of units this year but if HTC and Valve need the extra time to get it right, then that’s exactly what they should do. VR is something that can be incredibly powerful but hasn’t taken off yet due to no-one really getting it right. We’ve seen a lot of promising new technologies recently either take longer to get off the ground or never get there at all due to a premature launch.
Pushing back the release until Q1 2016 will mean that the Vive will release about the same time as the Oculus (Q1 2016) and Sony’s Project Morpheus (first half of 2016). It will be interesting to see who can take hold of the market.
Who do you think has the most promising offering? The Vive from HTC and Valve, the Facebook backed Oculus or Sony’s Project Morpheus? Let us know in the comments who you’re keeping your eye on.
Source: The Verge
The post HTC Vive won’t ship until Q1 2016 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Verizon launches mid-range Desire 626 for $192
Verizon has just launched HTC’s latest mid-range smartphone, the Desire 626, in the United States. The handset is available to purchase from the carrier for $192 up front or for $8 per month on a 24-month contact.
For those in need of a quick recap of its specifications, the Desire 626 packs a 5-inch 720p display, a 1.1GHz Snapdragon 210 quad-core chipset, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, an 8MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front-facing shooter and a 2,000mAh battery.
The Desire 626 runs the latest build of Android 5.1 Lollipop straight out of the box, skinned with HTC’s Sense 7 custom user interface, which provides users with access to a plethora of exclusive features, including BlinkFeed.
Check out the handset’s promotional images in the gallery below:
If you’re based in the United States, like the sound of the Desire 626 and would like to pick one up from Verizon — hit the source link below.
Source: Verizon
Come comment on this article: Verizon launches mid-range Desire 626 for $192
HTC Vive will see a staggered launch with ship dates rolling into Q1 2016
When HTC announced its Vive back at MWC, it invariably turned as many heads as it did make people scratch them. The Taiwanese OEM, a long time staple of the mobile world, was announcing a virtual reality headset. Even more shocking, the product was a partnership with Valve. It was, and has been, assumed that HTC’s first foray would be shipping this year.
It seems there is a slight change in plans however, as The Verge has learned that this will be true for only some customers. Interestingly enough, it is Valve that has done the talking here, specifically in a press release detailing its’ upcoming PAX Prime Expo plans:
HTC will offer the first commercial Vive units via a limited quantity of community and developer systems (later this year) with larger quantities shipping in calendar Q1 2016.
It remains to be seen just how the roll-out will take place; will customers be chosen based on their reservation/order timing, or will the entire affair be of a totally random nature? For reference, Developer units have been available for many months now and are actually free at that.
Terrible timing?
As The Verge has pointed out, the first half of 2016 will see not one, but two different consumer VR products release: Facebook’s Oculus Rift (Q1) and Sony’s Project Morpheus (Q1 or Q2). Despite our own Joshua Vergara having extremely positive things to say about the Vive when he tested it out at MWC, the presence of intense, direct competition is definitely not a good thing when your product first releases.
Facebook has an extraordinary amount of market value, and while Valve does as well -among computer fans- HTC on the other hand has unfortunately relapsed into a what is likely to be a protracted period of poor financial performance.
The presence of Sony doesn’t make things any easier, nor does it help that the company has been involved with interactive entertainment for decades now. HTC on the other hand, is essentially experimenting with a totally new, foreign concept.
What’s in store for when it’s “in stores”
Given the plight HTC is facing, should the Vive fare well it will certainly bring good tidings to the beleaguered OEM. Still, the success of the product is largely dependent on whatever software or “killer apps” that can be produced to “win” the VR wars. Valve is certainly going to bring an exceptional amount of resources, but will it be enough to match wits with the financial resources of Facebook or the gaming prowess of Sony? Will VR actually take off this time, or will 2016 bring with it a resurgence of the failed attempt and bombastic rumors that defined the 90’s?
At the very least, Amazon’s recent tidings might serve as a warning for HTC to attempt any future “creative projects” though at this point, anything’s possible.
Are you interested in the HTC Vive? What about the competition? Do you think VR has a real shot this time around and allow users to enter the world of Johnny Mnemonic? Drop us a comment!
Expect a ‘limited number’ of HTC Vive VR headsets this year
According to HTC, reports that the commercial launch of its Vive virtual reality headset is delayed until next year aren’t telling the whole story. The company provided a statement to Engadget saying “We’ll have a limited number of units by the end of the year, with more to come in Q1 2016.” It seems unlikely there will be enough to satisfy all potential buyers of the “first complete VR system” it’s making with Valve’s help, but there’s still a chance you could get one, and developers have had access for a while. The Vive headset is coming to PAX Prime in Seattle with demos like Fantastic Contraption — once we know more about when you can have one we’ll let you know.
Filed under:
Displays, Gaming, HD, HTC
Tags: hdpostcross, headset, htc, PAXPrime2015, valve, VirtualReality, Vive, vr
Verizon now offering HTC Desire 626
Verizon is now selling the entry-level HTC Desire 626 smartphone as part of its Android portfolio. Running Android 5.1 Lollipop, the smartphone features a 5-inch display with an 8-megapixel rear camera. Around front you’ll find a 5-megapixel camera for taking selfies and for video chatting.
Under the hood, the Desire 626 packs a 1.1GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor with 1.5GB RAM. Storage is pegged at 16GB so there’s not a ton of space for media. It will do the trick, however, for those who live in the cloud or don’t demand much.
The Desire 626 can be had for $192 outright or spread out at 24 monthly payments of $8 each.
The post Verizon now offering HTC Desire 626 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
HTC RE Camera earns award from the Industrial Designers Society of America
Praise for the HTC RE Camera continues with the device receiving a design award at the 35th International Design Excellence ceremony. The Industrial Designers Society of America selected the RE Camera as an award winner among a field of over 1,700 entries. HTC’s little camera was likely selected because of its simple, compact design that is rather unique. The RE Camera looks like a colorful periscope.
Claude Zellweger, Vice Preside of Design at HTC, explained the RE Camera’s design:
“We approached the design aesthetic with a view to deliver something which was stunning, simple and effective to use. Our solution was a unique cylindrical design which fits comfortably in your hand and instantly activates on pick up, allowing you to point and shoot moments with ease.”
The RE Camera will now be part of a permanent collect of products stored at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
HTC RE CAMERA WINS DESIGN AWARD AT THE 2015 INTERNATIONAL DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS
HTC RE Camera recognized for product design excellence and placed in the permanent collection at the Henry Ford Museum
Seattle, Washington, USA, August 27, 2015 – HTC today announced that the HTC RE Camera has won a design award at the 35th annual International Design Excellence awards ceremony. The awards, conducted by the Industrial Designers Society of America, are a premier design competition recognizing excellence in product design around the world.
“HTC is a global leader in technology innovation and design with the HTC RE camera leading the way in challenging the way people think about imaging,” said Claude Zellweger, Vice President of Design at HTC. “We approached the design aesthetic with a view to deliver something which was stunning, simple and effective to use. Our solution was a unique cylindrical design which fits comfortably in your hand and instantly activates on pick up, allowing you to point and shoot moments with ease.”
As an International Design Excellence Award winner, the HTC RE Camera, which beat over 1,700 other entries, will receive placement in the fall edition of Innovation – the annual yearbook of International Design Excellence Award winners – and a place in the permanent collection at the Henry Ford Museum, the ultimate place to explore what Americans past and present have imagined and invented.
About HTC
HTC Corporation aims to bring brilliance to life. As a global innovator in smart mobile devices and technology, HTC has produced award-winning products and industry firsts since its inception in 1997, including the critically acclaimed HTC One and HTC Desire lines of smartphones. The pursuit of brilliance is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring best-in-class design and game-changing virtual reality and mobile experiences for consumers around the world. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). www.htc.com
About the Henry Ford Museum
Beginning as a simple yet bold idea to document the genius of ordinary people, by recognizing and preserving the objects they used in the course of their everyday lives, the Henry Ford Museum has grown into the ultimate place to explore what Americans past and present have imagined and invented. With a sweeping, single-floor space and soaring 40-foot ceilings, this grand space is dedicated to showcasing the finest collection of its kind ever assembled.
Come comment on this article: HTC RE Camera earns award from the Industrial Designers Society of America
HTC Desire 626 now available from Verizon for just $192
HTC’s latest mid-range smartphone offering, the Desire 626, is now available for purchase from Verizon for just $192 off-contract. The phone is also available from Big Red for just $8 per month for 24 months, if you’d rather go the financing route.
We’ve already posted our full review of this new mid-ranger, and overall, it’s a pretty decent phone. Although it suffers from occasional lagginess and below average battery life, the camera is pretty good, and HTC’s software experience is hard to beat.
As for the specifics, it comes with a 5.0-inch LCD display, a 1.1 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and microSD expansion. It also has an 8MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP front facer, a 2000mAh battery and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box.
If you’re interested in learning more, follow the Verizon link below for more information.
Stagefright patches now rolling out to the AT&T HTC One M9 and One M8
Many smartphone manufacturers have been working hard to push out patches for the Stagefright vulnerability to their smartphones, and today we can add two more devices to that list. AT&T has just issued small updates to both the HTC One M9 and One M8 that bring patches for the Stagefright exploit. These updates only range in size from 28MB to around 55MB, so security fixes are likely the only changes present in these updates.
If you need a refresher, a new vulnerability has been recently uncovered by researchers that exploits the Stagefright media playback engine in Android. This can allow attackers to access your device through a simple multimedia message. Various OEMs, including LG, Samsung, Motorola and more have announced their plans to release monthly security-focused updates to their devices in wake of this exploit.
Don’t miss: Worried about Stagefright? Here’s what you can do for now
As per usual, the update may take a few days to make its way to your smartphone. You can also check for the update manually through your phone’s Settings menu. Once it makes its way to your device, be sure to let us know in the comment section below!
Build a ‘Fantastic Contraption’ in virtual reality with the Vive
Virtual Reality is often characterized as a solitary experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Games like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, a multiplayer bomb-defusal game, demonstrate VR’s ability to entertain entire groups of people in wonderful new ways. Today, it’s time to add one more multi-entertaining VR game to that list: Fantastic Contraption, a widely beloved game about building weird structures in an attempt to reach specific points on a small map. Fantastic Contraption launched in 2008 as a non-VR game and has since attracted millions of players and 12 million saved contraptions. In a new video, it gets a super polished update for the Vive, Valve and HTC’s impressive room-scale VR headset, and creator Colin Northway discusses the merits of multiplayer VR.
Fantastic Contraption on the Vive comes from Incredipede studio Northway Games and ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS team Radial Games. It’ll be at PAX in the Vive demo rooms, though there’s no word on a release window just yet. The Vive commercial edition is expected to launch before the end of the year.
I can’t express how excited I am about this game. I lose sleep at nights thinking about how good it is and how lucky we are to work on it.
— ColinNorthway (@ColinNorthway) August 25, 2015
Source:
Fantastic Contraption
Tags: FantasticContraption, hdpostcross, htc, indie, northway, northwaygames, RadialGames, VirtualReality, vive, vr
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