VR HMD of Xiaomi and Microsoft

[Credit: Xiaomi]

Many companies are releasing its VR HMD and 

two more global companies have delivered surprise news. 

That’s Xiaomi and Microsoft, so let’s take a look right now!

Xiaomi, comes with a low price

Xiaomi has released its second VR HMD in their unveil event 

held on 25th Oct in Beijing China. 

The design is similar to Sony PlayStation VR but the price is just $29.  

[Credit: Xiaomi]

Some of you will think that it will have not much to look at because of its incredibly low price. 

Mi VR is well-made that it probably can be thought as more than $29. 

A gyro sensor, which can perceive the move and motion sensor which 

that will keep latency low at 16ms are built in. 

Also features a 9-axis motion controller and supports touch controls.

However, we should wait until we can experience Mi VR in real. 

[Credit: THE VERGE]

Mi VR provides more than 500 panorama videos 

and you can meet more than 30 VR apps in Xiaomi’s VR store named MIUI VR store. 

According to the Internet news, Mi VR is better than Xiaomi’s first VR HMD Mi VR Play. 

However, Mi VR is only compatible with Xiaomi’s latest smartphone such as Mi5, Mi note 2.

VR Headset of Microsoft

[Credit: Microsoft]

Microsoft opened its VR Headset in Windows 10 event which was held in New York. 

Microsoft has released HoloLens in last January and the project Alloy in August.

It seems like Microsoft is taking a slightly different way 

than that of other companies which are concentrating on VR. 

You will be aware of well if you have read news about Microsoft 

that Microsoft use AR(Augmented Reality) or MR(Merged Reality) more than VR(Virtual Reality). 

Microsoft is concentrating on AR and MR, but also taking VR because AR and MR are related to VR. 

[Credit: Microsoft]

This Headset that Windows has released has no name yet 

and it is a VR Headset that supports AR. HP, Dell, Lenove, Asus and Aver, 

which produces PC are the partners and the VR headset will be produced by them.

It cost only $299 but it seems like it can surpass the existing devices. 

It will be run in the new VR platform of Windows10 Creators Update. 

Also, you don’t need any accessories such as external sensor or camera and complicated setup. 

[Credit: Google image]

According to the Demo video you can watch TV or enjoy Skype, paint apps in VR. 

Also, one of the employees of Microsoft experienced a HoloTour and went to Rome.

It was amazing.

Microsoft has not opened its spec or release date but you can meet it probably in early 2017. 

However, as you know with the case of HoloLens the customers had no chance to meet it in real. 

We hope that we become able to meet this new VR headset in next year.

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

Playstation VR

[Credit: Google image]

2016 is all about VR. Many global companies such as Google, Oculus and Sony are showing off their VR technologies. Today we will deliver you hot news about Sony PlayStation VR (PS VR) that many of us waited.

SONY PLAYSTATION VR, finally released.

Many people have waited for this news. Last time, we talked about PS VR by focusing on the high-quality contents, especially ‘Summer Lesson’. At that time we supposed that many people might be waiting for PS VR, so let’s find out if it really is a surprise.

[Credit: Sony PlayStation VR]

Sony had released its PS VR, which many people waited for a long time, in 13th October, 2106. 40 million devices were all sold in a day when they received Pre-order sale last 30th July. Also, there were people waiting from 6 a.m. in front of the SONY store placed in Ginza, Tokyo. In Seoul, there were also people waiting from early morning in each store. So, Starfield, a shopping mall placed in Hanam, South Korea, set a limit for people to buy only one device per person.

[Credit: Sony PlayStation VR]

PS VR cost $ 399 but if you add PS VR camera, which recognize the sensor of PS VR, used in games and also can be used as camera when you do a YouTube broadcasting then you need to pay up to $59.99 for the camera. For the last, if you buy a bundle that includes PS VR, camera and PS VR Move controllers then it will cost $499. However, it is hard to find the PS VR Move controller in the Korean market. In all this prices, you need to add more than $200 for PS4 as it is mandatory.

[Credit: Google image]

The price of PS VR is cheaper than that of Oculus Rift ($599) or HTC Vive ($799), which is compatible with high-end PC. Therefore PS VR is relatively better for people to enjoy high-quality VR until now. 
However, Sony will release PS 4 pro, which is an upgraded version of PS 4 for $399 from 10th November in U.S.A. It supports more upgraded GPU, faster CPU speed and 4K, HDR picture. We can assume that SONY is also keeping pace with need of using high-end PC to enjoy VR better. 
The spec of PS VR is 5.7 inch OLED display, 960*RGB*1080 resolution and 100 degree FOV (Field of View).

* Specification of PlayStation VR

PS VR is especially optimized in game so it provides various software contents. SONY is planning to provide 50 more game software titles in this year.

[Credit: Google image]

However, there are also many critics from product reviews about PS VR. The Virtual reality sickness rated high for reasons. Did the users expected too much? I guess we should watch more.

Review of SONY PLAYSTATION VR

We decided to visit the SONY store and experience the PS VR with the mind of one of the user, who waited for long time. From above, we told you that it is hard to get the PS Move controller and it really was. So we were not able to try the controller. 

[Credit: Google image]

It was pity that we were not able to experience the PS move controller, but we will tell you an honest review.

We visited a SONY store placed in Hakdong intersection in Seoul, Korea. We could easily find the PS VR experience zone among various SONY products.
You adjust PS VR in your head and for more deep immersion you put an earphone for sound. The facepad of PS VR was made of rubber so it felt like wearing a diver’s goggle. It would be no matter if you use PS VR alone, but if you are plan to use it with your friends then we recommend preparing tissue in advance.

The first content we tried was a video traveling deep sea. In this video you go down and down more deeply under the sea. All 4 people who tried this content were amazed by its high-quality CG scene. The first action that everybody took was moving their head and body here and there to feel the deep ocean. 
   

The second content was a car racing game. It was good to immerse as if I were really driving a car in a virtual world, but it took time to deal with the joystick. One of the good part was that the mirroring mode. Through this mode, you can also watch the same scene that of the player’s in the TV. 
However, it left much to be desired because of the sickness. Three of us felt the same way and thought it would be hard to continue playing game for long hours. For this reason, SONY also doesn’t recommend to play games for long time.
 Through this experience, PS VR seemed to be a sweat temptation for those who love game. It was also a temptation for me even though I don’t play game usually. Not much content available to experience, motion sickness and difficulties to find the joystick as the PS VR cover my eyes seemed not a problem that only PS VR has, but the limit of VR.  
It was a useful experience to watch the future of the VR games even though it left little regret. 

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

Google Daydream View

We have already talked about Google’s Daydream about few months ago. You might have waited for a long time and some of you might think ‘Already? Time flies!’ Google unveiled its new product line such as new chromecast Ultra, Google Home,which is a Smart home device and speaker, Google Wifi Routers and also Google Daydream View and pixel phone through their unveiling events in 4th October in San Francisco.

[Google’s new products / Credit: Google image]

It mostly has a neat design and it is also practical. Among these gorgeous products, we would like to examine deeply about the Daydream View, Controller and the pixel phone which is the first Daydream-ready phone.

Fabric HMD Daydream View
As we learned before, Daydream, which is Google’s VR platform, works same as Oculus home. 
You can enjoy VR through mobile. Daydream runs automatically when you put a Daydream-ready phone in the HMD made by Google. People who experienced Samsung Gear VR will easily understand. 

  [Credit: Google image]

The revealed Daydream View was almost the same with the image opened in the last I/O. However, it differs from the other HMD, which is mostly made with plastic. Google’s HMD has been covered with fabric.

[Credit: Google image]

The color is three types: Snow, Slate and Crimson. The facepad is removable to wash whenever you like. It seemed unhygienic when most of the HMD facepad wasn’t removable, however, Google helped it.

The very first Daydream-ready phone: Pixel phone
A Daydream-ready phone is needed to run the Google Daydream View and Google has announced its first Daydream-ready phone which is called Pixel phone. Pixel phone was produced by HTC but differ from the previous Nexus line, most of the design and UI was done by Google and only a small part of design and production was proceed by HTC.

[Credit: Google]

The design is modern and it is similar to the iPhone. Also, a USB type C port has been applied. This pixel phone runs on operating system named Nougat and it has the highest spec. However, it is a bad news to hear that it has only 32GB and 128GB of storage.

The color is same as the leaked image: White, Blue and Black. The price starts at $649 to $1419 depend on the type and storage. 
There will be more Daydream-ready phones coming up soon. It seems like Daydream View has more chances compared to Gear VR, which is compatible only with Galaxy series phones. 

Standard of simple, Controller
It is not perfect even if you put your Daydream-ready phone to the Google’s HMD. In Gear VR, touching the side worked as a button but the Daydream view doesn’t work in the same way. However, more simple and easy way to choose the content has been opened by a very simple controller.

[Credit: Google]

Google has cared the users by putting each app and home button in the controller so that users can go back easily to the menu or home screen. The smart sensors provide smooth tracking and movement and an adjustable volume button lets you turn up your experience. Through this you can swing a bat, steer an airship or even cast a spell with a magic wand.

Fruitful Daydream View
There are many apps and fun experiences coming to Daydream.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

You can explore new world with Google’s basic service such as Google street view, Google photo and it also provide CNN and New York times as an app so you can enjoy the news also in virtual reality.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

In Gear VR, you had to get on the internet to watch youtube videos. However, Google made youtube as a customized application so that users can access more simply and easily. Through Hulu, Jaunt and Netflix you can enjoy your personal cinema, so watch movies on a virtual big screen and experience sports and concerts like you’re actually there.

[Credit: Daydream homepage]

You can get in the game with VR as there are many games such as Wonderglade, Fantastic Beasts, and Danger Goat …etc. ready for you.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

Lastly, you can enjoy the exclusive demo of J.K. Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ only through Daydream. You can meet this demo magically at select stores in November.

The first start of Google Daydream View, which official release will be in November, was a cheap cardboard. The cardboard made people feel familiar with VR regardless of their type of phone. That Google is now facing the official release with its upgraded Daydream View that dreams to seize the VR platform ecosystem in November 
Which will be the last one to win the victory between Gear VR, which is only compatible with Samsung’s Galaxy phones and Daydream View, which makes phones possible to work with its HMD through Daydream-ready certification? 

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2016

Do you know the three grand game show? It is E3, ECTS and Tokyo game show. It is sponsored by Japan’s CESA (Computer Entertainment Software Association) and supported by MITI (The Ministry of International Trade and Industry). All the global game developing enterprises and distributers participate in this game show. The theme of 2016 Tokyo game show was ‘entertainment changes, the future changes.’ and especially VR received a lot of attention during the game show. 

20th anniversary of Tokyo game show

31 country and 614 companies has participated in this 2016 Tokyo game show and it marked an all-time high in its history. Except the business day, average one hundred thousand and total 2.7 million visitors visited. VR was almost the keyword of this game show as not only the major companies but also most of the Indie companies brought VR.

<Credit: Google image>

There was also a special zone that introduces the 20 years history of the game show celebrating the 20th anniversary. The previous game shows were also good, but this year’s seemed more special. 

The major game booth 

These days flow seems to be a mobile game. There can be some mania group who still prefer video game. This year’s Tokyo game show received reviews that it is still weighted towards video games, so it seems like it didn’t shift to the mobile games yet. So Nintendo haven’t been participating in the game show from long time ago as they judged video game is not enough.  However, there were still many visitors showing interest to the video games as the lines of Sony PlayStation VR and PARALLEL to experience the game was so long. 

<Credit: Google image>

VR experience space for adult male and female

Game and Adult contents are stated as the main field of VR. The contents that draw many people’s eyes were definitely games for adults. The most popular games were not just about pornography, but more like a Dating game that combined game and adult contents. We would like to introduce two of them.
The first game company is M2 which showed off the E-mote technology. This E-mote technology was very popular among the male customers. E-mote technology changes 2D characters to 3D so that users can watch and feel the game character as real. They used this E-mote technology to show off the virtual girlfriend in the booth. The major point that took male customers attention was the mannequin so that the visitors can share communication with it. If the visitors touch some part of the mannequin’s body after wearing a VR HMD, the character from the VR video express her feeling. However, there were also some happenings because some visitors have done some embarrassing behavior such as touching the mannequin’s breast.

<Credit: Google image>

So it may seem possible to make a virtual girlfriend or boyfriend and fall in love with them like a movie ‘HER’.
The second booth is a romance booth which was made for woman by VOLTAGE Inc. There were also various other Dating game zone for women besides VOLTAGE Inc. However, a Dating game that VOLTAGE prepared was especially special. They received an advance reservation in hours from visitors and they let them date with a real man model in the booth during the game show.
   

<Credit: Google image>

It was an unusual time for female visitors to experience a very rough and violent love which is hard to experience in their real world. 
There were also many other booths that shows other VR technology such as patch or suit so that users can experience Virtual reality more deeply. 
2016 Tokyo game show has been a place where users can feel VR closer. There was also some criticism that ‘Tokyo game show was only their festival which is hard to involve except successor of the console game.’, ‘Tokyo game show settles for the present’. However, with the keyword ‘VR’ we were able to find out how much VR has been closer to our real life and how much the adult stuff has grown rapidly through this game show. 

We expect VR to rapidly grow in the field which will be helpful to our life such as Architecture or education as it has grown rapidly in the field of game and adult stuff.

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

VR offline promotion examples

VR and AR are used in various fields these days including education, architecture and medical. Gradually this technology will also be used in our daily life normally. Today we will introduce you VR which was used in various offline promotions. 

VR offline promotion cases in Korea

*Northface McMurdo South-Pole experience.

< Youtube: https://youtu.be/FSfkE4emoBE>

Northface prepared an offline promotion event to promote their new line Mcmurdo. It has used VR as a bridge to their event very well. It has made a special Mcmurdo booth in the Lotte world mall and when the customers visit and try the new products they explain about the product and then suggest a 3D South-Pole experience. Then people sit in the sled and wear a VR HMD.

The customers will see a video that makes them feel as if they were riding a sled which is led by sled dogs in the snow. At the end of the video there appears a sentence “Now the real exploration will begin” and the countdown begins. When the countdown ends the helpers take off the customer’s VR HMD and suddenly the sled moves by real trained sled dogs inside the mall. 

Most of the customers are surprised and fall into a flutter but when they get close to the finish line they instinctively realize that they need to catch the hanged Mcmurdo in the finish line. This event actualized the scene which was shown in the VR video so the effect can be maximized. That means that they connected the Virtual Reality well to the real world. 

*Lego city trailer

< https://youtu.be/08kNlUNuMno>

The Northface Mcmurdo experience went along in particular place. But this event ran in many different places in Korea. This campaign is called “Be a hero of Lego city” and it travels the whole country near the mart and multi shopping mall using the huge 7.5 ton city trailer as a mobile zone aiming children.

Inside the large trailer there is a Lego city installed made with two hundred thousand Lego by Lego specialists in about 70 days. It values about one hundred million won. 

First, the kids come up to the trailer and look around the Lego City diorama. Then they can make their own car or airplane with Lego. After that they can experience VR through the cardboard which the Lego City provides.

Through the VR video they can experience the Lego City which they watched in the trailer. They can travel around the Lego city through VR which is not possible in the real world. Furthermore, there are some missions they need to do while watching the VR video. For the last, they take a picture and receive a Lego City citizenship. 

Through this Lego City event they made the children to experience the VR more easily through Lego which is a popular content. They also used cardboard which is very light and easy to activate rather than heavy VR HMD which can be bit difficult for children to use. The children might have imagined “What would it feel like if I can live in this lego city?” while they were watching the lego city diorama. Then the VR experience answers to their curiosity and imagination. 

*Hyundai motor group’s 360 VR live broadcast

< https://youtu.be/2f4P5w6xGYA>

Most of the VR event used a VR video which was already made and people just watch it in the event place. However, there was a 360 live broadcast video event which Hyundai motor group has prepared for 2016 Busan International Motor Show.

They set the 360 camera and 360 relay rooms so that people who visited Hyundai motor studio located in coex, Seoul can watch the report presentation in real time. Furthermore, they made an experience zone in coex which people can experience the exhibition hall in Busan vividly in Seoul. 
People were able to experience the exterior and inner of the car which is exhibited in Hyundai motor booth in Busan motor show through VR. Hyundai motors were the first in the car market to try live VR broadcast related to the motor show. It was a good event to promote Hyundai motor’s new technology and innovative car culture to the people. 

Like this, there are many good cases that use VR in offline promotion in Korea. We expect to meet more exciting offline promotion events that use VR! 

VR offline promotion cases abroad.

*SUNTORY‘s new product promotion event using VR

SUNTORY, one of Japan’s beverage companies, used VR in their promotion event for their new product.
If you see this video, you will have a thought “I want to experience this!”

< https://youtu.be/ATs4ISQm18Q>

This promotion was held in front of the Shinjuku JR station in Tokyo. The Korean company Clicked has planned this event. There is a container in the station and there is a suspension bridge, an air blower and an air conditioner that makes customers to feel as if they were really in the winter.

 When the customer go into the container by wearing a VR HMD which shows them a video of walking through the suspension bridge in the mountain covered with snow and where there’s a snowstorm. As they enter the container the controller turns on all the devices properly by using the motion sensor then the customers are confused of its situation so that they can’t walk right and some people hesitate to walk forward. The reason they have to go forward is because the new SUNTORY beverage is waiting for them in the microwave. More interesting part is that other people can watch this user’s tough exploration through the large-screen from the outside. 

This event which is called “a final beverage tasting” was a great success and the product they prepared ran short 2 hours earlier than they planned. 

*VELUX Virtual Reality in Netherland

< http://bit.ly/2c9nRuY >

There are many events that use VR HMD and move here and there, but there are also events that the places changes in the Virtual Reality even though you don’t move. This event was done by VELUX, a dormer window company in Netherland. They tried to show people that the dark and forgotten place also can be changed to bright and beautiful places through VELUX. What they used for this promotion is Virtual Reality.

They set up an open studio looks like attic made by wood in the exhibition hall. There are few wood boxes inside the attic. Then when the customers visit the VELUX studio what they see is just a wood attic and few boxes inside. However, when they wear a VR HMD and look the same place it is changed to a beautiful place with window, sunshine, bed and other furniture. Furthermore, they can change the interior to their taste with the controller. 

Like this, the customers can experience indirectly but intensely through VR that all the places can be changed through VELUX. Through this case, VR will be used more and more in housing, interior and architecture field. Furthermore, people can experience places more realistically through VR even though they don’t visit the real place.

* Japan’s various VR experience.

Now you can experience VR almost in all places in Tokyo. The events introduced above were done in a particular time in limited places but these in Tokyo are always open. There were also many experiences prepared for kids. 

< Roppongi Hills_ TV asahi Festival VR event>

<Odaiba shopping mall_ VR ZONE Project I can>

< Daikanyama tsutaya bookstore_ Bank VR event >

< Daikanyama tsutaya bookstore_ Benz VR rounge >

There are many good cases that use VR in right place in their offline event promotion. This kind of experience can be more effective as the customers can show more interest to their product, service or brand. For instance, through the VR live broadcast event, Hyundai not only promoted its cars but also was able to promote the brand of its company by making people think Hyundai as a leading company that has new technology and an innovative car culture.   

We hope to meet more interesting and brilliant offline promotion that uses VR. 

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!