Samsung has been in the virtual reality (VR) game for some time now thanks to its partnership with Oculus for the Samsung Gear VR headset, but it looks like the tech giant could be preparing to launch a new wireless headset that uses both augmented reality (AR) and VR technology.

The news is interesting for a few reasons. While VR headsets have become a lot more common over the past few years, to date AR has largely been limited to apps on our phones.

AR headsets have been released – including the likes of Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens – but these remain largely out of consumer consciousness.

There are a few major differences between the rumored AR/VR headset and Samsung’s already-released Gear VR headset. 

The Gear VR is made strictly for VR, meaning it blocks out the entire outside world and instead displays a new, virtual reality. AR, on the other hand, involves being able to see the outside world and displaying virtual elements over the top of it.

If Samsung does launch an AR headset, it could change the tech world forever. AR is considered by many to be the next big thing in tech – and could even replace the smartphone. 

Of course, Samsung may have some serious competition. A long time rival has been rumored to be working on its own AR/VR reality headset. 

We’re talking about the rumored Apple VR headset with AR capabilities, and if the products are launched at the same time, it could mean all-out war in the AR/VR space. That’s a good thing for consumers, however, as it will lead to more innovation and more choice.

But what will Samsung’s new AR/VR device look like? And how much will it cost? Here’s everything we know about it so far.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A wireless headset from Samsung capable of both VR and AR
• When is it out? No official word yet, though it could be announced at IFA 2018 in September
• How much does it cost? No official word yet

Release date

Samsung’s AR/VR headset may be well and truly on its way. 

Rumors indicate that Samsung may be planning on launching the headset as soon as September, at IFA 2018 in Berlin.

Of course, just because it announces the headset at IFA doesn’t mean that it’ll be available in September of this year. Still, we expect that if it’s not available as soon as announced, it will instead be available within a year of its reveal.

That is, if Samsung announces it at IFA 2018. It could still be a year or more off before Samsung lifts the lid on this mysterious AR/VR device, though of course, that’s just our speculation. 

Price

In addition to when the headset might release, one major unknown is exactly how much the headset will cost. Like the Samsung AR/VR headset release date, price is likely to remain unknown for the time being.

We can, however, look at the pricing of other products to get a general idea of how much it could potentially cost.

The Samsung Gear VR comes in at $129 in the US, but you need a compatible Samsung phone to use with it. The standalone Oculus Go is perhaps a more appropriate comparison, and it’s priced at $200 / £200 / AU$300, or $250 / £250 / AU$370 for a version with more storage.

Other augmented reality headsets, however, are a little pricier. There’s the Microsoft HoloLens, which comes at a hefty $3,000 (£2,719 / AU$4,369), but there’s also a HP mixed reality headset that features Microsoft software and runs for $300 and requires a decently powerful computer to connect to. 

Last but not least is Samsung HMD Odyssey, a mixed reality headset that comes at $500 and features the Windows Mixed Reality platform.

We expect the new Samsung product to be decently accessible to most people, so it probably won’t run for more than $500. Still, that’s just speculation – it could end up being far more or far less.

What will it be like?

Rumors indicate that the new Samsung AR/VR headset will be a little different than other offerings, in that it will be wireless, and won’t require a phone to work. 

In other words, it’ll be a completely self-contained headset that runs using Samsung’s own self-built chips. 

It’ll also make use of Samsung’s OLED displays – which means the AR portion of the headset may actually involve a camera displaying the outside world on a screen rather than digital elements being projected onto glass.

That would also help with the VR aspect. It’s important to remember that the headset is supposed to combine AR and VR, and when the headset is being used for VR, it’ll need to be able to block out the outside world. 

Considering this, it’s looking like Samsung’s new headset won’t be the smart glasses we’ve been holding out for.

One key thing to note about this headset is that Samsung is building it in partnership with Microsoft. 

What that means is that the hardware is likely to be Samsung-built, while the software will most likely be some form of Windows Mixed Reality. 

We’ll have to wait and see if it’s the same software that’s on other Windows Mixed Reality headsets, or a tweaked version of the software.

Another important thing to note is that the headset is rumored to be wireless, and won’t require connection to a computer or phone. What that means is that it’ll be among the first truly mobile augmented reality devices built for consumers.

It’s possible the new headset could be similar to the Samsung HMD Odyssey, an existing Samsung-made Windows Mixed Reality headset. We’re hoping, however, that it’s a totally new product.

Will it be like Apple’s VR headset?

Samsung isn’t the only company working on an AR headset. Apple has been rumored to be working on AR Glasses for some time now, while new rumors have cropped up that Apple is making an AR/VR headset, though it’s not clear if this is in addition to its AR glasses, or a replacement for it.

While the two rivals headsets could both features AR and VR capabilities, there will be some major differences between the two products. For starters, the operating system will be different. 

Apple is likely building its own operating system for its rumored product, while Samsung, through its partnership with Microsoft, will most likely be using Windows-based software for the headset.

Apart from that, we expect both products to be wireless, standalone devices, and we expect them both to be targeted towards consumers. 

There may be an emphasis on design as a way to entice customers to wear the product more often as they go about their daily lives – especially for Apple.

Rumors give us an idea about what Samsung’s new AR/VR headset could end up looking like, but there’s still a lot we don’t know. Will this be the product to push augmented reality to the average consumer while at the same time shaking up the VR industry? We’ll have to wait and see.

http://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-ar-vr-headset

Hisense has big plans for the World Cup this year … like, 80-inches big. Those plans will come to fruition in the new Hisense L5 Laser TV that will serve as a significantly cheaper sibling to the L8D, a $13,000 laser TV Hisense announced at CES this year.

At a slightly less wallet-busting price of 19,999 yuan (approx. $3,140), Hisense has hopes the L5 will succeed with China’s middle-class – as well as the rest of the world when it eventually leaves China.

Like the L8D, the L5 isn’t exactly a TV per se – it’s more of a short-throw projector with a lot of the modern conveniences of a TV – like smart functionality. 

To that end, Hisense sells a projector screen with each and every one of its laser TVs to give it additional clarity and ease of use for people who might be used to traditional LED-LCD or OLED sets. 

The L5’s main selling points are its price ($3,000 is a heck of a lot more affordable than $13,000) and its improved brightness of 400 nits. 400 nits might not sound like a lot but according to Hisense and some simple calculations (every nit of a projector’s brightness is equal to around 3 nits of a traditional TV’s brightness), the L5 should be capable of displaying clear images even in brightly lit rooms. 

There’s no word yet on if the L5 will be capable of HDR or even if it will offer 4K – but those details will be coming sooner rather than later, we imagine. 

Short-throw projector vs an LED-LCD TV 

While there has always been contention between projectors and TVs in the heart of every AV enthusiast, the pull between the two has become even more intense these last few years as more TV makers move into the short-throw projector space. 

Both Sony and LG have announced a number of short-throw projectors for this year, and while neither manufacturer lines them up against their traditional TV series, the two are becoming closer and closer in specs and price point. 

So why choose a short-throw projector over a TV or vice versa? TVs have generally been less maintenance – as bulbs in projectors need to be replaced every few years and can be costly. On the other hand, short-throw projectors are usually designed in a way that they can be hidden or stored, allowing style-savvy entertainment enthusiasts to hide their equipment when company comes over.

One problem that’s becoming less of an issue is the requirement for projectors to be placed in a completely dark environment – a legitimate home theater, for example. As projectors are able to crank up the brightness without impacting a bulb’s life, projectors can slowly shift away from the darkened rooms of home theaters and into the modern living room – the Hisense L5 being a great example of this.

Hisense has started rolling out the L5 ahead of the World Cup in its home country of China, and has yet to announce global availability – though, if the L8D is any example, it’s something we’re likely to see at this year’s upcoming CES.

Source: PR Newswire

http://www.techradar.com/news/hisense-to-bring-a-far-cheaper-version-of-its-laser-tv-to-the-world

An Apple VR headset with AR capabilities may be in the works, according to the latest rumors. 

But, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s back up a bit.

For the past few years, Apple has kept its virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) ambitions hidden. Insider reports and patents revealed that Apple has likely been secretly working on prototypes for VR headsets and AR Glasses, but the industry and consumers have been waiting with bated breath to see which path Apple would choose. 

Apple’s answer, it turns out, could be, “Why not both?”

An Apple source recently divulged the company’s plans to create a joint AR/VR headset that runs on a powerful wireless processor – no PC or smartphone required – and has two 8K resolution displays, one for each eye. 

Unlike the rumored Apple AR glasses, this headset could switch seamlessly between VR and AR, but may need to stick around a processor box to power its robust 8K screens. 

We still don’t know if the AR/VR specs have replaced the AR-only, Google Glass-like glasses, or if both products will eventually come out. 

We’ve got all the latest news on the rumored Apple VR/AR headset, release date, price and current competition, and we’ll update this page as we learn more. 

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A rumored Apple headset that can do both VR and AR
• When is it out? Rumors point to a 2020 release date, but it could be sooner
• How much does it cost? No word yet, but it could be expensive

Release date

Multiple sources have said that Apple’s AR glasses or AR/VR headset will release in 2020. 

Apple could theoretically wow the WWDC 2018 crowd on June 4 with a surprise reveal and a 2019 release date for the headset, but CEO Tim Cook himself denied rumors that the company’s AR tech would be ready in 2018.

“The technology itself doesn’t exist to do [AR] in a quality way… The field of view, the quality of the display itself, it’s not there yet,” Cook said in October 2017.

Making a wireless processor powerful enough for 8K screens is no joke; nor is mass producing 8K screens at sizes small enough for our eyes. 

No other devices on the market currently comes close to the specs Apple wants to hit. To create that kind of next-gen hardware, Apple will probably need at least another couple of years. 

Another report suggested that AR-only Glasses would also release in 2020. We’ll see if Apple has the bandwidth to produce two headsets in two years, or if its designs will somehow merge into one another. 

Price

Considering Apple hasn’t even confirmed that it’s making an AR/VR headset yet, we definitely don’t know what it will charge for the device. But we can make educated guesses based on what other similar headsets cost. 

Oculus Go and Lenovo Mirage Solo, two recently released standalone VR headsets, cost $199 (£199 / AU$299) and $399 (about £293 / AU$530), respectively. 

Windows Mixed Reality headsets like the Samsung HMD Odyssey typically sell in the $400-$500 (about £300-£370 / AU$530-AU$650) range. And major VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive also fall into the $400-$500 range. 

The console-powered PlayStation VR, meanwhile, starts at $200 (£259 / AU$420). 

If we assume Apple’s headset works a lot like the VRVANA Totem (more on that below), then that could serve as a guide as well. 

Before Apple purchased the startup, the company’s CEO told Tom’s Hardware that it could sell the headset for $400–$500, but only if it made “millions of units” at once. 

Apple could certainly produce at that scale. Then again, all of the Apple headset’s specs will undoubtedly improve on Totem, especially the two 8K screens, light-reflecting magnifying lenses and 5nm chip. 

While the Apple VR/AR headset price could be more expensive than a traditional VR headset, it’s doubtful that Apple, which loves to sell its computers and smartphones at premium prices, will reach the heights of HoloLens, which sells for $3,000 (£2,719 / AU$4,369). 

Apple VR/AR headset specs

Apple wants to beat out the other VR and AR devices on the market with the best resolution and holographic animations to date. We’ll see if it can succeed.

The Apple VR/AR headset will reportedly sport two 8K (7680 x 4320) screens. For comparison, the HTC Vive Pro, the most powerful device currently available to consumers, sits at 2880 x 1600 per eye, while the standard HTC Vive uses 2160 x 1200, the Oculus Rift has 1080 x 1200, and PlayStation VR uses 1080 x 960. 

Apple’s closest competition, Google, is reportedly developing a VR-ready OLED display with 5657 x 3182 resolution for release this year or next. 

Apple’s goal of crushing its rivals’ cutting-edge display specs could set it apart, or could simply be hopelessly unrealistic. 

Like the Google Daydream-powered Lenovo Mirage Solo and Oculus Go, Apple’s headset won’t require a wired PC connection or a smartphone to work. 

But to power that unparalleled resolution quality, it will need to connect wirelessly using WiGig to a 5-nanometer, custom Apple-made CPU. 

The CPU will reportedly sit inside a large box shaped like a tower, so you won’t be lugging it around anywhere. So, despite the lack of wires, you’re still expected to keep your AR experiences confined to your home or workplace. 

How it will work

No one has seen Apple’s mysterious prototype in action yet, but look no further than the mixed-reality startup Apple acquired for $30 million for a strong guess of how its headset could revolutionize both the VR and AR industries. 

VRVANA first unveiled its mixed VR/AR devkit in 2014. Called Totem, this headset captures the wearer’s POV using outward-facing cameras. 

Inside the Totem is a curved OLED screen, where the camera feed of the wearer’s environment streams with less than 3ms of delay.  

Unlike see-through AR device like Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens, you never actually see your surroundings directly. 

Why does this matter? Because instead of placing ghost-like holographic projections onto the real world, it can place fully-colored, opaque CG animations into a lag-free version of reality. 

Consider ARKit: Apple’s AR platform superimposes animated images onto a video stream of your real-life surroundings. 

Apple’s new headset is said to do exactly the same thing, except that Apple will likely try to make its augmented creations more “realistic” to be more immersive for the wearer. 

For VR experiences, naturally, the headset simply won’t stream your surroundings, and will instead immerse you in artificial worlds. 

We found out at WWDC 2017 that Apple computers could now support SteamVR, so it’s likely that the headset will support a lot of third-party VR apps, along with whatever Apple creates itself. 

Plus, the Totem’s cameras enabled 6DoF tracking and a 120-degree FOV, and its infrared sensors could track hand gestures for controller-free actions. This kind of tracking is essential for many VR experiences. 

It’s a safe bet that Apple’s 2020 headset will utilize elements of Totem’s hardware and combine it with its ARKit interface for an impressive machine. 

So, how will Apple’s version of AR/VR glasses differ from the startup’s unreleased prototype? For one thing, it will use one display per eye instead of one curved OLED screen. 

For another, a recently discovered patent revealed Apple could make its headset less “cumbersome and tiring to wear” by removing the heavy magnifying glasses found in most headsets. 

Instead, Apple’s lenses will use a catadioptric optical system of mirrors and lenses, typically found in microscopes, to refract and magnify light waves to make things look bigger. Thus, Apple’s AR/VR headset could be much lighter than other powerful VR devices available. 

Of course, VRVANA’s team may have been brought on to work on Apple’s specific AR/VR design, which could look much different than the Totem design. 

Apple patented a mixed AR/VR goggles concept that was discovered in 2016, and were shaped more like traditional glasses. 

However, this device relied on a smartphone to work, so it’s likely this design became obsolete once Apple decided to skip mobile VR. 

Why Apple hedged its bets on VR and AR

While Apple’s major smartphone competitors created Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream View, it focused its efforts on AR for your smartphone. 

So, it’s somewhat surprising that Apple might be shelving AR Glasses in favor of a VR/AR hybrid replacement. 

CEO Tim Cook has mostly gushed about the potential applications of AR, saying that he sees AR as “profound”, something that will “amplify human performance instead of isolating humans”, which seems like an obvious dig at VR.  

Eventually, Cook wants AR to feel as commonplace as “eating three meals a day”, whereas his biggest public praise for VR was one statement, saying it had “interesting applications” in education and gaming, but probably has “a lower commercial interest” than AR. 

So, apart from trying to out-compete Samsung, Google and Facebook in a new market, why does Apple feel the need to focus on VR at all, considering Cook’s apparent unimpressed attitude towards it?

One recent patent hints at the answer: Apple wants to put entertainment VR headsets in its self-driving cars, which would reduce motion sickness and entertain passengers in cars with no windows for increased crash safety. 

It appears that Apple envisions AR as a social platform for everyday life, and VR as an isolating yet immersive platform best for when you’re already alone, i.e., inside a car or at home. 

In general, Apple knows that smartphone owners are using ARKit or rival Google’s ARCore, but VR is still relatively niche in terms of sales. 

Perhaps by grouping both together, Ap

ple will convince more casual tech buyers who already like AR to try out VR, when they wouldn’t otherwise. 

On the other hand, a headset with such premium specs will undoubtedly ask for a high price, which doesn’t exactly cater to a casual crowd. To compete with Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap, and other well-known AR headset makers, perhaps Apple will use VR as a means to differentiate itself from the crowd. 

Ultimately, considering the $1.8 billion that VR and AR sales will produce in 2018 alone, it’s not surprising that Apple would jump at claiming its share of the profit; then it will need merely to wait and see which would becomes more profitable and shift efforts in that direction. 

Apple vs Samsung in AR/VR

After the news of Apple’s VR/AR headset leaked, an anonymous Samsung official conveniently revealed that the Gear VR-maker was also making its own wireless AR/VR headset, in partnership with Microsoft. 

Like Apple, Samsung reportedly will develop its own OLED screens and beefy processors for the headset. 

Unlike Apple, Samsung will reportedly use the Windows Mixed Reality OS for its standalone device. 

We know less about Samsung’s headset than Apple’s, but we did hear rumors last year that Samsung ran an impressive VR demonstration on a 10nm Exynos 9 mobile chip, and that that same headset would include eye and hand tracking, as well as voice and expression recognition. 

We already know that Samsung has the chops to provide a great VR platform. The question is, will Microsoft’s help be enough to bring its AR efforts on par with Apple?

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