HTC Vive taking on business applications with $1,580 Business Edition

HTC's Vive virtual reality rig is red hot with gamers and consumer techies but it has a more serious side set up for business and enterprise applications.

Available from June 2016, Vive BE allows individuals and organizations to order Vive VR systems with additional services adapted for business and commercial environments. Alongside the full Vive VR system, Vive BE comes with commercial licensing, a dedicated Business Edition customer support line and a 12-month limited warranty. Businesses will be able to buy multiple Vive BE systems, with the option to order large quantities.

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An introduction to VR through the HTC Vive

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

I've long been a skeptic when it comes to Virtual Reality or VR. I've covered the technologies and evolution of virtual reality since the mid-90's when the idea was that the internet and VR could easily create a connected, immersive and interactive reality alongside reality itself.

But like many widely heralded buzz-worthy technologies, VR always felt like a hollow promise mired by compromise at every turn. It required expensive and enormous headsets, a ton of wires connected to a supercomputer, and the content was, for the most part, as low-rez and blocky as what one could get out of a PlayStation One console.  It is now 2016 and companies are flying high the VR flag again, what's different this time is that there are actual consumer products as well as content generated specifically for VR.

HTC invited me to try their HTC Vive VR headset in a Toronto hotel a few days ago and I brought a healthy dose of skepticism with me. Here's what I learned.

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An overview of Samsung's Galaxy S7 smartphone features and accessories

The above video from Samsung gives a great overview of what is new in the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge which are two different devices with some overlapping features. Samsung fans will find a greatly improved line of phones with two sizes, premium materials, new camera designed for low-light photography plus the return of microSD card expansion and water resistance. The video also gives a good overview of the VR direction Samsung is hoping to take with their products.

Google reportedly working on VR OS and new headset

There seems to be more coming from Google when it comes to the virtual reality front. According to Financial Times, Google is working on a more VR-friendly version of its Android operating system as well as developing a new headset that could rival the likes of the Gear VR. We know Google already has Cardboard but that US$10 VR headset can use an upgrade. The supposed new VR headset will also allow you to slide your Android phone in but will have extra sensors to give a more responsive and immersive experience for its user.

At least two of Google's top designers are working on their VR efforts. These include the design department now run by former head of Search Jon Wiley and Joshua To, who is design lead for the company's app design. We're excited to see what their work will produce. The new headset is said to be coming around September or possibly even later than that.

Source: Co.Design