Image used with permission by copyright holderJust because you’re unable to make it to South Korea next month doesn’t mean you can’t make your 2018 Winter Olympic dreams a reality — that is, a virtual reality.NBC has announced plans to broadcast more than 50 hours of virtual reality coverage from the upcoming games live to viewers in the United States. Not only will this be the first time that any Winter Olympics has been captured in VR, but it will also be the first time that Olympic programming in VR will be streamed live in the U.S. across a plethora of devices and platforms.While the 2016 Summer Olympic Games were also shown in VR, the vast majority of the content was only made available the day after.The VR coverage will come from Intel True VR technology, which employs multiple cameras for its interactive 360-degree VR footage. Included in the more than 50 hours of coverage will be the opening and closing ceremonies, alpine skiing, curling, snowboarding, skeleton, figure skating, short track, ski jumping, ice hockey, big air, and more. NBC will also provide VR replays of all Winter Olympics events that are otherwise live-streamed, as well as one daily 360-degree video of a sport that was not made available in VR the previous day.Plus, you’ll be able to check out highlights from the day before in VR, too.Accessing virtual reality content of some of the action in Pyeongchang should be pretty straightforward — you’ll need to subscribe to a TV provider and then just log in using your credentials, as you would to watch just about anything else online these days.You’ll be able to check out VR programming almost every day of the games (February 18 is the one exception). Folks using Samsung, Google, Windows, and Android and iOS devices will be able to access the content via the NBC Sports VR app.
“The Olympics have long been an opportunity to showcase emerging media technology,” Gary Zenkel, president of NBC Olympics, said in a statement. “With the help of Intel’s industry-leading virtual reality technology, NBC Olympics will deliver a transformative experience that will bring to Olympic fans an entirely new perspective on the speed, thrills, and excitement of an Olympic Winter Games.”
Pimax’s 12K QLED VR headset wants to take virtual reality to the next level
It seems that virtual reality may be about to become even more real than ever before -- all thanks to a new VR headset. Pimax, a company that manufactures VR equipment, announced the upcoming release of a new 12K QLED VR headset that will feature technologies such as eye tracking, full-body tracking, and refresh rates of up to 200Hz. The headset, dubbed Pimax Reality 12K QLED, is part of the company's venture into the metaverse and a step toward bringing true realism to using VR.
During today's Pimax Frontier event, the company's representatives talked at length about the goals behind the product -- naturalness, self-awareness, and freedom. Pimax wants to bring these qualities into virtual reality and the metaverse, allowing people from all over the world to interact and explore virtual worlds together. While VR technology already allows for some of that to happen, Pimax wants to take it to the next level with its new invention -- the Reality 12K QLED VR headset.
How to watch HTC’s ViveCon today, the ‘most important VR event of the year’
HTC has been teasing that multiple new virtual reality headsets could be launching at ViveCon, the company's VR conference, this year. Slated to take place virtually this year on May 11, HTC had announced its plan to "[unveil] game-changing VR headsets, software, and platforms to take your experience to another level" at the show. Depending on what's announced, these new VR headsets sound like they could replace a number of options that are currently considered the best VR headsets you can buy.
While ViveCon is expected to be an enterprise-specific conference this year, those following the augmented, virtual, and mixed reality market could see how HTC is advancing the segment with its latest wares and platform to foster more innovation in the VR space.
How to watch ViveCon 2021 live stream
Apple’s mixed reality headset could be half the weight of other headsets
Recent reports have indicated Apple is keen to get in on the smart headset game with a mixed reality device that combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) with a dozen built-in cameras and sensors. Now, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is working on giving its headset a key advantage over rivals.
That edge will come in the form of its super-lightweight form factor. According to Kuo, Apple is aiming for a total weight of 150g (0.3 pounds), far below the rest of the market, where headsets can weigh upwards of 300g (and much more). With less bulk, Apple is likely hoping users will be able to enjoy using the headset for longer before its weight becomes apparent and tiresome.
