Oculus

Facebook building a virtual assistant out of Seattle-area offices to rival Amazon’s Alexa

by Nat Levy on April 17, 2019April 18, 2019 at 8:26 amComment

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a statement from Facebook Facebook may be the next tech giant to join the competitive virtual assistant race. CNBC first reported that… Read More

How a Seattle VR studio helped bring Epic Games’ ‘Robo Recall’ to the new Oculus Quest headset

by Thomas Wilde on April 9, 2019April 9, 2019 at 8:09 amComment

A big story in the virtual reality market is the upcoming Oculus Quest, an all-in-one portable headset that lets users enjoy VR games without requiring a wired connection to another… Read More

Video

New Oculus VR headset unveiled to tepid reviews, but survey finds optimism for immersive tech

by Nat Levy on March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 at 3:14 pmComment

Facebook-owned Oculus today unveiled its next-generation virtual reality headset that will reportedly some day replace its flagship Oculus Rift. The new $399 Oculus Rift S headset connects to a PC… Read More

Video

Led by ex-Oculus research scientist, Seattle drone startup Vtrus raises cash for indoor inspection tech

by Alan Boyle on March 7, 2019March 7, 2019 at 10:48 amComment

Seattle startup Vtrus has raised investment for a different kind of drone — one that’s designed to conduct precision inspections of industrial facilities. A SEC filing published today shows a… Read More

Facebook reveals size of its Seattle-area footprint, confirms mysterious Oculus ‘Building X’

by Nat Levy on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 at 12:46 pmComment

Facebook has grown as fast as any company in the Seattle area in recent years, but it has done so while keeping details close to the vest, for the most… Read More

ZeniMax and Facebook settle Oculus VR suit

by Nicole Tanner on December 12, 2018December 12, 2018 at 3:01 pmComment

It’s been nearly five years, but ZeniMax’s lawsuit with Facebook over the development of the Oculus Rift headset is finally at an end. ZeniMax announced Wednesday that it agreed to… Read More

Facebook tops 3,000 Seattle-area employees as major hiring spree continues

by Nat Levy on November 5, 2018November 5, 2018 at 11:11 amComment

Facebook’s dizzying growth all over the Seattle area continues unabated, and now the social media giant’s regional presence is up to 3,000 employees, with hundreds more jobs waiting to be… Read More

Building X? Facebook reportedly plans major expansion of Oculus campus in Seattle suburbs

by Nat Levy on October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 at 3:25 pmComment

Facebook appears to be eyeing even more expansion in Redmond, Wash., where it has amassed a sprawling campus near Microsoft’s headquarters. Citing documents obtained through a public records request, the… Read More

Facebook inks two more leases in Bellevue, as tech companies hedge their bets across Seattle region

by Todd Bishop on October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 at 7:03 pmComment

Facebook already has a large presence in Seattle’s urban core, but the company is increasingly expanding its operation to other parts of the region. In two newly confirmed deals, the… Read More

Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe is leaving Facebook, the latest in a series of founder departures

by Nat Levy on October 22, 2018October 22, 2018 at 11:52 amComment

Brendan Iribe, co-founder and former CEO of Oculus, is leaving Facebook’s virtual reality arm, marking another key founder departure from a business acquired by the social giant. Iribe announced his… Read More

Video

Double feature: Seattle youth film festival NFFTY teams with Oculus to give event a VR boost

by Kurt Schlosser on October 10, 2018October 22, 2018 at 3:45 pmComment

Back in 2007, three Seattle teens who grew up with a love for making films decided to help others share their work with a wider audience, creating the National Film Festival… Read More

Video

Here’s everything Facebook announced at its Oculus Connect virtual reality event

by Nat Levy on September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 at 1:03 pmComment

A new virtual reality headset, the $399 Oculus Quest, headlined the fifth edition of the Oculus Connect event in San Jose, Calif., but Facebook had a slew of other VR… Read More

Video

Facebook unveils standalone $399 Oculus Quest virtual reality headset, shipping next spring

by Nat Levy on September 26, 2018September 26, 2018 at 11:27 amComment

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the company’s next big virtual reality release, the $399 Oculus Quest. Oculus Quest is the realization of the long-anticipated “Project Santa Cruz,” and according to… Read More

Video

First peek inside PAX West: Giant game event opens in Seattle with heightened security

by Todd Bishop & Tim Ellis on August 31, 2018August 31, 2018 at 11:27 amComment

PAX West, the video game convention that brings tens of thousands of gaming fans to Seattle every summer, opened Friday morning with subtle signs of heightened security but no less… Read More

Facebook-owned Oculus releases $299 business bundle for standalone Oculus Go VR headset

by Nat Levy on July 17, 2018July 17, 2018 at 1:53 pmComment

Facebook-owned Oculus is following up the release of its $199 standalone virtual reality headset with a new bundle targeting big businesses. Starting today, the Oculus Go business bundle is now… Read More

Permit analysis details massive investment by Facebook-owned Oculus in Seattle-area footprint

by Nat Levy on July 13, 2018July 12, 2018 at 4:28 pmComment

Facebook is making a massive investment in a Seattle-area campus for its virtual reality company Oculus, and a new report quantifies just how much it is spending on the space.… Read More

Seattle zoo turns to virtual reality and beacon technology to give visitors a closer look at animals

by Kurt Schlosser on July 12, 2018July 12, 2018 at 7:52 am 4 Comments

For all of the excitement that goes on in some of the award-winning exhibits at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, a good amount of intrigue takes place behind the scenes, where… Read More

The state of virtual and augmented reality: Industry sees new reasons for hope amid the hype

by Taylor Soper on June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 at 10:43 amComment

Tim Harader has seen this story before. When the digital media entrepreneur arrived in Seattle two decades ago, he was recruited by Microsoft to manage its new webcasts. At the time,… Read More

Podcast

Geared Up Podcast: Is Oculus Go the future of VR? Plus: T-Mobile, Sprint and Trump

by Clare McGrane on May 2, 2018May 6, 2018 at 10:54 amComment

Oculus Go, a new VR headset from the Facebook-owned company, sprang onto shelves in a surprise launch Tuesday. It’s lower-powered than existing headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive,… Read More

Facebook-owned Oculus’ $199 standalone Oculus Go virtual reality headset is here

by Nat Levy on May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 at 12:38 pmComment

UPDATE: The Oculus Go virtual reality headset is shipping today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at Facebook’s F8 developer conference. A 32GB version will cost $199 and a 64GB retails… Read More

What is Facebook doing in Microsoft’s backyard? Building purchases point to Oculus expansion

by Nat Levy on January 2, 2018January 2, 2018 at 2:44 pm1 Comment

An entity that shares the same infamous address as Facebook — 1 Hacker Way in Menlo Park, Calif. — has picked up two parcels in Redmond, Wash., just a few… Read More

Facebook-owned Oculus makes big hiring push in Seattle region amid rumors of real estate expansion

by Nat Levy on November 20, 2017November 20, 2017 at 4:31 pm 2 Comments

A month ago, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called his shot: He wants to get 1 billion people into the virtual reality universe. To make that goal a reality, Facebook-owned Oculus… Read More

Video

Oculus shows off its first standalone VR headset, $199 Oculus Go, and other treats

by Alan Boyle on October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 at 12:45 pmComment

Oculus is filling the virtual-reality niche between smartphones and its high-end, wired-up Oculus Rift headset with a standalone mobile headset that’ll sell for $199. The Oculus Go headset, unveiled today… Read More

Video

Facebook building a virtual assistant out of Seattle-area offices to rival Amazon’s Alexa

How a Seattle VR studio helped bring Epic Games’ ‘Robo Recall’ to the new Oculus Quest headset

New Oculus VR headset unveiled to tepid reviews, but survey finds optimism for immersive tech

Led by ex-Oculus research scientist, Seattle drone startup Vtrus raises cash for indoor inspection tech

Facebook reveals size of its Seattle-area footprint, confirms mysterious Oculus ‘Building X’

ZeniMax and Facebook settle Oculus VR suit

Facebook tops 3,000 Seattle-area employees as major hiring spree continues

Building X? Facebook reportedly plans major expansion of Oculus campus in Seattle suburbs

Facebook inks two more leases in Bellevue, as tech companies hedge their bets across Seattle region

Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe is leaving Facebook, the latest in a series of founder departures

Double feature: Seattle youth film festival NFFTY teams with Oculus to give event a VR boost

Here’s everything Facebook announced at its Oculus Connect virtual reality event

Facebook unveils standalone $399 Oculus Quest virtual reality headset, shipping next spring

First peek inside PAX West: Giant game event opens in Seattle with heightened security

Facebook-owned Oculus releases $299 business bundle for standalone Oculus Go VR headset

Permit analysis details massive investment by Facebook-owned Oculus in Seattle-area footprint

Seattle zoo turns to virtual reality and beacon technology to give visitors a closer look at animals

The state of virtual and augmented reality: Industry sees new reasons for hope amid the hype

Geared Up Podcast: Is Oculus Go the future of VR? Plus: T-Mobile, Sprint and Trump

Facebook-owned Oculus’ $199 standalone Oculus Go virtual reality headset is here

What is Facebook doing in Microsoft’s backyard? Building purchases point to Oculus expansion

Facebook-owned Oculus makes big hiring push in Seattle region amid rumors of real estate expansion

Oculus shows off its first standalone VR headset, $199 Oculus Go, and other treats

How Oculus audio engineers are using new sound technology to enhance virtual reality experiences

Report: Facebook-owned Oculus expands Seattle presence with new office lease

Oculus replaces ex-computer vision head charged with soliciting underage sex

Oculus’ ‘Mission: ISS’ takes one more step toward giant leap for virtual space station

Facebook launches virtual reality app that serves as a hub for 360 photo and video

Facebook drops price of Oculus Rift and Touch bundle by $200 in effort to attract VR customers

Samsung Gear VR gets a controller as company flexes virtual muscle at Mobile World Congress

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