Tag: Oculus – GeekWire

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

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

by Taylor Soper on September 20, 2017September 20, 2017 at 1:51 pmComment

Audio has always been a crucial and necessary component of video games and movies. But with the advent of virtual reality, the importance of sound and how it can enhance the… Read More

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

by Nat Levy on June 16, 2017June 16, 2017 at 3:50 pmComment

Oculus, the virtual reality company owned by Facebook, has upped its presence in the Seattle area. Citing two sources who did not want to be identified, the Puget Sound Business Journal… Read More

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

by Nat Levy on May 3, 2017May 3, 2017 at 10:59 am1 Comment

Facebook-owned Oculus VR has found a new head of computer vision, replacing Dov Katz, who was arrested last year for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from a police officer posing… Read More

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

by Alan Boyle on March 9, 2017March 12, 2017 at 5:20 pm1 Comment

Oculus has just launched “Mission: ISS,” a virtual-reality simulation that takes advantage of the company’s headset and handheld controllers to let you explore the International Space Station and even perform a virtual… Read More

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

by Jillian Stampher on March 8, 2017March 8, 2017 at 11:11 am 2 Comments

Facebook has launched a hub for 360 photos and videos, as the social media giant continues to double down on video. The company rolled out the Facebook 360 app for Samsung… Read More

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

by Jillian Stampher on March 1, 2017March 1, 2017 at 12:47 pm 2 Comments

Facebook is cutting the price of its Oculus Rift headset and Touch controller bundle by $200, the company announced Wednesday. The bundle will drop from $798 to $598, and the… Read More

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

by Nat Levy on February 27, 2017February 27, 2017 at 9:15 am1 Comment

Samsung’s Gear VR will join some of its virtual reality contemporaries with the announcement that it will soon get a controller to go along with the Oculus-powered headset. Announced at… Read More

Take a 360-degree tour of the White House with Barack and Michelle Obama

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 at 9:31 amComment

In exactly one week, the Obamas will vacate the White House. As a farewell, the president and first lady teamed up with Facebook-owned Oculus to show off nine famous areas… Read More

Oculus engineering leader pleads not guilty to accusations of soliciting sex from undercover cop posing as 15-year-old girl

by Nat Levy on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 1:58 pm1 Comment

Dov Katz, head of the computer vision and machine learning group at Facebook-owned Oculus, appeared in court Thursday to plead not guilty to charges of attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor.… Read More

Oculus engineering leader arrested near Seattle, charged with soliciting sex from cop posing as 15-year-old girl

by John Cook on December 23, 2016December 24, 2016 at 8:31 am 192 Comments

Dov Katz, head of the computer vision and machine learning group at Facebook-owned Oculus, has been charged in King County for attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor. The 38-year-old… Read More

Oculus releases long-anticipated Touch controllers, priced at $199

by Nat Levy on December 6, 2016December 6, 2016 at 8:43 amComment

Virtual reality aficionados everywhere are bound to be happy this holiday season as Facebook-owned Oculus just released its long-awaited Touch controls to go with the Rift headset. Oculus announced the… Read More

Reality bites: Watch as man using VR in Microsoft store falls from fake cliff and hits real floor

by Kurt Schlosser on November 29, 2016November 29, 2016 at 9:55 amComment

The makers of virtual reality headsets and content may still be waiting for consumers to fall for the medium as a full-fledged entertainment option, but one guy in a viral… Read More

VR and gaming giants Valve and Oculus ink big leases for industrial space in Seattle area

by Nat Levy on October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 at 2:37 pm1 Comment

A pair of virtual reality/gaming companies are biting off huge chunks of industrial real estate east of Seattle, in an area that is rapidly becoming a hotbed of VR activity.… Read More

The future of VR? What people are saying about ‘Santa Cruz,’ the new wireless Oculus prototype

by Kurt Schlosser on October 7, 2016October 7, 2016 at 10:33 amComment

Virtual reality fans are spinning over the unveiling of an Oculus prototype that removes the wires and/or the phone from its traditional headsets (Rift and Samsung Gear) and sends users into an untethered… Read More

Photos

Behind the scenes at Oculus: First look inside the virtual reality company’s new Seattle outpost

by Todd Bishop on September 3, 2016September 6, 2016 at 11:50 am1 Comment

Facebook made a splash with the opening of its new engineering office near Seattle’s Lake Union this year, but the social networking giant’s Oculus virtual reality company has been much more… Read More

Virtual reality abounds at PAX as giant game event opens in Seattle

by Nat Levy on September 2, 2016September 2, 2016 at 11:40 amComment

Virtual reality has officially arrived, if the convention floor at PAX West is any indication. VR experiences are seemingly around every corner at the gaming extravaganza, which began today in Seattle. Game… Read More

Advice from Oculus: Here’s why developers should start building software for virtual reality

by Taylor Soper on May 20, 2016May 20, 2016 at 1:14 pm 3 Comments

If you want to be apart of a once-in-a-generation technology revolution, start developing games and apps for virtual reality platforms. That was the message from Anna Sweet, head of developer strategy… Read More

Oculus Rift ships today, bringing virtual reality to the masses, at last

by James Risley on March 28, 2016March 28, 2016 at 1:52 pm 3 Comments

The final version of the Oculus Rift headsets are being delivered to Kickstarter backers today, and the first pre-order shipments are going out later this week. The release brings consumer-grade virtual reality… Read More

Oculus adds social features and Facebook integration to Samsung Gear VR experience

by Monica Nickelsburg on March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 at 2:58 pmComment

Do you reminisce about the days of playing video games with dorm roommates? Even if you and your friends are dispersed across the country, you can now play games and… Read More

‘Oculus Ready’ PC bundle preorders start next week with $1,500 base price

by James Risley on February 9, 2016February 10, 2016 at 10:01 am 11 Comments

After what seemed like an eternity, Oculus finally opened preorders for the consumer version of its Rift last month. But the $599 virtual reality headset still requires a powerful computer to… Read More

CEO Tim Cook isn’t the only one at Apple interested in virtual reality

by James Risley on January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 at 10:19 amComment

Tim Cook thinks virtual reality is cool, and it looks like his company does, too. “In terms of virtual reality, no, I don’t think it’s a niche,” the Apple CEO… Read More

Oculus Rift lawsuit can move forward, judge rules

by Keezy Young on January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 at 5:10 pmComment

Oculus Rift is facing several legal claims against its makers, which is unsurprising given the attention the device has received in general. Oculus is already combatting one lawsuit from Zenimax, which claims… Read More

HTC Vive VR headset pre-orders start February 29 as company shifts focus to virtual reality

by Taylor Soper on January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 at 10:29 amComment

You’ll be able to pre-order HTC’s virtual reality headset next month. HTC CEO Cher Wang told The Telegraph that her company will take pre-orders for the Vive starting on Feb. 29.… Read More

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