Home Blog Page 47

How to Experience a Concert in VR?

Soledachef
-
0
How to Experience a Concert in VR?

Going to a concert is the only way to experience good music to its fullest extent. Attending the live act takes some pre-planning though. You have to buy tickets, dress up and actually go to the venue.Some people love this hype before the event, while others would rather just close their eyes and instantly reappear in the backstage.

Well, the future we have been eagerly waiting for is now here. Up until this day, there were several live streamed VR concerts, and there are still hundreds to come.

Jaunt VR released McCartney VR Concert Footage

Jaunt VR is a company that develops tech for capturing stereoscopic 360 degree VR experiences in 3D. Jaunt VR hasn’t made any of their content publicly available, outside private demonstrations. Long three years ago, they have released the VR concert footage of Sir Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die from his live performance in San Francisco.

This gave users a taste of the direction Jaunt VR was heading for, and they have been recording live music performances ever since. This upgraded viewer immersion to the completely next level and paved the way for future of virtual concert experience.

Live Nation & NextVR collaboration

Live Nation is a company based in California that works with ticket sales, booking, organizing live events. NextVR is a renown broadcasting company that excels at broadcasting sports events in VR, but not only that.

In 2016, worlds collided as Live Nation and Next VR teamed up and announced live streaming of dozens of VR concerts. Since then, they have successfully streamed live performances by various artists around the world, including some of the greatest names in the business like Thievery Corporation.

Interestingly, all the action available via NextVR requires Google Daydream view or Samsung Gear VR with a compatible phone. For some reason, expensive high-end devices like HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PSVR are not getting piece of the action when it comes to VR concert live broadcasting.

Coldplay on Gear VR – “Head Full of Dreams”

About a month ago, Samsung, in collaboration with Live Nation, livestreamed one of the performances from Coldplay’s tour “A Head Full of Dreams”. If you own Gear VR, you had your free ticket, since the concert was streamed in VR through the Samsung VR app. The content was available for replay shortly after the live event, and on this link you can see the Coldplay’s VR concert promo.

The impressions and reactions from users after the performance were very positive. Technical quality was superb for both audio and video, and different camera views and angles added a yet unexplored dimension to the concerts for most viewers. Many Gear VR users state this to be by far the best musical VR experience they’ve ever had.

The most mind-blowing thing that differentiates going to the concert in real life and watching it in virtual reality is the 360 technology. While you are standing in front of the stage, the sound always comes from the front, while in VR you hear the music coming at you from different directions as you turn your head around and switch between the view points.

The Best VR Games Emulators

Soledachef
-
0
The Best VR Games Emulators

Have you ever been so enthused by a game, that you just wanted to completely identify with your character and see the world through its eyes? Virtual reality offers this kind of immersion, but the games that developers make for most popular headsets usually offer fresh and unique content. Rarely do we see some classic titles officially modified for VR, however, VR Games Emulators allow us to to walk in our favourite characters’ shoes.

Nintendo Games In Dolphin VR

Dolphin VR is an emulator for Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii that allows you to play 3D games in VR. Dolphin was a Nintendo game emulator for a bit almost a decade now, but recently he managed to make VR work in games that weren’t designed for it.

Dolphin VR works with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, but be aware that as the developer states, it is still very buggy. Implementation of VR often leads to various graphical glitches, so the experience is far from polished. One of the games that’s feels just right when playing it through Dolphin VR emulator is Metroid Prime 3.

PPSSPP VR – PSP Games in Virtual Reality

PPSSPP VR is PlayStation Portable game emulator, from the people who created Dolphin VR. It is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS and your Android device. VR experience on your mobile device using this software is terrible though.

However PPSSPP VR works with Oculus Rift, as it allows you to actually be inside PSP games. There is a list of PSP games that are VR compatible, the ones that are playable but not working quite perfectly, and lastly the completely unplayable games.

Infamous  Nintendo’s Virtual Boy games on Gear VR and Google Cardboard

The predecessor of today’s VR devices, Virtual Boy was released in 1995, and the production was shut down only 6 months after. Needless to say, the project was a complete failure.

Nowadays some of its original games are finding redemption with help of Gear VR and Google Cardboard. The Reddit user, calling himself The King of Spain made a post about setting this up. However, the user stated that “The added depth however doesn’t add much value gameplay-wise”.

Modded Games – World of Warcraft in VR, GTA VR

When the VR hype train began, lots of games were being modded to support VR to some extent. In order to play these games in VR, you will often have to download third-party mods, which means that these aren’t official game implementations.

One of the games you can play in VR and is very enjoyable is World of Warcraft. While Blizzard hasn’t yet announced official VR WoW support, you can immerse in your beloved MMORPG easily – VR style.

This Reddit user has posted a straightforward guide on how to simply setup World of Warcraft VR experience. And yeah, the reactions from the guy in the video above are priceless, pure happiness.

The pinnacle of what VR can give us is probably access to the open world content, so GTA V can give us a taste of what’s to come. For this to work, you need to download the mod from GTA VR and follow the official installation instructions. Have in mind that this mod only works with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. 

Rift HMD cable management – Tips & Tricks

Soledachef
-
0
Rift HMD cable management – Tips & Tricks

Probably the most annoying part of Oculus Rift and for most VR headsets nowadays is HMD cable management. Maybe in the future, the headsets could connect to your PC without a physical (cable) connection, but until then, we have to deal with this predicament.

Some users unplug the headset and remove the cables after use because their VR playroom is too messy after the session. Rigging them back in place takes time, so this may cause you to use the Rift less often.

Luckily, some VR enthusiasts didn’t give up that easy and came up with several effective solutions. Additionally, a company Virtuix Omni recognized the problem and designed some gadgets that will help you setting up Oculus Rift in a neat way.

Virtuix VR Boom

This is probably the best, but also the priciest of all solutions. The Virtuix VR Boom is an accessory that manages your HMD cable while you are immersed in virtual-reality. The VR boom will eliminate any possible cable entanglement, which is essential if you intend to use Oculus Rift in a room-scale.

Octagonal base is sturdy and provides stability, and the gadget has necessary cable clips that lead your HMD cable to the shaft. The retractable mechanism will keep the cable at just the right length, enabling you to move and turn freely.

The only downside is the price, which is currently $149. When the Virtuix VR Boom first came out, the retail price was around $80, and since then it just keeps going up. It seems that demand for this product allows manufacturers to continuously raise the price.

Lift the cable off the floor

The best way to prevent tripping over the cable is to mount it to the walls/ceiling. If you are lazy to do this, you can clip it to the back of your pants, but this is no proper solution. When a cable touches you, it can completely break the VR immersion and set you back to the real world.

If you are ready to put in some work and set up the installations required to keep the cable suspended off the ceiling, it might be a good idea to get a cable extension. After you’ve ensured you have the required cable length, you can get the Retractable Cable Management System for Oculus Rift. It contains 6 spindles attached to adhesive hooks which can be fixed on almost any surface without drilling.

If you have enough space dedicated for your VR play area, retractable cable management system is a great solution. However, when facing difficulties, improvisation gives birth to some original ideas.

We can see this gentleman is a do-it-yourself kind of person, and even though his invention isn’t as cool and high-tech as some others we aforementioned, it serves it’s purpose brilliantly. Using a retractable dog leash, he solved the Rift cable management problem on his own.

This method probably isn’t as reliable as the others we suggested, but can get you through initial HMD cable management issues until you’ve worked out a more suitable and reliable solution.

How to Prevent Overheating and Sweating from Damaging Your HTC Vive

VRBorg Queen
-
0
How to Prevent Overheating and Sweating from Damaging Your HTC Vive

Many HTC Vive users have been reporting serious problems caused by overheating and sweating during prolonged sessions. Over time, Vives tend to accumulate corrosion caused by humid conditions. This is why it’s critically important you go an extra mile in order to prevent and long-term damage and extend the life-span of your HTC Vive.

Headbands & Covers

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to combat sweat damage is to use a headband whenever you have your HTC Vive on. There’s a plethora of affordable headbands available on Amazon, so get yourself one before it’s too late.

If you’re a particularly sweaty person, or if you often have friends/family come over and break a cold sweat from the unspeakable VR horrors you expose them to, it would be more than prudent to invest in covers and replacement pads.

VR Cover offers a variety of different options for you to choose from. We like the velour covers as they’re easily washable. Stay away from waterproof covers though. Their hydrophobic properties tend to divert all the sweat into the device instead of absorbing it like foam or velour.

VR Cover
This velour cover is amazing!

Fans

When it comes to airflow, fans are almost indispensable. A ceiling fan is probably the best option as it will even out the flow across the entire room. However, if a ceiling fan is too much of a hassle for you, one of those big standing fans will do the trick as well. Whichever one you get, make sure it’s far enough not to get in a way, but still close to circulate the air around you.

Now, HTC Vive has recently received an interesting third-party upgrade. It’s called ViveNChill. It was crowdfunded through Indiegogo campaign initially, receiving 450%+ more funds than the fixed goal.
At the moment, the indie engineers behind this innovation are swamped with orders, so you will have to wait a bit before it arrives.

ViveNChill
These two small fans work wonders!

This simple upgrade does wonders. ViveNChill consists of 2 small fans that get attached at the front top of your HTC Vive. They draw minimal power from the headset itself and cool your forehead. Experiments have shown that cooling down a person’s forehead actually decreases the temperature of the entire body. Thus, you will sweat less when these are on.

People report significant improvements during their VR sessions with ViveNChill attached to their Vive headsets. If headbands, facepad replacements and standing fans can’t help, get yourself two mini-fans blowing directly into your forehead. You’ll be amazed by the results.

Air Conditioning & Humidity

Obviously, air conditioning is a no brainer for an activity such as virtual reality. You don’t want to make your room too cold though, as sweat and cold are the breeding ground for viruses to have a party in your body. However, bring the room temperature down a notch or two, especially if you live in warmer climates.

Air conditioning units serve two purposes. They decrease the room temperature while simultaneously dehumidifying the air. The latter function is critical in humid areas.  Anything that can make the air a bit dryer is super useful.

If you are limited by space or architecture, there are portable air conditioners that work almost as well as conventional AC units. They are a bit pricey, true, but they’re well worth it. Alternatively, consider getting an air dehumidifier at least – the fans and headbands can take care of most of your sweat, but the lingering natural air humidity needs to go away for good.

Portable Air Conditioner for HTC Vive
These small air conditioners make a big impact

How to Protect VR Lenses?

Soledachef
-
0
How to Protect VR Lenses?

For sake of the VR device you’ve acquired, it is essential that you take good care of it. It is no fun to play with your favourite toy if the lenses have even one scratch, not to mention many.

While VR lens scratches most often occur if you are wearing glasses, your headset may get damaged even if you aren’t currently using it. VRborg presents some solutions and ideas for VR lens protection and general maintenance that you may find useful.

Maintaining VR headset

The first and obvious issue that users have after they’re done with a VR session is where and how to store the device. It is always a good idea to keep your headset stored separately from other components. There are just too many VR items that can cause damage to lenses, for example metal endings of USB cables, or even controllers.

Have in mind that you should also keep your head mounted displays away from sunlight when the headset isn’t in use. The lenses on your headset focus the light into a single dot that can cause damage on the display. You can see some suggestions on how to store Oculus Rift on our website.

For most people who are into tech gadgets, keeping them clean and tidy is a must. You may have noticed that even after purchasing the your VR device, you still need to invest some extra cash in auxiliary equipment. Nikon’s Lens Pen costs only about $10, and is perfect for cleaning lenses of any kind. It has a soft brush at the top that will take care of any dust, residue and sludge on your VR lenses.

If you are wearing glasses, you might want to try and use the headset without them, reducing the possibility of scratching the lens’ surface. If you are unable to enjoy VR without glasses, fear not! There are plenty of solutions for the problem at hand.

Invest in VR lens protection

VR Lens Lab acknowledged the issue that glass wearers with VR HMDs face, and they worked out the solution. They offer a variety of prescription lenses for users of three most popular headsets on the market – Playstation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. There are also some alternative and more affordable solutions too, like this one here.

There is another great product designed on thingverse by Stoney. This engineer who had issues while using VR because of his glasses decided to find a solution – and it’s brilliant! PSVR Spectacle shield is a 3D printed spacer that perfectly fits on the device’s lenses and creates the safe space between them and the glasses you are wearing. Unfortunately, Stoney only created this patent for PSVR, but it goes to show that there are creative yet effective ways to deal with this issue.

If the damage is already done…

One of the reddit users reported the issue with his Vive lenses being scratched, asking for advice. Later on he edited the post and submitted an interesting solution.

 

He used the Headlight Renewal kit, put a little bit on the scuff and rubbed it out with the microfiber cloth that comes in the original Vive shipment. It worked like a charm, so even if you already damaged your VR lenses there still is a way to remedy this.

However, you shouldn’t take this for granted, so we strongly suggest you to invest in VR lens protection beforehand.

1...464748...53Page 47 of 53
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv