At The NAB Show, Google announced a partnership with Yi Technology on two VR cameras, one for commercial use and one for consumers. The cameras work with Google’s Jump VR platform that encourages VR filmmaking. The Yi Halo, retailing at $16,999, consists of 17 cameras capable of shooting 8K video at 30 fps. The Yi 360, retailing at $399, targets consumers and captures 5.7K video at 30 fps. The cameras have yet to go on sale, but the tech giant is accepting applications from filmmakers to use the Yi Halo. — THE VERGE
HP’s tech ventures division has made an investment in the Venture Reality Fund, marking the company’s first investment in VR. The exact dollar figure the company invested was not disclosed. The VR Fund is one of the most active investors in early-stage VR, AR and mixed reality startups. The Fund will allow HP to have early access to developing VR and AR technology, which can be integrated into company’s core business. “HP has a rich history of delivering innovative technology and was an early believer in the vast potential for mixed reality to transform consumer and commercial markets,” said Marco DeMiroz, co-founder of The VR Fund, in a statement. — VENTUREBEAT
Apple has hired Jeff Norris, an AR expert who also founded NASA’s Mission Operations Innovation Office. Norris has reportedly joined the company's AR team, which is being led by Mike Rockwell, former EVP of Dolby Labs. This comes as the company is believed to be developing AR glasses and other features for the iPhone. Under Norris' leadership, NASA’s JPL Ops Lab provided Microsoft HoloLens headsets to astronauts onboard the International Space Station and developed software for virtually working on Mars with the HoloLens. — MACRUMORS
Nokia and Disney came to an agreement on a multi-year deal to create VR content for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and other Disney titles. Nokia will supply Disney with the company’s OZO VR camera and software, which normally retails at $45,000. Since divesting its mobile phone business to Microsoft, the company has been realigning its interests into VR. — UPLOADVR
The Google Play Awards have added a VR and AR category for its second annual event on May 18. The award ceremony will take place at Google I/O, the company’s annual developer conference. Here are the nominees...
Last year’s award ceremony featured the New York Times’ VR app receiving an award in the “Most Innovative” category, but Google has since added a separate category for VR and AR. — UPLOADVR
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