Oculus Link Now Works With Almost Any USB Cable- Including The One In the Box

The latest Oculus PC software beta update allows Oculus Link to work with many USB 2.0 cables- including the one in the box.

Oculus Quest was released almost one year ago as an Android-based “VR console”. In November the Oculus Link software update was released, allowing Quest to also work as a PC headset via some USB 3.0 cables.

Facebook sells an official Oculus Link Cable for $79. This fiber optic USB 3.0 cable is 5 meters long and relatively lightweight.

You can read more about the latest update, here (via UploadVR).

Why did Apple buy NextVR?

After plenty of talk about AR as the next computing platform, Apple may have more interest in virtual reality than they’ve previously forecasted.

Following an April report from 9to5mac, Apple have confirmed to Bloomberg the acquisition of VR broadcasting startup NextVR. A note on NextVR’s website now highlights that the company is “moving in a new direction.”

At face value, this acquisition seems a little strange for Apple. Apple has been pushing full throttle on mobile AR, largely eschewing public activity or interest in the VR world, leaving that domain wholly in Facebook’s hands.

You can read the full article here (via TechCrunch)

Spatial Offers Free Access to AR/VR Holographic Meeting App

Spatial’s holographic meeting app enables people to meet virtually through either augmented reality or virtual reality. When the idea was once floated in 2018 when the startup came out of its stealth mode, it was deemed as way ahead of its time, even overambitious considering the limitations that we still have with the existing technology. However, the company went ahead and developed the product which has been described as the VR version of Zoom.

Spatial is now offering enterprises several months’ free access to its premium-level Spatial Pro services for enterprises. This will come with support for users who might not have a full-fledged Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality headset.

You can read more about Spatial’s offer, here (via virtualrealitytimes)

VR/AR Global Summit Online is 2 weeks away!

The programme for the online VR/AR Association (VRARA) Global Summit is now live. There are less than three weeks to go until the three-day online summit kicks off 1 June.

What was originally planned to be a physical event in Portugal focusing on enterprise has transformed into a massive free-to-attend online global summit featuring more than 100 speakers.

Cannes XR Virtual to Hold June Event in Museum of Other Realities

Remaining committed to its support of the XR community, the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes wants to remain a place where professionals from across the industry can remotely come together to help shape its future.

Cannes XR Virtual will be made available across a variety of platforms. Anyone with a virtual reality (VR) headset can step into the Museum of Other Realities (MOR) from 24th June to 3rd July, the app supporting VR headsets on Steam, Viveport, or Oculus. 

There will also be a 2D live video stream shot inside MOR featuring conferences, pitching sessions and project presentations. A selection of 360 cinematic experiences will be showcased on the VeeR platform plus those without a headset will be able to go to select locations in several major cities across the US, China and France.

The professional side of Cannes XR Virtual will only be open to those registered with the Marché du Film Online.  Accreditations open 12th May at an early bird rate of €95 EUR until 29th May and €195 thereafter.

You can read more about the upcoming festival, here (via VRFocus)

Unreal Engine 5 Supports VR, Promises Generational Leap For Graphics

Epic Games just showcased its vision of next-generation console gameplay with the reveal of Unreal Engine 5. Not only that, but the new engine supports VR headsets.

Below you can see a stunning new technical showcase for Unreal Engine 5 called Lumen in the Land of Nanite. It features the kinds of graphical and technical leaps Epic expects to see made on next-generation consoles. Textures are incredibly sharp, 3D models sport a new level of detail and, for the most part, massive environments appear to load seamlessly. To top it all off, Epic says this is running in real-time on a PlayStation 5 development kit.