Facebook’s Oculus Unveils New Virtual Reality Prototype Device

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Facebook Inc’s Oculus VR unit announced an upgraded prototype of its virtual reality headset that has higher resolution and built-in audio, but the company said it is not ready to sell a device to consumers.

The new Crescent Bay device also is lighter than the most recent prototype of the Oculus Rift headset the company has made available to developers, Chief Executive Brendan Iribe said on Saturday at an Oculus developers conference in Hollywood.

“This is not the consumer product,” Iribe said. But he added that “it is much, much closer.”

Facebook, the world’s largest social network, acquired two-year-old Oculus in July for $2 billion, making a bet that the untested technology will emerge as a new social and communications platform.

The Oculus Rift goggles create a 360-degree view that immerses players in fantasy settings. Users mount the device on their heads with a strap.

 

Reuters

 

Ivan Castilho
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Ivan Castilho is an entrepreneur and long-time Apple user since 2007, with a background in management and marketing. He holds a degree in Management and Marketing and multiple MBAs in Digital Marketing and Strategic Management. With a natural passion for music, art, graphic design, and interface design, Ivan combines business expertise with a creative mindset. Passionate about technology and innovation, he enjoys writing about disruptive trends and consumer tech, particularly within the Apple ecosystem.