Posted Fri Jun 29, 2018 at 05:45 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
We've compiled the latest gear news, including the new Oculus TV app, Sony's upcoming 4K smartphone, and more.
From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed.
For this edition, we're covering the launch of the Oculus TV app, details on Sony's new 4K HDR smartphone, and the addition of mobile streaming support for CBS NFL games.
So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news:
Oculus has announced the launch of Oculus TV for Oculus Go VR Headsets. The new app is designed to serve as a hub for various streaming content, allowing users to watch shows and movies on a virtual big-screen TV.
Oculus TV offers access to a variety of live and on-demand content from free and subscription based sources, including Hulu, SHOWTIME, MLB Live games via Facebook Watch, Red Bull TV, Pluto TV, Flicks of Fury, Horror 24/7, Neverthink, Newsy, and more -- all on a giant 180-inch virtual TV screen in a sleek, modern, and immersive virtual viewing area. Likewise, Oculus TV also lets users launch other dedicated VR apps like Netflix, Hulu, SHOWTIME, and SHOWTIME ANYTIME.
The Oculus TV app is now available for The Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset ($199) via the Oculus Store.
Meanwhile, Oculus has also announced an update to its minimum recommended PC specs for the Oculus Rift. While Windows 7 and 8.1 platforms will still be able to support current Rift features, new and upcoming features and apps may only be supported by the Windows 10 OS.
Here's a full rundown of current minimum and recommended Rift specs per Oculus:
Rec Spec
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater
- Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
- CPU: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater
- Memory: 8GB+ RAM
- Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
- USB Ports: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port
- OS: Windows 10 operating system
Min Spec
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti / AMD Radeon RX 470 or greater
- Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
- CPU: Intel i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, FX4350 or greater
- Memory: 8GB+ RAM
- Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
- USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 port, plus 2x USB 2.0 ports
- OS: Windows 10 operating system
Sources: Oculus Blog 1, Oculus Blog 2
Sony has announced a US launch date for its latest premium mobile device. The Xperia XZ2 Premium is set to go on sale via Amazon and Best Buy on July 30 for an MSRP of $1,000.
The device features a 5.8-inch 4K HDR display with a resolution of 2160 x 3840, TRILUMINOS tech, and X-Reality for mobile HDR up-conversion. Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform CPU, 6GB RAM, and a long lasting 3540mAh battery. A rear Motion Eye 19MP and Black & White 12MP dual camera is integrated as well, along with a 13MP front camera. In addition, the device offers support for 4K HDR video recording, 960 fps Super slow motion FHD video recording, Low-light ISO 51200 photo capture, and Low-light ISO 12800 video capture. Finally, High-Resolution Audio and LDAC support are included as well with S-Force Front Surround stereo speakers.
Sony's Xperia XZ2 Premium will be available in Chrome Black and Silver color options. Pre-orders are set to go live on July 9.
CBS has announced an extended deal with the NFL, allowing the network to stream all NFL on CBS games via the CBS All Access platform through the 2022 season. In addition, CBS All Access and CBS TV Everywhere will now expand NFL streaming support to mobile devices.
"We're very pleased to extend and expand our partnership with the NFL and give our viewers and CBS All Access subscribers the ability to stream NFL ON CBS games on mobile phones in addition to all other platforms for years to come," said Marc DeBevoise, President & Chief Operating Officer, CBS Interactive. "This deal enables us to deliver even more value to NFL fans, our subscribers and our distribution partners."
CBS All Access will stream all live NFL on CBS games, including Super Bowl LIII, on all supported platforms and mobile devices. Likewise, NFL on CBS authenticated streaming rights will also extend to mobile for cable, satellite, telco, and vMVPD partners.
"We are excited to extend our partnership with CBS as it aligns perfectly with our goal of providing NFL fans with greater opportunities to watch NFL games across digital devices," said Hans Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer of NFL Media and Business. "The 2018 season will mark a new era for NFL fans with unprecedented access to NFL games across digital platforms."
Beyond NFL games, CBS All Access offers next day streaming for new episodes of many popular shows and a library of over 10,000 on demand episodes, including content from current programs and classic series. In addition, the service is home to several exclusive streaming shows like Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Fight. Likewise, customers in more than 150 markets across the US -- including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia -- can watch live local CBS broadcasts through the app.
The service is available in two subscription plans: reduced commercials for $5.99 per month or commercial-free for $9.99 per month. The commercial free option offers ad-free playback of on demand content and original shows. With that said, live streaming still includes the same commercials found on standard over-the-air broadcasts.
Source: CBS
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