Metaverse – Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR) and Immersive Video News

ARM releases VPU and GPU IPs for mobile VR and 4K streaming
Oct 31, 2016 – ARM has launched two products designed to address demands for more immersive and interactive visual content on mobile devices. The two products are the Mali-V61 video processing unit (VPU) and the Mali-G51 graphics processing unit (GPU).
News categories: ARM, James McNiven, Shen Li, Digital TV, Metaverse, Mobile, Semiconductor, Silicon IP, Worldwide

Nokia and du demonstrate 4K 3D 360 VR using 5G-ready network
Oct 16, 2016 – Nokia and UAE-based telecommunications service provider du, used Nokia AirScale Radio Access to showcase 360 degree virtual reality (VR) video streaming for the first time in the Middle East at GITEX 2016 in Dubai.
News categories: Nokia, 'du', Bernard Najm, Saleem AlBlooshi, 5G, Metaverse, UAE

2.5 million Australian households to have VR headsets by 2020
Oct 13, 2016 – Demand by video gamers is expected to drive a boom in VR headset sales in Australia throughout the holiday season, according to a study from emerging technology analyst firm Telsyte.
News categories: Telsyte, Foad Fadaghi, Australia, Digital TV, Market Research, Metaverse

Consumer spending on VR to hit $3.3 billion by 2020
Oct 6, 2016 – Aggressive promotional activity from smartphone vendors and the launch of premium smartphone VR solutions will help drive the installed base of VR headsets from 4 million in 2015 to 81 million in 2020, according to IHS Markit.
News categories: IHS Markit, Piers Harding-Rolls, Digital TV, Market Research, Metaverse, Worldwide

Annual VR hardware revenues to pass $50 billion by 2021
Oct 4, 2016 – A Juniper Research study has found that hardware revenues from VR (Virtual Reality) headsets, peripherals and 360° cameras will reach over $50 billion by 2021, up tenfold from an estimated $5 billion in sales this year.
News categories: Juniper Research, Joe Crabtree, Digital TV, Hardware, Market Research, Metaverse, Mobile, Worldwide

Sky launches Sky VR App
Oct 3, 2016 – Sky has announced the launch of Sky VR. The app, available for free download, showcases a range of immersive, 360-degree videos from Sky, and content from Sky’s partners.
News categories: BSkyB, Gary Davey, Stephen Nuttall, Apps, Digital TV, Metaverse, Mobile, Streaming, UK

Orange experiments with virtual reality
Sep 22, 2016 – From October 12th, OCS subscribers equipped with a VR headset will be able to enjoy movies and TV shows in a fully immersive environment through OCS VR. In addition, on 1 December, Orange will launch a VR test program in partnership with Wevr.
News categories: Orange, Wevr, Guillaume Lacroix, Georges Nahon, Digital TV, Metaverse, Worldwide

Successful 360° world premiere in Germany
Sep 20, 2016 – Deutsche Telekom broke new ground with Germany’s first 360° HD concert live stream on YouTube. The premiere was followed by more than 100,000 viewers in the 360 degree live stream. More than half of the fans watched the concert with mobile devices.
News categories: Deutsche Telekom, Google, Michael Schuld, Karin Gerhardy, Digital TV, Germany, Metaverse, Mobile

Kaltura unveils VR alliance for the future of OTT
Sep 7, 2016 – At IBC 2016, Kaltura is launching a VR Alliance, in partnership with Inception, and also including 24i, Encompass and Harmonic, with the goal of promoting an open ecosystem of technology providers and app developers.
News categories: Kaltura, Inception, Ron Yekutiel, Benny Arbel, IBCShow, Metaverse, Streaming, Worldwide