We’re back for day 3! This is the last day of coverage on our part, however we might tweet out some pictures of some interesting gadgets we find @907BeatZBuZ.
Byton’s EV with a 48″ Screen!
In a video by The Verge I saw this morning, they showed off a new electric vehicle by startup company Byton which spots a 48″ wide screen built into the dashboard, as well as a smaller screen built into the steering wheel. This could be rather distracting for a lot of people, however if combined with autonomous driving tech, it could be extremely cool for media and entertainment purposes, as well as everyday apps like Waze or Google Maps. We’ll just have to wait and see however as this is still a pre-production model.
Byton
The Segway S-Pod
This one is a bit of an odd one, it’s like a chair shaped segway, which has hints of the Wall-E chairs, professor X’s chair but it was actually inspired by Jurassic World. This could be great for segway tours, maybe getting around campus or just going for a leisurely ride around the neighborhood. There is no planned release date or price yet, but just in case you were thinking of picking one up, expect it to be at least a bit pricey.
Segway
The UBTECH Walker Robot
This is an improved model of the Walker robot from CES past, which can now walk faster, resist forces better (Engadget’s video really shows off how steady he is) and more. Walker is designed as a robotic assistant which is meant to help you in your daily mundane tasks. It has been seen delivering food baskets, pouring drinks and more at the show floor this year. Unfortunately, we’re not sure when we’ll be able to bring one of these home as there is no confirmed date or price for these robots.
UBTECH
That’s all for CES 2020! What an amazing show this year. Can’t wait to see what the big tech companies can show off at next year’s show!
After an incredible start to CES yesterday, even more news and announcements have arisen from the depths of the internet and I’m here to cover them. Here are the coolest, most interesting and oddest announcements from day 2.
Sony’s Car…?
This one surprised a LOT of people when Sony, yes that Sony revealed their own CAR which is fully electric and has a lot of cool features from what we’ve seen. Personally the most interesting thing for me is the ultra wide panoramic dashboard with media controls galore. If I end up picking this up in the future, i’d probably get someone else to drive it so I can chill out and watch my favorite movies.
MobileSyrup
LG’s Private Showroom Exposed
Engadget posted a video yesterday showing off LGs’ new flexible screen technology and it’s pretty insane. It’s a TV that supposedly pitched towards gamers (me) as it bends in during gameplay AUTOMATICALLY to envelop more immersiveness while gaming. LG showed this off in a mock business class passenger seat of the future, complete with 65 inch, UHD bendable TV. If this is what business class looks like in the future, i’d be 100% down to spend the extra cash to get that kind of luxurious seat on my flight. This however was not the only thing showed off, as LG also showed a rollable TV prototype which rolls down from the ceiling as opposed to up out of a box. There are no release dates planned for either device as they are both prototypes, but considering how fast the rollable TV took to develop (1 year), I wouldn’t be surprised to see it out on the market in the next year or two.
World’s first bendable @UHD4k OLED TV prototype from LG Display at #CES2020. Pitched towards gamers for more enveloping immersiveness. pic.twitter.com/9VDxtGWUjU
With Samsung’s announcement of that weird ball thing, they also showed off a prototype robot arm chef, which is supposed to be used cooperatively with a human which is perfect for me, as I have zero clues as to how to cook anything without a toaster or microwave. Not only that but they also announced something called “Project Neon” which is Samsung’s attempt at making artificial, realistic human looking AIs. However, the general public have said that in their current state, they seem rather stoic and robotic, with some uncanny valley vibes. Again however, this is still a pre-production concept that is yet to even have a true alpha version so we’ll have to wait and see what’ll happen in the future.
SamsungSamsung, TechCrunch
Gatebox / Holograms?
I’m hoping this decade will eventually bring full volumetric displays to the general public and make them affordable. Gatebox seems to be the first step in the right direction. Gatebox is what seems like a hologram in a tube, which in the model shown on the show floor takes the form of an anime girl and in a video by Engadget, a fitness trainer. This is one of the first true volumetric displays to ever exist, and i’m excited to see when we can get full holograms implemented into video calls and more.
That’s all for day 2! Come back soon for the latest on day 3 (The last day i’ll be covering the event)
The Valve Index Controllers are the most cutting edge VR controllers on the market currently, sporting individual finger tracking, the first of it’s kind on a controller but coming it at $369 CAD is it worth the plunge?
Valve Corp.
First Impressions
My first impressions with the controllers were amazing, although a short adjustment period was needed. Coming from the Vive wands, the layout was significantly different, and I really had to get used to not holding onto the controllers the whole time, as they strap to your hands allowing you to have an open palm. The thing that really blew me away however was the finger tracking technology. This really shows in games like Boneworks (you can check out my review here). Although there aren’t many games and programs that support it at the moment, there are a LOT of upcoming experiences, such as Valves’ own Half Life Alyx, the long awaited next game in the Half Life franchise. I had been playing Boneworks for extended play sessions for the review, and the controllers held up in the comfort department, as I had no discomfort or pain for the entire session or even hours after.
Valve Corp.
Groundbreaking Tech
Although not many VR applications fully support the VR full finger tracking as previously stated, the few programs that integrate the technology are simply amazing. As an example, Boneworks uses the tech integrated with their IK body system to allow an extremely realistic interaction system which well compliments their realistic physics interaction system. There is so much potential for this groundbreaking tech with upcoming games such as Valve’s own Half Life Alyx and I can’t wait to see what they can do to further this tech in the next few years.
Stress Level Zero
Pros / Cons
Pros:
Extremely Comfortable
Innovative Technology
Lots Of Upcoming Potential
Cons:
Not Many Programs Support Finger Tracking
Pricey
Final Thoughts & Score
The Index Controllers are some of the coolest VR tech i’ve seen in recent years, and after using them for a while, I can wholeheartedly recommend the $369 plunge, if you have the money. It’s groundbreaking finger tracking tech is an industry first, and from the games releasing this year, we’ll have to wait and see how they implement it into further VR projects, technologies and innovations.
CES 2020 has offically kicked off and we’ve seen a LOT of interesting tech and announcements. Here is a roundup of the coolest, weirdest and most interesting announcements from day 1.
UBER Air
This one blew me away this morning when I saw it. Uber’s Elevate division has teamed up with Hyundai to manufacture new Uber Air taxis. These new models sport 8 rotors with fail saves as well as a giant parachute in case of an emergency landing and can be seen in the tweet linked here. Uber states that this partnership is a significant milestone for the Uber Elevate program and that Hyundai’s mass production history and resources mean they can build these Air Taxis as the scale that Uber needs to make aerial ride sharing a reality in cities around the globe.
LG’s rollable TV was one of the highlights of last years’ show, and they brought it back this year to announce the price as well as the final design. Dubbed the LG Series OLED TV R, this 65-inch beast of a display can extend and retract at the push of a button, with FULL 4K HDR SUPPORT!!According to CNET this extremely innovative product will supposedly launch in Q3 of 2020 and will retail for $60,000 USD!!! This however was not the only rollable display shown off this year, as LG also showed off a ceiling mounted version which rolls down similar to a projector screen. This is still very much a prototype design but if the OLED TV R is any indication, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if we’ll see it hit the market in the next couple of years.
The Verge
Alienware’s UFO prototype
Picture this. Your Nintendo Switch, but as a full-fledged, high-powered gaming PC able to play almost any game from Steam’s gigantic library. Alienware has made it a reality with their UFO prototype, a switch-esque portable gaming PC you can take with you anywhere. It’s a direct shot at the switch with a much better kickstand, docking capability and handheld functionality. However this is still a concept and we don’t know what the specs or pricing will look like. You can pick up a switch for around $300 USD and a switch lite for around $200 USD, so Alienware will need to price it around that point to be able to really compete.
Digital Trends
Avatar 2 & the Mercedes concept vehicle
This one really came from out of nowhere, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you already saw it all over your social media feeds, but James Cameron showed up to CES and revealed a small plot synopsis of Avatar 2, as well as some concept art pieces that look absolutely breathtaking. As well, Mercedes-Benz created an Avatar inspired concept vehicle that looks absolutely insane! There are no pedals, no steering wheel, not even a windshield or proper doors! This concept uses a JOYSTICK to drive the car which is an extremely unique concept for a vehicle. From the videos that I have seen from the show floor, the large panoramic interior screens will display where you are as well as your surrounding area, complete with a projection smart menu which you use by grabbing projections with your hand? I can’t wait to see one of these in a local Mercedes dealer to see what it would actually be like, if it ever becomes a reality.
Impossible Pork?
Impossible Foods is at it again with their brand new product, Impossible Pork. Similar to the company’s’ other products, it is a plant-based substitute for ground pork, but with a reduced environmental impact. It is also gluten-free which aims at kosher certifications, and according to the company it can be used in any recipe that calls for ground pork, for example rice bowls and according to CNET, it tastes scary similar to the real thing. There are no current details as to when this will reach the mass market, however the Impossible Sausage is set to roll out in some Burger King locations across the U.S. later this month.
The Verge
AMD’s new Ryzen 4000 processors
Laptops & notebooks are about to become a lot more interesting. AMD has announced their new Ryzen 4000 processor line which they claim are “The world’s highest-performing ultrathin laptop processors.” The new CPUs boast some crazy specs, sporting 8 Zen 2 Cores and 8 Radeon Cores, 16 threads, a boost of up to 4.2 GHz which is crazy for a notebook device, and only has a TDP of 15W. Pictured below is Dr. Lisa Su, AMD president and CEO holding the new chip. The power that this small chip packs is insane, and I can’t wait to see how it will impact the laptop and notebook market.
Digital Trends
That’s all for the day 1 roundup, check back in tomorrow to check out what’s going on during day 2!
After the success of Duck Season and 3 years of work, VR game development studio Stress Level Zero (abbreviated as SLZ) has released what might just be VRs’ killer app. With Boneworks, SLZ has completely innovated the VR landscape, adding realistic physics interactions, full IK virtual bodies and more. This is by far the most innovative VR app of all time and is well deserving of the title “VRs’ Killer App”.
Reviewed on the HTC Vive Pro using Valve Index Controllers. This review contains minor spoilers for the game’s story.
Stress Level Zero, Steam
Boneworks has some of the most polished visual and audio design in the history of VR, with it’s beautiful soundtrack, beautiful vistas and incredible attention to detail. The amount of detail found in the world of Boneworks is astonishing, with every single spec of the visible area in the game world being fully textured and interactable. After completing the main story many times, I had unlocked a flying tool which allowed me to freely explore any level and that really helped me appreciate the games’ attention to detail and polish. The soundtrack produced by Michael Wyckoff really gave off a Stranger Things 80ish vibe, with it’s soft synths and great structuring. The way that the ambient travel music was integrated into exploration made me feel even more immersed than I had already been.
User bini_vr‘s post on the Boneworks Steam community forum
The mechanics of Boneworks are the first of it’s kind featuring full IK bodies and full physics interactions are definitely what sold this game to me. The ability to touch enemies and interact with items realistically gave me a strong sense of realism, like I never really put my headset on. There is only one form of sliding movement as well as jumping which took some adjusting to do as it is not natural to jump around with these heavy headsets. If you are prone to motion sickness or if you haven’t fully developed your VR legs yet, I’d recommend skipping out on this experience as it may cause intense motion sickness. There were of course some exaggerations such as force pulling, but the game kept me so immersed after my first playthrough, I attempted to force grab my phone from across the room after I had stopped playing (It did not work, unfortunately.) There are a few drawbacks, such as no mid-level checkpoints (SLZ has addressed this however and will be introducing such system in late January / early February) as well as some glitchiness (E.g. getting your hands stuck inside objects) but these are bound to be ironed out in the upcoming update. There is a lot more content than you might think, including an arena mode which offers a lot of fun and creative challenges, and a sandbox mode which lets you play around to your heart’s content. I personally really enjoyed both of these modes as well as the main story, especially when attempting to reennact scenes from the John Wick series (very poorly might I add).
Stress Level Zero, Michael Wyckoff, Steam
Boneworks, in my opinion is currently the most innovative VR title on the market, and is well deserving of the title of “VRs’ Killer App”. The fact that I legitimately tried to force grab objects after playing the game can 100% tell you how immersive it is. The games’ visual and audio design are great as well, and any major bugs will be ironed out in due time, and SLZ has stated that they have plans to update the game with free content throughout this year and the future. At it’s $30 price point, it is a MUST BUY if you are able to withstand the smooth locomotion. SLZ has absolutely outdone themselves with Boneworks and I can’t wait to see what’s next in store.
beatZ&buZ Blog 