Month: February 2024

IMAX has launched new 3D documentaries on the Apple Vision Pro, more proof VR could succeed where 3D TVs didn’t.

The Apple Vision Pro’s home 3D movie revival continues with the IMAX streaming app now offering stereoscopic videos for you to rent and enjoy with immersive visuals.

Currently, the selection is just three documentaries – Superpower Dogs, Pandas, and A Beautiful Planet – which you can rent for $5 a piece (around £4 / AU$7.70). But it’s another sign that 3D movies might be making another comeback outside of the cinema.

They join over 200 other 3D titles available through the Disney Plus and Apple TV apps on the Vision Pro, as well as all the spatial videos you record using your headset or your iPhone 15 Pro if you have one.

It’s yet another sign that VR headsets could pick up the job started by 3D TVs over a decade ago and finally make the 3D home theatre experience mainstream.

(Image credit: Future)

Can VR headsets succeed where 3D TVs couldn’t? 

Following the 3D film craze brought about by the wildly successful 2009 film Avatar, it seemed like the next big TV trend would be 3D as well. For a time, this certainly seemed the case.

The first batch of at-home 3D TVs were unveiled at CES 2010, and by 2012 just over a quarter of global TV sales were 3D-capable. Despite predictions that this line would continue to the moon, it instead plateaued before nose-diving in 2015.

Instead, 4K screens became the hot new trend – with 4K QLED, OLED and now QD-OLED displays following after – with a big driving force being the much more widespread availability of 4K content compared to 3D. 

Rather than being able to watch the odd 3D film, and having to contend with flat HD-quality visuals for most content, you could enjoy a larger range of movies and shows with crisp 4K visuals – and without the hassle and eye-strain that can come from slipping on a pair of 3D glasses. 

This was aided by the arrival of 4K digital content via the then-fledgling best streaming services (ah, the good ol’ days before price hikes and when you only needed one or two subscriptions rather than 20).

We go into more details in our article about how 4K TVs should have saved 3D instead of killing it. But by understanding where 3D TVs went wrong, we can see how VR headsets might succeed.

This 2023 3D TV almost made us believe they could make a comeback (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Firstly, there’s a much wider pool of accessible 3D content. As we mentioned already, Apple TV lets you buy and rent 3D films on your headset, and Disney Plus on the Apple Vision Pro includes a library of 3D films for free with your subscription.

Then there are the better visuals. For the first time, 3D films are available at home in 4K with Dolby Vision and frame rates up to 48fps. This improved visual fidelity means there’s less of a tradeoff when deciding between 3D and 2D flicks.

Thanks to this wider content availability and better video quality – especially in the frame rate department – people are able to expose themselves to more 3D and VR content to get over the disorientation and nausea that can affect first-time and infrequent users.

Lastly, while VR headsets are pricey – especially the $3,500 (around £2,770 / AU$5,400) Vision Pro – they have the advantage of not just being a display. They’re also a computer, console, exercise tool, and more. This makes them feel like a lot better bang for your buck than an expensive 3D TV.

That said, we’ve been here before. Just like the original 3D TV trend, there’s a chance that 3D films in VR will also drop off. 

But with Apple and its partners continuing to launch 3D videos on its Vision pro Platform, and now LG and Meta announcing a partnership that could bring more TV (hopefully also 3D) content to Quest, we could be at the beginning of a new at-home 3D renaissance.

We’ll just have to wait and see if the trend can take off properly this time.

You might also like

I saw a 3D TV and it almost made me believe it could be a thing againSteamVR could come to the Apple Vision Pro soon – but there’s a major catchThis smartglass can do things that Apple’s Vision Pro can only dream of

Read More 

The M3 iMac is now being sold in Apple’s refurbished store – discounted and good as new.

Apple is now offering refurbished M3 iMac models alongside refurbished 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, fitted with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips at a discounted price five months after their October 2023 launch. 

The base model of the colorful all-in-one M3 iMac normally retails for $1,299 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of memory, but from the Apple Certified Refurbished store you can buy the same model with $200 knocked off, making it just $1,099. If you’re after a more powerful machine, the higher-end 8 Core CPU and 10 Core GPU model with 512GB of storage is also being offered refurbished, meaning you can get a good as new M3 iMac for $230 off, taking the price down from $1,499 to $1,269. With that discount price, you get a more powerful machine for less than the lower-spec iMac goes for when it’s brand-new.

Of course, these prices change with different configurations, but you can have a look at Apple’s refurbished iMac page to see what would suit you best. These are pretty sizeable discounts and definitely worth considering if you (like me) have been eying one of the best all-in-one PCs on the market but are unwilling to break the bank. 

Why refurbished is better for you and the environment?

So, what is a refurbished iMac and why should you consider a pre-loved iMac instead of a brand new one? In terms of computers, ‘refurbished’ refers to a device that’s been returned to Apple, inspected, and repaired to a like-new condition. So, used iMacs get fixed up and resold rather than collecting dust in someone’s attic or being thrown out. This is perfect for people who are conscious about their tech consumption and want to save a few bucks!

The M3 iMac launched just a few months ago and is arguably one of the more expensive (if not the most expensive depending on the configuration) all-in-one PCs you can buy right now. 

As for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, those come with the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, which are currently Apple’s most powerful processors and are often used by power users like animators, artists, movie makers, and video editors. So, if you’re after something powerful, but don’t want to spend full price, refurbished could be your best option.

Also, alongside a comprehensive year-long warranty, Apple replaces any required components with authentic Apple parts. They reassemble everything in brand-new packaging complete with all essential accessories and cables. So, you’ll receive identical packaging and accessories as if you had purchased a new product, all without the premium price tag. To top it off, Apple ensures your device runs on the latest operating system available at the time of purchase, which is presently macOS Sonoma.

We’re big fans of refurbished stuff, and not just because it’s easier on your wallet. It’s also a win for the planet. When folks start embracing refurbished items, not just laptops and phones but all sorts of tech, it means there is less “ewaste”, as older devices continue to be used, and less emissions are made compared to creating a brand-new device.

It’s not just good for the environment; it also makes tech more accessible to more people while cutting down on electronic waste. Win-win! 

You might also like…

New Apple leak suggests M3 MacBook Air and iPad Pro models are landing very soonApple’s refurbished M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros are cheaper and better for the planet – here’s what you should knowMacBook Air 2024: latest news, rumors and what we want to see

Read More 

Palworld’s latest update has fixed an issue which saw Pals obtained via breeding stuck with fixed passive skills.

Palworld players, rejoice. A new update has removed a bug introduced in the previous patch, which saw Pals obtained by breeding stuck with negative passive skills that players were previously able to breed out. 

In case you were unaware, Palworld’s collectible creatures, Pals, all come with certain passive skills that can’t be altered. These range from handy buffs such as speed boosts to negative effects such as attack and defense decreases. Obviously, having a Pal with permanent nerfs to its passive skills is far from ideal, and worse still, certain Pals, such as cute cat-like creature Cattiva, are always caught with specific negative passives. All captured Cattivas, for example, come with the ‘Coward’ trait which reduces their attack by 10 percent.

It is possible to breed Pals to get rid of these fixed passives, but a patch rolled out earlier this week stopped this function from working. Thankfully for those desperate to get their hands on a Relaxaurus that doesn’t get hungry faster than it should, version v0.1.5.1 is now available on Steam (and coming soon to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One) which irons out the issue. 

The patch notes confirm that alongside “various game crashes,” the update has “fixed a bug where breeding Pals always had fixed passives.” Other notable changes include fixes for a bug that meant beating the boss of a random dungeon didn’t open the dungeon’s innermost door, and a separate problem where trying to change a Pal’s name didn’t actually do anything. You can check out the full list of changes below.

Developer Pocketpair also confirmed that it’s continuing to work on an issue where auto-save doesn’t work on the Xbox versions Palworld. While not ironed out in this update, it’s expected that “this will be resolved in an upcoming update.”

Just starting out in Palworld? Be sure to check out our guides to finding Palworld Ore, Coal, Pal Fluids and more.

Read More 

Honda’s unique Uni-One personal mobility device is a mash-up of a Segway, electric wheelchair and futuristic mobility device.

Honda will soon demonstrate what it think is the future of Virtual and Augmented Reality entertainment, with its XR Mobility Experience bound for the SXSW Creative Industries Expo in March.

The system features Honda’s unique Uni-One personal mobility device, which is an engineering and robotics mash-up of a Segway, electric wheelchair and futuristic mobility device. This can raise and lower the user to let them interact with others at eye-level, as opposed to the permanently seated position of a traditional wheelchair.

That said, the SXSW concept is very much about “highly immersive digital entertainment,” according to Honda, as it combines the Uni-One with an unnamed VR headset, allowing users to “experience the peaceful feeling of floating in the sky or the exhilarating feeling of gliding along a half-pipe path,”  the Japanese company claims.

Honda is keeping its remit broad with the Uni-One, which is an update of the original Uni-Cub concept of 2012. It is being offered as an advanced solution for those with a disability or mobility issues, but Honda also claims that it is perfectly capable of acting as a more generic mode of transport and an entertainment device.

You can steer the Uni-One by shifting your body weight while in the ‘standing position’, keeping both hands free for other tasks and offering a more upright, natural walking experience. Honda says two-wheel drive and “advanced control technology” prevent the device from tipping over, while a joystick is also implemented for operating the unit when in a seated position.

There’s scant detail on the AR experience on offer at SXSW, but Honda says it envisions Uni-One being used in indoor and obstacle-free spaces, such as theme parks and shopping malls, where they are able to race one another (albeit at a max speed of 3.7mph) or explore virtual worlds while keeping hands free for action.

“With the Honda XR Mobility Experience, we are expanding the joy and freedom of personal mobility into entertainment applications,” said Hirokazu Hara, vice president of New Business Development, American Honda Motor Company.

“By combining the unique, physical experience of riding the Honda Uni-One with highly immersive digital entertainment, Honda is creating a brand new multimodal experience that takes extended reality technologies to the next level.”

Honda has carefully selected the SXSW Creative Industries Expo because it wants to connect and collaborate with AR and VR developers to create “custom digital experiences choreographed with the movements of riding Uni-One”.

A break from reality

(Image credit: Honda)

Honda has a long and illustrious history that is filled with engineering experimentation, whether that is the cute Asimo robot or its Riding Assist self-balancing motorcycle. 

Much of it tends to be a glorified design study, where aspects of the demonstrator eventually make their way into a production model, while others, such as the robotic lawnmower, actually go on sale.

But it appears that Honda is serious about the entertainment application of its Uni-One personal mobility device, which could broaden its appeal and provide a more solid business case to put it into production. 

While it likely won’t revolutionize the VR experience, it may well allow Honda to produce the units in greater number and therefore offer them to individuals with genuine mobility issues, potentially transforming the lives of some.

That said, hopefully Honda isn’t suggesting we all need a Uni-One in our daily lives. Surely, someone in the company has seen Wall-E and what happens to the human race when technology like this takes over? 

You might also like

Honda unveils striking new 0 Series that completely rethinks its EV futureHonda’s first eMTB has a portable charging station for more fun on the trailsThe best VR headsets in 2024

Read More 

Rumored pepped-up variant of Raptor Lake Refresh flagship processor has appeared in retailer listings.

Intel’s supposedly inbound Core i9-14900KS processor has been spotted listed at a couple of retailers, and it seems we might see this flagship variant for Raptor Lake Refresh as soon as mid-March.

Wccftech pointed out that the Core i9-14900KS has been listed by a Canadian retailer, DirectDail, and on top of that, a regular hardware leaker (@momomo_us) on X (formerly Twitter) noticed another listing at PC-Canada.

These product listings back up the recent spec leaks – which have been numerous – showing that rumored boost speed of 6.2GHz, and the latter retailer is even more revealing, as it provides a purported launch date.

According to PC-Canada, the Core i9-14900KS will be released on March 13, the week after next.

Prices are provided by both retailers, but we wouldn’t pay much attention to prerelease price tags, as they are often placeholders.

They can give us a rough idea of where the supercharged Raptor Lake Refresh flagship might sit, though, and the 14900KS is pitched at 13% and 17% more expensive than the current price for the 14900K at these two Canadian outlets.

Analysis: Pricing to follow in Raptor Lake’s footsteps?

So, the consensus seems to be the chip will be about 15% more expensive, and given that the 13900KS was 17% more costly than the 13900K in the US going by the launch MSRP, this seems a pretty fair bet. Scatter seasoning liberally, as ever, but it looks like the 14900KS will follow the same pricing pattern as the last-gen family from Intel, Raptor Lake.

Rumors have previously floated the idea of a March launch, and so the mentioned March 13 date again backs up chatter on the grapevine. Mind you, the suggestion was more of a later in March release, but that could still happen – whatever the case, the overall vibe is that we’re getting the 14900KS soon enough.

Although that said, one YouTube leaker has cast doubt on whether we might have to wait beyond March – and whether stock might be very thin on the ground when the 14900KS does arrive.

You might also like

Processor upgrade: how to choose the right CPUBest gaming CPU: 5 top processors reviewed and ratedHere are the best cheap processor deals right now

Read More