History has shown us time and time again over the years that all industries go through periods where all of the emphasis is placed on one trend that's currently capturing the imagination of consumers. Where mobile is concerned, that current trend is most definitely virtual reality, with large and small companies around the world looking to release something in the VR space in the hope of getting in on the boom. One such company looking to capitalize on that particular area of interest is Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus who is looking to tackle virtual reality in a big way with the upcoming OnePlus 3 smartphone, and a OnePlus Loop VR headset.
Google's annual I/O conference may be extremely useful for developers from all over the world to sit down with Google engineers and get advice on how to better structure code and build more efficient apps, but it's also an excellent opportunity for the average technology fan to get an insight into the future of smart products. At last year's I/O, Google took the opportunity to announce a partnership with Levi's that would ultimately result in the production of a wearable item manufactured from a 'smart fabric'. Twelve months later, Google has used this year's gathering in Mountain View to announce that its 'Project Jacquard' team in collaboration with Levi's, will be releasing a smart version of the Levi's Commuter Trucker Jacket for sale by next year.
Like a plethora of other companies and newly founded startups, Google is using its vast resources to dive two feet first into the world of virtual reality. The Alphabet-owned company has used the opening keynote of its I/O 2016 conference in Mountain View to introduce Daydream, a virtual reality platform that leverages the power and versatility of Android N as the underlying operating system. In its purest form, Daydream is a much more advanced successor to Cardboard, Google's budget virtual reality technology that has allowed many more people to get involved in the world of virtual reality.
Back in January, at CES 2016, mobile device case maker Speck announced Pocket VR and case accessory for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. Given the virtual reality element, which is all the rage right now, it naturally garnered quite a bit of attention. If you too get giddy at the sight of all things VR and were eyeing the accessory's release date, it's time to draw out your credit card, because the Pocket VR with CandyShell Grip case is available to purchase right now for iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 and Galaxy S7.
Final versions of tvOS 9.2.1 for Apple TV 4 and watchOS 2.2.1 for Apple Watch are available to download right now. Here are the details.
Samsung has applied for a patent that would see its smartwatches project an interface onto the wearer's hand or nearby objects, allowing input or manipulation of the watch without actually touching it.
Google is rumored to have an Android VR headset ready to be announced at its upcoming developer conference known as Google I/O, with the device claimed to be a better choice than the current Samsung Gear VR.
Apple Watch users, you can now simply shake your wrist to take a selfie from a connected iPhone using a free app called RemoteCam.
How much money would you pay to relieve aches and pains in your back at just the touch of a button? How much money would you pay for a new hoodie that may come with a little additional bulk, but can help improve your posture and target muscles and pain points to release tension? And finally, how much would you pay for a connected wearable that offers all of the above through an integration with a mobile app that lives on your smartphone? After first being teased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the AiraWear Massage Hoodie now exists as a Kickstarter campaign, and offers all of the above for those with back discomfort, and willing to embrace technology as part of the solution.
VRidge app for Android is a cost-effective solution for playing VR games designed for Oculus Rift or Steam in virtual reality using Google Cardboard headset.
















