Your Windows device is going to help you get more creative really soon

Source: Microsoft. The possibilities of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, sketched on a Microsoft Surface by Michael Mindflyer.

Microsoft has announced that the free Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will start rolling out to Windows 10 users worldwide, starting today. The fourth major update to Windows 10 is all about creativity, and is engineered to bring mixed reality and 3D to Windows users, enhancing gaming, audiovisual content and mixed reality.

Some highlights include:

Windows Ink gets better

With the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, users can now ink directly onto PDFs. Smart Ink also allows users to make squares more easily, or automatically turn doodled boxes into a proper table.

Create in 3D

"3D will offer the next major boost to human productivity, enabling a next generation of computing that moves far beyond the 2D world we’ve been confined to. This is so powerful because 3D is truly representative of the world you live in – improving the way you comprehend, retain, and learn," said Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate VP, Windows and Devices Group, Microsoft in a blog post.

Microsoft Paint users can now migrate to Paint 3D, where they can create and share 3D objects. 3D objects are supported by Microsoft Office - rotate and animate objects within documents and presentations.

Source: Microsoft blog. This is what Windows Mixed Reality can do.

See 3D creations in the real world

With Mixed Reality Viewer, users can view 3D objects in the real world and snap pictures of the virtual 3D objects using the world-facing camera on the PC. This is part of Microsoft's push to introduce the world of Windows Mixed Reality.

For accurate immersion in a virtual world, virtual reality technology often needs to track where a user is looking, for example by mounting cameras around a room. Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are launching the first Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which come bundled with advanced motion controllers. "Windows Mixed Reality headsets are the only headsets that don’t require you to drill holes into your walls and you can take them on the go," said Mehdi.

Acer and HP will offer Windows Mixed Reality Headsets with motion controllers; the Lenovo Explorer headset is ergonomically designed; and the Dell Visor features 1,440 x 1,440 LCD panels for a sharp and smooth 360° panoramic experience. Samsung’s just-launched US$499 mixed reality headset, the Samsung HMD Odyssey, will be available November 6. The Samsung HMD Odyssey has dual AMOLED high-resolution displays, a 110-degree field of view, built-in premium AKG headphones, and integrated six degrees of freedom (DOF) inside-out position tracking.

The headsets will be supported by Windows Mixed Reality PCs and Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs. Windows Mixed Reality PCs refer to desktops and laptops with integrated graphics. When plugged into these devices, the new immersive headsets will run at 60 frames per second. 

Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs are desktops and laptops with discrete graphics. Discrete graphics is typically more powerful than integrated graphics. When plugged into these devices, the headsets will run at 90 frames per second, which would deliver a smoother experience.

Save disk space

All files in OneDrive can now be accessed On-Demand, whether they have been synched to the PC or not. In essence, the files will appear in the File Explorer window without taking up any storage space on the PC hard disk.

Explore:

The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update can be experienced on a wide variety of Windows 10 PCs and on the new Windows Mixed Reality headsets. The headsets begin at US$399. 

A calendar created in partnership with Singapore-based illustrator Michael Mindflyer provides a painless way to adopt a creative mindset over 21 days while getting to know the Fall Creators Update better. Day 1: start a creative checklist in Microsoft OneNote, and start doodling with Windows Ink's SketchPad on day 2. Download a high-resolution version of the calendar (PDF).

The new digital weapons that make businesses successful

Understanding the relationship between online and offline marketing and being able to capitalise on it is now key to business success, says Ebenezer Heng, Principal Consultant, Top Advertising. Speaking at the Fuji Xerox DocuWorld Conference, Heng pointed out that the keys to business success and 'gut feel' are no longer as effective in the digital age.

Location, location, location is a good thing, but eyeballing locations to check out foot traffic is not good enough, Heng said. A sentiment survey - which checks what people are saying about a location online and grades it as positive, neutral or negative - can provide a completely different picture as to which malls are popular, for instance. "Gut feel is not numbers-backed," he said.

The hard data on the most popular malls in Singapore.

And the surprises on the least popular malls in Singapore.

"Some of the shops will make money, some of the shops will not make money. If you don't fall into the consumption belt of the person who is doing the shopping you don't get your sales," he said. "If you went there to study the (location) you will love the (location if) it is crowded; the question is will the crowd go into your store? A sentiment study will show that."

Another popular concept is that sales are linked to price. The lower the price, the higher the sales. Purchase decisions are more complex, Heng said, displaying the counter-intuitive results of a study on ramen, which asked how much people are willing to pay for a good bowl of plain noodles.

A survey on price thresholds for good ramen showed that none of the respondents said they would pay anything in the lowest price band for good ramen. 

 
It turns out that respondents think cheap ramen priced at S$6 to S$15 is unlikely to be good, Heng shared. "When the price is lower, they don't actually have the queue," he said.

Even within a popular mall one establishment can still have long queues, whereas another similar business nearby may have no queues, Heng said. The reason is that consumers now decide whether to buy a product or consume a service only after checking online reviews and what their friends recommend on social media, he explained, and the business without an online presence, let alone social buzz, is not likely to have a chance. "It has a lot to do with your narrative and your story," he said.


That content must have 'thumb stopping' ability, Heng added, alluding to how people use their thumbs to scroll, as opposed to head-turning ability in the physical world. "If you don't have it you don't have that crowd," he said. "Your audience are online all the time, they form opinion of things online, they communicate their opinions to others online."

Figuring out what is thumb-stopping can be challenging as it typically does not involve the product being sold. Heng's own business Facebook page for selling coffee makers does not show coffee makers, for example. The page features iconic cartoon characters like Hello Kitty and colourful cakes, which he has found to be thumb-stopping, he said.

Augmented reality also has such thumb-stopping ability, and the experience is often shared online, leading to buzz that can boost queues. Top Advertising has augmented reality technology that converts an existing asset like a namecard or marketing brochure into a gateway to other content when that asset is viewed through a mobile app on the smartphone. The new content could be an animated graphic, music, a video or something else that extends the life of the asset, and the app can track who has seen the asset for follow-ups later.

"All your packaging, flyers, posters, everything can be augmented. You already have your assets - the idea is to loop it all together, the more channels you have, the more touch points you have, and the higher the chance of getting that traffic," Heng said. "We don't have to go out any more. People come to us."

Heng has extended his augmented reality assets to the coffee machine itself. Instead of bringing down a demonstration machine, the software can display a machine to scale to show how it will fit within the customer's premises as part of an augmented product catalogue.

"It opens the door to conversation," he said. "You want to avoid competing on price. The only way to avoid that comparison is to avoid being apples-to-apples."

posted from Bloggeroid

Syfy's HALCYON VR murder mystery to be available on the Samsung Gear VR

Source: Syfy. HALCYON investigates a VR murder.

Syfy, the destination for imagine-based entertainment, will premiere its original hybrid virtual reality (VR) series, HALCYON, on 22 September at 10pm. The series is produced by Secret Location, a multi-Emmy and Cannes Lion Award-winning content studio specialising in emerging platforms.

HALCYON is set in 2040 and follows Julie Dover, a detective in the Virtual Reality Crimes Unit, as she investigates the first real-life murder to take place within virtual reality – a crime that shouldn’t even be possible – and the conspiracy she discovers behind it. Directed by BAFTA-nominated Benjamin Arfmann (Random Stop), HALCYON provides cliff-hangers across TV, online and VR platforms that will move viewers to find out what will happen next.

To give viewers the ultimate experience, Syfy Asia has teamed up with Samsung for the series to be available on the Samsung Gear VR. Sporting an ergonomic design and ultra-high resolution display, the Samsung Gear VR allows users to enjoy HALCYON episodes in a truly immersive and cinematic manner. Episodes will alternate between short-form and VR to showcase a next-level entertainment experience that combines the immersive nature of VR with the narrative arc of a linear TV series.

While HALCYON’s story can be understood from its linear episodes alone, watching both linear and VR episodes will allow viewers a more enriched experience. For viewers who only watch the linear episodes, a short recap of the previous VR episode will be played before each linear episode begins, to ensure that they will be able to follow the complete storyline.

Interested?

The 15-episode series consists of 10 x 5-minute linear episodes available to binge-watch on TV (Syfy – StarHub Channel 517), online and on VR (Samsung Gear VR).

TV viewers can catch the first episode of HALCYON on the Syfy channel (StarHub channel 517) on 22 September, Thursday at 10pm

Episodes will be available online anytime from 22 September

In addition to the 10 episodes, viewers will also be able to enjoy five special episodes that will be available exclusively via the HALCYON VR app, which can be downloaded from the Oculus store for US$4.99 from 22 to 25 September and for US$9.99 from 25 September on the Samsung Gear VR.

Avoid Pokemon Go scams, malware

Source: Niantic blog.

Pokémon Go, the augmented reality mobile game that has become a global sensation since its launch in early July, has already attracted the attention of scammers and cyberattackers. While yet to arrive (legally) in Asia*, there are risks that players should be aware of, says Symantec.

In a recent blog post Symantec has detailed several Pokémon scams, from free PokeCoins and fake versions of the mobile game, to permission and privacy issues:

Free PokeCoin scams
Pokémon Go has in-app purchases, where users can spend real money to buy a virtual currency called PokeCoins. Players can spend the PokeCoins on items, such as incense to lure Pokémon to their location or eggs that hatch rare Pokémon . Those who search for discounted or free PokeCoins online are likely to encounter classic survey scams. 

"These links are widespread across the Internet, from posts on gaming forums to dedicated scamming sites. The majority of fraudulent results are posts on social media sites or videos with alleged proof that the PokeCoin hacking tool works," Symantec noted in the blog post.

Trojanised Pokémon Go apps

Trojan versions of the game targeting Android devices have appeared, including the remote access Trojan (Android.Sandorat) disguised as Pokémon Go. The threat was distributed on various download sites and gaming forums. If the malicious version of the app is installed, it displays the Pokémon Go start screen while giving the attacker complete access to the phone.

Those looking to cheat by getting rare Pokémon in a particular physical location have spoofed their GPS locations with readily-available apps that can be installed on rooted Android devices or jailbroken iPhones. While Symantec has not seen attackers disguise their malware as GPS spoofers yet, it could happen, the company warns.

Tips to stay safe with Pokémon Go include:

· Avoid downloading Pokémon Go from unofficial marketplaces, as attackers can use these sites to deliver malware disguised as legitimate apps

· Install the Pokémon Go update that removes the request for full access to Google accounts

· Stay away from game-cheating tools, as they could be fraudulent or may contain malware

· Keep your smartphone's firmware updated to prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited

· Use strong and unique passwords for your Pokémon Go account

· Pay close attention to the permissions that apps request

· Install a suitable mobile security app, to protect the device and data

Interested?

The blog post also details scam methods, privacy issues and how gamers are trying to cheat in Pokemon Go.

Follow the official Twitter account for updates on availability

Hashtag: #PokemonGO

*As of the time of writing Niantic had just released the game in 26 more European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. On July 14, the game was released in Italy, Spain and Portugal, and in the UK on July 13, and in Germany on July 12. It was originally made available in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

CyberLink PowerDVD now supports 360 degree video

Source: CyberLink. Couple exploring part of a 360 degree-compatible video.

CyberLink, the consumer multimedia software company, has updated its flagship media playback software PowerDVD with features that enable users to watch 360 degree video.

When playing a 360 video using PowerDVD, users can pan and rotate the perspective to watch content from different angles, immersing themselves into the environment. “Three hundred and sixty-degree video is an ideal medium to introduce people to the immersive world of virtual reality,” said Dr Jau Huang, Chairman and CEO of CyberLink. “However, consumption is just one side of the equation, and CyberLink will be making some very exciting announcements in the coming weeks regarding immersive content creation.”

Interested?

Owners of PowerDVD 16 Ultra can download and install a free update providing 360-degree video support. Subscriptions, perpetual licenses and upgrades are available at the following prices:

• PowerDVD Live: US$44.99 per month for 12 months or US$14.99 per month for three months PowerDVD 16 Ultra: US$99.95
• PowerDVD 16 Pro: US$79.95
• PowerDVD 16 Standard: US$59.95
• Upgrades start from US$44.95.

Epson Singapore makes new Moverio Pro augmented reality smart glasses available

Epson, a global projection technology and visual communications provider, has launched the Moverio Pro BT-2000 smart headset. The Moverio Pro delivers a binocular smart glasses experience for augmented reality applications such as inspection or training purposes, or for remote field service support for complex repair assistance and troubleshooting.

Source: Epson Singapore. The new
Moverio Pro BT-2000 smart headset.

Augmented reality smart glasses can improve worker efficiency for various industries in vertical markets such as warehouse/logistics, field service, automotive, manufacturing, construction, and retail. Workers in different locations can see exactly what their counterparts are seeing, get visual assistance and to provide informed support and training, for instance.

Leveraging Epson’s patented optical and precision technologies, the Moverio Pro BT-2000 provides a platform for displaying augmented reality content over the real world environment and 3D images. The Moverio Pro features a 1,350 Candela/mm²* high-resolution display and micro projectors located on each side of the eyeglasses that project transparent overlays of digital content directly in the user’s field of view over the real-world environment. An ambient light sensor (ALS) automatically adjusts the display brightness for each location at work.

The headset also includes a highly sensitive motion sensor unit, the Epson inertial measurement unit (IMU), consisting of high-precision motion sensors such as a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer for accurate head tracking or indoor positioning. A 5-megapixel stereo camera with three-dimensional depth sensing detects the dimensions and spatial positioning of objects in relation to each other.

Designed with an Android operating system, the new Moverio Pro enables enterprises and other organisations to create and share applications that tailor the product to meet their precise needs. The new product also provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for connectivity with external interface devices such as keyboards, mouses and headsets, voice interpretation and recognition for easier hand-free operation, and two exchangeable batteries that allow work to continue with minimal interruption and downtime. The BT-2000 is also dust and water resistant for durability.

“The Moverio Pro BT-2000 is a result of our discussions with customers in different industries who see the tremendous potential of Moverio smart glasses that can help enhance productivity of their businesses. The Moverio has the potential to revolutionise workflow for onsite or remote operations. It adds a new dimension to professionals for improving their efficiency and accuracy at work, enabling workers to share their experience virtually or provide hands-free movement for hands-on work,” said Tan May Lin, Epson Singapore’s General Manager (Sales, Marketing & Customer Service Division).

Interested?

The Moverio Pro BT-2000 retails at S$4,857 and is currently available in Singapore, Thailand and Philippines.

*Cd/m² is a unit measuring luminance, or brightness.

Etihad releases VR film starring Nicole Kidman

Source: Etihad website. Kidman in the video.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has released a 360^o virtual reality (VR) film starring Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman. This marks the first time that a Hollywood actor has ever starred in a fully immersive virtual reality movie.

The five-minute feature, titled Reimagine, immerses viewers in an experiential journey following Kidman through one of its new Airbus A380s flying between New York and Abu Dhabi. The airline has used cutting-edge technology and multidisciplinary mediums in the feature to bring to life its acclaimed guest experience and hospitality story by engaging the consumer in various sensory interactions onboard the virtual flight. Each scene in the film takes on a theme intended to stimulate the senses of light, sound, motion, and conversation.

Kidman, who is also Etihad Airways’ brand ambassador, said: “The film is a culmination of Etihad’s vision to tell the airline’s story in an extremely innovative way and a commitment to engaging with the public as has never been attempted by an airline before. It was a great challenge but one which has definitely paid off and it was great to be part of such an exciting project.”

Throughout the experience, the viewer meets and engages with a number of characters including the actress herself, her film director, an opera singer and even an Emirati guest with a falcon in First Class. The journey also provides personal interactions with the Savoy-trained Butler in The Residence, the airline’s luxurious private three room cabin, the in-flight Chef in First Class, the Food and Beverage Manager in Business Class, and the Flying Nanny, trained by the Norland College in the UK.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “We want to share Etihad’s story in a completely new way, using technology to make our consumers a part of the narrative and to experience an Etihad Airways A380 flight first-hand, from anywhere.

“The film demonstrates how, as an innovative brand, we continue to break down the barriers of convention and lead the way in intelligent communication and best practice not just within the aviation industry, but across the fields of marketing, communication and technology.”

The adventure takes the viewer through the twin-decked aircraft and covers its luxurious interiors including Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class, before concluding with a focus on Kidman enjoying The Residence.

Shane O’Hare, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President Marketing, said: “In December 2014 we completely reimagined the travel experience with the launch of our new A380 fleet, setting a new standard in innovative design, service and technology. This was followed in 2015 by a tremendously successful adverting campaign starring Nicole Kidman.

“This immersive VR film is a massive step-change in the way we present the Etihad Airways brand and product to the consumer using highly innovative new mediums. Based on the success of our recent campaign with Nicole, the decision to take this partnership to the next level was an obvious one.”

The film, which took more than six months to produce, was filmed exclusively in Abu Dhabi. An Etihad Airways A380 was used for three days and fully customised prior to filming; overhead lockers, seats and other sections of the aircraft’s interior were removed to allow for the installation of Red Dragon cameras, which were used to perfectly capture the actress’ movement through the aircraft. Hundreds of individual lights were required to ensure smooth and uninterrupted shots.

Etihad Airways collaborated with the Barbarian Group, a subsidiary of Cheil Worldwide, and the creative digital production company MediaMonks to produce the film. The feature was directed by husband-and-wife directing duo Anthony Atanasio and Valerie Martinez. The film used pioneering filming techniques to ensure a seamless production with no warping or stitches, achieving unrivalled VR results.

Ola Björling, MediaMonks’ Global Director of VR, said: “As the most multidisciplinary medium there is, virtual reality relies more heavily on craft and execution than anything that has gone before it. We believe the display of artistry in every facet of this production is setting a new benchmark for live-action VR.”

Interested?

Watch Reimagine. An updated version in stereoscopic sound will be released on 17 June. To guarantee the full experience, download the Oculus VR app and view the film using a VR headset, such as Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard.

Tags: Etihad, aviation,marketing, VR, virtual, reality, interactive, video, celebrity, A380,Airbus,travel

AppShack to match investors with startups via reality show

Source: AppShack. The official launch was officiated by Bhg. Dato’ Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia.

AppShack, a Malaysian company focused on helping bridge startups with organisations that potentially have the need for mobile application ideas and innovation, has been formally launched.

AppShack offers a platform to enable startups to develop their innovative ideas by offering mentorship and guidance through technical expertise, assistance in business structure, legal advice and financial funding. Via this platform, successful applicants have the chance of being connected with investors and partners from consortiums, venture capitalists and bankers.

According to YBhg. Dato’ Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia., “With the proliferation of creative minds in Malaysia, especially among the younger generation, I do think we need to have a proper channel for technology entrepreneurs or technopreneurs as they may call it to be able to create value and to help move Malaysia to become a high-income nation. Whether a first-time technopreneur or technopreneurs already owning small businesses, or maybe entrepreneurs who want to venture in technology, they need to strengthen entrepreneurship culture in Malaysia. Entrepreneurs from all segments of society should successfully start and grow their own businesses by leveraging public & private sector resources.”

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppShack, Jin Tan said, “In line with the government’s efforts in creating a vibrant startup environment as part of the National Key Economic Areas, AppShack intends to take the ideas of startups to the next level. We want to create more opportunities for the new generation to be in a competitive market.”

“With ever evolving technology, innovations will continuously play an integral role in transforming the Malaysian startup scene. At AppShack, we leverage on our resources and networking in helping our investee company to achieve their goals and simultaneously, enable startups to develop their ideas into tangible results.”

The pitching phase will see startups going through auditions via a reality show intended to appeal to potential investors and partners. Startups will be selected based on the feasibility of their business ideas. Subsequently, AppShack, together with private partners and investors who have shown interest, will fund, mentor and coach those selected to help them succeed.

The reality show will kick off by end of March 2016, and be judged by the four founders of the company. Viewers can expect to see the pitching skills of each startup as well as the key factors and concerns throughout the show.

Since its founding last year, Appshack has guided four successful startups, Biztory, Sport Play, Alakad and Mini Tank.

Interested?

Investors and startups can request to participate through the website or via Facebook

posted from Bloggeroid

Epson launches new Moverio smart glasses

Epson has announced the third generation of its Moverio smart glasses for augmented reality. The Moverio BT-300 features Epson's breakthrough silicon-based organic light emitting diode (OLED) digital display technology, enabling truly transparent mobile augmented reality (AR) experiences for business and consumers.

The Moverio BT-300 is the lightest binocular see-though smart glasses announced to date, and is more than 20% lighter than the Moverio BT-200, Epson said. The glasses are powered by a quad core Intel Atom X5 processor and Android 5.1, enabling efficient rendering of complex 3D experiences. An upgraded 5 megapixel front-facing camera and onboard sensors enable the Moverio BT-300 to more precisely determine the location of objects in the real world. The Si-OLED projection system can then seamlessly render and lock 3D content to these objects, with no display background or edges in the field of view.

"The Epson Moverio BT-300 is a major leap forward in mobile AR smart eyewear, with its comfortable, lightweight form factor and amazing new display engine – and at a price comparable to smartphones," said Eric Mizufuka, Product Manager, New Ventures for Epson America. "The transition from LCD backlit projection to Si-OLED enables higher contrast levels, a wider colour gamut and true display transparency – this is a game-changing technology that will accelerate the adoption of AR glasses."

"We've built our AR ecosystem of partners and solutions over the past five years and three commercially available products - it's been a long journey and we've learned a lot.  We've incorporated these learnings into the design of the Moverio BT-300 and are confident that this device will be the standard in the AR glasses category," Mizufuka said. "In addition to pursuing new markets for our technology, we will rapidly scale in areas where we've had commercial success, including drone photography, remote support, AR training/maintenance, healthcare, retail, logistics and more."

"The Moverio BT-300 marks an impressive advance in performance for the platform, and will offer drone pilots crystal clear, transparent first person views (FPV) from the drone camera while simultaneously maintaining their line of sight with their aircraft," said Michael Perry, Director of strategic partnerships, DJI. "The Moverio smart eyewear will make flying and filming safer and help users stay in compliance with local and federal regulations. We are excited to see the incredible applications that can be built with the BT-300 and the recently relaunched DJI SDK – the possibilities truly are endless."

"Moverio is distinct from other smart glasses on the market where form often supersedes function, to the detriment of the product's usability," said Atsunari Tsuda, General Manager responsible for Moverio. "Every design decision we make is driven by consideration for the product's ultimate usage scenarios and our Si-OLED technology opens a new world for us in binocular see-though smart eyewear development. With OLED we can take advantage of reductions in power usage and weight, and improvements in response times, HD resolution, brightness and contrast. By choosing silicon rather than glass for our base wafer we achieve an even more precise pixel display."

Interested?

The Epson Moverio BT-300 will be available in late 2016 and is available for preorder at Epson.com/Moverio.

Watch the video

posted from Bloggeroid