Google is working on an Android version for Virtual Reality

After the war that is already coming on the smartwatches market, it seems that another is about to come much more fiercely. It is the market for Virtual Reality. Recently we talked about Lakento MVR, or Oculus Rift, yesterday we told you everything we know about the Samsung Gear VR here, not long ago about CastAR and also developments that Facebook was doing about it.

And it seems that nobody wants to miss the chance to win a market that already existed but had never fully exploited, but rather the opposite. Taking advantage of the technological fever that much of the world society is living, one that joins to the virtual truck of Virtual Reality is Google, which already has a team working on an Android version.

Google has an Android -or try to have- prepared to be virtual part of everything we can imagine. On the way we saw with Android Auto, TV, or Wear, now it's the turn of the Virtual Reality.

Each of these paths has tried to get as much shine as phones, but for now do not enjoy much success in the market, or are too young to determine whether projects will be triumphant. Wall Street Journal is in charge of telling that Google has a team working on a version of Android, specifically to deal with the Virtual Reality.

A relatively small team working at it from the point of view of a platform, with its specific operating system and development tools. We have already seen that the idea of ​​the helmet liked, with devices like Cardboard or View-Master.

It is truth that this year seems to be very active with regard to helmets and technologies related to virtual and augmented reality. HTC lives, or the helmet of Sony, it seems that the proposals are more liking among those who have been able to try them in person.

As we can understand from the leaks, this is a different path than was raised with augmented reality of Google Glass, this is a side project. Possibly end up having a presentation at the next Google I/O 2015.

Google is working on an Android version for Virtual Reality

Samsung Gear VR, goggles adapted to the Samsung Galaxy S6

Mobile World Congress 2015 is over and has left us a lot of great news on apps and devices. For example, the new Samsung Gear VR. a virtual reality grlasses fully adapted to the new Samsung Galaxy S6. This development provides some improvements in search of a higher quality experience.

There have been quite dittos that have been a commercial failure in the history of technology. As a technology, virtual reality has much to say here. Recurrently has been a disappointment after another, a few well-meaning prototypes that have not been accepted in the market.

The new Samsung Gear VR, which have already been seen on MWC 2015, features Oculus technology but is still not a final product, as there is not even time to market, but most likely not be delayed many months since Samsung Galaxy S6 will be on April 10.

With Samsung Gear VR we can watch movie trailers and other videos like we were in a real cinema. It is very striking to see the film on a screen that feel "distant" taking near a cinema seat. We can turn our head and look up and see walls, light bulbs, projector on the wall. In shor, the whole room, also other environments, such as a small warm room into a home theater. It is a curious effect that makes the experience more enjoyable, even if they are not real.

For the moment now there are no movies in the Samsung store. Samsung recommends to use in sessions of 30 minutes and rest after to avoid dizziness caused by prolonged doses. Yo can also upload your own videos and watch them, you can do it without problem.

One of the main things that call our attention is that you can watch videos in 360º. You can imagine whatever you can and be doing it through a video game, a trailer or an app. You can look down, forward, sideways, backwards, and admire all that landscape. That's what this is about: a fully immersive experiences. Samsung Gear VR is lots of fun, literally.

Samsung Gear VR, goggles adapted to the Samsung Galaxy S6

CastAR shares its advances in augmented reality

The concept of CastAR leads to the introduction of virtual worlds, but does so in a different way as Oculus Rift or Google Glass. The CastAR project is being managed and developed by Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson, former employees of Valve, and seek to bring to market one of the most complete augmented reality platforms. Its passage through Kickstarter was very successful, and while deliveries are a little late, this new video gives us an idea of ​​what to expect when software and hardware will match the circumstances.

We are not isolated in a completely virtual world as in the first case, nor is it as "simple" as augmented reality Google glasses. It all started when Jeri Ellsworth (the mind behind the C64 DTV) and Rick Johnson left Valve to start a personal project. Shortly thereafter, the company Gabe Newell began experimenting with virtual reality, but Ellsworth and Johnson plans were more focused on augmented reality. Thus was born CastAR, a pair of glasses with a special thing on top, in charge of issuing a stereoscopic image on a support surface. CastAR launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking at least $ 400,000 to move to the next phase, however, consumers decided to collaborate with more than one million.

Here glasses, not a helmet, which have implemented a couple of small projectors and technology made a "retro-reflective" in which they will project images screens. The result is a 3D scene in our eyes, while maintaining the ability to create augmented reality (still see the real world).

The video was released in celebration of the first shipments of experimental glasses, and although everything appears there is no way, some taxpayers indicated that father's experience on the desktop and girl playing with paper airplane are very close to the current state. Both glasses accessories are available in presale through the official site. CastAR price of each unit is $ 400, while one of the most interesting option is the adapter that turns the glasses into something more like a VR helmet for $ 85.

Splive TV and the Oscars 2015

Splive TV is a free application for Android that lets you enjoy TV shows and movies from your Android for free, a fantastic app for watching TV on your Android in the easiest possible way.

With a clear and simple name this application brings exactly what many came expecting long ago. Like all applications that play streaming content, much better with Wi-Fi connection. Therefore speed, for worrying consumption. And indeed, once connected to the wireless network, the playback speed use to be excellent. Only loading 1 to 2 seconds per channel, and seamless play.

We are talking about an application that offers a remarkable number of channels, all Spaniards, including all regional channels, but also the most famous international channels. Playing fast and easy to leave your phone in the hands of a child if necessary.

While most applications offer us a moderate amount of channels, Splive TV offers many more and not stay here. It also offers series, documentaries, and even full movies. All this in full streaming and always updating. You may wonder how much of this content it has. For it is not an exaggeration, but not bad. We have a dozen series offered online.

Also have a few Documentary channels. Speaking of movies it has a lot, from classics like Forest Gump, until relatively recent movies like Kick-ass. Also add content weekly in all sections. A real treat. And today the Oscars 2015.

And if here was not good enough, we have the best. The application is completely free and fully functional.

Splive TV and the Oscars 2015

Tomawatchi, your new virtual pet

In the world of Android not cease to continually surprise us with the most fun games. Now, there is a new version of an old good known game from our childhood. If you were one of those children playing with yout Tamagotchi, wait to see Tomawatchi, the new Tamagotchi simulation for Android.

Tomawatchi is a new way of seeing the world of Tamagotchi virtual pet that you had to feed and care every day and triumphed in the late nineties. In this case, we have a pet that depend on physical activity we do to be better or worse. This means that if we do not move our virtual pet will die.

As usual with all the Tamagotchi have also been modernized and have made the jump to mobile devices -as the official game of Bandai, Tamagotchi Angel. Today it's the turn to Tomawatchi, but this time is somewhat different. How does the game do physical activity? Using Google API Fit, which will be responsible to quantify our daily activities. Tomawatchi is really an excuse for us to move more, because if we take care of our pet we must move and exercise more or else it will die.

But to care for our little pet will not be enough to move, but also have to feed and bathe. Anyway, the most novel idea is that now depends on our physical activity, so if we do not exercise our pet will die unless we are aware of whether we are living a healthy life or not.

Tomawatchi is available on Google Play and installation is free. To install, requires Android 4.0.3 version or higher.

Tomawatchi, your new virtual pet

YouTube Kids, specializing in children's content

Youtube, the website where users can upload, share and play all kinds of videos is finishing the details for the imminent launch of YouTube Kids, an app fully directed to the smallest of the house.

A couple of weeks ago Google announced the acquisition of development studio applications LaunchPad Toys, creator of Toontastic and TeleStory. Then the Mountain View company already showed their intentions to gain a foothold among young audiences.

Considering the moment we are living, think on a daily life without technology is getting complicated. In fact, the most advanced schools are beginning to adapt their facilities and equipment to modern life, so it's not so strange to find classrooms with tablets for each child, whiteboards, etc.

And how could it be otherwise, big companies are working daily to adapt this technology to younger. Google, in this case, launched a new YouTube app fully adapted in both design and content, to children.

YouTube Kids will be the name of this new version of the repository's largest internet videos, and the day chosen is Monday February 23, all for free, being only available for Android, at least for now. Undoubtedly, every day more children using YouTube, and although there are plenty of videos totally recommended for them, there are also many others that should not be seen as determined ages.

The new application will offer a redesigned interface, being much more intuitive and easy to use, and eliminating elements that are not strictly necessary for enjoyment, as comments. Also, will include some facilities related to parental control, including, for example, a timer that will close YouTube Kids at the right moment or omitting adult content.

YouTube Kids, specializing in children's content

Stormfall: Rise of Balur, a dark world of fantasy and legends

For many, Stormfall is already well known for quite some time, since it is available on Facebook. After years of waiting, Stormfall: Rise of Balur has finally arrived in a version for Android aimed at mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Stormfall: Rise of Balur is a Massively Multiplayer Online game in which you play a warrior who has been chosen to lead the battle against darkness and restore peace to the land of Darkshine. The game, which is pure strategy, will keep you playing a handful of hours.

During the game, you must take control of your people, in which it begins by constructing buildings and investigate new soldiers and arts with which you will beat in combat. As you go up in level, climb on the position and you will unlock new options. Unlike other games, in Stormfall: Rise of Balur you will be in constant contact with other players in the world, and you can forge alliances to fight and conquer new places.

The game has a mechanical quite similar to Game of War: Fire Age, although unlike it, especially in the graphics, because the game has been adapted from Facebook to mobile and graphics are in high definition, so the gameplay is pretty good. In addition, it is available in several languages, including Spanish and English (dubbed, not only written), and every day you play you can get premium items for accelerating the construction or recruitment of troops.

Among the soldiers who can be recruited to build your army there are barbarians, paladins, umbrian, dragons and magicians, but there are many more types of troops which form your own fleet, you can send them to fight other players in PvP server.

Highly addictive, Stormfall: Rise of Balur is a mixture of the original game created for Facebook and Game of War, but improving the graphics and gameplay aspects. It is a good adaptation of the game for Android, although clear differences are serious and would be interesting to connect accounts both smarphone/tablet and PC. If you are looking for a fun game to play, do not hesitate to keep an eye on Stormfall: Rise of Balur, available on the App Store.

Stormfall: Rise of Balur, a dark world of fantasy and legends