How to play normal 3d PC games in Virtual Reality using your smartphone and Trinus VR?

Image source: trinusvr.com

Now you really don't need an expensive VR headset to enjoy your PC games in VR. With Trinus VR you can convert any 3d PC game into VR and enjoy it using your smartphone plus any version of cardboard based VR head mount. Trinus VR is not a piece of hardware, actually it is a very smart software that uses a Trinus PC server on your Windows and a Trinus VR client app on Android.
Basically, what this Trinus VR does is that it starts a “streaming session” on your smartphone while converting your normal 3d PC game into a great immersive VR experience. Simply, it streams your PC game on to your smartphone in VR.
To enjoy your PC games in virtual reality with Trinus VR you only need three things, your PC, your smartphone and your Google cardboard. You can definitely use other similar smartphone based VR head mounts as well.

Image source: trinusvr.com

First of all you need to download Trinus VR PC server for Windows from Trinus VR's official website, you have to install it on your PC. Also download the Trinus VR client app for Android, which you'll need to install on your smartphone. Once you install the software, you need to connect your smartphone with your PC. Trinus VR uses two methods for this, one through Wifi and the second via USB tethering. It uses your home wireless router for Wifi connection, but Trinus recommends USB tethering as it is faster than streaming through Wifi. Now, after connecting your smartphone to your PC through either of the two methods, you need to check out the settings on your Trinus VR PC server software. You can set the resolution, head tracking sensitivity, lens adjustment for your version of cardboard VR and other settings like turning on the fake 3d. It is highly recommended by Trinus to set the resolution in 4:3 as 16:9 resolution will affect the quality of VR on your smartphone display. And one of the most important things to remember is to run your games in a window, otherwise, Trinus VR will not stream your game in full screen mode. Some games may not open in a window, for those games you may need DxWnd.
Another thing to remember is that most of the PC games may lack the 3d depth required for a VR game, therefore you can enhance this 3d effect by using softwares like Vierio or TriDeft.
Trinus VR combined with your PC and smartphone is a wonderful low cost VR gaming system that surprisingly allows non-VR 3d PC games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare or GTA V to be enjoyed in VR.
Well, you definitely need a bit of time while configuring Trinus VR to best suit your smartphone and cardboard, but the end result is something really great and economical. 

Get ready to dive into your PS4, PlayStation VR is coming

PlayStation VR (image source: playstation.com)

Finally, we have a release date for PlayStation's much awaited VR headset, and that is October 2016. Project Morpheus has finally delivered its product. Early this year Sony released all the details about its upcoming PlayStation VR in a developers conference.
Now we know all the hardware specifications, package info, content details and even pricing for PlayStation VR.
With a full hd resolution of 1920*1080 (RGB), PlayStation VR uses a 5.7'' OLED display with 960*1080 resolution per eye. This is a slightly lower resolution per eye, compared to other top VR headsets. But, the plus point is that the refresh rate for PlayStation VR is 120 Hz and 90 Hz. And field of view is approximately 100 degrees. Both Dualshock 4 and PS move can be used as controllers in PS4 VR.
PlayStation VR has the most futuristic design. And it is the most comfortable of all the VR headsets. It seems Sony has done a lot of effort in perfecting its design, making it more comfortable and user friendly.
Besides all the technical details, Sony has also revealed its upcoming VR games. And the most exciting revelation was that of Starwars Battlefront VR game. Sony believes that Starwars VR game will increase its PlayStation VR sales considerably. Developed by EA Games, Starwars Battlefront on PS4 is one of the most popular games, its VR version is going to be a huge success.
As for the price, unlike other VR headsets, PlayStation VR will cost 400$ only. And it can be seamlessly used with the existing PS4 console, reducing the cost of a VR ready PC. Because of the price, its compatibility with the most popular gaming console and its better design, PlayStation VR is one of the strong contenders to dominate the emerging market of VR gaming.
Sony's strategy for its upcoming PlayStation VR is carefully crafted keeping in view their massive network of PS4 worldwide, it has focused on developing brilliant content while keeping the price of their headset as low as possible. And most important of all PlayStation VR's futuristic and comfortable design makes it a great VR gadget.   

HTC Vive, turn your room into a real VR sphere

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HTC Vive, one of the top VR headsets of 2016, is a joint venture of HTC, and Valve Corporation. Released in April, 2016, HTC Vive is already competing in the emerging VR market.
Those who had a taste of VR through some basic smartphone based headsets are too excited to explore the possibilities of real VR, immersive interaction provided by more advanced VR headsets like the HTC Vive. Although all the VR headset brands focus on the immersive, virtual reality experience, where users feel like they are part of a game or an app. What HTC Vive has added into this VR is the precise, “room scale” movement tracking. Basically, what this new additional tracking of your room does is that it turns your room into an immersive virtual reality sphere. It means that with the help of this room tracking, now you can move around your room to enjoy immersive virtual reality. Another good thing about HTC Vive is that it is cross-platform compatible. You can enjoy HTC Vive on Windows, OSX and Linux.
HTC Vive is considered to be technologically very sound, providing some top tier immersive VR graphics. But, from a designing perspective it seems to be lacking a bit. Most of its reviews show users not fully satisfied with its comfortability. Hopefully, HTC Vive will revise its design in its upcoming models.
With all its tech specifications and immersive room level VR, HTC Vive is a pretty enticing gadget. But, what makes this VR headset hard to acquire is its price tag. Currently the most expensive VR headset, HTC Vive is in the elite tier of VR headsets in 2016.
All in all, HTC Vive is an amazing piece of technology, with its ultra immersive VR and unique gaming experience. 

Oculus Rift, the dream VR headset

Image source: wired.com

Oculus beyond doubt is the leading brand in VR technology. After its modest beginnings through a project on kickstarter, Oculus has now become the brand image of VR technology in 2016. The amount of research and innovation this tech company has done in virtual reality since 2012 is truly commendable. But, what makes Oculus, the leader in VR industry is indeed it's crown jewel product, Oculus Rift.
Yes, the most awaited gadget of 2015 & 2016, Oculus Rift is finally released by its parent company Oculus, early this year. After its earlier prototype versions of Oculus VR headset, researchers at Oculus have done some amazing improvements to their earlier model to perfect their first consumer product, Oculus Rift.
Although the price tag seems a bit high, but the VR experience provided by Oculus Rift is considered to be worth it. Shipped in a sleek package, Oculus Rift comes with a tracking camera, one Xbox controller and a small remote control. But the important thing to remember is that you must have a PC that is Oculus Rift ready, otherwise you can't experience the stunning world of virtual reality. It should be kept in mind that rendering heavy VR games and other VR content requires a very powerful computer, one that is capable of running heavy VR graphics seamlessly. Therefore, Oculus is going to include one Rift ready PC in their newer versions of Oculus Rift's package. You can also check out the specifications for a PC to be Rift ready on their official website.

Image source: flickr.com

Although, Oculus Rift is one of top VR headsets, it is more of a gaming accessory, one that transports you into the world of intense and immersive gaming. There are already some awesome VR games available in the market, plus Oculus Rift comes with two free VR games, Eve Valkyrie and Lucky's Tale. Oculus Rift from a gaming perspective is a revolutionary piece of gadget. Its immersive VR gaming experience is one of a kind that makes games all the more interesting and intensely thrilling. It simply feels like you are inside the game, a part of it. Oculus Rift has truly taken the computer gaming interaction to the next level, where the level of mental engagement during a VR gaming experience has enormously increased. But the question arises, how long can we enjoy Oculus Rift in a one sitting? Most of the people who have enjoyed gaming on Oculus Rift believe that they can now enjoy games for a longer time than conventional gaming on flat screens. But it doesn't mean that VR is not mentally exhausting. It is too early to judge any negative effects of playing VR games for longer periods of time, obviously, unless some serious study is done on the effects of VR on mental health.
Unlike other VR headsets, Oculus Rift has created much fanfare, and it is also getting very popular among gamers world wide. Now, as Oculus Rift is already in the market its demand is likely to increase over the years. Because some people have already termed it the dream VR headset.

Google Cardboard VR: Transform your smartphone into a VR headset

Google cardboard VR is the most ingenious VR headset available. With Google's open-source cardboard VR design, anyone with a piece of cardboard and a couple of lenses can create their own headset, instantly transforming their smartphones into a really cheap & simple virtual reality tech. On Google Cardboard's official website anyone can download the original blue print and become a cardboard VR manufacturer. Android SDK for VR application development is also available on cardboard's website.

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To enjoy VR content you just need a cardboard VR for your smartphone and some cool VR apps from playstore. You can create your own cardboard VR by simply following a DIY blog post on how to create a Google Cardboard VR? Or simply order a perfectly manufactured cardboard headset from Amazon. Once you get your google VR, you can start enjoying VR content by simply downloading cardboard's official app and cardboard camera from Google playstore, you can also enjoy 360 degree videos on YouTube's 360 degree video channel. If you want to create your own VR content, then you just need to download the official VR SDK for android to create some awesome VR apps.
Yes, Google has made it this easy to get a taste of real VR technology. Transforming your smartphone into a VR headset is indeed a clever idea, a real trend setter. No doubt 2016 is so far the year of VR technology with so many VR gear & headsets out in the market and still many others set to release their products soon. But, what Google has done with its cardboard project is something sensational. It has made VR accessible to anyone with a smartphone and that means a huge number of people world wide will be able to enjoy the amazing universe of virtual reality and that at a very cheap price.
It is indeed an unprecedented thing in terms of human-computer interaction, where a massive number of people will be able to interact with computers like never before. Virtual reality is the new dimension in computer interaction, bringing humans ever closer to machines. And Google cardboard VR is the perfect tool for starters to experience this unique interaction.

Image source: flickr.com

Google cardboard's simple design has made it easier for anyone with a smartphone to experience this new dimension of virtual reality. Most importantly, this cardboard VR is the perfect tool to spread the word about the potential of VR in transforming computer interaction and user experience. While other VR manufacturers are investing heavily in VR headsets, Google with its cardboard VR has taken upon itself to show the world how powerful this new medium is going to be in the near future.