We know that games and movies are great to watch in virtual reality (VR), but what about the news? For those who think that watching the news in VR seems like it would be a great idea, you’ll be interested to learn that CNN has partnered up with Magnopus to bring the news onto the Oculus Rift.
This is actually not the first time that CNN has dabbled in VR. Previously the company experimented with bringing 360-degree stories on the web and mobile, like posting it on Facebook. They had also previously launched the CNNVR app on iOS and Android, so for them to launch the news on the Oculus Rift doesn’t come as a surprise.
That being said, launching the news on the Rift is an interesting move given that the Rift is a dedicated and more powerful VR headset (at least compared to watching it on your phone). According to CNN, one of the benefits of watching the news in VR is that it puts users in the role of the producer where they get to experience the news as if they were there themselves, creating a more immersive experience.
According to CNN, “The app launches with more than 100 virtual reality stories from dozens of countries, all delivered in 4K resolution with encoding by Pixvana. The CNNVR app also includes a CNN ticker scroll and social integration with CNN’s Twitter accounts, so you can get up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts throughout your experience.” The app is already available and if you have the Oculus Rift you can check it out.
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