2 Article Summaries (24)

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/22/facebook-social-virtual-reality-beyond-games-mark-zuckerberg

Facebook sets up 'social VR' team to explore virtual reality beyond games

Summary:
Facebook has created a “social VR” team to explore virtual-reality technology’s potential beyond games, as it prepares for the consumer launch of its Oculus Rift VR headset. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg revealed the plans in a surprise appearance at Samsung’s Mobile World Congress press conference, while talking up the popularity of 360-degree videos on Facebook, and on Samsung’s Gear VR headset – which uses technology from Oculus.

Key Data:

• “People have already watched more than a million hours of video in Gear VR,”explained a blog post from Facebook following the event. “Already, millions of people watch 360 videos on Facebook every day. More than 20,000 have been uploaded, with hundreds more added daily.”
• HTC has confirmed that its Vive headset will cost $799, with pre-orders opening at the end of February. Meanwhile, LG is launching its own headset, designed to work with its new G5 Android smartphone.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/new-day-trinity-mirrors-new-national-newspaper-to-go-on-sale-next-monday-a6888546.html

New Day: Trinity Mirror's national newspaper to be aimed mainly at women

Summary:

Trinity Mirror has confirmed it will launch an "upbeat" and "optimistic" national newspaper called New Day on 29 February. The media giant said the tabloid "will be an entirely new newspaper" and not a "light version" of their flagship newspaper the Daily Mirror. "It will report with an upbeat, optimistic approach and will be politically neutral. It will cover important stories in a balanced way, without telling the reader what to think." 

Key Data:

• Simon Fox, the chief executive of Trinity Mirror, told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme the new paper will have an emphasis on reporting for women but will not have an online arm.
• In a statement on the company's website, Mr Fox said: "The New Day will cover news and topical content but with a modern style and tone, aimed at a wide audience of women and men who want something different from what is currently available.
• The newspaper will be available for free from over 40,000 retailers on its first day, 29 February, and then will be sold at 25p for two weeks before going up to 50p after that.