Facebook F8, day 1: Facebook goes all in on AR and VR
The social network kicks off its annual F8 developer conference with a heavy focus on augmented reality and virtual reality.
- Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
The first day of Facebook's F8 developer conference was all about the social giant's augmented reality and virtual reality future.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg started off by addressing the recent murder of Robert Godwin Sr. His alleged assailant, Steve Stephens, posted videos to Facebook of his intent to murder someone and the act itself. Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday morning that Stephens fatally shot himself following a nationwide manhunt.
After that weighty statement (awkwardly placed after a jokey "Fast and Furious"-themed opening), it was straight into AR and VR.
Read: Facebook's Zuck: 'We have work to do to prevent tragedies'
An updated version of Facebook Camera is launching in beta with major new AR features added: The new app adds 3D effects, object recognition and "precise location," so it can (for instance) add virtual objects to real-world scenes and have them reposition themselves as the camera's point of view changes. If you think that sounds a lot like the face filters popularized by archrival Snapchat, you're not alone: that company launched its own "World Lenses" upgrade just hours earlier.
Read: Facebook brings augmented reality to your phone
Facebook Spaces, a new VR platform, is launching today on Oculus Rift: Previewed last year at Oculus Connect, Facebook's virtual reality social app can now be downloaded by Oculus Rift owners. The app lets up to four people meet in a 3D virtual space -- complete with a 360-degree video as a backdrop -- with customized avatars and 3D objects you can manipulate with the Oculus Touch controllers. And for all your friends who aren't Oculus-enabled, you can have them join the fun from the "real world" via Facebook Messenger.
Read: Facebook Spaces make virtual reality a social experience
Additional news from day 1 of the F8 conference:
- Facebook's next act: Bridging AR to the real world
- Facebook Messenger wants to be the new Yellow Pages
- Facebook's Developer Circles program tries to hook 'em early
- Facebook tries to make it easier to log into other apps
You can rewatch the entire event below.
The second day's presentation will start at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 19.
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