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HTC

HTC moves into VR and it has the perfect partner to help it succeed

Especially if you’re a fan of games.

THERE WERE A few things people expected HTC to reveal today. A new flagship phone was expected which came in the form of the M9, a fitness band was also on the cards considering its partnership with Under Armour, but a Virtual Reality headset?

Yet that’s what HTC did with the launch of its virtual reality headset called Vive. That alone probably isn’t exciting in itself, but the major coup is who it’s partnered with.

Valve, the company behind Steam, the major online retailer dedicated to PC, Mac and Linux games, and games like Half-Life 2 and Portal – will form a partnership with HTC to bring this device and developer software to market.

The device will also come with wireless VR controllers, which come in a pair which both HTC and Valve believe are “simple and intuitive to use.” The controllers are part of a Full Room Scale 360 Degree Solution which allows you to walk around and explore your surroundings.

The company claims you won’t get sick wearing it which, if true, will mean you can spend a long time playing games or experiencing virtual reality.

HTC says the developer edition will be released by the end of Spring while a consumer version will be released by the end of the year.

That wasn’t the only device announced. A wearable tracker called Grip, which takes advantage of its partnership with Under Armour, will be able to track your activity as well as work as a notification screen for texts and calls.

More importantly, its latest flagship smartphone, the M9, was also announced. An upgrade of the M7 and M8, it runs on Android Lollipop, has a 3GB RAM, a 20MP camera and 32GB of storage.

HTC One M9_Silver_3V HTC HTC

It will include HTC Sense which will provide you with the relevant apps based on your location, a better camera experience with the image quality being said to be almost like photos from an SLR and image editing tools to get the best out of your photos.

The HTC One M9 will be available in Ireland from 31st March, and will be available to pre-order on select websites from 16th March.

Quinton O’Reilly is at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona all this week. Follow all the goings-on at @TheJournalTech.

Read: This could be the first Android Wear watch you will want to buy >

Read: Stuck at a computer? Here’s how to message your friend’s phone without picking up your own >

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    Mute John Collins
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    Jan 25th 2016, 12:48 PM

    And Facebook won’t stop until it has complete domination. Every day I’m more and more glad I didn’t sign up to that site.

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    Mute Julian King
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    Jan 25th 2016, 12:53 PM

    There you are John, I thought you were dead!

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    Mute John Joe Collins
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    Jan 25th 2016, 12:53 PM

    GOOD there is only enough rooms for one John Collins on FB and iv that covered.

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    Mute Teddington
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:27 PM

    Good man John Collins (JC that is, not you JJC). I’m delighted that you’re not part of this domination, some people find it too difficult not to get carried away with it and are better off avoiding it completely.

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:43 PM

    On one hand this makes me feel sad, millions of people who think “my life is non-existent /unimportant unless it appears on Facebook and is ‘liked and friended”. On the other hand, I love the Internet as a fantastic tool. Bet Tim Berners Lee and his colleagues never foresaw the torrent of shite which would emanate from their wonderful invention.

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    Mute SickOfCorruption
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:40 PM

    I simply won’t install Facebook messenger app. F THAT, I don’t want Fb data mining my personal communication

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jan 25th 2016, 12:49 PM

    Actually talking to someone is now used as a messaging device by just 5% of those surveyed.

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    Mute Conor O'Neill
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    Jan 25th 2016, 2:13 PM

    I am still on bebo !

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    Mute andyearley
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    Jan 25th 2016, 4:02 PM

    Iti activated my Facebook about 3 months ago and never see myself going back onto it it took up so much of my time, looking at other people’s lives instead of working on my own

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    Mute Alien8
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    Jan 25th 2016, 1:09 PM

    Does everyone who had a Facebook account automatically have a messenger account? Wouldn’t message usage be more significant, so we can compare it to SMS?

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    Mute P O Leary.
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    Jan 25th 2016, 9:40 PM

    Facebook is what you make it. You do not have to like every post,picture etc. I find it fantastic for keeping in touch with mates living in The States,Australia,Canada,Dubai, the UK etc. I would never keep in touch as its to expensive to call and text theses countries.

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    Mute Tom Colgan
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    Jan 25th 2016, 3:22 PM

    i find for people who dont have facebook, whatsapp is a nice app to use
    i believe that sms will be a thing of the past in a couple of years along with traditional phone calls

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    Mute Rose
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    Feb 10th 2016, 8:02 AM

    Excellent post and wonderful blog, I really like this type of interesting articles keep it youBulk Sms Providers

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