Trends with Benefits: Oculus Touch, self-lacing shoes, Google runs your life

By Greg Nibler Published June 15, 2018

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google wants to be your life assistant, the Oculus Touch offers a new way to play, virtual reality and social media are colliding, and Nike is fulfilling the wishes of Back to the Future fans everywhere with self-lacing shoes.

Our latest weekly episode of Trends with Benefits features Nick Mokey, Brendan Hesse, Matt Smith and Greg Nibler.

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Our topics this week:

Google wants to run your life
Google came out swinging on Tuesday, with Pixel phones to take on Apple and Samsung, Google Home to take on Alexa, and Daydream to shake up VR systems. Can Google swoop into these emerging markets and become your go-to service for … well life?
Oculus Touch
Oculus’ annual developers conference had some big announcements, but Oculus Touch took the cake, giving Rift players a long-awaited way to interact with the virtual worlds around them. But there’s a catch …
Social media goes VR
It was only a matter of time before Facebook began including VR options for interacting. In addition a company called VRChat just received funding for a cross-platform, avatar-based VR app. Is this the beginning of a newer, more immersive version of Second Life?
Nike brings us Back to the Future
Nike has announced that Marty McFly’s self-lacing sneakers from Back to the Future are finally real! You’ll need to win a raffle, but it’s worth the entry. What kind of movie tech would you like to see come to fruition?!

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Former Host

Greg has worked as a Host, Producer, and Writer in radio and television since the early 2000s, working for such companies as…

Topics

Entertainment

The best scary podcasts to keep you up all night

amazon lumberyard game engine spooky

It doesn't feel like long since the start of summer, but believe it or not, Halloween is right around the corner. As the dark nights roll in, fall is the perfect time for Gothic novels, spooky horror movies, and, of course, hauntingly good podcasts -- mug of pumpkin-spiced chai optional. There are plenty of scary podcasts to choose from, whether you're looking for fictional dramas or strange-but-true tales of things going bump in the night. Whatever you're h(a)unting for, you'll find something in our list of the best scary podcasts. And if you're looking for something that won't leave you cowering under the covers, check out our roundup of the best podcasts.
Audio drama/fiction
The No Sleep Podcast

This award-winning anthology of short original horror stories is now in its 18th season, with over 500 episodes to listen to. Each episode has a haunting, atmospheric soundtrack that ensures you're truly immersed in the tale. Be warned, though -- as the name suggests, this is definitely not a podcast to listen to in bed unless you plan on staying awake all night.
Apple Podcasts Stitcher

Audio / Video

Spotify looks to lure podcasters, listeners away from Apple with polls, Q&As

Spotify app icon on iPhone.

It's no secret that Spotify has its sights set on total podcast domination, given its high-profile acquisition of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, along with several exclusive launches like The Michelle Obama Podcast and one that features the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But the streaming music giant is still looking for additional ways to attract both listeners and podcast creators to its platform, and its latest move is the introduction of podcast polls and Q&As.

If you're a podcast creator, polls and Q&As give you a free way to increase your engagement with your audience. Normally, a listener has few ways to directly interact with their favorite podcasts, given that most platforms like Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts are essentially no more than a way to find, subscribe to, and play podcast episodes. With Spotify's new tools, podcasts become interactive, with polls and the ability to ask listeners questions, right on the episode page.

Podcasts

Apple’s Podcasts+ subscription service makes debut at Spring Loaded event

apple podcast subscriptions

Apple will make podcasts a more integral part of its ecosystem with the launch of Apple Podcasts+, a subscription-based service that will offer exclusive podcasts only available to subscribers, along with the wider library of shows available on its existing podcasts app. The entire Apple Podcasts app will also get a redesign, as announced during the Spring Loaded event on April 20.

The premium Podcasts+ service will launch in May with several new shows only available to Podcasts+ subscribers. Along with receiving additional curation options and recommendations for subscribers in the redesigned app via Channels, Podcasts+ subscribers will also enjoy ad-free listening settings, early access to certain shows, and more, yet-to-be-announced features.