Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wp-plugin-hostgator domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114

Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the ol-scrapes domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893
{"id":812,"date":"2022-03-04T14:56:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T14:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/04\/htc-pivots-from-blockchain-to-the-metaverse-for-its-next-smartphone-gimmick\/"},"modified":"2022-03-04T14:56:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T14:56:46","slug":"htc-pivots-from-blockchain-to-the-metaverse-for-its-next-smartphone-gimmick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/03\/04\/htc-pivots-from-blockchain-to-the-metaverse-for-its-next-smartphone-gimmick\/","title":{"rendered":"HTC pivots from blockchain to the metaverse for its next smartphone gimmick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/3\/3\/22958587\/htc-metaverse-smartphone-mwc-2022-blockchain-vr-viverse<\/a>
\n
<\/br><\/code><\/p>\n

\n

HTC\u2019s slow-motion fall from smartphone grace is reportedly set to continue in 2022, with the company said to be working on a new \u201cmetaverse\u201d-focused phone in April as the remnants of the once-flagship smartphone company continues to desperately cling to whatever zeitgeist term it can to stay afloat, according to DigiTimes<\/em><\/a>. <\/p>\n

The news comes from Charles Huang, HTC\u2019s general manager for the Asia-Pacific region, who reportedly commented at MWC 2022 that the company would be introducing a new high-end smartphone next month with unspecified \u201cmetaverse\u201d features. Details are slim, including any specs, markets it\u2019ll be released in, or even what kind of AR or VR features the new device will offer. <\/p>\n

The news sounds a lot like HTC\u2019s last major pivot towards relevancy: its Exodus line of blockchain phones<\/a> that its offered for the past few years. Promising decentralized apps (\u201cDapps\u201d) and a built-in cryptocurrency wallet, the phones could run blockchain nodes and even mine paltry amounts of cryptocurrency, but \u2014 like many instances of blockchain technology \u2014 it was a solution largely in search of a problem that never really took off. <\/p>\n

For argument\u2019s sake, a metaverse phone would at least make slightly more sense than a blockchain one, if only because HTC has actually been a major player<\/a> in the virtual reality space.<\/p>\n

HTC\u2019s main announcement at MWC 2022 was the debut of a nebulous \u201cViverse\u201d<\/a> \u2014 the company\u2019s metaverse concept that promises to fuse VR, XR, 5G, blockchain technology, NFTs, and more together into a new, futuristic platform. <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/source><\/picture>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

It\u2019s even possible to imagine what a metaverse-integrated smartphone could be, given the existence of projects like Qualcomm\u2019s Snapdragon Spaces<\/a> or Microsoft Mesh<\/a>, which aim to help integrate traditional devices like smartphones into VR and AR experiences.<\/p>\n

In that vein, a high-end HTC \u201cmetaverse\u201d phone could optimistically be one that ties deeply into the company\u2019s VR headsets for an integrated, cross-device experience that boldly changes how we think about using smartphones (and other devices) in virtual settings. <\/p>\n

That said, the metaverse phone could also be a lackluster smartphone that has a few half-baked VR apps preloaded. For what it\u2019s worth, HTC\u2019s Viverse site does explicitly call out that one will be able to interact with its metaverse concept from \u201cany phone, tablet, PC, or VR headset,\u201d complete with an image of a smartphone that appears to be doing just that. <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/source><\/picture>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

Given that HTC\u2019s Viverse doesn\u2019t really exist \u2014 nor does widespread adoption of any modern metaverse concept \u2014 it\u2019s easy for the company to just say it\u2019s making a metaverse app or phone. After all, who\u2019s to say that you aren\u2019t? <\/p>\n

Maybe the metaverse phone that HTC is launching will be a revelation, the kind of product that launches HTC back to relevancy and puts the company back at the forefront of the industry. But the company\u2019s recent history doesn\u2019t give much hope that it will be. <\/p>\n

\n