AMD Acquires Wireless Virtual Reality IP from Nitero

[btarunr]

AMD today announced it has acquired intellectual property (IP) and key engineering talent from Nitero, a pioneer in millimeter wave solutions capable of enabling future generations of wireless Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) headsets. The acquisition provides AMD with a broader portfolio of IP capable of enabling VR headset and solution providers with key technology required to create more immersive computing experiences.

"Unwieldly headset cables remain a significant barrier to drive widespread adoption of VR," said Mark Papermaster, AMD chief technology officer and senior vice president. "Our newly acquired wireless VR technology is focused on solving this challenge, and is another example of AMD making long-term technology investments to develop high-performance computing and graphics technologies that can create more immersive computing experiences."

Nitero has designed a phased-array beamforming millimeter wave chip to address the challenges facing wireless VR and AR. Using high-performance 60 GHz wireless, this technology has the potential to enable multi-gigabit transmit performance with low latency in room-scale VR environments. The beamforming characteristics solve the requirement for line-of-sight associated with traditional high-frequency mm-wave systems, potentially eliminating wired VR headsets and enabling users to become more easily immersed in virtual and augmented worlds.

"Our world class engineering team has been focused on solving the difficult problem of building wireless VR technologies that can be integrated into next-generation headsets," said Nitero co-founder and CEO Pat Kelly who has joined AMD as corporate vice president, Wireless IP. "We are excited to play a role in furthering AMD's long-term technology vision."

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[AsRock]

Yeah until the big ol battery sets on fire hehe, and if they have to have a battery the unit would be even more inconvenient.

See the papers already, Man died due to exploding battery, wife ignored it and thought it was part of the experience.

Not to sure if this is a wise option for AMD, i hope it is how ever VR is to expensive and can only see this making it even more expensive putting it even further out of reach of people who actually want it.

 

[Deleted member 50521]

Hey AMD, how about you work your lazy ass on something you PROMISED a looong time ago? Async Reprojection for Fury/390/290? Does that ring a bell or two? Where is your implementation of LiquidVR? A big fat 0 huh?

Work on things that you promised first. I am really getting pissed off by AMD's poor execution recently.

 

[Patriot]

Hey AMD, how about you work your lazy ass on something you PROMISED a looong time ago? Async Reprojection for Fury/390/290? Does that ring a bell or two? Where is your implementation of LiquidVR? A big fat 0 huh?

Work on things that you promised first. I am really getting pissed off by AMD's poor execution recently.

Link to promises? I saw they promised Async reprojection for VEGA and just released it for rx470/480.
Frankly surprised fury got left out of the initial support. 290x390 meh.

 

[R-T-B]

Frankly, with their debt they shouldn't be acquiring anything at all.

 

[Octavean]

I'd rather see competition for the nVidia GTX 1080 Ti, 1080 and 1070,.....

VR is a risk since no one really knows if it will take off. Just like 3D TV's and 3D PC monitors, no one really cares although it was a nice idea way back when. If VR and AR are never truly accepted then just bought a a led zeppelin with this investment,....

Are you trying to fail AMD,.....?

Are you after some kind of tax write off,....?

 

[Patriot]

I'd rather see competition for the nVidia GTX 1080 Ti, 1080 and 1070,.....

VR is a risk since no one really knows if it will take off. Just like 3D TV's and 3D PC monitors, no one really cares although it was a nice idea way back when. If VR and AR are never truly accepted then just bought a a led zeppelin with this investment,....

Are you trying to fail AMD,.....?

Are you after some kind of tax write off,....?

3D TVs and monitors are a stepping stone to VR.
I never cared for 3D TV at the home level but enjoy it at the theater. I absolutely love playing on the Vive.

Augmented will probably take VR mainstream... in the same way as glassless 3d will make me interested in that at home.

 

[dorsetknob]

Frankly, with their debt they shouldn't be acquiring anything at all.

have you considered that they have something under development and buying this ip is a cost effective way of going forward ?

 

[Fluffmeister]

Hey AMD, how about you work your lazy ass on something you PROMISED a looong time ago? Async Reprojection for Fury/390/290? Does that ring a bell or two? Where is your implementation of LiquidVR? A big fat 0 huh?

Work on things that you promised first. I am really getting pissed off by AMD's poor execution recently.

Join the dark side, AMD are all PowerPoint slides and no trousers.

 

[R-T-B]

have you considered that they have something under development and buying this ip is a cost effective way of going forward ?

I wouldn't be developing anything either but trying to make my existing product lines competitive beyond the midrange.

But then again, my business went bankrupt years ago, so... my advice is probably shitty.

 

[XiGMAKiD]

Looks like they're trying to reinforce their LiquidVR initiative

 

[Prima.Vera]

Unless there is a Interactive VR aka Holodeck style, without the stupid headset, I have ZERO interest in the VR.

 

[Deleted member 50521]

Join the dark side, AMD are all PowerPoint slides and no trousers.

If i have the money you bet your ass I will be going nvidia flagship next round. I paid $650 for this FuryX and it is being treated lesser than their mid range POS 480/470

 

[Raevenlord]

Great news. I would like to point out how AMD was seen by many as a lost cause.

That AMD is making acquisitions and increasing its IP portfolio is a great change of pace from the "sell, sell, lease-back" wave of some years ago. Some tentative steps into the future.

 

[RejZoR]

Unless you're buying useless IP, throwing money away...

 

[Raevenlord]

Unless you're buying useless IP, throwing money away...

Granted. This isn't what I would expect AMD to invest in, but I think it's better to do so in IP, which can be resold or accrue value, than in some other areas.

That said, AMD's management has made some good decisions in the last few years; I can't help but think they are getting paid to make these decisions and have access to information I don't while doing so.