Japanese new social VR platform ambr will release open beta version on May 25

On May 25th, a new social VR platform will join the Japanese VR industry. It is ambr and accepts pre user registration. The VR HMDs it supports are Oculus Go, Oculus Rift (Rift S) and HTC VIVE.
ambr is a social VR world where everyone can transform into their favorite avatars and communicate. You can have your own room where you can interact with and go to other users' rooms. If you link your account with 3D character platform VRoid Hub, you can upload your own avatars and use it with ambr by designing your own avatar.

In addition, ambr will collaborate with VTuber, VR games, real-world companies, shops and facilities in various ways.
They conducted a closed beta test last year and have been developing it for a year. Pre-registration is required to participate in the open β version, and virtual currency points "ambr points" will be presented to users who have pre-registered as a privilege.
Please use Google Translate as the registration form is written in Japanese only. If you have Oculus Go, Oculus Rift (Rift S) or HTC VIVE, it's not bad to experience here as an early user.

The world's largest VR creative festival Virtual Market 5 will be held from December

I recently wrote about the world's largest VR creative festival Virtual Market. It ended in great success on May 10th, and they decided on an upcoming event date. Virtual Market 5 will be held from December 19, 2020 to January 10, 2021.

See also:
The world's largest VR creative festival Virtual Market 4 got over 500,000 visitors

Virtual Market is a creative festival in the VR world. 43 companies and 1400 general creators are exhibiting, and various virtual goods made by them are on sale. In addition, companies are promoting their real products in a virtual world.
For example, Audi Japan made a virtual version of the electric car e-tron, and visitors took a test drive with it. Real-world salespersons of high-end department store Isetan-Mitsukoshi  served customers through their avatars in a virtual store. It is a new remote work style under the coronavirus pandemic. Seven-Eleven, a convenience store, sold avatars of Square Enix's popular game "NieR：Automata" at a virtual store.

The feature of this event is that many companies have already officially exhibited. So they are convinced that VR and virtual worlds will be the new fields of business.
This is being held by Japanese startup HIKKY, but many VR netizens from countries other than Japan also came to this event. So they are aiming to make Virtual Market 5 a more global event.

The Virtual Market 5 site is already open.
https://www.v-market.work/v5/lp

Let your smartphone cool

The more time people have to stay in their homes, the more time they spend with mobile applications. Among them, the usage time of game applications is increasing. But isn't it causing your smartphone to overheat? Then, gaming gadget maker Game Tech has released Gamers Mobile Cooler, a cooling fan that supports multiple models.

 It cools your mobile up to 13 degrees with a Peltier device and cooling fan. The fan is a silent type, so it doesn't interfere with the sound of the games you are playing.
It has multiple suction cups and You can easily attach it by pressing suction cups on your mobile. Also, its size is small at 72mm x 49mm x 23mm and the weight is about 60 grams, so you can use it not only for smartphones but also for tablets and gaming terminals such as Nintendo Switch.

To use this, you will need a 5V / 1A or 5V / 2A AC adapter or mobile battery. The price is 3960 yen including tax.

Art in VR : Virtual VIVID Ilya Kuvshinov Works Exhibition

Currently, art exhibitions have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then, how about hold them in virtual worlds? "Virtual VIVID Ilya Kuvshinov Works Exhibition", an art exhibition of popular Russian illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov is being held at VR Chat and Japanese social VR platform clister until May 31.

Ilya Kuvshinov's works are popular in Japan, and she is known to have been in charge of character design for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045. This virtual exhibition is a reproduction of her real exhibition held in Tokyo, Akihabara in November 2019. However, no admission fee is required to view the virtual exhibition. Moreover, it is open 24 hours a day.

In addition, there are productions unique to the virtual world. When you go to the exhibition area of her Tokyo motif works, the crowds of town are played as background music. You will feel as you are in the middle of Tokyo.

When you stand in front of her work of snowscape, the sound of snowstorm is played as background music and snow particles come down.

Virtual art exhibitions are easier to hold in the virtual world than other events. Certainly, there are monetization challenges. However, it's a good way to get people around the world to appreciate art works. In addition, in this virtual exhibition, official goods sold at the gallery shop of the real exhibition are on sale. Mail order is good idea for monetization.

Virtual VIVID Ilya Kuvshinov Works Exhibition official site
http://vivid.gugenka.jp/

Self-care application of visualize your feelings "Awarefy"

The state of emergency imposed in response to the coronavirus was lifted in Japan except in some areas. However, we must still be alert, and it may help us with that.
Many companies are promoting remote work to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, but as people continue to stay in their homes, more and more people are experiencing mental health problems. So Hakali has released Awarefy, a mobile application that makes it easy to self-care your mind.

It has a "feelings memo" feature that allows you to enter your daily feelings and emotional conditions into a chat-bot to interact with.

The emotional notes you continue to enter are regularly analyzed and reports generated and you can objectively see your emotions by checking these.

Besides this, it also has the feature to enter your own physical and mental conditions in the morning and night, and the trend of these data is shown by a bar graph. You can calmly analyze your worries and questions by checking this and emotional notes together.

If you are interested in mindfulness meditation, check out audio guides for beginners in it. It also has learning contents such as Anger Management. These audio guides are supervised by mindfulness instructors and clinical psychologists.

Downloading the application and using the basic features are free, and they will monetize with a paid premium plan in the future. However, the features of the premium plan are also provided free of charge until June 30. Currently they are releasing an Android version, and an iOS version will be released later this month.