Facebook powers down Oculus Rift pop-up sites

Facebook powers down Oculus Rift pop-up sites

Gear up on five IoT news bites for Thursday

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Oculus Shift If you had plans to try an Oculus Rift headset at Best Buy, you had better hurry. Facebook (which owns Oculus) is going to shutter hundreds of its Oculus Rift demo sites, according to Business Insider. The stores will still sell Oculus Rift headsets and controllers—but a chance to try them on and play will now be limited to 300, rather than 500, Best Buys in the U.S. and Canada. Facebook is reportedly shrinking the number of pop-up demo sites because people aren't trying the headsets out—or at least not enough. Oculus Rift is considered one of the most powerful VR headsets on the consumer market—and one of the most expensive as well starting at $600.

Model 3 Tesla is to put its Model 3 into pilot production starting next week, says CNBC. This would be the first stage before rolling out full production of the new sedans, which Tesla has said will happen in July. The Model 3 is considered to be Tesla's push into the mainstream market as the car is priced at about $35,000.

Sponsor Drone The Drone Racing League has landed a new major sponsor: insurer Allianz. The race will also be changing its name to the Allianz World Championship series. This year's events will include six races and will start in June. Viewers in 75 countries will be able to tune in and watch the best drone racers take flight. (Via Forbes)

Stomach Sensor Researchers have made a sensor that runs on a stomach acid. Scientists at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital built the sensor so it could run without the use of batteries for power. One use for the sensors, researchers say, could be to deliver drugs directly into the body through the stomach.

Scuba You For those who have wanted to try to scuba diving but haven't, here's your chance—virtually. VR Scuba Diving may not be the same as swimming with the fishes, but our VR reviewer thinks the experience is pretty "eye-catching," just the same.

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