MAM
DigitasLBi creates global VR experience for OnePlus 3 launch
Mumbai, June 15, 2016: OnePlus, the global technology start-up, is launching its third flagship smartphone –in virtual space. Behind this creative and break-through use of virtual reality technology is the combined efforts of creative and technology professionals from DigitasLBi.
‘The Loop’ is the name of the VR experience that creates a mélange of never ending animations in a virtual space station high above the Earth’s surface. While inside The Loop, users can explore many of the key features of the new OnePlus 3, and even order the smartphone in the virtual world – and then have it delivered to the real one.
“To create the most realistic and immersive experience possible, we’ve employed a number of innovative, never-before-seen, usages of CGI and 4D technologies, as well as 360° films,” explains DigitasLBi Nordics creative director Rasmus Frandsen. “Together, these create an experience designed to excite the global community of OnePlus fans, as well as tech enthusiasts.”
“Last year OnePlus held the first-ever product launch in VR. This time with The Loop, we’re taking things a step forward by pushing accessible VR technology to its outer limits,” said OnePlus co-founder and head of global Carl Pei. “It’s going to go down in history as the first global shopping experience in VR!”
The OnePlus 3 launched on June 14, 2016, and The Loop can be downloaded from Google Play and the App Store. For the first 2.5 hours OnePlus 3 could only be ordered from inside The Loop.
About the campaign:
The campaign delivers the world’s first VR looping animation. Using a VR headset, potential customers are welcomed on board the OnePlus office of the future – a spacecraft called The Loop. While on board, visitors receive a tour of the spacecraft and an introduction to the OnePlus 3, as well as the opportunity to purchase the OnePlus 3 directly in the VR experience.
The solution sets a new standard for VR experiences on smartphones. The campaign creates an interactive and engaging experience through ingenious use of seamlessly looped Hollywood quality CGI 3D stereoscopic visuals. The custom VR playback engine is optimized for low latency, high resolution, high frame-rate mobile VR immersion, making it possible for viewers to enjoy a rich VR experience on a normal smartphone.
The campaign will run in the US, Europe, India and China.
The trailer can be seen here:
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
