Fully Charged: Star Wars: Episode VII info revealed, Sky’s new EPG and Microsoft’s Oculus Rift rival

Disney reveals new Star Wars: Episode VII info

Now listen here, young Padawan: Disney and Lucasfilm have just released some new information about the upcoming J.J. Abrams-directed Star Wars movie.

In a post on starwars.com, the companies revealed that Episode VII will begin shooting in May 2014 and will be in cinemas on 18th December 2015. Also interesting is the confirmation that the film will be set around 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and that the cast will feature “a trio of young leads” alongside some familiar faces.

[Source: starwars.com]

 Sky rolls out swanky new EPG

Sky has launched a new electronic programme guide (EPG) for its television service which, for the first time, puts on demand content front and centre alongside broadcast channel listings.

The change is an acknowledgement that watching on demand shows and movies has become as important – if not more important – for viewers as watching live TV and Sky+ recordings.

The update is rolling out to customers with Sky+HD boxes right now, and the Sky+ app has also been refreshed to reflect the new look.

Report: Microsoft developing its own Oculus Rift-style VR headset

If a rumour reported by The Wall Street Journal is true, Microsoft is working on an Xbox 3D virtual reality headset to rival Oculus Rift. According to “people familiar with the project” the technology is currently codenamed Fortaleza and Microsoft has already filed one patent related to it.

Interestingly, the report claims that augmented reality is one area being explored by the project. That means the headset could have transparent screens that overlay computer-generated images on top of real-world objects.

Sony is also rumoured to be developing its own VR headset.

[Source: WSJ via Joystiq]

READ MORE: Oculus Rift preview

Watch the Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes launch trailer

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is out tomorrow, and you can get yourself in the mood for some stealthy military action by clamping your eyes onto this launch trailer, which serves up a little of the plot and a lot of the action of this (apparently very short) “prologue” game to Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (which will reportedly be 200 times larger).

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Tech journalism's answer to The Littlest Hobo, I've written for a host of titles and lived in three different countries in my 15 years-plus as a freelancer. But I've always come back home to Stuff eventually, where I specialise in writing about cameras, streaming services and being tragically addicted to Destiny.