Acer introduces a (slightly) more affordable version of its epic gaming throne
At this year's IFA, Acer announced an updated and cheaper version of its bonkers Predator Thronos Air gaming chair. At $14,000, it's practically a bargain.
Acer gives Predator, Nitro gaming notebooks CPU and GPU upgrades
Acer's latest gaming notebooks will be getting a processor and graphics boost. The company announced that Intel's ninth-generation mobile CPU and Nvidia's GTX 1660 Ti will land on the Predator Helios 300, Nitro 7, and Nitro 5 laptops.
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Acer Introduces new Windows Mixed Reality Headset: ConceptD OJO
Acer was one of a select group to launch Windows Mixed Reality headsets back in 2017. The company followed that design up last year, unveiling the Acer OJO 500 at IFA in Berlin, Germany, improving comfort and performance. Now the company has introduced its latest design, the Acer ConceptD OJO.
The ConceptD OJO is part of a wider portfolio of products Acer has announced all under the premium ConceptD brand, with desktops, notebooks, monitors, and the virtual reality (VR) headset all designed towards professional creators. “The ConceptD product portfolio was conceived to give creators the tools to focus on the creative process and make beautiful things,” said Jerry Kao, Co-COO, Acer Inc. in a statement.
Acer’s ConceptD OJO Windows Mixed Reality headset comes fitted with a 4,320 x 2,160 display – 2160 x 2160 per eye indicating it could be the same design as the HP Reverb – a detachable and swappable head strap design (which makes for easy cleaning) and interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment. Much like the upcoming Oculus Rift S, the Acer ConceptD OJO has gone for software-assisted IPD adjustment rather than manual, meaning it could reduce how many people can use the device.
The device also features an ‘integrated audio system’ which Acer says “focuses sound on the ears, eliminating the need for headphones.” The sound-pipe technology will probably be very similar to that found on Oculus Go, taking the sound down the arms – although all the images of Acer’s ConceptD OJO feature headphones.
And just like previous Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets, the ConceptD OJO includes inside-out tracking and 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) positional tracking of easy setups and sensor free VR gaming. No controllers have been mentioned so VRFocus assumes the device will be compatible with the standard WMR controllers.
Currently, Acer has yet to confirm a release date or price for the new design. As it’ll be competing with the HP Reverb at $599, with similar specs, expect the final retail price to be somewhere in that area rather than the OJO 500 price of $400. VRFocus will continue its coverage of the Acer ConceptD OJO, reporting back with any further updates on price or shipping date.
ConceptD OJO: Neue High-End-VR-Brille von Acer vorgestellt
Acer präsentierte auf der alljährlichen Pressekonferenz next@acer in New York das neuste Modell der OJO-VR-Brillenreihe. Die neue ConceptD-High-End-Brille fährt technisch hohe Spezifikationen auf und richtet sich somit an die Zielgruppe von professionellen Creatorn und Entwickler.
ConceptD OJO – Neue Nighend-VR-Brille von Acer vorgestellt
Die neue Windows-VR-Brille ConceptD OJO von Acer setzt ähnlich wie die kürzlich vorgestellte HP Reverb auf 4K-Auflösung und besitzt entsprechend Displays mit 2160 x 2160 Pixel pro Auge mit einer Bildwiederholrate von 90 Hz. Dabei werden vermutlich dieselben Displays wie im Reverb-Modell von HP verwendet. Zum Vergleich: Das Vorgängermodell beinhaltete lediglich 1440 x 1440 pro Auge bei gleicher Framerate.
Auch das Nachfolgemodell besitzt einen eigenen IPD-Regler zur individuellen Adjustierung des Augenabstandes. Zudem setzt die Highend-Brille dank zwei integrierten Kameras an der Frontseite auf Inside-Out-Tracking. Als Eingabegeräte kommen vermutlich die Standard-Windows-VR-Controller zum Einsatz.
Image courtesy: Acer
Zudem besitzt das Gerät ein abnehmbares Design zum einfachen Entfernen des Displays von der Brille. Ein praktisches Feature zur Reinigung der Einzelteile, welches die Brille für den Einsatz in VR-Arcades prädestiniert.
Ein neues Konzept findet sich bei den Kopfhörern wieder. So setzt die Hardware auf ein integriertes Open-Ear-Audio-System mit Sound-Pipe-Design. Dadurch sollen Over-Ear-Kopfhörer passé werden. Wie dies genau umgesetzt wird, ist derzeit noch offen. Da die vorgeführten Fotos derzeit integrierte Over-Ear-Kopfhörer zeigen, könnte dieses Feature optional zur Verfügung stehen.
Image courtesy: Acer
Ebenso unbekannt sind Informationen zum Release oder Preis der neuen VR-Brille. Ganz klar angepriesen ist dagegen die Zielgruppe der VR-Hardware. Die ConceptD OJO richtet sich an professionelle Creator und wird entsprechend eine höhere Preisklasse als beispielsweise die HP Reverb aufweisen.
Die gesamte Pressekonferenz findet man hier als VoD:
(Quellen: Acer | Upload VR | Road to VR | Video: Acer YouTube)
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Acer Announces New OJO Headset with Higher Res, Open-ear Audio, & IPD Adjustment
Today during a press conference in New York, Acer announced an upgraded version of its OJO Windows VR headset which includes a higher resolution, open-ear audio, and an IPD adjustment.
Acer today introduced ‘ConceptD‘ a new high-end product series from the company which is aimed at professional creators. The company revealed an upgraded version of its OJO headset which has been brought under the ConceptD brand.
The ConceptD OJO headset has a total resolution of 4,320 × 2,160, and we expect that it’s actually using a pair of 2,160 × 2,160 displays, very likely the same found in HP’s upcoming Reverb headset, which we recently found to offer leading visual clarity thanks to the jump in pixel density.
The ConceptD OJO has 2.25 times the total number of pixels as Acer’s original OJO 500 headset which had up to 1,440 × 1,440 resolution per eye.
Supporting the notion that the ConceptD OJO uses two individual displays, Acer says it will include an IPD adjustment which allows users to dial in the sweet spot by adjusting the distance between the lenses to better align with their eyes. The original OJO 500 also includes an IPD adjustment, while the company’s consumer-focused Windows VR device, the Acer Mixed Reality headset, does not.
Also similar to the OJO 500, the ConceptD OJO features a detachable visor design which allows the head-mount to be easily interchanged. The head-mount appears to have been substantially redesigned, and has moved from a halo strap to an overhead strap which looks to share a very similar design to the StarVR One head-mount (another of Acer’s VR headsets).
New for the ConceptD OJO is open-ear audio through a sound-pipe design. Similar to Oculus’ newest headsets, that means audio will emanate from an opening in the straps near the ears, eliminating the need for over-ear headphones or a separate set of headphones entirely. Open-air audio is convenient but can be less immersive due to lack of sound isolation. Photos of the ConceptD OJO also show integrated over-ear headphones, so optional headphones could be made available.
As a Windows VR headset, we can assume that the ConceptD OJO uses the same inside-out tracking technology as every other Windows VR headset, which allows for full 6DOF tracking without external sensors. The company hasn’t talked about controllers, but we expect it will support the standard Windows VR controllers.
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While this is the first time we’ve heard officially about the ConceptD OJO from Acer, we actually saw what was very likely a prototype version of the headset back at CES 2019. While it didn’t have the white visor or new head-mount design, the headset we saw did feature the unmistakable OJO design (with removable visor) and used the same resolution displays (2,160 × 2,160). Interestingly, that OJO headset we saw was running off of a smartphone, so it’s possible that the ConceptD OJO will also be able to plug into certain smartphones, in addition to PCs.
Unfortunately there’s no word on a release date for the ConceptD OJO headset or what the price will be. Considering similar specs and thus likely competition with the upcoming HP Reverb (which starts at $600), we expect the ConceptD OJO will primarily target a non-consumer audience but sell for less than $1,000. The original OJO 500 started at $400.
The post Acer Announces New OJO Headset with Higher Res, Open-ear Audio, & IPD Adjustment appeared first on Road to VR.
Acer Announces Windows VR Headset With HP Reverb Resolution And IPD Adjustment
During the company’s annual “next@acer” conference, Acer announced a new Microsoft-based headset with 2K per eye (4K overall) resolution and physical lens separation adjustment.
High Resolution, IPD Adjustment
Called ConceptD OJO, the headset uses dual 2160×2160 LCD panels. That means they might be the same panels used in the HP Reverb. Whereas the Reverb’s lenses are fixed in position, however, Acer’s headset allows you to adjust them for your interpupillary distance (IPD).
Different people have different distances between their eyeballs. If a headset’s lens separation is too different from your IPD, research indicates some people could experience blur, eyestrain, distortion and it might even make some people feel sick. This could make the ConceptD OJO a welcome alternative to Reverb for users with a narrow or wide IPD.
Audio, Detachability, Inside-Out Tracking
The headset features integrated headphones. Acer describes it as having “built-in sound pipe technology”. We’re not sure whether this refers to a secondary audio system when the headphones are removed. It could simply mean the headphones work without touching the ear.
Like the OJO 500 announced back in August, the ConceptD OJO has a detachable design. The lenses and display can be detached from the unit. This seems to be intended for arcades and enterprise demos where the headset needs to be cleaned regularly for hygiene reasons.
As with all Windows MR headsets, the ConceptD OJO uses two front facing cameras for “inside-out” positional tracking. These same cameras track LEDs on the controllers. This makes for an easy and portable setup, but controller tracking range is relatively limited.
Pricing, Market
Acer haven’t announced a price yet, but the product is targeted at “creators”, so expect a higher price than the original 1440p fixed IPD Acer headset. It’s not clear yet whether the old headset will be discontinued or kept around as an affordable alternative.
The Reverb is priced at $599, so it’s possible Acer’s headset will be higher given the extra features. We’ll update you whenever Acer provides further information on this exciting new headset.
Tagged with: acer, pc vr, windows mixed reality
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Acer Predator XB3 review
The Predator XB3 isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you have a system that can push over 100 frames per second in 4K screen resolution, this monster of a monitor might be the perfect match for your overpowered gaming rig.
The post Acer Predator XB3 review appeared first on Digital Trends.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Phones Can Power AR/VR Glasses Over USB-C
Technology giant Qualcomm sees a range of AR and VR eyewear in 2019 which can be powered over a USB-C wire by phones running its Snapdragon 855 chipset.
The silicon technology giant is planning to “pre-validate components and performance between smartphones and XR viewers.” Qualcomm is planning to work with partners to implement “a new easily recognizable XR viewer performance and compatibility badge icon.”
Qualcomm is working with a variety of partners to try and enable a collection of AR and VR devices and services.
The company revealed a number of partners it is planning to work with including Acer, nreal and Pico. Overall, the goal is to enable a series of headsets — both AR and VR — that are capable of robust tracking with a phone wired to the headset or glasses. It is very likely this is the plan for HTC’s Vive Cosmos and would allow the headset to operate with an upcoming phone over USB-C connection. We’ll of course have to wait and see what HTC reveals.
We will be curious to see how this effort plays out over the course of the year. Qualcomm leaders seem to think the company’s efforts here will help a number of AR and VR headsets come to market in 2019. There are some notable omissions from its partner list, though, including some of the biggest tech companies working in this area like Google, Samsung and Facebook. In addition, standardization efforts like OpenXR are due for major announcements in 2019. It is unclear how systems working with Qualcomm’s chips will operate within the broader movement toward standardization.
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The best gaming laptops of CES 2019
If you're looking for a new gaming laptop in 2019 there are plenty. We've sorted through the long list of new gaming laptops and have picked out the best from the rest. Here are our picks for the best gaming laptops of CES 2019.
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Acer unleashes the beast with 2-in-1 Triton 900 packing RTX 2080 GPU
Have you been caught between desiring a monster gaming laptop and a hybrid 2-in-1 Windows machine? If so, then the new Acer Triton 900 might be the perfect machine for you with a convertible chassis and Nvidia's latest GeForce RTX 2080 GPU.
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