hp reverb g2 – Page 5 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

September 24, 2020

HP Reverb G2 Ships In November, New Orders Arrive December

The upcoming HP Reverb G2 PC-powered headset should start arriving to buyers in early November, according to HP.

New orders placed September 24 or afterward should start arriving to customers in early December.

“Customers who has already pre-ordered the HP Reverb can expect to receive their shipments this fall, starting in early November 2020. Pre-orders are expected to be prioritized for the time/date the order was made to our channel partners,” a blog post from HP explains. “Demand has been high so all pre-orders made starting today, September 24 will start arriving to customers from channel partners in early December.”

The $599 Reverb G2 headset features four cameras and the same audio system as the high-end Valve Index, alongside IPD fitting adjustment and extremely high resolution with Valve optics. We’ve been looking forward to getting our hands on the finished HP product to see how it compares to Index, Oculus Quest 2, and others.

Oculus Quest 2 from Facebook is expected to start arriving in early October with orders already backordered to November in some countries from some retailers. It is still early in the shopping season for the holidays but it is already starting to look like demand for VR in 2020 could outstrip supply, at least for some VR systems. Facebook is also planning a 90 Hz mode for Oculus Quest 2 that we’re curious to see in comparison to Reverb G2.

Did you order a Reverb G2 when pre-orders popped up earlier this year? Are you planning to order one soon? Let us know in the comments below.

September 5, 2020

HP Reverb G2 Eye-Tracking, Face Camera Model Possibly Leaked

A recent potential leak suggests that HP Reverb G2 eye-tracking – and even facing tracking – may arrive in the form of a new model.

Aggiornamenti Lumia is the source behind the supposed leak for what it calls the HP Reverb Omnicept Edition. The image we use below comes from that report. At first glance, it may look like the usual HP Reverb G2, but you can spot one major difference from the off.

On the bottom of the device, between the two front-facing cameras, is what looks like a small tab. The original report notes that this tab includes a face camera, which could well track the movements of the lower half of your head. Feasibly, it could then take that data and relay it onto, say, a virtual avatar of yourself. Aggiornamenti Lumia also reports the headset has eye-tracking, though it’s hard to verify this in the images without having a look inside the headset.

The report also spots a difference in the type of strap on the side of the device and Road to VR also spotted what could be an electrode embedded in the face lining. Companies like Emteq use similar tech to scan muscle impulses as a means of facial replication in VR, accessing a deeper range of realistic emotions than what’s currently possible. Recently, Facebook Reality Labs shared new research for its own photorealistic face tracking that no longer requires a camera, but it’s still very far off.

If this is all true, it’s possible that the Omnicept Edition will be a more expensive version of the Reverb G2 aimed more towards enterprise customers. The original device, set to ship this fall, offers 4K VR and improved design and audio for $599. HP did recently tease it would have more exciting announcements on the VR end, and this could well have been one.

Would you be interested in an HP Reverb G2 eye-tracking headset with a face camera? Let us know in the comments below!

September 4, 2020

Rumor: HP is Building a Reverb G2 Model with Eye, Mouth, & Face-tracking

HP announced its Reverb G2 headset earlier this year and plans to ship it this fall. Another, rumored version of the headset referred to as the ‘Omnicept Edition’ is said to include eye, mouth, and face-tracking.

Reverb G2 is an upcoming headset that’s quite anticipated thanks to new features which mark it as the first ‘next-gen’ Windows VR headset.

But a rumored version of the headset—likely targeted toward enterprise use-cases—is said to include eye, mouth, and face-tracking.

The blog Aggiornamenti Lumia claims to have uncovered a photo of the headset, which it refers to as the “Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition.” The photo shows what appears to be an appendage hanging under the headset which would presumably house a camera for mouth-tracking. The photo also shows a small glimpse of an electrode embedded in the facepad.

We’ve seen both approaches experimented with in other VR products. HTC, for instance, announced a mouth-tracking camera for its Vive Pro headset last year. And we’ve seen electrodes used along the facepad to derive face movement via measured electrical signals from the likes of MindMaze and others.

The big clue for eye-tracking in a VR headset is seeing IR illuminators around the lenses; unfortunately the photo offered by Aggiornamenti Lumia doesn’t give us a view of the lenses, but the blog does claim that eye-tracking is included.

There are commercial headsets available already with eye-tracking alone, but if the Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition includes eye, mouth, and face tracking hardware, it would be significantly more capable of full facial expression-tracking than other headsets.

‘Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR’ Beta Updates Hint at “Upcoming hardware releases”

The first wave of WMR headsets launched in 2017 | Image courtesy Microsoft

Updates to the beta version of Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR, the official integration which allows Windows VR headsets to be used with SteamVR, hint at “upcoming hardware releases.”

Recent beta updates to the ‘Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR’ integration on August 24th and September 1st include “additional fixes & improvements for upcoming hardware releases.”

There hasn’t been a new WMR headset released since the HP Reverb headset back in 2019. And while the “upcoming hardware releases” likely refers to the impending launch of the new Reverb G2 (due out this Fall) it’s interesting that the headset is not simply named outright, considering that another line in the patch notes clearly names the “HP Motion Controllers,” the new controllers which will ship with the G2.

HP Teases ‘Exciting Announcements’ For VR Software Ahead Of Reverb G2 Launch

The Reverb G2 might not be the only VR project HP has in the works right now.

During a Microsoft Mixed Reality digital event last week, HP’s Peter Peterson teased that the company may have some “exciting announcements” on the software side of VR soon.

“Myself being a leader of some software teams at HP, we’re not just looking at VR in its current state today,” Peterson said. “We’re really starting to look at what are the other things we can do in VR as somebody is wearing a VR HMD. And so what I’ll just say is we’re looking towards the future and in the near future here. We’ll have some more exciting announcements about some of the new technology that we’re going to be bringing forward and really starting to take advantage of how great of a platform HP Reverb G2 is.”

Peterson didn’t drop any other hints about the nature of the announcement, but we’re intrigued. The Reverb G2 is both a consumer and enterprise-focused headset, so any new software from HP could apply to either type of customer. That said, we wouldn’t expect the company to be making its own games or creative experiences; we’re likely more talking about services and platforms.

Reverb G2 has caught the eye of VR enthusiasts, promising sharp 4K optics and improved design on account of a partnership with Valve. The headset is launching sometime this fall for $599 and pre-orders are open now, so hopefully we’ll hear more about these other announcements in the near future.

Will you be picking up Reverb G2 later this year? Let us know in the comments below!

The post HP Teases ‘Exciting Announcements’ For VR Software Ahead Of Reverb G2 Launch appeared first on UploadVR.

August 10, 2020

HP Hosting Reverb G2 Technical Breakdown Next Week

Another chance to get a closer look at the HP Reverb G2 before launch is taking place later next week.

Next Thursday, August 20th, Microsoft is hosting a digital Virtual Reality Developer Event. Kicking off at 9.05am PT, the event will feature five hours of workshops and talks, including a look at WebXR and OpenXR as well as a session on prototyping in VR using Maquette. Capping, the day off, though, is a technical breakdown of the Reverb G2, straight from HP itself, followed by a Q&A session.

Chances are this session will be very close to the breakdown HP offered when announcing the Reverb G2 earlier this year, but hopefully we’ll learn some new info about the anticipated PC VR headset. Reverb G2 is shipping later this year for $599 with a 4K display. As with the original Reverb, it’s built on top of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality headset design but adds crucial new features like a four-camera inside-out tracking setup and redesigned motion controllers.

Plus HP has also collaborated with Valve on the design of the device, including the off-ear speakers seen in the Index headset (though, notably, Reverb G2 won’t support the Index controllers). Needless to say, we have high hopes that Reverb G2 will become a contender in the PC VR market.

The headset doesn’t have a proper release date yet, but is promised for fall 2020 in a range of territories, with pre-orders open in many of them now. We’ll be bringing you impressions of the kit just as soon as we’re able to.

For now, though you can sign up to take part in the event from this link.

The post HP Hosting Reverb G2 Technical Breakdown Next Week appeared first on UploadVR.

July 30, 2020

VR Support Will Come to Microsoft Flight Simulator, Initially for HP Reverb G2

The latest version of the long-running Microsoft Flight Simulator was announced at E3 2019 with an update last month confirming an August launch. When it came to VR support the team behind the project Asobo Studio hadn’t initially considered it but were looking at the possibility due to community feedback. Now it has been confirmed Microsoft Flight Simulator will indeed include VR functionality later this year.

The news was confirmed by Polygon and in a rather unusual move, none of the usual headsets were mentioned. Instead, Asobo Studio and Microsoft have teamed up with HP to make Microsoft Flight Simulator a launch title for the Reverb G2. At the moment there’s no official launch date for the new headset other than ‘Fall 2020’, as a previous September date is said to be an unofficial estimate by HP.

Built-in collaboration with Microsoft and Valve, the HP Reverb G2 will offer 2160 x 2160 per eye resolution, a 114-degree field of view (FoV), inside-out tracking and off-ear speakers to provide spatial audio; all for £525 GBP. VR flight sim fans who own other headsets needn’t worry as the studio has noted that HTC, Oculus and Valve devices will eventually be compatible.

“The very first piece of feedback that came out of [our announcement at E3 was], ‘Oh my God! This is going to be the best VR thing ever. They better have VR!’” Jorg Neumann, head of Microsoft Flight Simulator, told Polygon. “We immediately said, ‘Yep, we’ve got to do this now.’ We put a team on it, and then partnered with HP.”

Regarding the HP Reverb G2 launch, Neumann did go onto to say: “There was a time when it was actually supposed to be in July, but it’s moved from then. Now they have a new date — I want to say it’s September. I’m not even sure. But we just wanted to respect the fact that they own their date, and we’re going to ship with them.”

Microsoft Flight Simulator is scheduled for a PC release on 18th August 2020, available in three versions with pre-orders now live. As further details regarding VR support is announced, VRFocus will let you know.

July 9, 2020

HP Reverb G2 Pre-Orders Indicate 15th September UK Launch Date

After HP announced its new virtual reality (VR) headset, the Reverb G2 in May, pre-orders began to roll out via selected partners. Whose in the UK can now order the device through SystemActive with its website also detailing the launch date for the first time.

UK customers can now pre-order the HP Reverb G2 for £525 GBP which includes VAT while delivery is charged at a ‘flat rate’. It’s the delivery date which is most notable, listing 15th September 2020. So far it’s the only website VRFocus has found with an actual day rather than merely a broad launch window.

While sites do quite often have place holder dates until an official announcement is made, unusually SystemActive also has a countdown clock to drive home how long customers will have to wait.

The HP Reverb G2 is one of the most promising VR headsets to launch this year – and certainly the most exciting Windows Mixed Reality devices – thanks to its specifications. Built in collaboration with Microsoft and Valve, the headset will offer 2160 x 2160 per eye resolution – significantly higher than Valve Index’s 1600 x 1440 – as well as off-ear speakers to provide spatial audio.

Just like the rest of the Windows Mixed reality ecosystem the HP Reverb G2 will support inside-out tracking thanks to four cameras, making it easy to setup. It’ll also include manual interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment to ensure compatibility with most users eyes, plus the controllers have been redesigned to be more ergonomic.

Importantly, HP is pushing the headset to both regular consumers and businesses alike, looking to take on the likes of Oculus Rift S and Valve Index in the PC VR arena. This could make the HP Reverb G2 the most desirable Windows Mixed Reality headset to date, as HP is one of the few original companies still invested in the ecosystem.

HP has continually stated the worldwide launch would take place in Fall 2020, with September almost a given. For further updates on the HP Reverb G2, keep reading VRFocus.

July 8, 2020July 9, 2020

Update: HP Reverb G2 Releases Mid-September, Official UK Retailer Says

Yesterday HP launched pre-orders for its Reverb G2 headset in eight new territories. At the time we published our story, the UK pre-order page wasn’t quite ready. Now it is and it seems to confirm the HP Reverb G2 release date.

Update: HP declined to comment on this article beyond reiterating that the Reverb G2 ships this fall. The original article is below.

HP Reverb G2 Release Date Confirmed?

The listing from official HP retail partner, System Active, states the headset will start shipping on September 15. Usually, with retailer listings, we’d be skeptical that this was just a placeholder date, but given this is HP’s exclusive pre-order partner for the Reverb in the UK, and that the September window is mentioned multiple times (there’s even a countdown), this seems more genuine than usual. The device costs £525 in the UK (including VAT and delivery), and sells for $599 in the US.

All the same, we’ve reached out to the company to confirm the date and check that this HP Reverb G2 release date applies to other territories too. We didn’t see the date listed at other retailers yesterday, but we could well have missed something.

The VR industry has had its eye on Reverb G2 since its reveal earlier this year. Building off of the original Reverb headset, HP partnered with Microsoft and Valve for its new design. The Reverb G2 is a 4K headset with inside-out tracking powered by the Windows Mixed Reality platform, and integrated with SteamVR thanks to HP’s collaboration with Valve. Valve also adds several features seen in its own Index headset, including off-ear speakers and manual IPD adjust.

September was a little earlier than we were expecting, so this is encouraging news. It should mean that the Reverb G2 arrives in time for PC VR fans to play games like Star Wars: Squadrons with added visual clarity. We’ll be looking to bring you impressions of the device as soon as possible, so stay tuned.

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July 7, 2020

HP Reverb G2 Pre-Orders Start Listing In Europe, UK & New Zealand

HP Reverb G2 pre-orders are now rolling out to territories outside of the US.

Links for where to pre-order should either already be going live or coming soon to the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway and New Zealand. You can access the headset’s Steam page for a link that will direct you to the relevant pre-order for your country, including the US.

HP Reverb G2 Pre-Orders Hit Europe And Beyond

However not all the HP Reverb G2 pre-orders seem to be working right now. The link for the UK, for example, takes you to a technology retailer named System Active, but the actual page for pre-orders doesn’t appear to be live yet. Other pages in countries like Germany are up and running, though, where the headset is listed for €583.90. In the US the device retails for $599. HP says pre-orders for other countries will be coming soon (poor Canada and Australia haven’t got any love yet).

The Reverb G2 was announced around the launch of Half-Life: Alyx earlier this year. HP partnered with both Microsoft and Valve on the kit, implementing the former’s Windows Mixed Reality inside-out tracking and the latter’s premium comfort and audio features. These features, paired with a 4K display, manual IPD adjustment and redesigned motion controllers make Reverb G2 a promising prospect for the enthusiast PC VR market. At $599, it’s $200 more expensive than Facebook’s Oculus Rift S (and the Oculus Quest, which can play PC VR using the USB-C cable that comes in the box), but $400 cheaper than Valve’s own Index headset.

The headset is due to ship this fall, though we don’t have an exact date for launch just yet. Expect it to run apps on SteamVR and Microsoft’s lesser-known Windows Mixed Reality platform.

Will you be laying down an HP Reverb G2 pre-order in your territory or are you still waiting? Let us know in the comments below!

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