HP – Page 5 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 28, 2020

HP’s Upcoming Reverb G2 is Taking on Both Gaming & Enterprise Industries

Having started as one of the original manufacturers for Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality system, HP has been one of the few to actually continue reiterating. Last year saw the HP Reverb arrive, keenly focused towards enterprise use. For 2020, HP has officially announced the Reverb G2 which is going back to those consumer roots.

The HP Reverb G2 was teased back in March, with the tech giant also collaborating with Valve as well as Microsoft on the new head-mounted display (HMD). The benefit of which can be seen in the G2’s design and software compatibility.

For example, the back of the head strap looks very much like Valve Index’s – which is very comfortable – plus the speakers also sit away from the ear by 10mm. Which makes them comfortable, easy to use when setting up and spatial audio ready. So they’ll support MSFT spatial audio alongside HP Labs’ new spatial audio format.

On the visual side there a plenty of improvements. Offering a 114-degree field of view (FoV) the HP Reverb G2 comes with 2160 x 2160 LCD panels per eye with new lenses designed by Valve. To ensure comfortable VR viewing for as many people as possible the headsets comes with manual interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment.

When it comes to tracking the Reverb G2 has four cameras providing inside-out roomscale tracking alongside tracking the redesigned controllers which do look a little better than previous WMR designs. As a WMR headset is also supports SteamVR so you can play all your favourites.

“The power of collaboration is on full display with the HP Reverb G2, and alongside Valve and Microsoft, we engineered a no-compromises VR headset that’s immersive, comfortable, and compatible across Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR,” said Spike Huang, Vice President and Global Lead of VR, HP Inc in a statement. “The time is now for VR and the HP Reverb G2 brings high-quality VR to the masses with more immersion for gamers, interactive experiences for creators, increased engagement for collaboration, and higher retention rates for education and training.”

The HP Reverb G2 headset is expected to launch Fall 2020 in the US for $599. Pre-orders for US customers start today via HP.com and other outlets, with select countries added to that list in the coming weeks (VRFocus has contacted HP regarding UK availability). For further updates regarding the HP Reverb G2, keep reading VRFocus.

May 28, 2020

HP’s Next-Gen Reverb G2 Specifications And Price Revealed

HP fully revealed its next-generation VR headset this morning. Here are the main HP Reverb G2 specifications.

The Reverb G2 is a follow up to the original HP Reverb headset. Like the original, it’s part of Microsoft’s line of Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets, but also made in partnership with Valve. As such there have been a number of notable changes to its specifications.

According to HP, the Reverb G2 specs are as follows:

2 x 2.98″ LCD panels
Resolution of 2160 x 2160 per eye
90 Hz refresh rate
A field of view of 114 degrees
4 cameras, providing 6DoF inside-out tracking
Valve-designed lenses
Physical interpupillary distance (IPD) lens adjustment from 60mm – 68mm
Integrated off-ear speakers (same as on Valve Index)
Dual microphones
Redesigned Windows Mixed Reality controllers
Replaceable magnetic fabric face cushions
6 meter desktop cable

For comparison, the Rift S and the Index provide 1280 x 1440 pixels and 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye, respectively. So, if we’re going off pixel count and resolution alone, the G2 should launch as one of the highest resolution options on the consumer market.

The lenses and the speakers are also produced in collaboration with Valve — the speakers/off-ear headphones are the exact same ones in the Valve Index and the lenses have been designed by Valve but are not the exact same as the Index lenses.

The Reverb G2 will retail in a bundle for $599, which includes the headset itself and two of the redesigned Windows Mixed Reality controllers. The controllers will also be sold separately, as they are backwards compatible with other WMR headsets. However, the G2 will only be available in the bundle with the controllers, as no other controllers are compatible with the new headset.

Pre-orders for the device are on the way.

What do you make of the HP Reverb G2 specs? Let us know in the comments below!

The post HP’s Next-Gen Reverb G2 Specifications And Price Revealed appeared first on UploadVR.

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020

HP Reverb G2: 4K VR Headset With Valve Audio/Lenses, Touch-Like Controllers, & IPD Slider For $600

HP appears to be taking notes from both Valve and Facebook with its latest headset, the Reverb G2, featuring four outward-facing tracking cameras, Valve’s audio and lens technology and redesigned Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) controllers that look a lot more like Oculus Touch.

Reverb G2 is priced $600. The new HP headset also features a slider on the bottom for physical separation of the lenses and panels to adjust between 60mm and 68mm for better focus and fitting on a wider range of faces.

HP formally worked with Valve and Microsoft on the development of the new system which features 2160×2160 LCD panels per eye, with each panel measuring 2.98 inches. That makes for some of the highest resolutions you’ll find in a consumer-grade VR headset. The new design also drops touchpads from the controllers that were emblematic of Microsoft’s first generation of VR input. That means HP essentially settled on using analog sticks and an overall input design that matches Facebook’s Oculus Touch. The company stressed to us that these controllers are unique to its headset.

As well as coming bundled with the headset, HP plans to sell the new controllers separate from the G2 and they are backwards compatible with earlier WMR headsets. Older WMR controllers aren’t compatible with the G2, according to HP, so you’ll only be able to buy the G2 headset as a package with the new controllers.

Here’s a look at the Oculus Touch controllers for a comparison:

Best of Both Worlds?

While HP sent the original Reverb to me to review last year the headset didn’t fit me. The display was such a mismatch for my face shape and larger-than-average eye distance (I saw a visible line at the edge of the display whenever I wore it) that I opted to send it back to HP without publishing a review. More broadly, the headset was also unavailable for purchase some of the year while Facebook shipped the new PC-only Rift S at $400 made by Lenovo and Valve pushed its high-end Index headset for $1,000. HTC also sells the Vive Cosmos in a range of configurations with its core system priced $700.

For 2020, HP seems to be hoping to get ahead of demand by opening pre-orders for its $600 Reverb G2 the same day as announcing the device, with plans to ship it this fall. This new design seems to carry features drawn from some of the best of both Valve and Facebook worlds and HP designers feel they built a no-compromise VR headset.

For instance, G2 features the same off-ear audio speakers as Valve Index. There’s no 3.5 mm audio jack on the G2, instead featuring the same powerful speakers that are so stunning on Valve Index. And while the lenses aren’t the same as Valve Index, HP says they are using Valve’s lens technology in its design for increased clarity.

The headset features two side cameras for better controller tracking, in addition to the two front-facing cameras featured on every other Windows Mixed Reality headset. While that’s not quite the five installed on Rift S — with Facebook’s headset also featuring a top-side camera to capture over-the-head movements — we’d expect a considerable upgrade in controller tracking quality as compared to previous WMR headsets. HP says Reverb G2 features “1.4X more movement capture.”

The system also features dual microphones, a 90 hz refresh rate and a detachment cable that comes all the way up to the headset. If your computer provides enough power it can connect with USB-C and Displayport, with a Mini Displayport adapter in the box. There’s also the option for a power brick to power the headset if your PC doesn’t provide enough power.

The headset still uses Microsoft’s walk-the-headset-around-the-room setup process and there’s the standard Windows “flashlight” mode to view the world in passthrough. The on-board cameras don’t track hand movements, according to HP.

It doesn’t sound like there will be hands-on opportunities with the new headset until later this year. That means some prospective buyers will be placing pre-orders for the headset before there are hardware impressions to share. We’ll bring you the latest on the Reverb G2 as soon as we have it.

We’re curious what you think of the new VR headset from HP — let us know in the comments.

The post HP Reverb G2: 4K VR Headset With Valve Audio/Lenses, Touch-Like Controllers, & IPD Slider For $600 appeared first on UploadVR.

May 23, 2020

Rumor: Leaked HP Reverb G2 Images Show Four-camera Tracking, New Controllers

Images published by known Microsoft leaker ‘WalkingCat’ have revealed a new VR headset sporting the HP logo, which looks very similar to the company’s previously revelead G2 Windows VR headset teased back in March.

First announced as a collaboration between HP, Valve, and Microsoft, the new G2 is said to be a “more immersive, comfortable and compatible VR experience,” an HP spokesperson told Road to VR in late March.

At the time, we hadn’t seen more than a shrouded image of G2. If the image below can be believed though, we have a bit more information on our hands as to what the G2 may actually entail.

pic.twitter.com/g71tL0Oo78

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 23, 2020

Much like Oculus Rift S, the supposed HP headset appears to have four camera sensors, two front-facing, and two on the sides, which would hypothetically allow for a wider controller tracking volume. This, we surmise, could mean it uses the Windows MR tracking standard, and would be the first to do so with four ‘inside-out’ sensors instead of two.

A physical IPD slider can also be seen in the lower left-hand corner of the headset, something HP’s Reverb headset didn’t have when it finally launched in 2019.

The headset also appears to use two very Oculus Touch-like motion controllers, which are seemingly more ergonomic than the ones previously bundled with Windows MR headsets; the button placement suggests its offers input parity with Touch and HTC Vive Cosmos.

Windows MR controllers were largely maligned for poor tracking and flawed ergonomics when the first set of headsets launched in late 2017, so seeing a more refined design could be a smart step forward, should the images be believed.

WalkingCat has a history of authentic leaks, including some of the first photos of HoloLens 2 before it was revealed. That said, the photos may also be unofficial renders that could be no more than educated guesses at what HP has up their sleeves. We don’t have independent confirmation so we’re taking this as a rumor for now.

The post Rumor: Leaked HP Reverb G2 Images Show Four-camera Tracking, New Controllers appeared first on Road to VR.

May 23, 2020

Apparent Leak: HP & Valve’s New WMR Headset With Side Cams, IPD, New Controls

Prolific Microsoft leaker WalkingCat just Tweeted what seems to be images of HP & Valve’s upcoming new WMR headset and Microsoft’s new VR controllers.

“WalkingCat” has a long history of accurate Microsoft leaks, revealing some of the company’s products and services in the past.

In late March, just after the release of Half-Life: Alyx, HP announced Reverb G2 – a “next generation” headset for SteamVR being built in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft. Not many details were given at the time other than a dark frontal image, and no further details have been officially given since.

Brightening that image showed what looked like the Valve Index’s near-off-ear speakers. WalkingCat’s image seems to show the same.

But that official image only showed the front, so the side and underside of the headset wasn’t visible.

WalkingCat’s photo shows the headset having side cameras and a knob that looks almost identical to the Valve Index’s lens separation adjuster.

In fact, the padding on the front and back of the headset also looks like Index’s. Valve is a partner on this headset, so it would seem like a good idea to reuse these high quality parts.

The apparent next gen Windows MR controllers are shown to ditch the touchpads and change to a more ergonomic design, making them look strikingly similar to Facebook’s Oculus Touch controllers.

This move would help developers because they could use their existing Oculus control scheme instead of needing a WMR-specific input approach.

Assuming this leak is real and HP prices the headset competitively, this headset could be exactly what the PC VR market needs.

Facebook offers Rift S at $400, but its build quality is low, it lacks lens separation adjustment, and the built in audio is low quality. Valve’s Index offers a wider field of view, higher refresh rate, full lens adjustment, premium audio, and controllers you can let go of- but at $1000 the kit’s appeal is price limited.

Windows MR headsets like the existing Reverb and Samsung Odyssey+ haven’t seen much market appeal, with the entire platform making up just 8.5% of SteamVR in April. A core criticism has been the use of only two tracking cameras, which limits the range of controller motion possible in games.

The headset shown in this leak could be the “middle ground” headset many PC VR gamers have been waiting for- avoiding the compromises of Rift S but staying affordably by not using SteamVR Tracking.

As with all leaks, take these images with a huge grain of salt. Even if they are real, they may not reflect the current state of the product. We’ll keep a close eye on HP, Microsoft, and Valve in the coming weeks to bring you any official information.

The post Apparent Leak: HP & Valve’s New WMR Headset With Side Cams, IPD, New Controls appeared first on UploadVR.

March 23, 2020

HP Teases New Reverb G2 Headset Made in Collaboration with Valve

HP today announced it is building a new VR headset, called Reverb G2, in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft.

There’s very little to go on, as the only thing available right now is a single teaser video. Here it is, in all its ambiguous glory:

HP also left us with this statement, which may give us at least one clue as to what we’re seeing here:

“Through this collaboration, Valve, Microsoft and HP are bringing a more immersive, comfortable and compatible VR experience,” an HP spokesperson told Road to VR.

Healthy speculation: by the looks of it, the Reverb G2 may make use of Microsoft’s Windows MR optical inside-out tracking, which is available on a host of Windows MR headsets dating back to the first generation of devices in 2017, including the original HP Reverb.

Launched just last summer and aimed at enterprise users, the HP Reverb was an impressive piece of kit despite the compromises on its generally tepid Windows tracking quality and aging WMR controllers. It includes 2,160 × 2,160 per-display resolution, which is a big step up over the next highest resolution headsets in the same class—the Valve Index, showcasing a resolution of 1,440 × 1,600 per display, and HTC Vive Pro’s dual 1,440 × 1,600 AMOLEDs, making the OG Reverb an impressively pixel-dense headset.

The “more compatible” part of the statement however might just point to the inclusion of SteamVR tracking as a secondary standard, embedded within the headset’s exterior. Windows MR headsets are already compatible with SteamVR by default, and their controllers have a standard input layout, so making it “more compatible” from a software perspective seems like a moot point.

Here’s a better look, brightened for clarity.

If it includes SteamVR tracking, where are the dimples then? Although HTC Vive and more recently Vive Cosmos Elite contain characteristically dimpled faceplates for SteamVR tracking, Valve’s Index has them invisibly embedded, so there’s no telling what lurks underneath that front portion of the headset.

Another bit of speculation: the headset’s integrated audio looks strikingly similar to Valve Index’s, which might suggest an off-ear headphone design. Should that be the case, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that they’ve also borrowed some of Valve’s optics as well.

Virtuix And HP Sponsor $100,000 Prize Pool For Omni Arena VR Esports

Virtuix and HP announced that Omni Arena experiences will host a $100,000 VR esports prize pool in 2020, doubling the prize pool from this year. Omni Arena is a VR esports attraction that straps users into a harness while in VR and allows them to run on the spot in a treadmill-like manner, affording them free multi-directional movement in the game world.

Omni Arena attractions are available to the public in 12 different countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, UK and the USA. You can view the full list of available locations on their site.

omni arena vr

The prize pool is shared globally across all locations, and will likely be split across the year in various small contests that run for limited amounts of time. For example, the current schedule for 2019 shows a contest running from October 24-27 for the game Core Defense, which you play in a team of 2. To compete, you just have to play the eligible game during the contest period at any of the Omni Arena locations. Your team’s scores will be placed on the global leaderboard, and there are cash prizes for the top global leaderboard rankings during the contest period.

For this upcoming tournament next week, first prize is $1,000 and an HTC Vive system. This year, the total prize pool was $50,000 across the year. With that amount doubled in 2020, you can expect some even higher cash prizes or more frequent tournaments.

To see upcoming tournaments for the remainder of 2019, you can visit the Omniverse site. Will you be participating in one of the contests next year? Have you tried the Omni Arena system before? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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October 23, 2019

HP and Virtuix Sponsor $100,000 VR Esports Tournament

Virtuix, the company behind the Omni VR treadmill, has partnered with HP to offer a prize pool of $100,000 for its upcoming 2020 Omni Arena series, the company’s annual VR esports competition.

First introduced by Virtuix back in 2016, Omni Arena is a VR esports attraction featuring four Omni VR treadmills. Offering weekly and monthly contests, four-player teams are pitted against each other to top the global leaderboard playing Omni Arena exclusive VR shooters such as Elite, Core Defense, Hardpoint, and VRZ Tournament.

Now the new prize pool amount is double that of the 2019 Omni Arena series, which included a cash prize pool of $50,000.

As a part of the partnership, winning teams will also receive an HP Reverb VR headset in addition to cash prizes in 2020.

In 2019, more than 1,000 players in over a dozen countries participated, founder and CEO of Virtuix Jan Goetgeluk says in a press statement.

One of the guiding ideas behind the company’s esports tournament is to provide users a reason to come back to location-based entertainment facilities, and thus drive higher repeat play.

“A $100,000 prize pool attracts gamers who play again and again. Our core players come back to compete every week,” Goetgeluk says.

If you’re interested in participating, check out are the official participating locations across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.

The post HP and Virtuix Sponsor $100,000 VR Esports Tournament appeared first on Road to VR.

August 20, 2019

Visually stunning HP Omen X 27 HDR TN display closes color gap with IPS monitors

The HP Omen X 27 could prove to be the sweet spot for gamers everywhere. At a 1440p resolution, it's blazingly fast, with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. Better yet, its HDR support really helps colors pop.

August 5, 2019

HP drops $540 off HP Omen 17t gaming laptop. throws in a free Mindframe headset

HP began its back-to-school deals early by offering discounts on Omen gaming laptops in July.. Now, you can now score an HP Omen 17t gaming laptop, plus a free Omen Mindframe headset, for just $1,060 with the promo code BTSSTACK10.