Category: Hydrogen One

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Further Details About RED Holographic Phone Display

When RED first announced its upcoming Hydrogen One smartphone, the claim that the device would come with a holographic display generated much speculation. Further information has now emerged giving an insight into how the device would function.

RED CEO Jim Jannard has revealed that the holographic display is being created in partnership with a company spun off from Hewlett Packard labs called Leia Inc. The company is mostly know for its work in light field holographic display. That the company uses light field holographic technology is a significant indicator towards what technology the Hydrogen One will be using.

Light field displays work by using several layers of LCDs with what is called a ‘directional backlight’ which allows the user to see two views of the same object with each eye, producing a 3D effect. This allows something like a phone to be rotated to appear to project an object out from the screen. The main obstacle is that viewing angles are limited.

Leia Ltd says that it uses: “Recent breakthroughs in nano-photonic design and manufacturing to provide a complete light field ‘holographic’ display solution for mobile devices.” and can produce holographic displays that can also operate like a normal smartphone display when the light field is not in operation.

A video demonstrating some of Leia Ltd light field holographic technology is available to view below.

RED are anticipating commercial release of the Hydrogen One smartphone in the first half of 2018, functional prototypes of the device are expected to appear in the next few months.

VRFocus will bring you further information on the RED Hydrogen One as it becomes available.

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RED Reveals Prototype of Holographic Smartphone

Though best known for being the makers of high-end digital cameras, RED announced last month that it was intending to enter the Smartphone market with its Hydrogen One smartphone – a device to company claims would have the capability to produce virtual reality (VR) without a headset.

The initial announcement of the upcoming smartphone had few details, but now a YouTube channel called MKBHD has managed to get its hands on several prototypes of the device, with reviewer Marques Brownlee giving them a look over.

The video first showed that the phone strongly resembled early images, which was a ‘fit and finish’ prototype with a black metal casing, a ridged side grip and dedicated camera button, along with a 5.5 inch display, and kevlar panels to improve durability and allow for good antenna signal. The back of the phone features mounting points so additional accessories and mods such as specialist camera lenses can be attached.

The video does not directly show the ‘holographic’ capabilities of the phone, since RED is holding that reveal back for now. Brownlee does say that the capability can ‘be turned off’ when not in use, and Brownlee refers to the function as ‘Deep 3D’ which seems to suggest something closer to an augmented reality (AR) or a 3D display similar to what the Nintendo 3DS uses.

RED are planning to release the smartphone for a price of $1,200 (USD). There is not currently word on what the additional modules such as camera lenses will cost. RED has also mentioned that possibility of producing additional models of the smartphone featuring different specifications and features.

You can watch the video walk through of the smartphone below.

VRFocus will bring you further information on the RED Hydrogen One smartphone as it becomes available.

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Here’s Your First Look At RED’s Upcoming ‘Holographic’ Smartphone

Here’s Your First Look At RED’s Upcoming ‘Holographic’ Smartphone

Last month RED announced its $1,200 Hydrogen One Phone, which was described as the “world’s first holographic media machine.” Today, we’re finally getting an early look at the device itself beyond the previous teaser mock-up image thanks to a video from tech-focused YouTuber Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD.

In the video Brownlee describes the multiple different prototypes of the device that he got to see, touch, and hold in person. One was just a phsical design model showing the final look and feel, one showed the holographic display in action, and the final version had an attached camera add-on. You can watch the full video right here:

When we first got word of the device it was described as a hybrid of 2D, 3D, VR, holograms, and a bunch of other stuff all in one little package. How exactly it does VR still remains to be seen, but in the video Brownlee does explain that the 3D “four-view” content he saw caused him to be “at a loss for words,” but there is no way to show it in the video. All you can see is his reaction.

We’ve collected a few shots from the video (in a gallery below,) but you should really watch the whole thing to see it in its entirety. Brownlee also has another video diving into the phone’s details a bit more. The phone is quite large even when compared to an iPhone 7+ and has a ton of screen real estate. Interestingly the material on the back and sides is reportedly Kevlar and has a very sturdy, rugged feel.

We’ll keep updating you on the RED Hydrogen One phone once we know more. Here’s the full spec sheet and in the meantime we want to hear from you: Did you drop over $1,000 pre-ordering one last month? Do you want one? You can still get one via pre-order if you’d like. Let us know down in the comments below!

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RED Announces ‘Holographic’ Smartphone, Claims VR Functionality Without a Headset

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are definitely tech buzzwords at the moment. Attaching them to products has become almost whimsical as a way to promote a product as the latest must have gadget. Which is possibly the effect professional camera company RED is going for with its latest announcement, its first smartphone called Hydrogen One, which it claims is: “the world’s first holographic media machine.” 

It supposedly does this through a 5.7″ hydrogen holographic display, which also manages to make VR headsets obsolete. Here’s the press description: “It is no longer necessary to carry (or charge) another device to enjoy multi-dimensional content. Experience ‘look around depth’ in the palm of your hand, no glasses or headsets in sight.”

RED Hydrogen One image

How does it achieve this wonder? Well that’s for RED to know and nobody else at this moment as the company hasn’t released any tech specs. Is it a hologram in the palm of your hand or more like the 3D technology in the Nintendo 3DS?

“I never believed that AR and VR would be successful as long as you needed a pair of glasses or a headset to view content. No one wants to drag around another piece of gear that has to be charged every day,” said Jim Jannard, RED chairman to Forbes. “Hydrogen opens the door to AR and VR with the one product that you carry with you all the time. We just added holography and stereo 3D for good measure.”

The image above is the only one released of the Hydrogen One, with its design based around a modular system so that future attachments can upgrade the system. It’s available to pre-order now in aluminum for $1,195 or titanium for $1,595. Set to be released in Q1 2018 with supply likely to be very limited. Those ordering will get the device from Jannard’s own personal production batch, after those have gone the company doesn’t guarantee all orders will be filled on time due to production limitations.

For any further updates on the Hydrogen One, keep reading VRFocus.