pimax frontier – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

October 19, 2021

Pimax to Unveil its Next-Gen Tech at Frontier 2021 Event Next Week

October has already seen quite the influx of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware announcements and that trend doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon. Originally due to take place tomorrow, Chinese VR headset maker Pimax’s upcoming event “Pimax Frontier” will now be held next week, just a few days before Facebook Connect, promising a showcase of its next-generation technology.

Pimax VISION 8K X w_ deluxe modular audio head strap — Pimax Vision 8K X with optional Deluxe Headphone Strap

Pimax has made a name for itself in the VR space with its wide field of view (FoV) headsets which currently include the 5K Super and the flagship 8KX, both of which feature a massive 200-degree FoV. The Pimax Frontier conference will be about unveiling its next generation of VR, what the company dubs VR 3.0. Originally, Pimax’s VR 1.0 era saw the company launch its first headset, the Pimax 4K, in 2015. This was then followed up from 2017 onwards with the latest roster of devices, or the VR 2.0 era.

So by that information alone, Pimax is guaranteed to be revealing a new VR headset (or headsets) of some sort. In a press release, the company notes: “VR 3.0 provides a totally immersive experience, and will focus on three points: naturalness, freedom and self-awareness.” VRFocus would expect Pimax to maintain its wide FoV hallmark, if it does then it’ll buck the current trend of making smaller, lighter headsets that are trying to cater to the consumer market.

Additionally, the Pimax Frontier event won’t purely be focused on hardware, it’ll also delve into its own software ecosystem. The Pimax store is set to reveal new partners and Pimax Studio will introduce a series of developer support initiatives.

Pimax Sword Lite controllers. Image credit Pimax

Pimax Frontier 2021 will now be held on 25th October at 10am PDT (6pm BST), viewable via YouTube here. You can also register for the conference on the official Pimax website. Registration will also put you into a draw to win a Pimax 8KX worth €1,199.00 EUR.

Last month saw Pimax finally confirm details regarding the long-awaited Sword controllers. While customers have been able to use Index controllers, the Pimax Sword Lite finally gives the company its own in-house control scheme for customers.

As details from the conference are announced, VRFocus will keep you updated.

October 15, 2021

Pimax Promises a Sneak Peek at ‘Next-gen’ VR Product on October 25th

Pimax announced its holding a product event on October 25th that will introduce a next-gen VR headset, something that the company promises will be “several generations ahead of anything currently on the market.”

The event, dubbed Frontier 2021, was originally set to take place on October 20th, however since its general announcement Pimax has moved the event to October 25th, or just three days before Facebook’s yearly Connect VR developer conference.

Pimax says in an email to press that Frontier 2021 will “showcase the Pimax product roadmap, related technologies, the vision of VR3.0, and a sneak peak of code name “Reality”: a new product that’s several generations ahead of anything currently on the market.”

A proper unveiling of ‘Reality’ is said to take place at CES 2022 in January. The name, Pimax says, “should give you an indication of the power of this product.”

You’ll be able to follow along with the announcements in a livestream on YouTube, taking place at 10 AM PT on October 25th (local time here). If the company’s other VR headsets are any indication, ‘Reality’ may be another wide-FOV, high-resolution headset.

Pimax isn’t alone in the Techtober XR product reveals. This month has already seen the unveiling of HTC’s standalone Vive Flow and Magic Leap 2. High-end headset creator Varjo is also holding a product launch event on October 21st.

Notably, Pimax shifted Frontier 2021 to be even closer to Facebook Connect, the latter of which is coming in a single-day event on October 28th. There we may get a peek at the rumored Oculus Quest Pro in addition to hearing more about the company’s recently revealed prototypes, which ought to make for some interesting points of comparison.

The post Pimax Promises a Sneak Peek at ‘Next-gen’ VR Product on October 25th appeared first on Road to VR.

October 12, 2021October 18, 2021

Update: Pimax To Host Online Conference, Pimax Frontier, On October 25

Pimax revealed plans for a new online conference, called Pimax Frontier 2021, where it says it will reveal details about its future roadmap and tease a new product code-named ‘Reality’.

Update: Pimax Frontier has been pushed back from October 20 to October 25, but will still take place online and be available worldwide. Original story follows below.

According to an email from Pimax to potential attendees, this conference will go over the company’s Pimax product roadmap and “related technologies,” alongside “the vision of VR3.0” and a sneak peek of their next product, which is referred to by the name ‘Reality’ in the email. The effort is referred to as “a new product that’s several generations ahead of anything currently on the market.”

Don’t expect a full announcement just yet — Pimax says that Frontier will only feature a “sneak peek” of Reality and that CES 2022 will see the full “formal unveiling” of the new product. CES is the largest annual Western technology conference and the 2022 event is scheduled to take place on January 5-8, 2022 in Las Vegas.

At CES 2020, Pimax announced a 180Hz ‘5K SUPER’ headset — an enhanced version of Pimax’s main offering, the 5K Plus. While Valve’s Index controllers are compatible with Pimax headsets, the company’s own controllers, the long-delayed Sword Lite VR controllers, entered mass production last month, with the aim to begin shipping this month. This will make good on a promise from Pimax’s 2017 Kickstarter, where backers could pay an extra $200 for rudimentary VR controllers to go with its “8K” ultra-wide field of view VR headset.

The company has a long history of shipping delays and in the past we’ve recommended treating orders, particularly ones for products that don’t yet have a ship date, as more like backing a Kickstarter than placing an order. For those interested in attending Pimax Frontier, sign-ups are available now online.