Vivecon 2021 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

May 12, 2021

Eye Tracking is Coming to Vive Focus 3 & Vive Pro 2 Q3 2021

It’s been a big week for virtual reality (VR) hardware announcements thanks to HTC Vive’s very first ViveCon 2021 event. The all-in-one Vive Focus 3 was finally unveiled after much teasing whilst the big surprise was the Vive Pro 2, HTC new flagship PC headset. While both devices have plenty of tech built-in one thing they don’t have is eye-tracking which will be made available later in the year as an addon.

Eye-tracking will come by way of Chinese company 7invensun whose technology VRFocus has previously come across in Pimax and other headsets. 7invensun’s involvement wasn’t part of the main ViveCon Keynote yesterday, instead revealed by HTC China President Alvin Wang Graylin who confirmed that the Droolon F2 eye-tracking module would be available for customers in Q3 2021, priced at $299 USD.

That’s double the price of the company’s previous eye-tracking module which was available for HTC Vive headsets retailing at $149. What’s more unusual is the fact that neither headset has eye-tracking natively built-in considering the HTC Vive Pro Eye has been available for several years now. Especially where the Vive Focus 3 is concerned. The standalone headset is purely aimed at the enterprise market which is where eye-tracking would be most applicable, offering analytics and training use cases. The Vive Pro 2 bridges both the consumer/enterprise markets so keeping the cost down is understandable, plus very little content actually uses eye-tracking.

Graylin’s Tweet also mentions that the Droolon F2 eye-tracking module will be available in ‘most markets’. Considering 7invensun’s tech has mostly been for the Chinese market the launch could be the first time customers in Europe and the US can easily acquire its eye-tracking. Vive Focus 3 and Pro 2 owners will have to wait a few months to find out.

The eye-tracking module adds to the ever-growing list of accessories for the HTC Vive platform. The most recent additions include the Vive Tracker 3.0 and the Vive Facial Tracker. If you want a VR platform with lots of accessory options then HTC Vive has definitely got you covered.

7invensun has a long history with HTC Vive being one of the startups involved in the Vive X accelerator programme. As further updates on other hardware partners are released, VRFocus will let you know.

May 11, 2021

The 5K, 120° FoV HTC Vive Pro 2 Starts From £659, Available June

It’s the start of ViveCon 2021 and as expected HTC Vive has some big hardware news lined up. With reports initially teasing a possible HTC Vive Pro 2 the keynote today has confirmed its existence as well as plenty of juicy details including price, launch date and some very exciting specifications.

The Vive Pro 2 will be HTC’s new flagship virtual reality (VR) headset. It’s still tethered to a PC but it comes with a range of improvements to enhance your gaming experience. So yes, the Vive Pro 2 is going to be for consumer and enterprise customers alike. Mostly retaining the same shape and style as the original Vive Pro, the 2021 model now comes with a striking Black/Blue design – two colour combos seem to be a new fashion trend.

As for what’s inside, the Vive Pro 2 now boasts a 5K resolution, fast-switching panel with real RGB sub-pixels display delivering 2.5K to both eyes. The refresh rate has been upped to 120Hz for buttery smooth gaming, plus there’s even more to see as a new bespoke dual stacked-lens design provides a 120-degree field-of-view (FoV).

Inter-pupillary distance (IPD) is still manually adjustable to fine increments, the quick-adjustable sizing dial at the back remains, and HTC has ensured the weight balance is evenly distributed so the Vive Pro 2 should be comfortable for longer gameplay sessions. While it supports third-party headphones the Vive Pro 2 comes with its own Hi-Res Audio Certified headphones so you’re ready to go right out of the box.

“At ViveCon we redefined premium VR for both businesses and consumers, with stunning 5K resolution and 120-degree field of view setting a new benchmark for PC VR and all-in-One headsets. Vive Pro 2 delivers an amazing immersive experience, with beautifully fluid visuals, comfort, and precise tracking, for when every pixel and polygon counts,” said Graham Wheeler, HTC VIVE EMEA General Manager in a statement.

The Vive Pro 2 is fully compatible with the SteamVR ecosystem, working with 1.0 and 2.0 Base Stations, Vive Wireless Adapter, Vive controllers, and the Valve Index controllers. Plus, all generations of the Vive Tracker and the new Vive Facial Tracker will work with the headset.

HTC Vive will be selling the Vive Pro 2 in both kit and headset-only forms. If you already have a SteamVR setup and wish to upgrade then pre-orders are going live today, with a special discount promotion during the pre-order period offering the device for £659 GBP/ $749 USD/ €739 EUR. The Vive Pro 2 will officially launch on 3rd June 2021. The full HTC Vive Pro 2 kit will go on sale in August, retailing for £1299 / $1399 / €1399. It’ll include the Vive controllers and Base Station 2.0.

For continued updates from ViveCon 2021, keep reading VRFocus.

May 11, 2021

Vive Focus 3 is HTC’s New Business AIO Headset With 5K & 120° FoV

The time has finally come for HTC Vive to reveal what its been teasing these last few weeks. As expected it’s a new all-in-one (AIO) headset designed for the enterprise market, the Vive Focus 3. The third-generation of HTC Vive’s standalone Vive Focus product line, the new device strikes a very different aesthetic to its predecessor, the Vive Focus Plus.

As a standalone headset for companies looking for the best quality virtual reality (VR) experience with any cables, the Vive Focus 3 certainly has the stats to raise a few eyebrows. Offering users 5K resolution from dual 2.5K displays with fast-switching panels combined with real RGB subpixels, there shouldn’t be any worry when it comes to the screendoor effect. This is in addition to a 90Hz refresh rate and a wider 120-degree field of view (FoV) to make collaborating with colleagues even more immersive.

The images showcase a radically overhauled design, with the magnesium alloy frame 20% lighter and 500% stronger than traditional plastics. There’s a new strap design with the weight balanced for premium comfort. Part of that is thanks to the rear-mounted battery which can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes plus there’s a power indicator so you know how much charge is left. And for the first time ever, the Vive Focus 3’s battery is swappable, so users can keep a spare on charge for those longer VR sessions.

Other features include a manual inter-pupillary distance adjustment between 57mm to 72mm, quick release magnetic front and rear face gaskets for easy cleaning, and new open-back speakers featuring a pair of dual drivers. Built into the side arms, the speakers are contact free so users can still hear the outside world whilst a special audio privacy setting means that VR meetings can’t be heard by others in the room.

All of this is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform with the Vive Focus 3 able to provide accurate inside-out tracking for its four cameras which utilise an AI algorithm. Rounding out the feature set are a new pair of 6DoF controllers which have built-in batteries providing 15 hours of use per charge. HTC Vive has also confirmed that Vive Focus 3 will support hand tracking in the future.

“Vive Focus 3 heralds a new era of business VR – crafted for stunning visuals while also being durable and lightweight, with superior comfort and ease of use. Our new VIVE Business solutions make it easier than ever for an organisation to use VR, so whether it’s a small start-up or a multinational, everyone can benefit from the transformative potential of VR.”

As an enterprise-only device, the Vive Focus 3 will go on sale from 24th June, retailing for £1060 GBP/ $1300 USD/ €1180 EUR – the price includes 24-month Vive Business Warranty and Services. Don’t forget to check out HTC’s other new headset, the Vive Pro 2, and for further updates from ViveCon 2021 keep reading VRFocus.

May 5, 2021

Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 Will Supposedly Be Revealed at ViveCon 2021

There’s been a reasonable amount of teasing info released regarding HTC Vive’s plans for its first ViveCon event next week, with it being a given that a new virtual reality (VR) headset will be revealed. However, there have been hints that more than one device will feature, with a new report indicating that HTC plans to unveil Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 headsets, both firmly geared towards enterprise use cases if the pricing is accurate.

In documents reportedly seen by Protocol, HTC will be announcing the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition, the next iteration of its standalone headset range, and the Vive Pro 2, continuing its line of tethered PC VR headsets. Prices then briefly appeared on an e-commerce website called Alzashop which supposedly listed the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition for €1,474 ($1,771), whilst the Pro 2 retailed for €842 ($1,012). If they’re even remotely accurate then HTC is most definitely looking at the business end of the market.

This would certainly track considering HTC’s recent Twitter teases which said: “Now that the accessories are out of the way, let’s get down to business.” Referring to the recent launch of the new Vive Tracker and Vive Facial Tracker. Plus there’s the little mention on the ViveCon website that it’ll feature “game-changing VR headsets.” While no specifications have been released just yet Protocol does mention that the devices will be available at the end of May.

There’s now less than a week to go until ViveCon 2021 and if you wanted any more confirmation of HTC Vive’s focus towards enterprise use cases then look no further than the event session talks. These are all geared around collaboration, training, health, design, and the arts. The only one even remotely gaming-oriented is location-based entertainment (LBE) so there could be some surprises there.

Plus, if you sign-up for the event you’ll be in with a chance of winning “a next-level Vive VR system” the website proudly mentions, so that’s always a bonus.

ViveCon 2021 runs from 11th May at 5 pm BST until 12 May, with day one focused on the keynote and day two hosting all the developer sessions. For further updates as they come in, keep reading VRFocus.

May 5, 2021

Report: HTC To Announce Vive Focus 3, Vive Pro 2 At ViveCon

According to a report from Protocol, HTC will unveil two new headsets at ViveCon next week – the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition and Vive Pro 2.

Protocol found mentions of both devices in company documents, and reports that both were also briefly listed on Alzashop, a European ecommerce site.

The Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will be a standalone enterprise headset following up the Vive Focus Plus, while the Vive Pro 2 will be a high-end PC VR successor to the original Vive Pro.

According to the Alzashop pages, the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will retail for €1,474 (approximately $1770) and the Vive Pro 2 for €842 (approximately $1012). Protocol reports that both devices will be available to purchase by the end of the month.

HTC has been teasing hardware announcements for the last few weeks and confirmed it would unveil “game-changing” VR headsets at ViveCon next week, which runs from May 11-12.

Most recently, promotional GIFs gave a look at some of the upcoming hardware, including a view of the front of a headset and its tracking cameras, embedded above.

HTC’s previous comments suggested its standalone headset would not be a Quest competitor. This lines up with the Protocol report, which indicates that the Vive Focus 3 is aimed at an enterprise market and, priced somewhere around $1700, comes nowhere close to the Quest 2’s $299 starting price, and still more than double the $799 starting price of the Quest 2 business edition.

The Vive Pro 2 looks to be a successor to the original Vive Pro, which was mostly discontinued in March 2020, spare for a few Vive Pro Eye models.

Keep an eye out for more information next week at ViveCon – or more leaks before then.

May 4, 2021

Report: HTC to Announce Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 Next Week

A report from Protocol, citing undisclosed “company documents” from HTC, claims that the company will reveal two new headsets during the VIVECON event next week: Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2.

Following HTC’s teases about the upcoming reveal of “game-changing VR headsets,” Protocol claims the company plans to reveal the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition and Vive Pro 2 headsets. The publication cites “company documents,” and sightings of the headsets on the European ecommerce site Alzashop, apparently now removed. The report says the listings indicated both headsets could launch by May 20th.

Pricing was also shown on the listings, with the Vive Focus 3 set at €1,474 ($1,771), and the Vive Pro 2 at €842 ($1,012), though headsets leaked through similar listings in the past haven’t always been right about the price or release date.

Road to VR has reached out to HTC for comment on the Protocol report.

At a minimum, the information sounds sensible. Vive Focus is HTC’s standalone headset line. While the company never formally launched a ‘Vive Focus 2’, it may simply be considering the Vive Focus Plus enough of a sequel to the original to jump to a Vive Focus 3.

The claim of a Vive Pro 2 is interesting, and could mark a reversal for HTC. The company was distancing itself from its Vive Pro PC VR headsets in favor of Vive Cosmos, though Cosmos has had a very tough time competing with the latest generation of headsets. A Vive Pro 2 could signal that HTC is leaning back into the SteamVR ecosystem (whereas Vive Cosmos was the first PC VR headset from the company with its own inside-out tracking system).

If the Protocol report is correct, we got our first clear glimpse of one of these two headsets from HTC earlier this week:

In both cases we’d be curious to know what HTC will do on the controller front. Vive Focus Plus used ultrasonic controllers that weren’t well regarded in terms of tracking performance. Meanwhile, most of the company’s PC VR headsets have relied on the quite dated Vive ‘wand’ controllers. Even if the headsets are great, the controllers are an important selling point, and we’d hope to see a competitive offering from HTC.

It seems we’ll know one way or another soon enough, as HTC is expected to announce its new headsets on May 11th next week during its Vivecon event.

The post Report: HTC to Announce Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 Next Week appeared first on Road to VR.

May 4, 2021

New HTC Vive Headset Could Be Enterprise-Focused, Promotion Suggests

The new headset HTC Vive is currently teasing ahead of next week’s ViveCon event could be an enterprise-focused device, a promotional tweet suggests.

The tweet, captured by VR YouTuber, VR Oasis (and viewable on Facebook too) reads: “Ready to work in virtual reality? Discover what this transformative technology can do for your business.” It’s complete with a link to the ViveCon site, for which one of the headset teasers serves as the featured image.

Set your expectations accordingly pic.twitter.com/fh1dbPsyBF

— Mike – VRO (@vr_oasis) May 4, 2021

While nothing specifically confirms that the headset itself will be enterprise-only, the wording makes it pretty clear that this area will be a big focus of ViveCon, and the event’s speaker line-up is comprised almost exclusively of enterprise-focused figureheads.

Plus, previous comments from the company do suggest the headset could be squarely aimed at that market. Earlier this year HTC’s Alvin Wang Graylin confirmed the company would release a new standalone headset in 2021 but cautioned that it wasn’t really a competitor to the Oculus Quest. That made a focus on enterprise seem likely, especially considering that the company’s last standalone, the HTC Vive Focus, released as an enterprise-only device in North America and Europe.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there will be no consumer-focused VR announcements at ViveCon in May 11th and 12th, though. As we reported last week, the event’s official page suggests that there may be more than one headset reveal at the show. Could we perhaps see one device that’s focused on enterprise, like the current Focus and Pro lines, and another addition to the consumer-focused line that Cosmos currently serves? We’ll have to wait until next week to find out.

May 3, 2021

New Teasing Headset Images Appear Before ViveCon 2021

HTC’s ViveCon 2021 event takes place next week. It’s set to feature hardware announcements including a new virtual reality (VR) headset, with plenty of teasing going on beforehand. If you’ve signed up for the show then you should’ve gotten a few emails by now detailing developer sessions as well as a several interesting gifs. These look to provide new angles of the aforementioned headset.

As you can see these are tightly cropped images providing just a brief glimpse at the new all-in-one (AIO) headset HTC Vive plans to show off during ViveCon 2021’s keynote address. HTC China President Alvin Wang Graylin has previously confirmed: “that we will release a new AIO this year [2021]” so what you can see here are tracking cameras and what looks to be a vent to dissipate heat from the processor.

The renders certainly present a very sleek-looking design, with none of the fabric that appeared on the Vive Air concept. While inside-out tracking is a given, features such as manual IPD adjustment and built-in audio are still unknown.

What’s unclear is if these images belong to one headset or possibly two. While they don’t appear to resemble the previous Project Proton shots, the ViveCon website does mention: “Take a front-row seat at the VR event of the year as HTC VIVE unveils game-changing VR headsets.” So there could very well be two devices appearing next week. And if that is the case, HTC Vive could be splitting them between consumer and enterprise markets.

The company has been focusing on business use cases of late, from the Vive Pro Eye with Tobii eye-tracking or the Vive Focus Plus standalone, to the more recent Vive Facial Tracker. Those who hope HTC Vive will come out with a viable competitor to Facebook’s Oculus Quest might be disappointed as Graylin has said: “I don’t think I’d position it as a Quest competitor.” If it isn’t a consumer device then expect HTC Vive’s pricing to reflect that position, possibly looking to cement a position away from Facebook’s mainstream appeal.

Either way, all will be revealed on 11th May at 5pm BST. As those details are announced, VRFocus will let you know.

May 3, 2021

HTC Shows New Angles Of Upcoming VR Headset Ahead of ViveCon

HTC is giving even more teases of a new VR headset with some more GIFs giving a look at the headset’s form factor.

Three new GIFs are circulating that give different views of the unannounced headset. The first, from a promotional email sent by HTC, seems to show the bottom and underside of the front panel of the headset.

The next two GIFs show a corner of the headset featuring what looks to be a tracking camera, and an unidentifiable grill, perhaps from the underside of the headset.

The first proper tease for a new headset came from HTC around a month ago, which showed what looks to be the corner of a headset and a tracking camera, The teaser image was paired with a tweet that said it was time to “get down to business”, perhaps implying the headset will be enterprise-focused and not a general consumer device.

Earlier this year, President of Vive in China Alvin Wang Graylin said that HTC would “release a new AIO [all-in-one] this year” but that he didn’t think it would be positioned as a Quest competitor. If the new headset that HTC has been teasing is in fact a standalone headset aimed at enterprise, this would line up with Graylin’s comments — while the Quest does have a business variant, it is primarily a consumer-focused standalone.

We’re set to learn more about this unannounced headset — and perhaps more — very soon at ViveCon on May 11 and 12. Stay tuned for the news when it drops and perhaps more teasers before then.

April 12, 2021

HTC Vive has Announced Vivecon 2021 in May

There’s excitement in the air thanks to HTC Vive at the moment. After a teasing headset tweet last week followed by a blog post (more on that below), today HTC Vive has announced Vivecon 2021, an event set to take place in May that could well see an official all-in-one (AIO) headset reveal.

This is going to be the very first Vivecon and HTC Vive isn’t giving much away at the moment, only confirming the date as 11th – 12th May 2021. Giving the current situation with live events this is very much expected to be a purely virtual show, probably in a similar vein to the 2020 Vive Ecosystem Conference (HTC 2020 VEC) which was held entirely in VR Education’s ENGAGE platform. In fact, the platform is part of the Vive XR Suite which officially launched last year with the capabilities to host big virtual conferences.

Digging in a little deeper, the Vivecon 2021 image definitely resembles the curve of a virtual reality (VR) headset so it’s now looking like the official reveal of HTC Vive’s next device is just a month away. Also, there’s the small fact of HTC Vive’s recent proclivity towards plenty of teasing reveals for new hardware. There’s been the Vive Tracker 3.0 and Facial Tracker, then the above image which hinted a first look at a (possible) headset.

Plus there was this little beauty (below) that just dropped onto HTC Vive’s Blog with the title “VR Headset?” Followed by “VR Headset – Confirmed.” There’s not much to be gleaned from the image, but you can see the indent from the top central strap plus the side straps and back do seem to be ridged – so no soft strap here like Oculus Quest 2.

Many are expecting HTC Vive’s new standalone headset to be enterprise-focused, much like the Vive Focus Plus. If that is the case then it remains to be seen if Vivecon 2021 is going to be more of a business-led event with networking and presentations gearing towards XR professionals or whether it’ll entail a consumer arc with videogame announcements and such.

Hopefully, there will be plenty of surprises in store at Vivecon 2021, so mark it in your diary and when further details arrive, VRFocus will let you know.