Category: windows 10

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Oculus Adjusts Min and Rec Spec for VR, Platform Moves to Windows 10

Windows 10 has been out for a while, with Microsoft launching the operating system (OS) back in 2015. Oculus has supported the most current OS alongside its older brethren Windows 7 and 8.1 since the Oculus Rift arrived, however that’s going to start to change from today with the company announcing that Windows 10 will now be the minimum and recommended spec for running virtual reality (VR) experiences.

Oculus Rift and Touch Controllers Bundle Environment

As Oculus continues to advance and upgrade the core experience for users this means staying up to date with Windows 10 to power the full Oculus Rift experience. The company states that most headset owners already run Windows 10 (citing 95 percent) so the change shouldn’t affect that many.

For those who do still run Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 they’ll still be able to use their Oculus Rift just as they’ve always done. However, with Microsoft support deprecating for Windows 7 and 8.1 so will Oculus’. This means many new and upcoming apps and features might not be supported as time goes on, especially when it comes to Rift Core 2.0.

Again, that core functionality including things like responding to platform notifications, interacting with friends on the platform, and managing your device will be available but options like Oculus Desktop require Windows 10, and Dash will not be able to run as an overlay.

Oculus Rift

So naturally Oculus recommends upgrading to Windows 10 if you haven’t done so already. For those who aren’t sure what hardware they have then head on over to Oculus’ compatibility check tool to see if your computer meets the minimum or recommended system specs.

Here are Oculus’ newly refined Min and Rec specs:

Rec Spec

  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater
  • Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
  • CPU: Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater
  • Memory: 8GB+ RAM
  • Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
  • USB Ports: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port
  • OS: Windows 10 operating system

Min Spec

  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti / AMD Radeon RX 470 or greater
  • Alternative Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or greater
  • CPU: Intel i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, FX4350 or greater
  • Memory: 8GB+ RAM
  • Video Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
  • USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 port, plus 2x USB 2.0 ports
  • OS: Windows 10 operating system

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Oculus, reporting back with the latest updates.

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Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR Leaves Early Access in April Update

It wasn’t long after Microsoft launched the Windows Mixed Reality headset system that the company integrated Valve’s SteamVR platform, allowing users access to more content. When that arrived in November 2017 it was only in a beta form, today however Microsoft has now confirmed integration will be leaving its ‘early access’ phase with the latest Windows April 2018 update.

Windows Mixed Reality Headsets New

In a blog posting today, Microsoft has detailed that not only is full SteamVR compatibility on its way but also that it’s “improved our integration with haptic motion controller feedback.” So any of those virtual reality (VR) titles you’ve been playing that seemed to have weak or none existent haptic feedback should now be noticeable.   

Also on the mixed reality (MR) headset front, the company has now ensured it’s easier to take photos of your favourite mixed reality experiences, all you need to do is hold the Windows button and tap the trigger. Additionally, for those who love their personal VR space, it’s now simpler to personalise and manipulate content inside of Cliff House, or choose the new location Skyloft to make your own.

If you don’t have one of the Windows Mixed Reality headsets from Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, HP, Acer or Asus, you can still get in on the MR fun with animations in Mixed Reality Viewer. Using the Remix 3D button you can find animated objects that can then be dropped into your video, or find one click animations to make static 3D objects come to life.

While Microsoft states that the update is available today that’s only partially true. If you’re an advanced PC user and know what you’re doing then you can manually check for updates which should add the update right away. Generally Windows will actually do this anyway, it just takes a bit longer with a worldwide user roll-out from 8th May onwards.

The lineup of videogames has for Windows Mixed Reality headsets has steadily improved in recent months, with the likes of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR now available plus new titles such as Beat Saber on their way. As further updates are released, VRFocus will keep you informed.

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Latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build Breaks Windows Mixed Reality

If you are part of the Windows Insider Program in the Fast ring and use Windows Mixed Reality (MR) you might want to hold off on updating to the preview build 17112.

Windows 10 Mixed Reality key art

The Windows 10 Insider Program is designed to offer users a chance to test out the latest builds of Windows 10 before they are released to the general public. There are two sections to the Insider Program which offer users different access to builds. The Slow ring is for those who want to test builds that are pretty much ready for release with the Fast ring being the front of the testing program. It is in this Fast ring that build 17112 has been released and with it the problem that Windows MR is not working has been encountered.

As to be expected in any testing program, problems may and will occur but for build 17112 it seems that Microsoft have pushed it out to the Fast ring in full knowledge of the Windows MR problem. Writing on the Windows Experience Blog, Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc write: “There are two issues impacting the usability of Windows Mixed Reality on this build. Windows Mixed Reality runs at a very low frame rate (8-10fps) that could result in some physical discomfort. And there are multiple crashes at startup that will cause Windows Mixed Reality to not work.”

Windows 10 Pause Updates

If you are a Windows MR user then for now it would be best to hold off on updating to build 17112. To do this, users can pause the Insider Preview builds from installing by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program and pressing the “Stop Insider Preview builds” button and choosing “Pause updates for a bit”. Though the build includes a number of fixes, improvements and general changes to Windows 10 and remains stable enough for Microsoft to release, it is a shame that Windows MR has been rendered unable.

Elsewhere in the Windows 10 build 17112 users will experience issues with the Microsoft Store which may disappear or be completely broken. When trying to open an online-only file from OneDrive that hasn’t been downloaded to your PC before then there is a chance it will lead to a crash. Movies & TV crashes when navigating to the ‘Personal’ tab and a small number of users may encounter a reboot loop due to a failed installed when upgrading to the build.

Once again, Windows Insider Program users in the Fast ring will be the only ones with access to build 17112 at the moment and if you are wanting to avoid issues with Windows MR, make sure to avoid upgrading for now.

For more on this story as it developers and other MR related stories, keep reading VRFocus.

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SteamVR für Windows Mixed Reality Headsets erst nach dem Launch

Die Ankündigung von Microsoft, SteamVR zu unterstützen, hat für Aufsehen gesorgt – immerhin steht damit eine riesige Software-Bibliothek für die jungen VR-Headsets bereit. Wenn die Kompatibilität denn da ist. Ein Sprecher von Microsoft hat nun auf der IFA 2017 geäußert, dass sich die Unterstützung verzögert. Damit hätten Kunden, die zum Launch am 17. Oktober ein Windows Mixed Reality Headset erwerben, eine deutlich eingeschränktere Auswahl an VR-Titeln.

Windows Mixed Reality: SteamVR kommt, aber später

Wie computerbase.de auf der IFA 2017 in Berlin erfahren hat, verzögert sich die SteamVR-Kompatibilität für die Windows Mixed Reality Headsets. Die Webseite beruft sich auf eine Aussage von Greg Sullivan, der für die Kommunikation im Bereich Mixed Reality bei Microsoft zuständig ist. Ein Datum, wann die Unterstützung des Valve-Shops kommt, wollte Sullivan nicht nennen.

Auf der IFA 2017 hat Microsoft den Startschuss für die Windows Mixed Reality VR-Brillen gegeben: Am 17. Oktober veröffentlich der Konzern sein Windows 10 Fall Creater Update, zeitgleich werden die VR-Headsets der Hardware-Partner erhältlich sein. Derzeit angekündigt haben Asus, Dell und Lenovo ihre Brillen, von Acer und HP lassen sich die Headsets bereits in der Entwicklerversion erwerben – allerdings noch ohne die Microsoft Touch Controller. Die Preise bewegen sich bei rund 300 US-Dollar ohne und bis zu 450 Dollar mit Controllern.

Bereits vor der IFA hat Microsoft Software-Partner vorgestellt und insgesamt 67 VR-Titel angekündigt. So soll es beispielsweise eine VR-Version des First-Person-Shooters Halo geben, einen Termin nannte Microsoft allerdings noch nicht. Gleiches gilt beispielsweise für Minecraft, SuperHot, Skyworld und andere von Microsoft angekündigten VR-Erfahrungen. Die Windows Mixed Reality Headsets basieren auf der gleichen Technik und unterscheiden sich hauptsächlich im Tragekomfort und Design. Sie konkurrieren direkt mit Oculus Rift und HTC Vive. Im Gegensatz zu den PC-Platzhirschen benötigt die Microsoft-Löung keine externe Hardware, um die Umgebung und Controller zu erkennen: Diese Aufgabe übernehmen zwei Kameras in der VR-Brille. Das vereinfacht zwar die Installation, jedoch benötigt man eine Kabelverbindung zum PC.

(Quelle: computerbase.de)

Der Beitrag SteamVR für Windows Mixed Reality Headsets erst nach dem Launch zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!