Wednesday, October 22, 2025
THE NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY XR HEADSET LOOKS TERRIFIC!
The new Samsung Galaxy XR headset with Android XR operating system (SGAXR) looks terrific from the demo presentation. It is at least $1,000 cheaper than the AVP. It comes with 256 GB, considerable software, and a a free year of Google AI Pro and YouTube Premium; plus a few other introductory free or inexpensive content packages.
I have not had a chance to test it. It is available for order today in the US & South Korea. Delivery should be about a week. Demos are available at Samsung stores.
https://www.samsung.com/us/
SPECS
256 GB Storage
6.3‑micron pixel pitch
95% DCI‑P3
Refresh rates: 60 Hz, 72 Hz (Default), 90 Hz (Up to, upon service request)
Field of View: 109 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical
18 mm / F2.0
6.5 MP*
* Resolution may vary depending on use case.
Six World-facing tracking cameras
Four Eye-tracking Cameras
Five Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)
One Depth sensor
One Flicker sensor
* Use iris recognition to unlock the device and to enter passwords in certain apps.
Six Microphones array
- Multiple microphones among the six microphones support beamforming feature depending on the use case
Audio Playback
- Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, Vorbis, FLAC, Opus, Dolby Digital (AC3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC3) , Dolby ATMOS (E-AC3 JOC, AC4)
Video Playing Resolution
UHD 8K (7680 x 4320)@60fps
Video Playback (Supports HDR10 and HLG)
- Codec : H.263, H.264, HEVC, MV-HEVC, MPEG-4, VC-1, VP8, VP9, AV1
Video watching up to 2.5 hours
Galaxy XR can be used while charging the battery
Bluetooth 5.4 (Up to)
Vision Correction
Galaxy XR supports vision correction through separately purchasable optical-inserts
Weight may vary depending on whether light shield is attached or not.
Separate battery weighs 0.67 lb
Labels: 3D camera, eXtended Reality, Galaxy XR, HMD, immersion, SAMSUNG, XR
Friday, June 23, 2023
APPLE VISION PRO SDK
Apple has now released the SDK for VisionOS, the operating system for the Apple Vision Pro (AVP), the new XR headset from Apple that was announced at WWDC and will be available next year.
The AVC is priced at about $3,500. Apple's reveals, and other reports, suggest the headset is more advanced in its technology than any other headset yet -- that actually exists. (Other companies have at least 6 months to catch up!)
The demonstrations and videos from WWDC (still online!) also suggest, however, that the current software ecosystem for the AVP is not well advanced, but that Apple has a very ambitious, and well thought out plan, for the future. They are courting developers!
The headset, appropriately named "Pro" is clearly intended for developers at this point, and not for consumers. It does not matter how many they sell in the mass market; the important metric is how many developers take it seriously.
Here is the link to more development information from Apple:
https://developer.apple.com/news/
Labels: Apple, Apple Vision Pro, AR, eXtended Reality, HMD, MR, SDK, VisionOS, VR, XR
Monday, January 02, 2023
CES XR HMD NEWS
Two (at least) new XR headsets are launching at CES Jan 5-8, 2023.
HTC VIVE is launching at CES what is reported (by SadlyItsBradley, Verge, and RoadToVR) to be a Mixed Reality HMD, comparable in price, and similar, but possibly slightly better in specs, to the META Quest Pro. It is reported to use color passthrough (ie capture and display, not see-through) tech to sense the outside world; to have depth sensors to measure the distance to objects, and possibly a slightly improved, new SnapDragon chip for processing.
HTC VIVE HOME PAGE
AT CES
Jan 5, 2023
10 AM PST -- 1 PM EST
SOMNIUM, a VR, Crypto based, Virtual Real Estate, Social Media Space, together with VRgineers, will be launching a PCVR Headset Dev Kit. The specs are impressive, including 2880x2880 display, and the ability to customize in a number of ways, including support for WiFi6.
DETAILS
https://somniumspace.medium.com/somnium-vr1-headset-devkit-available-at-ces-2023-jan-5th-8th-dd3e9dabd9b7
SOMNIUM BOOTH AT CES
15167 Central Hall, Tech East
SOMNIUM HOME PAGE
VRGINEERS HOME PAGE
Update: SONY and Sharp are also expected to show new HMD's, and Varjo has recently upscaled their HMD "focal" resolution.
Labels: AR, CES, Dev Kit, HMD, HTC, MR, PCVR, Somnium, Virtual Real Estate, VIVE, VR, Vrgineers, XR
Sunday, January 16, 2022
APPLE XR ???
Reporting yesterday from Bloomberg suggests that
a>> Apple's plan was to release or announce a high Head Mounted Display (HMD) capable of both VR AND MR at a June Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) in June, but
(b>> overheating, software, and camera issues may delay the glasses until 2023.
Short analysis: Maybe. Maybe not.
LINK:
BLOOMBERG, VIA GAGADGET, ON APPLE xR
Longer notes and analysis:
"Camera problems" suggests the glasses use passthrough for MR; and
"Software problems" could mean that Apple is running into the same problems that other MR developers have had from the start: It is really hard to create a good MESH that integrates the captured world with complex computer generated (CG) content. And... Apple is handicapped by their secrecy, and by not having glasses for MR available in public to work with in development.
Microsoft, getting a first start with the Hololens, is probably the best positioned to produce full-functioning, consumer and professional MR.
Google had some projects (remember Tango?), but has taken time off. With a new, recent reorganization they may be starting again.
Magic Leap, based on some things I’ve heard people there say, may have underestimated the difficulty in creating the kind of tight interplay between the real world and the CG world that founder Rony Ablovitz hoped for and talked so eloquently about.
Snap is starting from simple “filters” and working to develop slowly.
META Platforms is currently the most aggressive player attacking the issues of MR. They have glasses (QUEST 2) in general release, with some limited passthrough available for developing MR software. They have more advanced hardware in development, and they are spending billions of dollars for development: They have internal teams; they are hiring; they are doing acquisitions; they are probably doing partnerships.
Chinese companies are also working hard on XR (and MR in particular), as are companies in Europe and elsewhere around the globe.
Postscript note: One of the big unknowns about Apple's XR development we hope to learn, will be whether they support OpenXR at all, and fully support webXR in Safari. Or, if they plan to create another completely isolated Silo.
Labels: Apple, AR, HMD, Silo, VR, WWDC, XR
Saturday, August 22, 2020
THE HP REVERB G2
Coming “sometime in the Fall”, the HP REVERB G2, developed in partnership with Microsoft & Valve looks to be one of the most powerful major-eco-system pro-sumer VR Headsets (aka Head Mounted Display / HMD). It is currently being tweaked. Some features may change slightly. (Note: all specs are based on information available in mid August, 2020 and are subject to change.)
The G2 is a 6DoF room-scale HMD, using 4 cameras, two in front and two on the side of the headset for “inside-out” tracking. It tracks a large volume around the user. It uses a new controller with standard buttons, including an analog trigger. However, it is not currently capable of hand tracking. The controllers use two AA batteries. (The released controllers will likely accept rechargeable batteries.)
Although it tracks the environment for safety, the G2 appears to be designed for Virtual Reality (VR); that is, it sees only computer-generated images in applications, not integrating the “real” outside environment into the user’s view (like the HoloLens or Magic Leap One). In other words, although Microsoft calls it a "Windows Mixed Reality device", that refers to the branding and the software it uses (Windows Mixed Reality software), rather than the type of images it can show.
It has an LCD display with a 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye, and new Fresnel lenses that optimize the display for the viewer. It also has a manual IPD slider that automatically reports the setting to the software for adjustments. It is capable of 90 FPS.
The G2 is a PCVR, not a standalone. The unit is fed data by a 6-meter (almost 20 foot) cable from a host computer that is plugged and anchored into the headset (rather than loosely attached -- but it is removable). It features a USB 3.1 type C connector, and a plug-in adapter, so that it does not require power from the USB connection. (There is an adapter for older USB ports.) For best performance, the host computer should have a state-of-the-art GPU (see requirement specs below). But the G2 will scale back the display to work with less powerful computers.
Alternatively, the device can be fed by a short cable to a backpack, for complete mobility.
The headset is light, at 1.1 pounds, and features a flippable head mount, which can be raised to allow the G2 to be quickly held to the face for “VR snacking”, or lowered to allow the entire unit to rest on the head for longer viewing.
It also has ear-covering speakers, set 10 mm off the ear.
Software for the G2 comes from both Microsoft Mixed Reality, and Valve Steam VR.
Here’s a quick look at the headset:
HERE'S A REFERENCE LINK TO THE G2 HEADSET
https://www8.hp.com/us/en/vr/reverb-g2-vr-headset.html
HP is currently taking pre-orders, at about $600.00 with shipping “in the Fall”.
HERE'S A LINK TO PREORDER THE G2 HEADSET
https://www.connection.com/product/hp-reverb-g2-virtual-reality-headset/1g5u1aa-aba/41024161
Here are the current (8/21/2020) system requirements for the host computer:
System Requirements
- Recommended minimum workstation specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core i5, i7, Intel Xeon E3-1240 v5, equivalent or better. AMD Ryzen 5 equivalent or better
- Memory: 8 GB RAM or more
- Video out: DisplayPort 1.3
- USB ports: 1x USB 3.0 Type C
- Power: USB Type C with power delivery or included power adapter
- Operating system: Windows 10 May 2019 update or later
- Graphics: DX12 capable graphics
Cards that typically run Reverb at full resolution:
Consumer:
* NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
* NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, NVIDIA GeForce 2080 Ti
* AMD Radeon RX 5700, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, AMD Radeon 7
Workstation:
* NVIDIA Quadro P5200
* NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 6000, NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000
* AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200, AMD Radeon Pro WX 9200
* AMD Radeon
Pro W5700 Cards that typically run Reverb at half resolution:
Consumer:
* NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660ti, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
* NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
* AMD Radeon RX 580, AMD Radeon RX 5500XT, AMD Radeon RX 590, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, AMD Radeon RX Vega56, AMD Radeon RX Vega64
Workstation:
* NVIDIA Quadro P3200, NVIDIA Quadro P4000, NVIDIA Quadro P4200, NVIDIA Quadro P5000
* NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000
* AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100
Labels: AYE!WEARE. HP, eXtended Reality, G2, Head Mounted Display, Headset, HG Reverb G2, HMD, Microsoft, Reverb, Valve, Virtual Reality, VR, XR
