VR HMD of Xiaomi and Microsoft

[Credit: Xiaomi]

Many companies are releasing its VR HMD and 

two more global companies have delivered surprise news. 

That’s Xiaomi and Microsoft, so let’s take a look right now!

Xiaomi, comes with a low price

Xiaomi has released its second VR HMD in their unveil event 

held on 25th Oct in Beijing China. 

The design is similar to Sony PlayStation VR but the price is just $29.  

[Credit: Xiaomi]

Some of you will think that it will have not much to look at because of its incredibly low price. 

Mi VR is well-made that it probably can be thought as more than $29. 

A gyro sensor, which can perceive the move and motion sensor which 

that will keep latency low at 16ms are built in. 

Also features a 9-axis motion controller and supports touch controls.

However, we should wait until we can experience Mi VR in real. 

[Credit: THE VERGE]

Mi VR provides more than 500 panorama videos 

and you can meet more than 30 VR apps in Xiaomi’s VR store named MIUI VR store. 

According to the Internet news, Mi VR is better than Xiaomi’s first VR HMD Mi VR Play. 

However, Mi VR is only compatible with Xiaomi’s latest smartphone such as Mi5, Mi note 2.

VR Headset of Microsoft

[Credit: Microsoft]

Microsoft opened its VR Headset in Windows 10 event which was held in New York. 

Microsoft has released HoloLens in last January and the project Alloy in August.

It seems like Microsoft is taking a slightly different way 

than that of other companies which are concentrating on VR. 

You will be aware of well if you have read news about Microsoft 

that Microsoft use AR(Augmented Reality) or MR(Merged Reality) more than VR(Virtual Reality). 

Microsoft is concentrating on AR and MR, but also taking VR because AR and MR are related to VR. 

[Credit: Microsoft]

This Headset that Windows has released has no name yet 

and it is a VR Headset that supports AR. HP, Dell, Lenove, Asus and Aver, 

which produces PC are the partners and the VR headset will be produced by them.

It cost only $299 but it seems like it can surpass the existing devices. 

It will be run in the new VR platform of Windows10 Creators Update. 

Also, you don’t need any accessories such as external sensor or camera and complicated setup. 

[Credit: Google image]

According to the Demo video you can watch TV or enjoy Skype, paint apps in VR. 

Also, one of the employees of Microsoft experienced a HoloTour and went to Rome.

It was amazing.

Microsoft has not opened its spec or release date but you can meet it probably in early 2017. 

However, as you know with the case of HoloLens the customers had no chance to meet it in real. 

We hope that we become able to meet this new VR headset in next year.

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

Playstation VR

[Credit: Google image]

2016 is all about VR. Many global companies such as Google, Oculus and Sony are showing off their VR technologies. Today we will deliver you hot news about Sony PlayStation VR (PS VR) that many of us waited.

SONY PLAYSTATION VR, finally released.

Many people have waited for this news. Last time, we talked about PS VR by focusing on the high-quality contents, especially ‘Summer Lesson’. At that time we supposed that many people might be waiting for PS VR, so let’s find out if it really is a surprise.

[Credit: Sony PlayStation VR]

Sony had released its PS VR, which many people waited for a long time, in 13th October, 2106. 40 million devices were all sold in a day when they received Pre-order sale last 30th July. Also, there were people waiting from 6 a.m. in front of the SONY store placed in Ginza, Tokyo. In Seoul, there were also people waiting from early morning in each store. So, Starfield, a shopping mall placed in Hanam, South Korea, set a limit for people to buy only one device per person.

[Credit: Sony PlayStation VR]

PS VR cost $ 399 but if you add PS VR camera, which recognize the sensor of PS VR, used in games and also can be used as camera when you do a YouTube broadcasting then you need to pay up to $59.99 for the camera. For the last, if you buy a bundle that includes PS VR, camera and PS VR Move controllers then it will cost $499. However, it is hard to find the PS VR Move controller in the Korean market. In all this prices, you need to add more than $200 for PS4 as it is mandatory.

[Credit: Google image]

The price of PS VR is cheaper than that of Oculus Rift ($599) or HTC Vive ($799), which is compatible with high-end PC. Therefore PS VR is relatively better for people to enjoy high-quality VR until now. 
However, Sony will release PS 4 pro, which is an upgraded version of PS 4 for $399 from 10th November in U.S.A. It supports more upgraded GPU, faster CPU speed and 4K, HDR picture. We can assume that SONY is also keeping pace with need of using high-end PC to enjoy VR better. 
The spec of PS VR is 5.7 inch OLED display, 960*RGB*1080 resolution and 100 degree FOV (Field of View).

* Specification of PlayStation VR

PS VR is especially optimized in game so it provides various software contents. SONY is planning to provide 50 more game software titles in this year.

[Credit: Google image]

However, there are also many critics from product reviews about PS VR. The Virtual reality sickness rated high for reasons. Did the users expected too much? I guess we should watch more.

Review of SONY PLAYSTATION VR

We decided to visit the SONY store and experience the PS VR with the mind of one of the user, who waited for long time. From above, we told you that it is hard to get the PS Move controller and it really was. So we were not able to try the controller. 

[Credit: Google image]

It was pity that we were not able to experience the PS move controller, but we will tell you an honest review.

We visited a SONY store placed in Hakdong intersection in Seoul, Korea. We could easily find the PS VR experience zone among various SONY products.
You adjust PS VR in your head and for more deep immersion you put an earphone for sound. The facepad of PS VR was made of rubber so it felt like wearing a diver’s goggle. It would be no matter if you use PS VR alone, but if you are plan to use it with your friends then we recommend preparing tissue in advance.

The first content we tried was a video traveling deep sea. In this video you go down and down more deeply under the sea. All 4 people who tried this content were amazed by its high-quality CG scene. The first action that everybody took was moving their head and body here and there to feel the deep ocean. 
   

The second content was a car racing game. It was good to immerse as if I were really driving a car in a virtual world, but it took time to deal with the joystick. One of the good part was that the mirroring mode. Through this mode, you can also watch the same scene that of the player’s in the TV. 
However, it left much to be desired because of the sickness. Three of us felt the same way and thought it would be hard to continue playing game for long hours. For this reason, SONY also doesn’t recommend to play games for long time.
 Through this experience, PS VR seemed to be a sweat temptation for those who love game. It was also a temptation for me even though I don’t play game usually. Not much content available to experience, motion sickness and difficulties to find the joystick as the PS VR cover my eyes seemed not a problem that only PS VR has, but the limit of VR.  
It was a useful experience to watch the future of the VR games even though it left little regret. 

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!