HTC has finally unveiled its first ever standalone virtual reality headset, the Vive Focus. The new headset is different from HTC’s original Vive headset in more ways than one.
Features
It doesn’t require any external cables to a PC or smartphone to work. It is built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 platform. The design here has a blue finish, with a rounded look on the front with softer edges.
On the inside is a high-resolution AMOLED display. The exact resolution isn’t revealed, though it should be on par with other high-end VR headsets.
The headset is surrounded by sensors that keep track of a user’s position without the need for external cameras or sensors. It offers six-degrees of freedom, which allows near boundary-less experience for the users.
Content for the Vive Focus will have to be loaded straight into the headset. The controller with the Vive Focus is a pretty basic touch and motion unit.
Vive Wave VR Platform
HTC also took the opportunity to announce the new Vive Wave VR open platform for developers, to port their content using the Wave VR SDK. The new platform already has 35 partners, mostly out of China that have guaranteed to produce content.
With almost every other company going for Daydream VR (Vive Focus included) it’s hard to imagine one going for a non-Daydream compatible headset. Lenovo is the only one currently working on a non-Daydream VR compatible headset.
The Vive Focus is set for a release in China in the coming months, with plans for other markets kept on hold for now. Watch this space for developments on the matter.
Specs ?