A commercial version of the Vive still won’t launch until April, but the company says it will offer 7,000 new developer units ahead of the official release. “Since then we’ve been working with to deliver inspiring and dynamic VR content. Today we stand on the precipice of a new era”.
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We were more than a little sad when HTC announced the Vive release date had slipped, but a quick look at the spec sheet for the Vive Pre suggests the wait will be worth it. The revised developer edition is better in nearly every way, including that all-important camera.
On the inside of the helmet – which itself has been tweaked for better comfort – an updated strap design and swappable foam inserts help to give a better fit. And the screens inside the Vive Pre have been updated to be brighter and clearer.
The bare bones are these: The Pre, most notably, has an integrated front-facing camera that lets the user see through the experience, if she needs to, in order to maybe take a drink, find a seat, or even pick something up. The Vive’s “newly developed front facing camera allows you to do more both inside and outside your Virtual world by blending physical elements into the virtual space”.
Though the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) costs some $599 Dollars, creator Oculus VR is keen to stress that it’s the PC needed to run the device that forms the bulk of the cost of going “all-in” with VR.
The improved headset also has room-scanning technology that enables a user to move around within a VR experience, as opposed to standing still throughout. The controllers have been also modified, the new version is more ergonomically designed, has two new buttons and battery autonomy of four hours. The camera should allow developers to implement some interesting ways of interacting with the world, as well, blurring the boundaries between virtual reality and augmented reality devices.
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HTC is now adding its new Vive Pre to that list. At that time, the company indicated that the breakthrough would be featured at CES 2016, where the HTC Vive would be demonstrated.
