At CES 2018, HTC and Valve have announced the Vive Pro, a new VR headset with higher resolution, as well as the Vive Wireless Adapter, which is a retro-fit for Vive to make it wireless.
Wireless VR
VR, or virtual reality, had a reality check in 2017. The products did not live up to the hype that had been built up over the past few years. In 2018, HTC will address two of the major pain points for buyers.
You still need to put a large and bulky headset onto your face but with the Vive Wireless Adapter you can now connect it to a PC wirelessly. It is a small adapter that you can retro-fit onto your existing Vive headset.
- “Wireless VR has been on nearly every VR user’s wishlist since the technology was unveiled,” said Frank Soqui, General Manager Virtual Reality Group at Intel Corporation. “By collaborating with HTC to commercialize Intel’s WiGig technology, we will guarantee that wireless VR meets the most discerning quality bar for home users and business VR customers.”
An upgraded HTC Vive Pro
HTC has also announced an upgraded headset that the company has dubbed HTC Vive Pro. It has dual-OLED display with “picture resolution of 2880 x 1600 combined, a 78% increase in resolution over the current Vive HMD”, the company said.
Low resolution is still a major limitation in VR headsets because the screens sit so close to the eye. Improved resolution in Vive Pro is one step on the road to improve picture quality but many industry members believe that VR must reach 8K or perhaps even higher to deliver an optimal experience.
- ”Vive Pro also features integrated, high-performance headphones with a built-in amplifier to offer a heightened sense of presence and an overall richer sound. Vive Pro’s new headstrap was built with enhanced ergonomics and comfort, including a sizing dial for a more balanced headset that decreases weight on the front of the headset. Additional improvements include dual microphones with active noise cancellation and dual front-facing cameras designed to empower developer creativity,” said HTC.
- “Viveport is moving to a VR first experience model, and with the all-new Viveport VR, we are changing the way consumers discover, experience and acquire VR content,” said Rikard Steiber, president, Viveport. "Until now, there has not been a shopping and browsing experience that takes advantage of the full functionality of VR. Available in early access today, Viveport VR increases interaction with content and offers developers a preview that showcases the quality of their titles and experiences.”
HTC did not announce launch or pricing details for Vive Pro but said that Vive Wireless will be the first wireless VR implementation for PC-based systems.
