HTC's Focus 3 and VIVE Sync, possibly the best option for VR in Business - Ausdroid

If determination is 1 VR solution supplier that has had a operation of spot and luck successful caller years, the archetypal 1 that comes to caput is HTC VIVE. As we each know, everyone has been affected by COVID-19 successful 1 mode oregon different implicit the past 2 years, particularly successful presumption of work. For this review, I would similar to convey Thomas Dexmier – the state manager of VIVE for ANZ, for arranging a virtual gathering successful VIVE Sync and giving maine a elaborate instauration to Focus 3 and the existent usage of VIVE Sync successful the enterprise. 

VIVE Sync primitively debuted successful November 2018. Looking back, HTC VIVE was precise overmuch connected the close way with this strategy astatine the time. Needless to accidental that galore companies had to commencement reasoning astir moving remotely owed to the pandemic, which appeared to beryllium a cleanable accidental for VIVE Sync. In June 2020, VIVE Sync received a large update that allowed users without VR devices to enactment successful virtual meetings for the archetypal time, which greatly helped VIVE Sync grow its idiosyncratic base.

Without further ado, let’s chopped to the chase.

VIVE Focus 3

In caller weeks, I was invited to acquisition the features of VIVE Sync done the Focus 3, a latest summation to the Focus line. Although clip was limited, it gave maine a much broad knowing of what VR exertion tin bash today.

Let’s instrumentality a look astatine immoderate of the hardware specifications of Focus 3.

The controllers

VIVE Focus 3 is equipped with a amended brace of lenses and displays than astir different competitors connected the market. In presumption of dependable output, successful summation to utilizing your ain headphones done the 3.5mm jack, VIVE Focus 3 straight integrates speakers into the gear. Such a plan tin assistance users to announcement changes successful the outer situation portion experiencing the content, avoiding immoderate unexpected situations.

The dependable show of these speakers are rather good, to beryllium honest

For artillery life, aft a 40-minute gathering with Thomas, the Focus 3 inactive has 60% of the artillery remaining. This powerfulness depletion level is acceptable, and online meetings usually necessitate mobilising much hardware, including look and articulator question trackers (which I person equipped during the use).

Battery battalion is located astatine the rear and separated from the show unit

There is simply a microSD paper slot

The MicroSD representation paper slot is connected the wrong of the device. In summation to storing much information locally done the representation card, it is besides precise convenient for instrumentality deployment successful enterprises. Support for expanded retention should beryllium bully quality for moviegoers. Most VR devices bash not enactment storing much information done expandable storage.  I mightiness really see taking the Focus 3 with maine connected my adjacent agelong trip, immersing myself successful my ain super-sized surface to termination time. This should beryllium a batch much relaxing than moving astir with a laptop.

microSD paper slot located adjacent to the lens connected the left, precise casual to access

Improvements successful show and design

The HTC Vive Focus 3 is powered by the almighty Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2, an upgrade implicit the Vive Focus Plus’s Snapdragon 835. The updated chipset provides noticeably improved performance. Because of the accrued refresh complaint from 75 to 90 Hz, the ocular acquisition connected the HTC Vive Focus 3 seems adjacent smoother and much lifelike.

If I retrieve correctly, Oculus Quest 2 has lone a 90-degree tract of presumption (overlap), portion Focus 3 has a afloat 30% much successful this area. The wider viewing space is surely cardinal to providing a greater consciousness of immersion. Although the Focus 3 is not designed for entertainment, I recovered the movie viewing acquisition to beryllium amended than different VR devices, chiefly owed to the improved 5K solution and wider viewing angles. While immoderate scenes tin beryllium affected by glare, wide the higher solution makes watching movies a overmuch much enjoyable experience. I’ve watched Interstellar, Inception, and galore different movie fragments connected Focus 3. In my honorable opinion, this headgear is capable to present a top-notch acquisition erstwhile watching videos. 

Compared with the plan of the built-in artillery successful the erstwhile generations, VIVE Focus 3 has made large adjustments successful its structure. The main portion of the instrumentality is placed separately from the battery, and the value of the instrumentality is evenly distributed to the beforehand and rear ends. This plan helps trim the unit connected the cervix caused by the value of the device, and it volition not consciousness uncomfortable adjacent if you deterioration it for a agelong time.

Controller

The controller is besides precise elemental to use. The Vive Focus 3 comes with a brace of interactive controllers that look precise akin to the Quest 2, but that it charges via a USB-C cablegram (instead of changing AA batteries), and each clip It tin beryllium utilized continuously for astir 15 hours aft charging. It should beryllium pointed retired that, successful summation to the accepted joystick and trigger, VIVE besides added capacitive sensors to the broadside of the handle, which makes the power methods much diversified.

VIVE Sync

The archetypal happening that struck maine astir VIVE Sync was however relaxing it was. Before entering the league room, participants look successful a lounge country extracurricular the building. Users whitethorn converse with 1 different precisely similar they would successful person. You tin inactive rapidly commencement a backstage chat adjacent if determination are others astir truthful they won’t beryllium capable to perceive you.

Creating a gathering successful VIVE Sync is precise casual to do, and each the processes tin beryllium done successful 1 spell successful VIVE Sync. From country selection, venue size, gathering date, and duration, it’s each precise elemental and straightforward successful the VR environment.

Vive Sync allows aggregate radical to enactment astatine the aforesaid clip and stock files seamlessly. Corporate training, code training, teleconferencing and teaching tin each beryllium carried retired done VIVE Sync. Another spot of VR is that it tin show objects successful 3D. Participants tin spot 3D objects successful the air, show astatine immoderate space to collaborators oregon audience, and tin people oregon gully connected 3D models. This allows for instant confirmation of plan prototype details and the quality to stock notes made during meetings.In addition, VIVE Sync integrates OneDrive to marque sharing a batch easier among participants. 

VIVE Sync is disposable connected aggregate platforms

Perhaps I americium the past idiosyncratic to observe that VIVE Sync is not an exclusive exertion to HTC’s VR devices. The app is besides compatible with a fig of different VR headsets specified arsenic Oculus Rift™, Oculus Rift™ S, Oculus Quest™, and Oculus Quest™ 2. If you already ain 1 of these devices, you tin really download VIVE Sync straight from the App Lab. There is besides a “Viewer mode” successful VIVE Sync which is prepared for those who bash not person a VR headset. In spectator mode, you tin determination astir with the “WASD” keys arsenic if you were in a 3D game. However, without the assistance of a headset, features specified arsenic annotating documents volition beryllium restricted.

VIVE Sync is disposable connected large platforms

In VIVE Sync, you tin unfold 3 immense screens astatine the aforesaid clip to show merchandise accusation oregon grooming materials. It’s a pity that I did not instrumentality a screenshot during the league with Tom. However, utilizing the pre-installed web browser should beryllium capable to execute the aforesaid effect successful presumption of the demonstration. Here, the fantabulous 120 degrees viewing space has the capableness to present a comfy acquisition erstwhile looking astatine each 3 screens connected Focus 3.

A screenshot from Web Browser

Although Focus 3 is simply a solution for commercialized scenarios, it does enactment Unreal Engine, Unity Software, and SteamVR. In bid for the PC to admit Focus 3 arsenic a compatible device, we archetypal request to instal VIVE Business Streaming to execute this task. The bully quality is that the Focus 3 tin beryllium connected to a PC via USB and Wi-Fi. However, if you privation the transportation to beryllium unchangeable and watercourse successful precocious quality, USB-C is inactive the champion option. The atrocious quality is that though we tin stream-play VR games connected Focus 3, it can’t beryllium charged simultaneously done the aforesaid USB cable. Maybe this has thing to bash with the determination of the artillery battalion arsenic it is separated from the main body.

Some thoughts

After years of development, it tin beryllium said that the interactive acquisition of the standalone VR headsets has been greatly improved. Not lone the value and artillery beingness are being improved, but the wide acquisition of immersion is besides moving up to a caller stage. As a merchandise for endeavor users, VIVE Focus 3 with VIVE Sync undoubtedly exceeds expectations successful astir aspects of performance. That being said, determination is country for improvement. For example, bump up the refresh complaint from 90 to 120Hz, or, further summation the RAM from 8 to 10, oregon adjacent 12GB if we speech with much ambition. Personally, if they tin see adding enactment for USB charging portion streaming from a PC would truly cure my symptom point. 

When I learned the pricing of the Focus 3, I realised it was not a merchandise designed for idiosyncratic consumers. The terms connected VIVE’s authoritative website astatine the clip the reappraisal kit was received was $1,999 Australian dollars. However, a speedy cheque of the merchandise specs earlier publishing reveals that the headset is present $2,499. Based connected my caller observations, the Focus 3’s high-end configuration and dependable show would marque it an perfect prime for concern customers. However, I would not suggest the aforesaid for idiosyncratic users, contempt the information that the acquisition is fantabulous erstwhile watching movies and playing games. As a non-business user, I don’t spot immoderate crushed to acquisition the Focus 3 astatine this price, and you don’t request 1 to enactment successful VIVE Sync. Of course, if wealth isn’t an issue, the VIVE Focus 3 volition undoubtedly supply you with a first-rate experience.