Hello! Today we get an awesome hands on look at the new HTC Vive Flow, a tiny VR headset that is SO light... both in weight and in some features. I did however have a really great time using the headset/ glasses and I see some amazing use cases for the device, it just needs some refinement and I can't wait to see more headsets in this form factor.
MY LINKS:
Discord.gg/Thrill
Twitch.tv/Thrilluwu
Patreon.com/Thrillseeker
Will look into adding support for Virtual Desktop in the future, thanks for the insights and review!
I totally expected this. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!
I love Virtual Desktop!
Absolute power move mate, good luck porting it!
Virtual Desktop > AirLink :)
Im gonna cheer you for what you did here, and hope you choose to target the rest of the market after this first business targeted version has been out and you get the usage data you need from it. Awesome work!
2021: “You got games on your phone?” 2041: “You got games on your sunglasses?”
No
Ye
Hi
I had games on my phone in 1994.
@That Guy You forgot to add the part of your joke where there is a kid asking you for your 1994 phone games.
I work IT for a real estate company, and they have adopted VR for various things. 1. For architects to show their drawings and models in 3D 2. For sales people to give demos on existing apartments, buildings, etc I think for non intensive uses for VR, i think there is a place for this. I still think it needs a dedicated controller though, that's should be a given.
for the time being, I agree that a controller would be a nice add. It would eventually be awesome to see the tech get good enough to have this form factor and quality inside-out tracking. I can only dream for now haha.
There is a controller now, they rebranded the original focus controller as a flow controller.
I love how he describes android as a downside. Its apple who messed up. They did try to get this to work with apple. But apple didnt like it. So they shot it down. Mostly due to firmware limitations with apple. This is really just meant for showing people stuff, like when your an architect who wants to show somome your vision for their house. Architect firms will end up picking this up.
Fucking true man 😂, this guy is just shitting on the device because it doesn't support iPhone without taking in consideration the limitations and rules apple has over developer, does he really think apple is going to allow another company to bring their new AR/VR headset to the app store when apple already has plans on making their own glasses, like holy shit u have to be really naive to think that apple is an ethical and morally correct company...
Right? Like I get it, it would be nice to have this device be completely standalone, no phone involved (he did mention HTC hinted at working on this so who knows what we will see at launch). But the fact that the main grievance is that it only runs on android is basically moot. He even mentions that "50% of people literally can't use [the Flow] unless you have an Android device" ...which means that if this thing only ran on iOS that *checks math* 50% of people couldn't use. Counter point, yeah, if it ran on both OS that would be awesome, but with Apple supposedly in the works on their own VR/AR device I highly HIGHLY doubt we would ever see a timeline where Apple would give the green light for a competitor on their platform (unless you are like, I dunno, Logitech). Android "limitation" aside the other downsides he brings up is the cost ($500) and that you need a separate battery unit. Which is a separate argument.
might it be that apple is already working on their own?
Android master race ;) but literally.
Still, they’re making it the users problem
If I actually see someone pull this outta their pocket in public, imma flip out lol
i can see these being stolen easily. you wouldn't even see it coming.
@@Dtr146 But you would see it going ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
How often do we even see android devices?
ITS TIME TO DUEl
@@JorgetePanete why did i laugh so hard at this
"...you were this close..." "...shot themselves in the foot..." Ah, so it is 100% on brand for HTC. The company has a magical ability to achieve near perfection, and then hobble it just enough to make it not worth it.
Seriously so close with this one. I just imagine if this had 2 more cameras, simple 6dof controllers, an XR2. Even if it cost an extra $150 or $200, it would be insane.
Vive: We made this awesome standalone that'd make a great Quest 2 competitor Also Vive: Enterprise headset
We cannot compete with The Zuckulus therefore we must.... *points gun at feet*
I guess Quest 2 is sold so much at a loss that nobody can compete price-wise. A lot of big companies does it to shut down the competition (and then up the price) but HTC is oddly still in the VR market after so many years. Their commitement is mindblowing for me.
Personally I feel really disappointed about the Specs. I have the Quest 1 and Quest 2 and after a time the "WoW" effect becomes more and more less. Its not a bad thing. It is natural that you get used to new technology. Your mind and body knows what will happen when you put it on. In my opinion it is all about feeling immersed which gives you the "WoW" feeling. After 2 years of VR using I think what makes you "optical" immersed is FoV > Resolution > Precise Tracking > Refresh Rate > Black Levels > Ipd adjustment. The Htc Flows FoV and refresh rate would be a Immersion killer for me. I think who already owns a quest 1 or 2 wont have a immersive "WoW" effect with the headset. The HTC Flow wants to be a headset to get easy to other places so they want you to feel like you are there but with the lack of immersive technology improvements i dont think i could feel that.
Apple doesn't play well outside of the ecosystem they control, and since they're developing their own AR/VR, they have no reason to. The various Android players have no reason not to.
Not impossible though. The devs just need to put in the work.
This. Blame Apple, and stop buying their devices. Almost everything that doesn't work on an Apple device, the problem is them.
@@RussDnB No. Fuck. Apple.
@@johngrasso6224 There is trivially a market share there, so developers tried to make this, and the only reason they could not is indeed Apple in this case. It is not their craftmansship limitation, it is forbidden in the appstore to implement certain stuff. They check it and they deny to support it, so your app will not appear in appstore. Think about those apps which need jailbreak. The same reason. A feature bothering Apple will not make its way to the appstore.
Yeah Apple is the main factor here, but HTC should have anticipated this and invested more into developing proper hand tracking support before the launch of a device like this. Even with an Android phone I would be worried about dropping the device due to the cumbersome somewhat disorienting 70 hertz space that I am immersed in. That combined with the other drawbacks mentioned in this video, they should have spent more time working on this and they should have released it closer to when the technology is ready. Sure a head start is good, but with these kinds of limitations I have no clue how they're going to make money from this. As a tech enthusiast this is cool, I like seeing companies try new things and push the boundaries of current technology, mistakes need to be made so that they can learn from them, but from a business perspective this is kinda foolish. Putting yourself in the shoes of a non-rich consumer that has to jump through hoops to experience a limited reality, would anyone really buy this over what the competition offers? I know Facebook has set a nearly impossible price to hardware standard for VR with their selling of user data helping subsidize the manufacturing, development, research, marketing, etc... costs, but more companies need to challenge Facebook. There are plenty of people that would be willing to deal with some drawbacks, growing pains, and slightly higher prices if it means not supporting Facebook. Index is just too expensive for most people who are in the market for a Quest. idk
“Take it at face value” has a whole new level of meaning now.
Lol
A $500 Oculus Go that has no controllers and is using a last generation SOC is a hard, hard sell. I don't see this going anywhere. I'm dying for a more comfortable headset, but I don't think this is the one.
Perfect wording
Yeah....this is D.O.A. in my opinion.
Watch Oculus revitalize the Go platform with a similar headset (thin) design now and with the added bonus of an XR3 inside ... HTC will cry.
If its marketed towards people that know absolutely nothing about VR, then they might be able to keep this thing from flopping. The problem is, people that dont know anything about VR arent interested in VR in the first place, especially not interested enough to spend 500 dollars on it lol
It isn’t even fully standalone either that’s the funny thing! 🤣😂 You need a USB C power source to power it! A $500 joke for sure!
It looks pretty good, and I think an awesome start for people, who never use VR and want to try... Stop, $500? Forgot everything I said...
It's not meant for those people, get the Oculus Quest which is actually designed with that in mind. 500 is cheap change for what this is, are you serious?
@@michaelfapgod4598 strip the quest down a lot and you have this, it'll probably look steampunk af, but you could feasibly do it
500 bucks for you? It'll probably be 500 pounds for us English folk which is nearly 700 us dollars.
Looked it up and yes! Once again us Europeans and nearly everyone else outside America are overcharged. So uh don't complain.
@@michaelfapgod4598 but it's worse than Quest 2 in almost all points...
As someone with a bad neck, I LOVE the idea of this thing. Even with my Quest I have to limit my time due to neck pain. But it seems like this isn’t quite where I need it to be yet.
The thing that's really good about this is that other companies are going to be doing cheaper versions of it. And since the tech isn't really all that groundbreaking outside of the optics, some of these later imitations could end up being really compelling. Come to think of it, this is already sort of like a 'knock off' of the Magic Leap AR device in terms of the more glasses-like form factor, having a wired pack for the battery, and being aimed more at casual, social interactions than intense VR gaming. [Cue the people telling me how they're nothing alike.]
Ya know. Why don’t we just make it so that it’s just glass and screens on our face and a wire down to our pockets that have the computer in them. Just thought of that
@@ClebyHerris I think the main reason we don't see super simple and light designs like that is because the companies don't think it would be rugged enough for everyday use. VR can be a very physical activity and the gear is still pretty expensive, after all. Also the device makers don't want to spend all their time on repairs. However, if the headsets are inexpensive and were easily repairable by the users, then all of that wouldn't matter as much. IMO, the best VR goggles would be cheap, simple, super lightweight and modular. By modular, I mean you could swap out the screen, the lenses, the frame, the tracking cameras, etc whenever you wanted an upgrade or if something breaks. And to keep the weight down, take everything you don't actually need in the headset itself and put it in a separate unit, which is what you're saying and what Magic Leap is doing. And if it can get cheap enough, then the outer plastic shell wouldn't need to be so thick and heavy; it could even just be a thin film that's just there to block out the light.
Was so fun trying the Vive Flow with you :D was an amazing experience EVEN if you stole my spotlight at 10:17 ;P
You should do more videos together!!
AHAH found you
hi youtuber heres your likes
I am number four
can we ship Phia and Thrill for the sake of the entire future of the world and virtual reality plz.
The headset looks amazing but its a hard pass for me cause I want PCVR. However, I am ULTRA HYPED for this type of style to come to other headsets if they can maintain the processing power, even if its just at like, current hardcapped underclocked quest 2 levels like we have now
if they can could take the xr1 chip and make a knockoff quest 1 even.......
@@Dtr146 Yeah even a downgrade from the quest 2 to a quest 1 with this form factor would be fantastic and worth buying. Assuming we'd get actual controllers.
There's also Huawei Glasses that is built in a similar form factors and has been out for at least two years, though. But it takes either a Huawei phone or a Nolo kit to use, and it's 3DoF when using with a Huawei phone. (Nolo kit is like 180 degree 6DoF tracking and not that accurate, so it's definitely not the best way to experience PC VR)
@@AllenAkiyama lol no
But here's the thing: devices like the Quest 2 aren't this small. Getting upset about a device like this not being very powerful is therefore just silly.
This is exactly why I follow this channel. Great objective review based upon logic and also great questions. ill likely eventually pick one up, but youre absolutely right about the weaker chip (likely keeping the price down for the majority) and how they somehow didnt think IOS support wasnt needed at launch. actually thinking about it the Quest 2 might be better due to price alone.
I can definitely imagine casual use and demoing being the primary uses for this headset, and it's probably really handy for that. Cool showcase!
I feel very fortunate I was able to attend this event and share with you all. Its a really good device held back by limitations. Also, I cannot wait to play some PCVR with this My discord: Discord.gg/Thrill Twitch streams!: Twitch.tv/Thrilluwu
If this thing can work with drones then its definitely gonna take off with that demographic
Biggest W for Android users. Seething L for Apple dummies
how do i get one of these?
You just passed 420k subs you legend
Perfect timing for a Pixel 6 Pro :-)
HEY! Who here has a smart watch?? Imagine THAT being your controller for a second. Now imagine THAT being able to connect directly to your device, and give you hand tracking! It would be amazingly intuitive and beautifully hiding in plain sight!
How would this be possibly capable of hand tracking? A camera seems obvious but how well would that work? Probably not well. You know what WOULD work well? Adding sensors in the band, or where the heart rate sensor is, could potentially track your fingers, by looking at tension inside your forearm!
@@MimicGriphon are there really ways to calculate fingers position by arm tension? That's sound awesome, you can make a keyboard for people who have lost their fingers!
@@smirnovamaria9611 actually, yes! I'm not sure how well, or how cheaply it would be to integrate it, but that's how certain prosthetics work! Some things that might make it cheaper or easier to build is that it wouldn't need motors or anything. Second, most people don't have some muscle tissue completely gone, so, theoretically, each build would hopefully not have to be custom made like prosthetics!
Just so this part of my comment isn't under a "read more" thing, THE BEST THING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS THAT IT WOULD MAKE THESE LARGE COMPANIES THROW MONEY AT PROSTHETICS RESEARCH!
@@MimicGriphon dude I'm so hyped up! Thank you for the info!
i think the size is something that is amazing. Ever since i first tried VR back in 2018, I thought of how cool it would be to see headsets get this small eventually, should the trend continue (luckily it has). I think VR might one day split into a few different core uses, one being standalone small headsets like it already has with headsets like occulus quest 2. I would love to see headesets this small eventually get used for more advanced augmented reality instead of just virtual reality. How cool would it be to get a group of your friends, strap on your headsets at the park or wherever, and play a team deathmatch shooter where you use the real world as the environment, then the headset overlays each person's characters, weapons, etc. Anyway, awesome video, thank you for all the awesome content!
ThrillSeeker: no Iphone support is a problem. Me, An Android user: Your wrong.
is a problem for the company. not for you. most companies want to sell as much of their product as possible.
I had to stop myself from laughing. For ONCE something won't punish me for having an android phone.
LETS REJOICE 🤣
Can we just take a minute to appreciate how amazing the editing and camera work is in all these videos
yes
I totally agree.
the nail job could be better tho. Just gross.
As you said, add on controllers and Virtual Desktop and you’ve got me hooked. Though I’m worried about the tracking performance when it comes to that, it would be the perfect way to play VR games wirelessly, imagine just slapping on basically a pair of glasses and going to town on some Beatsaber or some Boneworks
Glad I can check in once in a while to see the health of vr. This looks promising. Thanks for the vid (commenting for engagement FTW)
I don't see this bringing new people into VR. This seems like a secondary device for people already into VR. They needed to price this at like 200 to 300. Price is totally wrong for value you get.
If it's a secondary device then why they should lower its price, though... It's just like how Apple is selling iPad Pro at a higher price point than (similar spec) MacBook because iPad Pro is no doubt meant to be a secondary device.
@@FlameRat_YehLon the iPad Pro isn’t a secondary device for a lot of people. A standard iPad potentially but a pro is not a secondary device, at least not for most people
@@FlameRat_YehLon the ipad pro can function as a light laptop. Has keyboard, mouse and game controller support now.
@@edemirmolinajr9790 I'd say the reverse of what you said is more true. iPad Pro (especially those with M1) is extremely overpowered and overpriced for casual use, but when at work, it's capable enough to actually able to provide an aid (as otherwise you'll go to the laptop immediately to save some time). Other models are mostly for casual use and can do a little bit of work, and it's good for those that don't even need a laptop (or only need a netbook) to begin with. As for using only iPad Pro for work, well, that's a waste of money, because a cheaper laptop can do more. Nobody would do that unless they just want to brag about having an iPad Pro.
@@edemirmolinajr9790 Though you are right that it's not for most people. People tends to forget that iPad Pro was supposed to be a niche thing that fills specific needs, unlike other iPad that are priced way cheaper yet still have most of the features.
This iteration isn’t for me, but I love seeing a this smaller form factor, and the pancake lenses seem like a breath of fresh air. And it’s so nice to see an interesting consumer product in this space that DOESNT come from Facebook.
ahaha nice to see a positive take, everyone seems so negative about this! i think its a step in a pretty cool direction, smaller lightweight 'sunglass' type headsets. over time the price will go down, and the power will go up :)
Im happy about everything NOT Facebook related 👍👍👍just hoping a pcvr LIKE the quest 2 ..and 3 🤔 will be available soon. The rooms in my house are too small to install all the sensors and all.
@@mazeknox We need a standalone headset that can compete with the Quest 2. Facebook dominates the standalone market, it controls everything that happens in that market, making them essentially a monopoly. We do not need a new PCVR headset, PCVR headsets can't compete with the Quest 2 because they're in completely different markets.
@@anakinlowground5515 ok thanks for the rant. I know what you mean, and im pretty sure you know what I meant. 😝
@@declanlambert1089 Too many people were expecting something that no one official even hinted at. It's like the 'Switch Pro' mess. And now those people are loudly complaining about something that never was going to be.
Thank for the review of this and if it wasn't like you said 500 dollars I would be looking to get one right away. I am looking forward to seeing how they improve this as well. I wanted to ask you about what you think of the new device that is in production and is coming out the YAW2 ? Everything that you present has been very informative and helpful as I am looking at getting a new headset within the upcoming year.
wow, insane how your channel has blown up!
Seeing you and Phia work together is cool
Is that his gf?
@@LeesReviews69 I don't think so and I doubt they would make it public either which is honestly fine :)
This device would be amazing if it had AR capabilities gosh the low form factor and the fact that it uses the phone as a controller could create a new level of interactions for landmarks museums and public areas. In general, it could be a viable solution to the ar glasses game maybe not for commuting(more specifically walking through large crowds, near traffic, etc. though it could work for passenger applications)but it would be really cool to work towards
This is possible. The physical connection to a device allows you to attach arbitrarily powerful compute.
Who cares about ar, we barely have game to play on vr.
AR is make by google they dont work well with HTC VR either one try different phone still dont work with it HTC VR use it own technology control VR apps
I see this being really fun for cloud gaming
imagine one day wearing a VR headset is like wearing a pair of glasses. Absolutely breathtaking.
Wish this was a more standalone quest competitor. But the form factor is exciting!
More powerful hardware wouldn't fit to compete with the quest
Yeah, something like this to watch movies at home or on a plane would be perfect. I really like the design and portable size. Hopefully they expand controller capability to ios eventually.
Or as TS suggested, a very simple controller with a couple of buttons. The headset isn't made for gaming, it doesn't need good tracking and lots of buttons
Why ois
@@kadabra8268 so something with an iphone/ipad/ipod could use it?
@@BlackSlimShady or maybe stop buying products from one of the worst tech companies in the world
@@PixelLife101 why would you willingly cut off customers? Lmao
Man, with 6dof controllers this would be perfect for quick iteration prototyping. Putting and taking glasses of your face is way more effortless compared to a full size HMD.
To me its like they didnt wanna miss October 21 without an announcement. Hand tracking will be coming for sure if this device is meant to be for mental wellbeing. Also IPhone compatibility would not be needed if hand tracking arrives. HTC must comment on these points you've mentioned in the video. As always your coverage was 👌👌👌Great💐
"what do you mean it doesn't work with my iPhone?" Because of the closed operating system apple makes. That's why. And that's why I'll never buy an iPhone.
My first thought when mentioned was "What's apple done this time to make HTC think it's not worth the effort to cater to such a large market segment?"
Right! You'd think someone 'tech savy' would know it's apple at fault here. This guy is just a youtuber, doesn't know much about tech.
Well said 👏
@@bruddaozzo They specialize in vr tech at the expense of other tech fields, sadly. Noticed that for quite a while.
Yeah if you buy an iphone you are at the mercy of what apple will or won't allow on it's platform. Gamers and people trying new technologies shouldn't be running anything apple in the first place, you will always be limited.
Thanks for all this info thrill. You always produce good content
If this could get a couple of lightweight haptic gloves in the box and stream games from the phone this would be my go to headset.
Oh this for movies on a plane would be sweet
The other thing for me is the resolution, I'm mainly interested in something like this to use for work, but the resolution seems too low. Don't think I'll really bother with this. If it was $200 maybe but not at $500. Keeping my eyes on arpara though.
I know right? If your going to make a VR headset mainly for movies and 3d experiences, why wouldn't resolution be top priority?
what kind of work would you use it for?
@@alexmikhylov I just want to have a nice virtual workspace, where I can have like 5 monitors. And I'm a VR dev so it would be nice if I could seamlessly test stuff without needing to constantly take off and put on a headset.
@@IAmAzarath gotcha
@eversome Soooo...whatever the Flow 2 will hopefully be then? I'm hoping anyways
It makes sense it's Android first. iPhone comparability can easily be added latter(provided no Apple shenanigans), especially if they finally ditch the stupid lightning port in new models.
I expect Apple to have some shenanigans up their sleeve, considering they're rumored to be working on their own headset. Plus the iOS API is so limiting that iPhones might not even be useful for this at all.
@@alex15095 Is Apple's API so restricted? All the app will need is Bluetooth streaming, touch inputs and access to the accelerometer data.
@@kopkaljdsao But you just know it's gonna want GPS Always, Contact List and Call History, Photos and Videos...
@@kopkaljdsaoYou could probably have that, but it's restricted in that if your phone times out or goes to sleep, you just can't keep it running. Not without ugly workarounds
Apple doesn't innovate, they perfect. This device is innovative, so bad luck apple fanboys.
I'll definitely be passing on this, but am excited about what it's size and shape says about future headsets. If I could sync up something like that to my computer I'd be very VERY happy.
i think this is brilliant idea for architecture presentation. now its smaller and less awkward for client
You and Brad are the most favorite VR Content i watch, thank you for all your efforts ! You're awesome !
I feel like this was a prototype for another soon to come out headset.
In a way it will be. But ultimately it is its own product. And it does what it is supposed to do well.
Let's hope it to be true and an even better more unbelievable headset arrives.
It looks like one of the experimental prototypes that was just cheap enough they realized if it actually sells they will have big margins. And that it was an empty niche they could be the first to fill. It has big potential for software updates especially if it can read QR or once they make iOS app for you overly fruity americans
Idk they really broke the mold on this one, and after all it’s really new and kind of setting a standard for new headsets and downsizing to this level, at least that’s what I think their intentions were.
Basically they just gave away a very cool design to Oculus and everyone else to make a real version
Just got a quest 2 for re4 vr. Greatest game I've ever played, has got me hooked with anything vr
Ultra light headset is what I want, I do dcs and racing from games on my pc that don’t use the free controlled but racing wheel or flight stick.
Another cool thing i find about this is that despite its limitations, it can still act as a sort of "prototype" or "cookie cutter" for future headsets. Perhaps some that follow the compact nature of the Flow, but with better features like the ones you suggested. Maybe and *maybe* then it could be more worth the price tag.
I think the issue, is that headsets take years to develop. When the VR industry sees what the future is, it's often too late, as most headsets at the time are already half or most of the way through development, and need to release to pay for their development costs and to continue getting products out there. I have a feeling that HTC has already recognized what this device is missing, but it was just too late in development to make those changes for launch. The industry is growing too fast, for its own makers/leaders to keep up. Which is a little ironic.
To a degree. But the only other notable device in this category is the Magic Leap and they are similarly limited. The technology just isn't there yet to have such a small and svelte device be powerful.
@@tams805 huh? What do you mean? The tech is absolutely there. Its mostly a tech vs price issue. Progression of the technology to produce it cheap enough to meet target audience. That's what underdeveloped
There will be a sequel sometime sure, but by then real XR headsets will beat it too.
Nice review 👍. I may not live in America but I just wanna ask, does you hold grudge against android?
its going to be the level of openness and support this headset receives in future that will determine whether or not i buy it
At first I was a bit disappointed when you mentioned the android phone controller and XR1, but it does make a lot of sense when you think of it as a media/demo/light gaming device rather than as a typical standalone gaming headset
it costs 499 usd
Yeah but imagine if it become like $700 and had more cameras and 6dof controllers and vive business pc support
@@Computer-Catt exactly. The cost is what totally kills this device. Quest 2 is cheaper and more capable with more software support. All this has going for it is a (really) cool and small form-factor. And I'm predicting Oculus is gonna announce a device with Quest 2 capabilities and this form-factor at the end of the month, prettymuch putting this thing out of business. It's too bad. I probably would've bought one of these if it was more capable. Even at a $500 price point.
@@Computer-Catt I saw the whole video and I do think it's overpriced but it seems like its targeted at businesses for demos/VR video calls, so HTC is probably trying to make a bit more profit off this for future projects
@@Swaggless Like I said in my other comment it's probably pricier to make extra profit for future projects, but it's probably also because the supply chain is way cleaner than the quest 2
I feel like it got over hyped from Brad with the idea of a potential OLED display. But glad it's still somewhat useful
There's generally not that many OLED VR headset on the market because they have a lower sub pixel count than LCD displays. That's said, it seems that sometimes people do just accept the screen door effect in order to get better dynamics.
@@FlameRat_YehLon Dan meant Micro-OLED. SadlyItsBradley was purposing that this headset could be using similar screen tech that Thrill was gushing over in the VARJO XR3
@@gr1f1th that kinda doesn't change anything, though... You are not magically getting RGB as opposed to pentile sub pixel arrangement just because you make the display smaller. Also Varjo is like 10x more expensive so I doubt its tech would be cheap enough for regular users to buy in the near future. Maybe in 5 years, but not 1 or 2.
@@FlameRat_YehLon that makes perfect sense if the micoOLED is magnified back up to full FOV. The only benefit then would be compactness and power draw.
“ glad it's still somewhat useful” lol
Inagine using these in a themepark dark ride Maybe a museum where you tap your phone to a sensor and the glasses could show the fossils moving around you, theres so much potential.
Super fun video! I personally think the Flow has a lot of potential, but in it’s current state I couldn’t justify it. I understand it’s a lifestyle device and is sold more on the convenience factor than anything else, I mean I have an android and could use it, but again I’m not sure it makes up for the price or the over-looming thought that it could be more.
My question is: Is it HTC not allowing it on IOS, or is it Apple not allowing the app to do what it is supposed to?
This is a standalone headset, so in theory the phone app could even be as simple as a webpage that's hosted by the headset. On top of that, if there can be drone controller app available on iOS, why not VR headset controller app as well.
The only reason apple wouldnt allow it is if the app doesnt adhere to it’s store rules. Bet the apple app will come later if people buy this.
It's odd because this is the kind of product you buy when you have enough money to spend on something that is slightly better at a niche thing. Their target audience are apple product users
Apple is not worth the effort
Maybe because apple sucks
So basically. It's an overclocked google cardboard.
Google cardboard was actually opened to developers. That things does not support 3rd party app.
At least it can do with a cheap used old phone with a crappy screen. :)
just buy a quest 1 at this point
@@SnrubSource ew, Facebook, not an option :)
Google cardboard had much worse performance, worse lenses, no diopter dials, doesn't even stay on the head unless you build some straps to hook it on to, is not nearly as comfortable, doesn't have any sort of hand motion controller, doesn't have built-in speakers, doesn't normally have passthrough (and even if added it wouldn't have dual camera vision). has worse FoV, and was not 6DOF, which is huge. Overall it's not like saying a Valve Index is just an overclocked Google Cardboard. Obviously that statement is _even more_ wrong, but both are still absurd comparisons.
Wait is Viveport better than the Vive Business streaming app? I just had to return my Vive Focus 3 because of the glitchy-artifact eye screens and blurriness that happens when you use Vive Business streaming to link to your PCVR games, that and the Vive Business streaming app stopped working and connecting to my PC alltogether (maybe SteamVR blocked it as an add-on but Vive tech support refused to help me by saying they're not responsible)
I would just love a high resolution, cost effective (which will happen as the tech improves, I know) head mounted display so I can watch 3D movies with binaural audio in my own private little world.
I cant believe they didn't add official pcvr support to this considering it is possible and would be incredible. big missed opportunity. .
Htc likes messing up
If it can take signal through cable there's no actual reason it cant work.
Very cool seeing You and Phia hanging out! I think you guys could make some pretty dope content together! As someone who has wanted something lightweight to be able to use as a media viewer and potential 6dof add on kits i am pretty saddened that I cannot use my iphone with it. And none of the android devices i have laying around are compatible withh it. So i guess for now i'm out as well :/
Hey Thrill, I’ve been looking at getting the Oculus Quest 2 recently but do you think it’s too late? Is there gonna be another Oculus headset? Anyway love your videos.
@@brettharrison837 Aight ok, Thanks Brett!
If those camera lenses were positioned higher on the face side this would be perfect for my mandalorian helmet
For some reason, I'm getting major 'Early access' vibes from this. And kinda wonder what this would be like as an output device for the Steamdeck.
HTC's intentions for this reminds me a bit of how Palm made PDAs viable by eschewing functionality that the technology just wasn't ready to support well, sticking to simpler use cases.
I can see this being popular with real-estate companies and construction companies. A cheap, lightweight, easy-to-use VR headset they can pull out in the conference room, so that clients can explore potential constructions and property purchases.
Nice developments
Getting wild with these outros lol. Headset that's stuck in time is a good way to put it lol
I think this is the start of something new, like how the price of the first true VR headsets were high and now a quest 2 sells for 299, this will start up the market for these more casual and relaxing devices to start improving and make their way into the public eye. Hope it's cool when it reaches that point!
Yes - that is exactly what I theorized recently for VR "worlds" to be successful at all - a very lightweight headset with a good display connected to PC which does all the "work". Lowering the entry hurdle to put a headset on for the mainstream, and allowing gamers to stay longer or basically indefinitely in VR without discomfort (which would also allow working like in front of a desktop)...
I want this! I can finally watch movies and shows on a screen larger than 55".
I'm on the same page as you. Imagine if they had all the meditation and stand alone stuff on the side and offered Steam VR wired and wireless capable as the main feature. I am dying for a light and easy to wear PC VR headset.
Just how mad can someone be, because his apple bubble doesnt support a cool new VR headset
Right I don't know why he stuck so much on that point android devices can literally go sub 50$ it's not that big of a deal
If apple is 50 percent of the market for cell phones, that is a huge opportunity lost. They could do ios support in the future,
@@hellotheresunshine but only in US
@@notlNSIGHT its seriously not that big of a deal you're already buying over priced vr sunglasses, if you're going to complain about having to buy extra things to get the full experience (dongles, the pencil, chargers, etc) then why do you have an apple product to begin with?
Thanks for great video. Can you please confirm that Netflix actually runs on this? Or any DRM content?
Being a phone "vr companion" if wasn't for the high price, i could see some interest into this device, specially, when the community would probably bring a homebrew 6 direction controller Bluetooth powered (like there's a way to use the switch controller and phone for limited pc vr). But basically the controller does the orientation process then it sends data to the phone, then the phone to the goggles
Didn't expect PHIA in this video
Meh... I don't know... I was hyped when I just saw the picture, but I don't think I would use this even if I got it for free...
Du auch hier?
@@luka_nicht na klar! VR Forever!
Willkommen Bruder dich findet man auch gefühlt wirklich in jedem video
Hey, I think you should keep an Open Mind.
Also das war jetzt unerwartet
I made a decision a while back not to get involved with VR until they are both portable and powerful. Looks like I have some more waiting to do, but we're definitely getting there!
I would expect such compact headsets like this to be leaning heavily into AR applications
If this thing had hand tracking and was priced closer to Q2, then it would be infinitely better.
Also, we love Phia 🖤
There needs to be something like this that focuses more on augmented reality with hand tracking then vr. Something this lightweight would be crazy to use as ar
Yo know what I want? A pair of glasses just for a protable vr chat room. Uses hand tracking, and gives heads up if you're about to run into anything, or if something's gonna run into you. Also a heads up if you're going off a walkway like into the street or something. Maybe portable vr glasses with ar capabilities for when you need to see. And you can still use certain interfaces in ar mode.
Same
The fact that a VR headset this small can be commercially viable is great! I can't wait for another company to make a real VR headset this compact.
I think Lynx would be almost as compact if it weren't for the battery. It uses multi-channel optics which is presumably more efficient than a pancake design
This seems like a vr headset that could be great for light weight games like tetris VR I cannot play vr games when i just sit down for long times since no movement strains my neck more.
As a XR owner is just Flow but with a powerbank
Well! Glad we made it to VR Glasses so quickly as I think this is a really good form factor but very frustrating that it can't be used as a regular VR device. See, I love VR and I wear glasses and apparently have a weird head shape and as such it has been a struggle to find a comfortable VR headset other than the PSVR. Not kidding, PSVR is very comfortable for me. Original Oculus stabbed me in the face, HTC Vive fell off my head constantly, and Quest 2 is barely tolerable as I have to embed my glasses into the device to make it work but it still puts too much pressure on my face. Bought a halo strap for it but it turned out garbage and keeps sliding off my head. If I could just get some VR glasses, that would be amazing. Comfort right now is VR's secret struggle.
To be real, it's really easy and cheap to get an old and/or used android phone. Probably cheaper than a pair proprietary of controllers would be... 50 bucks gets you a decent android that will do everything the goggles need it to.
I have used the Samsung A10 for years it's a fully capable smart phone for 50 brand new.
Yeah imagine if it was the other way round and only worked with iOS...
@@p3tro Yeah, I've got my S7 with a slight crack in the screen, I still use it when I travel or do other things that are perilous to a new phone with a huge screen... It still works just fine, even though it's about 5 years old.
@@akshobya303 like many car radios have USB ports but only support iphones...
I don't know who would want this. Cool collab with Phia though!
Summed up beautifully. Not a device I'll be rushing out to buy, but at the same time, I'm happy it exists for what it is and its influence on future products. Still, it does feel Vive is running amok with some of their product designs, almost so it's like they've got a huge budget and somebody has said see what cool designs you can produce without any thought to value.
Imagine how cool VR is gonna be in the future :O
This is part of why I have an Android. It might not even be HTCs fault for not having iOS support because of how regulated the app store is.
@@notlNSIGHT except for the reason I stated in my comment. The App Store is very strictly regulated unlike the Play Store.
Looks like a more comfortable version of the Huawei VR Glass from 2019, except with a lower refresh rate and supporting all Android phones as a companion. Wouldn't call it standalone when it requires a phone tho, and as you pointed out at the end, the value is definitely not there for the average end consumer, at least not with that price... Guess I'll wait for the Lynx-R1 and possibly the Valve 'Deckard' ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Very curious as to this headset's compatibility with the steam deck. MAYBE for driving some light steam VR games - but more so as an additional use case - as media consumption/gaming on the deck - while essentially projecting a giant screen into the goggles.
What ever this can do now, all I know is its a step in the right direction, its going to be no time before most head sets are in the same form factor or even smaller... imagine it, properly comfortable vr... the dream :D
Flow would be cool if there was a way to use it with steamVR natively and support lighthouse tracked devices. Would be pretty cool to have a tiny lightweight headset with pancake lenses.
I feel like they literally could have gotten rid of the XR1 chip and the two cameras, embedded some vive sensors in there and make a bundle with vive wands and lighthouse sensors, sell it for 800 dollars I would actually consider buying it since I like to play active games and want a light headset. They were so close.
@@QuixoticPenguin + upgrade the display because 1.6k x 1.6k is not good enough. This is the exact sort of design PCVR needs.
@@QuixoticPenguin These barely clamp onto your face. They promote standing still, meditating, and laying down.
That defeats the purpose built "Mobility and Spontaneity" since you now have to be in a purpose built room for VR only.
@@gr1f1th you could easily just strap a elastic sunglass strap on the sides and it would be fine for regular vr usage.
That outro was so adorable. It reminded me when my brother and I would record fake game shows on casset tapes and I would interrupt his recording as kids.😃
bro why did i instantly think of puting this on in school as "glasses"
So its a vive focus one without battery or the controller?