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workfromhom · 4 years ago

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Review: Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 is outstanding

Facebook’s virtual reality dreams have been a headache for the company.

At CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s prodding, the company has spent billions on Oculus and dealt with huge added complexities to their business, while encountering countless issues regarding the company’s founding team, a massive IP lawsuit, crippling supply chain issues and an impossible-to-satisfy user base. But for all the tears, that toil has given the tech world a weirdly poignant look at what’s possible when you attempt to brute-force an industry into existence.

Has Facebook convinced anyone out there that virtual reality is a technology we deeply need? Not so much.

And yet, six years after Facebook acquired Oculus VR, the company has released a device that feels meaningfully complete. In short, the new Quest 2 headset is a fantastic piece of hardware that showcases what a rewarding ecosystem can be built when you throw enough money and engineering talent at a dream. For all of the improvements that Facebook has driven to the Quest’s software since launch, I do still wish the platform was more diverse in its non-gaming offerings.

Quest 2 features

$299 (64GB) or $399 (256GB)

New two-tone design

More powerful Snapdragon XR2 Platform

6GB RAM (Original Quest had 4GB)

503g headset weight, 10% lighter than previous generation

Product Dimensions: 191.5 mm x 102 mm x 142.5 mm (strap folded in)

72hz 1832×1920 (per eye) Fast-switch LCD

Integrated speakers and microphone

2-3 hours battery life

Adjustable IPD with three settings for 58, 63 and 68mm

Redesigned controllers

Arriving around 18 months after its predecessor launched, most users were likely expecting this update to host a minor spec bump, yet the Quest 2 is a true upgrade, making advances in about every way. It’s lighter, smaller, more powerful, easier to use and cheaper, now starting at $299. As the company kills off its Rift line of PC-only headsets, months after sunsetting its $199 Go headset, in some ways the Quest 2 feels like a last-ditch attempt at mainstream success.

I thoroughly enjoyed the original Quest but its limitations were staring you right in the face. Games were limited because of the aged Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 powering the headset and the device’s OLED display felt too pixelated.

Facebook has thankfully delivered substantial updates to both the CPU/GPU and display, and I don’t have many complaints. The Quest 2 now uses the recently launched Qualcomm XR2 platform which delivers some steady performance gains over the 835. Oculus was a little coy about just how much better it performed, so I ended up getting on the phone with Hugo Swart, Qualcomm’s head of XR, who walked me through some details.

He wouldn’t speak to the individual implementation of the XR2 chipset on Quest 2, but did offer up some broad comparisons between the chipset powering it compared with the first-generation Quest. The high-level is that the XR2 is wildly more powerful than the Snapdragon 835, think doubled gains when it comes to CPU and GPU performance. For developers, this could mean doubling the visual complexity of titles, something that would allow them to more easily port PC experiences to the standalone headset.

But before you get too excited, it’s unlikely that Quest 2 titles will be harnessing this full power. Having a chipset that’s 2x as powerful actually means two things: It can do things that are twice as complex, but it can also do things that are just as complex as its predecessor while using roughly half of the power. I would imagine Facebook will push developers to focus on the latter rather than the former, especially considering that the XR2 is now powering a higher resolution display.

Part of that is the result of launching a full successor 18 months after its predecessor and trying not to piss off early adopters who will also want to play the latest releases, but it’s also a result of Oculus choosing to optimize for form factor over software complexity. Oculus has shaved several ounces off of the device’s weight and part of this has actually come from reducing the size of the device’s battery. Oculus tells me the engineering team redesigned the battery for the Quest 2 and that it’s now 18% smaller and 29% lighter.

The new display moves from OLED to the Fast-switch LCD type that the company used on the Rift S. It still operates at 72hz, but Oculus says that it will be pushing 90hz refresh rates to the device “soon.” The most noticeable difference to users will be the enhanced clarity of the screen which boasts a different pixel layout as well as a lot more pixels than the previous generation, over 50% more in fact. In practical use, the new display is noticeably clearer and makes painful VR experiences like reading small paragraphs of text a lot less painful.

Another interesting change with the display is how IPD (inter-pupillary distance) is shifted. A big concern with early leaks of the Quest 2 was that users wouldn’t be able to adjust the distance between the lenses to account for different face shapes. Well, the Quest does indeed allow for multiple IPD adjustments, but it’s less precise and achieved in a different way. Instead of a button or dial, users just physically pull the lenses apart, snapping them into one of three settings, 58mm, 63mm and 68mm.

This won’t deliver a perfect experience for everyone, but is a relief for users that Oculus would follow in the footsteps of the Go and Rift S and just get rid of adjustable IPD altogether.

The new controllers are fine upgrades, taking more cues from the design of the original Rift Touch controllers and allowing for a larger thumb rest. The big upgrade is that the controllers are now more battery efficient, with Oculus telling me that the new controllers last four times longer on a single AA battery than the original Quest. No big updates beyond that for the controllers, I will say I’m not as wild about the two-tone look on the controllers as with the headset.

That brings me to the headset housing, it has ditched the fabric-covered enclosure of the original and is now completely hard-shelled with a new two-tone light gray and black design. I like the colors, which have more of a toy-like appearance and appear a bit friendlier. It feels significantly smaller than the original Quest and the 10% reduction in weight is also apparent to heavy users of the previous generation. I was worried a shift to a plastic shell would feel cheap like the Rift S did compared to the original Rift, but the new headset housing is a highlight of the new design.

The onboard speakers which are fit into the arms of the head-strap are, again, just okay. They work, though honestly you’ll probably want to score some good in-ear buds if you’re serious about getting immersed in the content.

I’m not as satisfied with the decision to redesign the head strap to a fabric-only adjustable strap, which is worse that the previous generation and doesn’t redistribute weight quite as nicely. I’m sure this was done to reduce the base weight of the headset and its packable size, but I’m not convinced it was the right choice. Oculus is notably launching a pair of add-on rigid head straps which are built more like PC headsets including the $49 Elite Strap as well as a bundle that adds a small external battery into the back of the headset to extend playtime and redistribute weight more aggressively.

On the note of battery life, the company says the Quest 2 is sticking to the 2-3 hours of battery life depending on usage. I think the sweet spot for a device like this would be a bit longer, so it’s too bad that the company opted to set this as the goal, especially given that they actually shrank the size of the battery in this release.

Oculus Elite Strap with Battery. Image Credits: Oculus

I want to touch on the Oculus software for a bit because it is actually crazy how much the Quest’s software experience has improved since its initial launch. All of these software perks have been evident to existing Quest owners who have seen the upgrades bringing items like hand-tracking and updates to the Oculus browser. Almost everything has been meaningfully improved from navigation to watching media content.

All of these improvements have highlighted some limitations with the platform, though; namely there’s still not enough non-gaming content. I worry that so many of the VR-curious platforms have already grown tired of VR and decided it’s not worth the effort of maintaining a separate app. I almost wish Oculus would start integrating Android apps to the screen to passively flip through in between gaming sessions and media viewing. The Oculus browser is passable but I’d love to get quicker slightly more native access to doing some of the things I can on my phone. It seems like the platform is ready to move more in that direction.

One clear difference in the onboarding for this device compared to past hardware is that a Facebook account is now required to activate the headset. For a small subsection of folks this might be a dealbreaker, but it’s not the most surprising development, as Facebook has been slowly opting to treat Oculus as more of an internal division rather than a distinct organization.

The fact is, a decent amount of people do hate Facebook. After I watched the so-so documentary The Social Dilemma on Netflix this weekend, it’s also becoming clearer to me that even if popular culture trends back towards an excitement and hopefulness surrounding the tech industry over time, the scrutiny being paid toward the impact of social media companies on society will probably continue to drive distaste for Facebook. That’s a liability for Oculus, but time will tell how substantial of one it is.

Final thoughts

It is surprising to see such a revamp coming just a bit more than one year after the original Quest’s launch, but the new hardware is a sign of Oculus itching to double down on a new direction wholly focused on a single, more accessible device driving their vision.

This is the most convincing argument Oculus has made for VR since its inception and pricing the device at $299, on par with a Nintendo Switch, will likely open up more folks to the vision. For existing Quest owners, this release will probably be a tad frustrating, because I think it’s worth the upgrade and its coming in so quickly even as Facebook has struggled to keep the original Quest in stock.

It’s a fantastic VR device, but the question I’ve struggled with is whether a fantastic headset is still a great gadget. It’s still largely for gamers and will still fall danger to getting mainstream users excited for a few weeks and then spending the rest of its life in the closet.

Facebook is officially killing off the Oculus Rift line

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un-enfant-immature · 4 years ago

Text

Review: Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 is outstanding

Facebook’s virtual reality dreams have been a headache for the company.

Has Facebook convinced anyone out there that virtual reality is a technology we deeply need? Not so much.

Quest 2 features

$299 (64GB) or $399 (256GB)

New two-tone design

More powerful Snapdragon XR2 Platform

6GB RAM (Original Quest had 4GB)

503g headset weight, 10% lighter than previous generation

Product Dimensions: 191.5 mm x 102 mm x 142.5 mm (strap folded in)

72hz 1832×1920 (per eye) Fast-switch LCD

Integrated speakers and microphone

2-3 hours battery life

Adjustable IPD with three settings for 58, 63 and 68mm

Redesigned controllers

This won’t deliver a perfect experience for everyone, but is a relief for users that Oculus would follow in the footsteps of the Go and Rift S and just get rid of adjustable IPD altogether.

Oculus Elite Strap with Battery. Image Credits: Oculus

Final thoughts

Facebook is officially killing off the Oculus Rift line

#TechCrunch

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bestcartreviews · 5 years ago

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14 Best Oculus Virtual Reality Headsets (May 2020), VR Games

14 Best Oculus Virtual Reality Headsets To Experience True Virtual Reality in 2020 Virtual reality is no more the same, as the best VR headsets available today are more powerful and advanced! Now you can enjoy playing games, and watching movies with an immersive experience that will ensure that you feel participated in what you do with the VR headsets. Yes, there are multiple virtual reality headsets available in the market, but you have to buy one, and that can be demanding! But I am here with a list of 13 top virtual reality headsets in 2020 that are best to use with smartphones, gaming consoles, and other devices. I’ve tried most of these best virtual reality headsets, and also my friends are using some of these, so I got the chance of reviewing them to ensure that these are best for the money.

Best Virtual Reality Headsets - Comparison Table

Product Link Dimensions Standalone Use Weight Built-in Headphones Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 64GB 14.9 x 9 x 5.1 inches YES 4.57 pounds YES Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset - 32GB 8.3 x 8.3 x 4.8 inches YES 2.71 pounds YES PlayStation VR-Mega Blood+ Truth Everybodys Golf Bundle 1 x 2 x 1 inches NO 7.81 pounds YES PlayStation VR Mega Pack (PS4) 13.8 x 10.6 x 8.3inches NO 8.82 pounds YES Sony PlayStation VR 7.4 x 7.3 x 10.9 inches NO 6.85 pounds YES Playstation VR Bundle Five Game Pack 13.5 x 10.5 x 8.2 inches NO 6.47 pounds YES Sony Computer Entertainment VR Worlds Bundle - PS 4 8.4 x 18.2 x 10.6inches NO 9.95 pounds YES HTC VIVE Pro Starter Edition- Virtual Reality System -- YES 13.7 pounds YES PlayStation VR - Astro Bot Rescue Mission + Moss Bundle 2.1 x 2.4 x 2.3 inches NO 6.55 pounds YES Samsung HMD Odyssey+ Windows Mixed Reality Headset 7.6 x 5.1 x 4.3 inches YES 1.76 pounds YES HTC Vive Virtual Reality System 18.4 x 13.1 x 9 inches YES 7.55 pounds YES PlayStation VR - Skyrim Bundle 12 x 18 x 12 inches NO 9.33 pounds YES VR Headset Compatible with iPhone & Android Phone 7 x 5 x 4 inches YES 14.4 ounces No OPTOSLON 3D VR Glasses for Mobile Games and Movies 8.2 x 4.4 x 4.3 inches YES 11.2 ounces NO Here is a list of Best 14 virtual reality headsets to choose the best one for you.

Top 14 Virtual Reality Headsets Reviewed and Compared in 2020

1. Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 64GB- Editor’s Choice

The reason why Oculus VR Set is one of the highest-selling virtual reality headsets is the quality it offers. From a phenomenal design to best-in-class move controllers, you get only the best with this high quality virtual reality headset. Easy to Set Up The virtual reality headset is easy to set up, and you can use it with your gaming console on the go. Also, the firmware keeps on updating automatically, and that means you don't have to do it manually. Standalone Don't want to connect it with the gaming console? No worries, you can use this standalone virtual reality headset without any hassles. It comes with a 64GB built-in memory, and you can load some light games in the headset. Play on the move with Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset 64 GB. Oculus Insight Trackin The smart sensors mounted on the virtual reality headset keep track of your movements and translate the movements into actions. The sensors are so precise that they can track even the slightest of movements so you won't lose any chance to win against the opponents. Handy Touch Controls The handy touch controls are comfortable to hold and can track the gestures of your hands. You will surely find that the handy controllers are no less than the Move Controllers available for PlayStation and you can use them with PC and other gaming consoles to enjoy a seamless experience. Available in Multiple Variants The Oculus Gaming Headset is available in two variants with different storage space. You can choose one with 64G, or the other variant that comes with 128GB if you need a truly standalone gaming headset. Decent Battery Life The battery life of the virtual reality system is decent when compared to its performance. After a complete charge, the battery can last somewhere around 2 hours or even longer if you don't use the handy controllers with it. Frame Friendly Spacer Do you wear spectacles and hate the fact that you have to remove them while using a virtual reality headset? Well, this is not the case with Oculus Quest All In One VR Gaming Headset. The frame friendly spacer available with the headset allows you to wear spectacles while wearing the headset. This feature is available in just a few VR headsets, and you can buy Oculus VR Gaming Headset to enjoy virtual reality gaming while wearing spectacles. Why You Need Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset? There are multiple reasons why buying Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset is a good decision. You will get a powerful punch of performance with the headset. Also, it doesn't work on a wired connection, and you can recharge the battery to enjoy a seamless virtual reality experience. The headset is available in the below variants, so you can buy one accordingly based on your requirements. Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 128GB

2. Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset - 32GB

This standalone virtual reality headset from Oculus is what you need to enjoy fantastic virtual reality on the go. The Oculus virtual reality system has its built-in memory, and you can enjoy using apps like Netflix, Hulu, Melody, Pluto, YouTube, and the list is endless. Connect With Friends You and your friends can connect multiple Oculus Gaming Headsets together to enjoy watching movies and shows together. Connecting multiple headsets together is easy, and you can do it in a couple of minutes. Superb Screen The screen is supremely fantastic, and you will enjoy every bit of it. Whether you love watching movies, or you need to play some games, you can do with this standalone virtual reality headset from Oculus. Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 The Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor ensures unbeatable performance. As this is a standalone headset, therefore you can use it without connecting with your smartphone. Just connect it with your PC one time to load the movies and other things you want, and then the headset is ready to use.

3. PlayStation VR - Mega Blood + Truth Everybody's Golf Bundle

If you own a PlayStation, then this virtual reality for PS4 headset is what you need. The headset is easy to connect and comes with PlayStation VR Move controllers, and PlayStation camera, required for the setup. Also, the best part is the availability of gaming CDs, including Blood & Truth disc. Seamless Motion Sensing The Sony PlayStation VR headset bundle and the move controllers work in coordination, and you will get the best assistance you need while playing the games. The move controllers can sense even the minutest of movements and the VR headset displays everything quickly whilst you move while playing the game. Easy to Connect Sony has manufactured this Sony PlayStation VR, and it connects with the PlayStation on the go. You don’t have to run behind any driver installation of software updates when you have Sony PlayStation VR by your side. A Complete Bundle Sony PlayStation VR Blood and Truth is a complete bundle you need to enjoy seamless virtual reality while playing games. The only game available in the bundle is Blood and Truth, and can also use other gaming CDs to keep using the VR headset.

4. PlayStation VR Mega Pack (PS4)

So you need a PlayStation virtual reality headset with multiple games? If yes, then have a look at PlayStation VR Mega Pack (PS4). There are five exciting games available with the virtual reality headset, and you can download these games through the PlayStation Store using the codes available in the pack. High-Quality Visuals The visuals offered by this gaming VR headset are fantastic, and you can enjoy playing games with the true quality required for uninterrupted fun. You can use this headset to play multiple games, and it works seamlessly with PS4. 3D Audio Audio improves the gaming experience by leaps and bounds, and you will experience the best audio with this virtual reality headset without using a separate headset. Also, the headset is comfortable to wear, and therefore you can wear it to play games for a prolonged time. Intuitive Controls Controlling this virtual reality for PS4 is as easy as a breeze. All the controls including the volume are available on the headset so you can adjust the required settings on the go. Just connect the headset with your PS4, and it is ready to take you on a phenomenal virtual experience.

5. Sony PlayStation VR

If you are not willing to spend money on a bundle pack, then this standalone VR headset is what you should get. The cutting-edge design of this PS4 headset makes it an amazing option, and you will get an unmatched virtual experience with it. Advanced VR Display The advanced VR display offers you with an HD view. The display is 5.7" OLED and runs 20 frames per second, which means a truly unforgettable experience. Just Plug and Play There is no need to do any software installation, and you can use the VR headset straight away after plugging it with the PlayStation 4 gaming console. The camera is not available with the headset, so you have to purchase it separately. Industry-Leading Design The design of this VR headset is what a modern headset should have. The appropriate balance and adjustability allow you to wear the headset for a long time, and you can play games without any interruptions.

6. PlayStation VR Bundle Five Game Pack

Get this bundle from PlayStation to enjoy multiple games in virtual reality. The virtual reality for PlayStation 4 comes with a PlayStation camera, so you don't have to buy anything separately. There are five downloadable games available with the bundle, and you can get these games from the PlayStation Store. Demo disc 3.0 Available With the Demo disc 3.0, you can get habitual to using the virtual reality headset. You will not feel any type of motion sickness while using the headset as the demo disc will help you in learning how to use the VR headset. PlayStation Camera Available It's no news that you need a PlayStation Camera to use with the virtual reality headset. And with this bundle, you will get the camera required to use the VR headset. All you have to do is connect the headset with the gaming console, and you are good to go. Compatible with Multiple Games The VR headset is compatible with multiple games, and you can use it to play Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Skyrim VR, Resident Evil 7 and other such games that support VR headsets.

7. Sony Computer Entertainment VR - Worlds Bundle

Do you love gaming? Well, this virtual reality headset from Sony is what you need. The headset works well with PlayStation 4, and you get everything required to set it up with the gaming console. Also, the design of the headset is advanced, and you will enjoy playing multiple games on it. A Complete Bundle of Joy The bundle comes with everything you need to enjoy the best virtual reality experience. There is one VR headset, PlayStation Camera, Move Controllers and gaming CD available in the bundle so you can enjoy playing with it at once after setting it up with the gaming console. 5.7” OLED Display The 5.7" OLED display is superb, and you will enjoy HD pixels in every inch of it. Also, the screen is not flat, so there will be no interruptions while playing. The advanced interface makes it possible for the users to see everything clearly so that you get a good experience with the headset. Futuristic Design If you have ever tried a virtual reality headset, then you might know that wearing a headset all day long is daunting. But this is not the case with this smart headset. The Sony PlayStation VR Headset with Camera Bundle has a right balance so that you can use the headset for an extended period without any hassles.

8. HTC VIVE Pro Starter Edition - Virtual Reality System

This HTC VIVE Pro Starter Edition- Virtual Reality System is what should be your choice if you don’t want to compromise with the quality. The headset has got everything you need from handy controllers to powerful audio headphones. Also, the streamer base station available with the headset will allow you to stream games online to enjoy playing them with the best virtual reality experience. Fantastic Graphics The graphics rendered by this virtual reality headset from HTC is just breathtaking. The dual-Amoled display combined with the unrivalled graphics make HTC Vive Virtual Reality System one of the best virtual reality headsets for gaming. Immersive Audio Audio is something that can make the virtual reality experience better, and HTC Vive Virtual Reality System offers a punch of immersive audio combined with the visuals. The built-in headphones are comfortable, and you can wear the headset all day long without getting tired. Superb Motion Tracking HTC has used Steam motion tracking technology in HTC Vive Pro Virtual Reality System that tracks every motion and converts it into the virtual reality world. With the handheld controllers, you can vigorously move while gaming to make sure that you win every gaming session.

9. PlayStation VR - Astro Bot Rescue Mission + Moss Bundle

Here is another VR bundle from PlayStation that comes with a VR headset, camera, and two games. You can get this bundle to avoid buying all these accessories differently as you need them to play the games. The best part about this bundle is the availability of the latest virtual reality headset that comes with powerful audio, and graphics. Advanced VR Headset The advanced VR headset included in the bundle is the best you can get for your PlayStation 4. You can connect the headset with the wireless gaming controller, and it is ready to use. You will see the virtual reality unfolding in front of yourself after using this VR headset from Sony. Available with Two Games There are two games available with the bundle, and you can download these games using the voucher available in the box. These games include Moss and ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission which are the two prominent games in 2020. Easy to Set Up Setting up the virtual reality headset for PS4 is easy, and you can do it in a couple of minutes. The camera is available in the bundle, and you have to connect it with the PlayStation gaming console, and the VR headset is ready to use.

10. Samsung HMD Odyssey+ Windows Mixed Reality Headset

If you want to use a VR headset with your smartphone and Windows PC, then go with Samsung HMD Odyssey+ Windows Mixed Reality Headset. The headset looks premium and is easy to use. Also, the handheld controllers available with it will make gaming much more comfortable, and you will surely enjoy playing games with this classic virtual reality headset. AKG Audio The headset comes loaded with an AKG audio system so you will clearly hear every single sound without any distortions. The 360 degrees spatial sound offers a dynamic and rich experience, and AKG has made it even better with their cutting-edge tuning. Comfortable to Wear The VR headset may look bulky, but it is comfortable to wear, and you can wear it for extended gaming sessions. The soft padding enhances the comfort, and you will never complain about comfort with Samsung HMD Odyssey Windows Mixed Reality Headset. 3K anti-side AMOLED Display The AMOLED display of the virtual reality headset improves the visuals by leaps and bounds. Also, the 110O field of view makes the visuals even better, and you will see everything clearly and with the richness you need.

11. HTC Vive Virtual Reality System

HTC Vive Virtual Reality System is an affordable version of the Pro Starter Kit. You will get most of the essentials with this virtual reality headset system like the handheld controllers, and Steam VR support. Also, HCT offers two months of unlimited VR play support with the headset so you can access over 700+ apps and games available on Steam. Fully Immersive Display The fully immersive display of the headset offers a mind-blowing experience with the richness of whites and blacks. Moreover, the 360-degree controller has the best graphics available at the price point, so you will never feel that you have bought a low-performance virtual reality headset. Keeps You Safe If you have a small playing area, then there are possibilities that you bump into the chair of the walls. But with HTC Vive Virtual Reality System, you can play safely. The cameras available in the VR headset will track your environments so that it can protect you from crashing. Superb Handheld Controllers The superb handheld controllers of this virtual reality headset will reward you with amazing gaming experience. You can control the game much easier as the controllers have multiple buttons and joystick available on them.

12. PlayStation VR - Skyrim Bundle

The Skyrim Bundle by Sony is a popular option among game lovers due to its wholesomeness. The bundle consists of everything required to set up the gaming headset with your PS4. Also, the Move Controllers available with the headset add more fun to gaming, and you can play games for hours without getting tired. Truly Fantastic The visuals offered by this VR headset are truly fantastic, and you will believe the same after installing it with the gaming console. The fully immersive display shows content in 1080p, so you will love every game played on this headset. Clear Audio Audio is something you cannot miss in a virtual reality headset and the audio system of this Sony PlayStation VR Headset with Camera Bundle. Also, the cushions of the headphones are amazing, and you will get the required comfort with them. Easy to Set Up Setting up the virtual reality headset is easy, and you can do it in some minutes. All you have to do is connect the headset with the DualShock controller, and then set up the PlayStation camera with the gaming console; voila, you are ready to enter the world of virtual reality.

13. VR Headset Compatible with iPhone & Android Phone - Universal Virtual Reality Goggles

So you are on a budget, and you don't need an expensive virtual reality headset? If that's the case, then you can settle down with this VR headset that works with Android and iPhone. You can use this VR headset to watch movies and shows because it is not a gaming headset and no handheld controller is available with it. Superb Compatibility You can use the virtual reality headset with any smartphone with size ranging between 4"-6.3". You can use it with most of the common smartphones like iPhone 11 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note ten and much more. Comfortable Straps The comfortable and adjustable straps will ensure better comfort, and you can adjust them according to your requirements. Also, your kids can use this virtual reality for kids headset as well also you can adjust the strap according to their requirements. Lightweight The overall weight of this virtual reality set is 14.4 ounces, so you will not feel any bulk while wearing it. Just put your smartphone into the pocket, and the affordable headset will take you to the virtual reality world.

14. OPTOSLON 3D Virtual Reality Headset

Here is another affordable virtual reality headset available to use with a smartphone. This is a handy option for watching movies and shows while you are traveling on a flight or by any other commuting option. The headset works well with most of the latest smartphones, and you should get it if you need something under your budget. Adjustable Strap The adjustable straps of the virtual reality headset make it a good option. Anyone of your friends and family can enjoy using the virtual reality headset due to its adjustable feature, and also the strap is superiorly comfortable, which is a good thing.Versatile You can use this virtual reality smartphone headset with most of the smartphones available in the market, including iPhone 7, X, and 11. Just put your smartphone into the pocket of the VR headset, and you are good to go. Easy to Use There is no set up required in using this virtual reality headset, and you can start using it after inserting your phone. Also, the headset doesn't require any batteries and wired connection so you can keep using it without any hassles.

Accessories for Virtual Reality Headsets

Collective Minds PSVR Showcase Rapid AC PS4 VR Charge & Display Stand So you don't have a place to keep the virtual reality headset ad the move controller. How about having something that allows you to keep the gear safe in one place? With Collective Minds, PSVR Showcase Rapid, you can keep the headset and the move controllers in one place. The stand has ample space to store all the essentials, and you can keep it anywhere, including the gaming table. Also, you can place the DualShock controllers on the stand, and that comes as an added benefit.

Buying Guide: How to Select the Best Virtual Reality Headset in 2020

VR headsets or virtual reality headsets aren’t the same anymore. Now the headsets come loaded with tons of features that can transform your experience completely. As an example check Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset. The headset comes with superb features and built-in storage, so it becomes a bit daunting to choose the right one. This buying guide will help you in selecting the ideal VR headset, as I’ve covered every possible factor that can influence the performance of the device. Design You have to wear a virtual reality Oculus Quest headset on your face, and there's no chance you should settle down with a headset that's hard to wear. While choosing the VR headsets, I focused more on the design to ensure that these are comfortable to wear, and you can enjoy comfort while wearing the headset for a prolonged time. Look at the padding of the headset and the strap attached to it. You can pick any virtual reality headset from this list, as all of them guarantee promising comfort. Compatibility Are you looking to use the VR headset with your PlayStation gaming console? If yes, then go with the options that are compatible to use with PlayStation and other gaming consoles. There is some virtual reality for PS4 headsets available in this list, and you can use them with PlayStation 4. Similarly, look for compatibility with your device, i.e. smartphone, PC or anything else. There are some standalone virtual reality headsets available as well like Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset, and you can use them without connecting with any device. Weight Check the weight of the VR headset to make sure that you can wear it for a long time. Buying a heavy VR headset isn't a good idea as you will feel tired after wearing it for some time. Mostly, all the modern virtual reality headsets are light in weight, and I’ve picked the headsets for this list based on the weight. You can check the weight of every VR headset in the comparison table. Connectivity Range Virtual reality headsets are wireless devices, and you should check the connectivity range before buying one. More wireless connectivity range means that you can enjoy the experience even if you are far away from the gaming console. Every VR headset in this list has a different connectivity range, so you have to check it if you love playing games that require vigorous movements. Price Some of the virtual reality headsets are pricey, and buying them will break the bank. The best thing you can do is make your budget before you shop for one. There are multiple VR headsets listed in this article, and you can choose from a range of affordable and top-end options.

How Virtual Reality IS Helping people Stay Calm During the COVID-19 Quarantine

In this unprecedented time, when most of us are locked inside our home due to the spread of the novel Coronavirus, it becomes essential to keep the entertainment up. As per an astonishing study, people are using virtual reality headsets to stay calm and entertained during the quarantine. Virtual reality headsets make it viable for people to enjoy watching movies and playing games in a fun and uninterrupted way. And you can also achieve the same by having one of these best virtual reality headsets. Read more about how VR headsets can help you stay calm, here. Also, virtual reality is impacting the entertainment industry, and most of the prominent entertainment streamers are making content that is suitable for watching with VR headsets. Read this report from Cinemajan, and get through the facts why virtual reality is the need of the hour. Final Words These are the best virtual reality headsets available in 2020, and you can get any of these to enjoy uninterrupted entertainment. I personally reviewed all the headsets and used them to evaluate their performance. The list contains headsets for everyone, and you can get one even if you have a packed budget. The best virtual reality headset of this list is Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset due to its phenomenal visual quality and handheld controller. This is one of the highest-selling VR headsets, and you can get it to play games and for watching movies. However, if you have a tight budget, then you can go with OPTOSLON 3D VR Glasses, which work with your smartphone and you can keep entertainment with you wherever you go. Also, Read Relevant Best Product Reviews by BestCartReviews Best Solar Powered Portable Generators Best 3D Printers MakerBot, 3D Printers Best Buy Best Water Purifier System for Home Best Twin Mattress with Box Springs Best Water Softener for Whole House Best Reclining Chairs for Neck & Lower Back Pain Best Reclining Sofa Brands Instant Pot Duo Mini Electric Pressure Cooker Best Instant Pot – Accessories, 10 Things You Should Know, & FAQ’s Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer Reviews iRobot Roomba 960 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum Goovi 1600PA Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Mini Fridge for Office Breast Milk Storage OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker Review Quick Links – Best Selling Solar Pool Heaters, Hot Tubs & Hot Tub Covers – You may interested in reviewing of benefits at BestCartReviews Best Solar Pool Heaters for Inground & Above Ground Best Inflatable Small Hot Tubs 2 to 4 Person, Portable Spa Best Pool Heaters for Inground Pools Best 3-4 Person Hot Tub Prices & Dimensions Best Plug and Play Hot Tub for Cold Climate Reviews Best Hot Tub Covers for Cold Climates, Buying Guide Best Electric Pool Heaters for In-Ground Pools Reviews Read the full article

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thatsnotcanonpodcasts · 4 years ago

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Plutonian Ocean, Metal Slug, Huni Kuin & Cyberpunk Edgerunners

The Nerds Amalgamated fishing trip is coming up, and we'll be going to Pluto for some ice fishing. Could Pluto have underground oceans with alien fish, and will they taste good with chips? Unfortunately it'll take a really long time to get there to find out. Maybe we'll have FTL by the next fishing trip.

Metal Slug is back, again. SNK have plans to make some new Metal Slug games and not just work on porting the old ones to new consoles.

The Huni Kuin tribe of Brazil have become some of the most primitive game developers in the world. Working with a team of anthropologists to preserve their tribal stories in the form of a video game.

Cyberpunk 2077 is getting an Anime. The resident weebs are excited. Cross another one off on your Cyberpunk 2077 media bingo card.

Billion year old plutonian ocean

- https://astronomy.com/news/2020/06/pluto-has-likely-maintained-an-underground-liquid-ocean-for-billions-of-years

Metal Slug announcements

- https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-06-27-brand-new-metal-slug-game-announced

Reverse game archaeology: Huni Kuin

- http://www.gamehunikuin.com.br/en/abouthk/

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5m88A4oRHo

- https://chacruna.net/huni-kuin-game-an-anthropological-adventure/

Cyberpunk 2077 anime coming to Netflix

- https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-06-25/trigger-announces-cyberpunk-edgerunners-anime-for-netflix-debut-in-2022/.161084

Games Played

Professor

– Outer Wilds - https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/

Rating: 3.75/5

Deviboy

– Half-Life: Alyx - https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Rating: TBA

– Valorant - https://playvalorant.com/en-us/

Rating: 3/5

Other topics discussed

Oculus Quest: All-in-One VR Headset

- https://www.oculus.com/quest/?locale=en_US

Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset – 64GB at Amazon Australia cost $649

- https://www.amazon.com.au/Oculus-Quest-All-Gaming-Headset/dp/B07QY3M3Q4/ref=asc_df_B07QY3M3Q4/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341774504578&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9879915795311276137&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1000339&hvtargid=pla-765852518281&psc=1

SteamVR (SteamVR is the ultimate tool for experiencing VR content on the hardware of your choice. SteamVR supports the Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and others.)

- https://store.steampowered.com/steamvr

Half-Life : Alyx (2020 virtual reality (VR) first-person shooter developed and published by Valve. Between the events of Half-Life (1998) and Half-Life 2 (2004), players control Alyx Vance on a mission to seize a superweapon belonging to the alien Combine.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life:_Alyx

- https://www.half-life.com/en/alyx/

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Why is Pluto no longer a planet?

- https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/why-is-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/

Solar maximum (Solar maximum or solar max is a regular period of greatest Sun activity during the 11-year solar cycle. During solar maximum, large numbers of sunspots appear, and the solar irradiance output grows by about 0.07%)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_maximum

Solar cycle (The solar cycle or solar magnetic activity cycle is a nearly periodic 11-year change in the Sun's activity measured in terms of variations in the number of observed sunspots on the solar surface. Levels of solar radiation and ejection of solar material, the number and size of sunspots, solar flares, and coronal loops all exhibit a synchronized fluctuation, from active to quiet to active again, with a period of 11 years.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle

Gunter (Gunter is the penguin that most commonly accompanies the Ice King. In truth, Gunter is the primordial cosmic entity known as Orgalorg and feared as the Breaker of Worlds.)

- https://adventuretime.fandom.com/wiki/Gunter

Tom Scott - We Sent Garlic Bread to the Edge of Space, Then Ate It

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8W-auqg024

Tom Scott (British YouTuber, game show host and web developer. Scott is best known for producing online videos for his eponymous YouTube channel, which mainly comprises educational videos across a range of topics including history,science,technology, and linguistics.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Scott_(entertainer)

SNK (SNK Corporation is a Japanese video game hardware and software company. It is the successor to the company Shin Nihon Kikaku and presently owns the SNK video game brand and the Neo Geo video game platform. Classic SNK franchises include Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, and The King of Fighters.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNK

Metal Slug (Metal Slug is a series of run and gun video games originally created by Nazca Corporation before merging with SNK in 1996 after the completion of the first game in the series. Spin-off games include a third-person shooter to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the series and a tower defense game for the mobile platform.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Slug

The King of Fighters (The King of Fighters (KOF) is a series of fighting games by SNK that began with the release of The King of Fighters '94 in 1994. The series was developed originally for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware. This served as the main platform for the series until 2004 when SNK retired it in favor of the Atomiswave arcade board.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters

Metal Slug X (An upgraded version of Metal Slug 2, titled Metal Slug X, was released in March 1999 for the Neo Geo MVS. The game used a modified version of the engine from Metal Slug 3, which eliminated the slowdown problems of the original.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Slug_2#Metal_Slug_X

Metal Slug Touch (Metal Slug Touch is a Metal Slug game released in 2009 for iPhones. It is completely controlled only by using the touchscreen and shaking the device.)

- https://metalslug.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_Slug_Touch

Metal Slug Defense (Metal Slug Defense is a tower defense game created by SNK Playmore for iOS and Android mobile devices.)

- https://metalslug.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_Slug_Defense

Metal Slug Attack (Metal Slug Attack, is a tower defense game created by SNK Playmore for iOS and Android mobile devices. The game itself is a sequel to Metal Slug Defense, featuring numerous improvements and brand new game modes.)

- https://metalslug.fandom.com/wiki/Metal_Slug_Attack

Universal Entertainment (Universal Entertainment Corporation, formerly known as Aruze Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of pachinko,slot machines,arcade games and other gaming products, and a publisher of video games. In 2000, Aruze bought out SNK Corporation, maker of the Neo-Geo. In exchange for the use of SNK's popular characters on their pachinko and slot machines, and a few games for the Neo-Geo, Aruze promised financial backing for the failing SNK.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Entertainment

Neo Geo Pocket Colour (The Neo Geo Pocket Color, is a 16-bit color handheld video game console manufactured by SNK. It is a successor to SNK's monochrome Neo Geo Pocket handheld which debuted in 1998 in Japan, with the Color being fully backward compatible.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_Geo_Pocket_Color

Virtual Console (Virtual Console also abbreviated as VC, is a line of downloadable video games (mostly unaltered) for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. Virtual Console's library of past games currently consists of titles originating from the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Game Boy,Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS, as well as Sega's Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive, NEC's TurboGrafx-16, and SNK's Neo Geo AES. )

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Console

The King of Fighters XIII (The King of Fighters XIII is a fighting game in The King of Fighters series, developed and published by SNK Playmore originally in 2010.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_XIII

The King of Fighters XII (In an interview with Fighters Front Line, Producer Masaaki Kukino replies that each character took 16~17 months to complete with a team of 10 different designers.)

- https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_XII#Development

Virtual Songlines (Bilbie Virtual Labs is continuously pushing the frontier on innovation in our Virtual Songlines development.)

- https://www.virtualsonglines.org/

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a dark fantasy action-adventure game developed and published by the British video game development studio Ninja Theory. Inspired by Norse mythology and Celtic culture, the game follows Senua, a Pict warrior who must make her way to Helheim by defeating otherworldly entities and facing their challenges, in order to rescue the soul of her dead lover from the goddess Hela.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellblade:_Senua%27s_Sacrifice

Neuromancer (Neuromancer is a 1984 science fiction novel by American-Canadian writer William Gibson. It is one of the best-known works in the cyberpunk genre and the first novel to win the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. Set in the future, the novel follows Henry Case, a washed-up computer hacker who is hired for one last job, which brings him up against a powerful artificial intelligence.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromancer

Blade Runner (Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young and Edward James Olmos, it is loosely based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner

Rendezvous with Rama (Rendezvous with Rama is a science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1973. Set in the 2130s, the story involves a cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System. The story is told from the point of view of a group of human explorers who intercept the ship in an attempt to unlock its mysteries.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_with_Rama

No Man’s Sky (No Man's Sky is an exploration survival game developed and published by the indie studio Hello Games. It was released worldwide for the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows in August 2016, and for Xbox One in July 2018. The game is built around four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. Players are free to perform within the entirety of a procedurally generated deterministic open world universe, which includes over 18 quintillion planets.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Man%27s_Sky

Alien 3 (Alien 3 (stylized as ALIEN³) is a 1992 American science fiction horror film directed by David Fincher and written by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson from a story by Vincent Ward. It stars Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ellen Ripley. It is the third installment of the Alien franchise.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_3

Alien 3 wooden satellite (Ward envisioned a planet whose interior was both wooden and archaic in design, where Luddite-like monks would take refuge.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_3#Start-up_with_Vincent_Ward

Miasma theory (The miasma theory (also called the miasmatic theory) is an obsolete medical theory that held that diseases—such as cholera,chlamydia, or the Black Death—were caused by a miasma (μίασμα, ancient Greek: "pollution"), a noxious form of "bad air", also known as night air. The theory held that epidemics were caused by miasma, emanating from rotting organic matter. Though miasma theory is typically associated with the spread of disease.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miasma_theory

The Simpsons : Apu Headbag of Ice

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe8jOp349P8

Futurama : Global Warming

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SYpUSjSgFg

The Simpsons : Skinner and The Superintendent: Aurora Borealis (One of The funniest ever moments of The Simpsons)

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1h8cHUnP9k

Average life expectancy in industrial and developing countries for those born in 2018, by gender (in years) (In 2018, the average life expectancy for those born in more developed countries was 76 years for males and 82 years for females. Globally, the life expectancy for males was 70 years, and 74 years for females.)

- https://www.statista.com/statistics/274507/life-expectancy-in-industrial-and-developing-countries/

Apple I computer now in the Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (MAAS) in Sydney.

- https://collection.maas.museum/object/397247

- https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/499154595650600962/728216712675328020/1920px-Original_1976_Apple_1_Computer_In_A_Briefcase.png

While You Were Steeping (TNC podcast)

- https://thatsnotcanon.com/whileyouweresteepingpodcast/

Shout Outs

26 June 2020 – Milton Glaser passes away at 91 - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/obituaries/milton-glaser-dead.html

Milton Glaser, a graphic designer who changed the vocabulary of American visual culture in the 1960s and ’70s with his brightly colored, extroverted posters, magazines, book covers and record sleeves, notably his 1967 poster of Bob Dylan with psychedelic hair and his “I NY” logo passed away. Mr. Glaser brought wit, whimsy, narrative and skilled drawing to commercial art at a time when advertising was dominated by the severe strictures of modernism on one hand and the cozy realism of magazines like The Saturday Evening Post on the other. His designs include the I Love New York logo, the psychedelic Bob Dylan poster, and the logos for DC Comics, Stony Brook University, and Brooklyn Brewery. In 1954, he also co-founded Push Pin Studios, co-founded New York magazine with Clay Felker, and established Milton Glaser, Inc. in 1974. His artwork has been featured in exhibits, and placed in permanent collections in many museums worldwide. “I NY,” his logo for a 1977 campaign to promote tourism in New York State, achieved even wider currency. Sketched on the back of an envelope with red crayon during a taxi ride, it was printed in black letters in a chubby typeface, with a cherry-red heart standing in for the word “love.” Almost immediately, the logo became an instantly recognized symbol of New York City, as recognizable as the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. He died from stroke and renal failure in Manhattan, New York City.

27 June 2020 – Charles Webb, Author of 'The Graduate' Novel, Dies at 81 - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/charles-webb-dead-graduate-author-was-81-1300794

Charles Webb, a lifelong non-conformist whose debut novel The Graduate was a deadpan satire of his college education and wealthy background adapted into the classic film of the same name, has passed away. Webb was only 24 when his most famous book was published, in 1963. The sparely written narrative was based closely on his years growing up comfortably in Southern California, his studies in history and literature at Williams College in Massachusetts and his disorienting return home. Webb's fictional counterpart, Benjamin Braddock, challenges the materialism of his parents, scorns the value of his schooling and has an affair with Mrs. Robinson, wife of his father's business partner and mother of the young woman with whom he falls in love, Elaine Robinson. His novel initially sold around 20,000 copies and was labeled a "fictional failure" by New York Times critic Orville Prescott. But it did appeal to Hollywood producer Lawrence Turman and the film company Embassy Pictures. The 1967 movie became a touchstone for the decade's rebellion even though Webb's story was set in an earlier era. Nichols' film, starring a then-little-known Dustin Hoffman as Braddock and Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson, was an immediate sensation. Nichols won an Academy Award, Hoffman became an overnight star and the film is often ranked among the greatest, most quoted and talked about of all time. Webb's book went on to sell more than a 1 million copies, but he hardly benefited from the film, for which he received just $20,000. The script, much of it by Buck Henry, was so widely praised that few realized how faithful it was to Webb, including Benjamin's famous line, "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" He died from a blood condition inEastbourne,East Sussex.

29 June 2020 – Carl Reiner passes away at 80 - https://variety.com/2020/film/news/carl-reiner-dead-died-dick-van-dyke-1234694208/

Carl Reiner, the writer, producer, director and actor who was part of Sid Caesar’s legendary team and went on to create “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and direct several hit films. Reiner, the father of filmmaker and activist Rob Reiner, was the winner of nine Emmy awards, including five for “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Reiner remained in the public eye well into his 80s and 90s with roles in the popular “Ocean’s Eleven” trio of films and on TV with recurring roles on sitcoms “Two and a Half Men” and “Hot in Cleveland.” He also did voice work for shows including “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” “King of the Hill,” and “Bob’s Burgers.” Before creating CBS hit “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” on which he sometimes appeared, Reiner and “Show of Shows” writer Mel Brooks worked up an elongated skit in which Reiner played straight man-interviewer to Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man”; a 1961 recording of the skit was an immediate hit and spawned several sequels, the last of which, 1998’s “The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000,” won the pair a Grammy. he portrayed Saul Bloom in Ocean's Eleven, Steven Soderbergh's remake of 1960's Ocean's 11, and later reprised the role in Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen. He died at the age from natural causes in Beverly Hills, California.

30 June 2020 – Queensland university teams up with NASA to discover new planet the size of Neptune

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-29/usq-nasa-discover-new-earth-sized-planet-a-mic-b/12398056

- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2400-z.epdf?sharing_token=3JTENEuQF-T3APeZX4KxB9RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OtWNw2qcogQBYD10PdZhvxquqAqRChzO1nFKcfFtPKYHAUuZEWATQRM6h9tEKLylR11rM5M00uEqg6rHXXliKmS5mXQef56GLCRaooyb8BXkhcAIrlIx7_Nr2K-gZjizUMUcLFUaO80eRmm9mly099uTj6Gync7Hk-5dw0DGtLhcXtSIQcYAQT4mWbAxkmL5yyaVggBeZwOqhfwy06a8j2CY1WJyMSiFGHGoRGRYSGjqQPoVLcnVYYHq91fqiYaRh2p6hlMJYTKQxNJ4rwx5ud&tracking_referrer=www.abc.net.au

Queensland researchers have helped NASA discover a new planet the size of Neptune, "only" 32 light-years away. NASA first spotted the planet two years ago and have been working to confirm its existence with researchers around the world, including a team at the Mount Kent observatory, south of Toowoomba. "It's only 32 light-years away, which means the light we see tonight left it in 1988," said University of Southern Queensland (USQ) astrophysicist, Jonti Horner. The planet, AU Mic b, was found orbiting the young star AU Microscopii (AU Mic), which was trillions of kilometres from Earth in the southern constellation Microscopium. Professor Horner said AU Mic b would not be suitable for people to live on due to its intense heat of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius. The infant planet was discovered by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the recently retired Spitzer Space Telescope. These results were published in the journal Nature.

Remembrances

29 June 1855 – John Gorrie

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gorrie

- https://patents.google.com/patent/US8080

John B. Gorrie, American physician, scientist, inventor of mechanical cooling, and humanitarian. Dr. Gorrie's medical research involved the study of tropical diseases. At the time the theory that bad air — mal-aria — caused diseases was a prevalent hypothesis and based on this theory, he urged draining the swamps and the cooling of sickrooms. For this he cooled rooms with ice in a basin suspended from the ceiling. Cool air, being heavier, flowed down across the patient and through an opening near the floor. Since it was necessary to transport ice by boat from the northern lakes, Gorrie experimented with making artificial ice. After 1845, gave up his medical practice to pursue refrigeration products. On May 6, 1851, Gorrie was granted Patent No. 8080 for a machine to make ice. The original model of this machine and the scientific articles he wrote are at the Smithsonian Institution. In 1835, patents for "Apparatus and means for producing ice and in cooling fluids" had been granted in England and Scotland to American-born inventor Jacob Perkins, who became known as "the father of the refrigerator". Another version of Gorrie's "cooling system" was used when President James A. Garfield was dying in 1881. Naval engineers built a box filled with cloths that had been soaked in melted ice water. Then by allowing hot air to blow on the cloths it decreased the room temperature by 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It required an enormous amount of ice to keep the room cooled continuously. Yet it was an important event in the history of air conditioning. It proved that Dr. Gorrie had the right idea, but was unable to capitalize on it.The first practical refrigeration system in 1854, patented in 1855, was built by James Harrison in Geelong, Australia. He died at the age of 52 in Apalachicola, Florida.

29 June 1997 – William Hickey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hickey_(actor)

William Edward Hickey, American actor. He is best known for his Academy Award-nominated role as Don Corrado Prizzi in the John Huston film Prizzi's Honor , as well as Uncle Lewis in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and the voice of Dr. Finklestein in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. His most important contribution to the arts, however, remains his teaching career at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by Hagen and Herbert Berghof. George Segal, Sandy Dennis, Barbra Streisand, and Sandra McClain all studied under him. He was a staple of Ben Bagley's New York musical revues, he can be heard on several of the recordings, notably Decline and fall of the entire world as seen through the eyes of Cole Porter. Hickey enjoyed a career in film, television and theater. In addition to his work as an actor, he was a respected teacher of the craft. Notable for his unique, gravelly voice and somewhat offbeat appearance, Hickey, in his later years, was often cast in "cantankerous-but-clever old man" roles. His characters, who sometimes exuded an underlying air of the macabre, usually had the last laugh over their more sprightly co-stars. He died fromemphysema andbronchitis at the age of 69 in New York City.

29 June 2003 – Katherine Hepburn - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_Hepburn

Katharine Houghton Hepburn, American actress who was a leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years. She appeared in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama, and she received a record four Academy Awards for Lead Acting Performances, plus eight further nominations. In 1999, Hepburn was named by the American Film Institute the greatest female star of Classic Hollywood Cinema. She was known for her fierce independence and spirited personality. In the 1940s, she began a screen and romantic partnership with Spencer Tracy, which spanned 26 years and nine movies, although the romance with the married Tracy was hidden from the public. Hepburn challenged herself in the latter half of her life, as she tackledShakespearean stage productions and a range of literary roles. Hepburn famously shunned the Hollywood publicity machine, and refused to conform to society's expectations of women. She was outspoken, assertive, and athletic, and wore trousers before they were fashionable for women. She was briefly married as a young woman, but thereafter lived independently. With her unconventional lifestyle and the independent characters she brought to the screen, Hepburn epitomized the "modern woman" in the 20th-century United States, and is remembered as an important cultural figure. She died from cardiac arrest at the age of 96 in Fenwick, Connecticut.

Famous Birthdays

29 June 1793 – Josef Ressel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Ressel

Joseph Ludwig Franz Ressel,Austrian forester and inventor of Czech-German descent, who designed one of the first working ship's propellers. He worked for the Austrian government as a forester in the more southern parts of the monarchy, including in Motovun,Istria (modern-day Croatia). His work was to secure a supply of quality wood for the Navy. He worked in Landstrass (Kostanjevica on the Krka river in Carniola in modern-day Slovenia), where he tested his ship propellers for the first time. In 1821 he was transferred to Trieste (modern-day Italy), the biggest port of the Austrian Empire, where his tests were successful. He was awarded a propeller patent in 1827. He modified a steam-powered boat Civetta by 1829 and test-drove it in the Trieste harbor at six knots before the steam conduits exploded. Because of this misfortune, the police banned further testing. The explosion was not caused by the tested propeller as many believed at the time. Besides having been called "the inventor of the propeller", he was also called the inventor of the steamship and a monument to him in a park in Vienna commemorates him as “the one and only inventor of the screw propeller and steam shipping”. He was also commemorated on Austria's 500 Schilling banknote in the mid 1960s (P139), which shows him on the front and the ship "Civetta" on the back. Among other Ressel's inventions are pneumatic post and ball and cylinder bearings. He was granted numerous patents during his life. He was born in Chrudim,Bohemia, Habsburg Monarchy.

28 June 1818 – Angelo Secchi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelo_Secchi

Fr. Angelo Secchi, Italian astronomer by the italian region of Emilia. He was a pioneer in astronomical spectroscopy, and was one of the first scientists to state authoritatively that the Sun is a star. Secchi made contributions to many areas of astronomy.

He discovered three comets, including Comet Secchi.

He produced an exact map of the lunar crater Copernicus.

He drew some of the first color illustrations of Mars and was the first to describe "channels" (canali in Italian) on the planetary surface.

Secchi was especially interested in the Sun, which he observed continually throughout his career.

He observed and made drawings of solar eruptions and sunspots, and compiled records of sunspot activity.

In 1860 and 1870, he organized expeditions to observe solar eclipses.

He proved that the solar corona and coronal prominences observed during a solar eclipse were part of the Sun, and not artifacts of the eclipse.

However, his main area of interest was astronomical spectroscopy. He invented the heliospectrograph, star spectrograph, and telespectroscope. He showed that certain absorption lines in the spectrum of the Sun were caused by absorption in the Earth's atmosphere. Starting in 1863, he began collecting the spectra of stars, accumulating some 4,000 stellar spectrograms. Through analysis of this data, he discovered that the stars come in a limited number of distinct types and subtypes, which could be distinguished by their different spectral patterns. From this concept, he developed the first system of stellar classification: the five Secchi classes. While his system was superseded by the Harvard system, he still stands as discoverer of the principle of stellar classification, which is a fundamental element of astrophysics. His recognition of molecular bands of carbonradicals in the spectra of some stars made him the discoverer of carbon stars, which made one of his spectral classes. Secchi was active in oceanography, meteorology, and physics, as well as astronomy. He invented the Secchi disk, which is used to measure water transparency in oceans, lakes and fish farms. He studied the climate of Rome and invented a "Meteorograph" for the convenient recording of several categories of weather data. He also studied the aurora borealis, the effects of lightning, and the cause of hail. He organized the systematic monitoring of the Earth's magnetic field, and in 1858 established a Magnetic Observatory in Rome. Secchi also performed related technical works for the Papal government, such as overseeing placement of sundials and repair or installation of municipal water systems. In 1854–1855, he supervised an exact survey of the Appian Way in Rome. This survey was later used in the topographic mapping of Italy. He supervised construction of lighthouses for the ports of the Papal States. He was born in Reggio Emilia.

29 June 1861 – William James Mayo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James_Mayo

Physician and surgeon in the United States and one of the seven founders of the Mayo Clinic. He and his brother, Charles Horace Mayo, both joined their father's private medical practice in Rochester, Minnesota, US, after graduating from medical school in the 1880s. In 1919, that practice became the not-for-profit Mayo Clinic. On August 21, 1883, a tornado struck Rochester, killing 29 people and seriously injuring over 55 others. One-third of the town was destroyed, but young Will and his family escaped serious harm. The relief efforts began immediately with a temporary hospital being established at the town's dance hall. The Mayo brothers were extensively involved in treating the injured who were brought there for help. Mother Alfred Moes and the Sisters of Saint Francis were called in to act as nurses (despite the fact they had little if any medical experience). After the crisis had subsided, Mother Alfred Moes approached William Worrall Mayo about establishing a hospital in Rochester. In September 30, 1889, Saint Mary's Hospital opened. In September 1931, Mayo and other prominent individuals of the time were invited by The New York Times to make a prediction concerning the world in eighty years time in the future, in 2011. Mayo's prediction was that the life expectancy of developed countries would reach 70 years, compared to less than sixty years in 1931. “Contagious and infectious diseases have been largely overcome, and the average length of life of man has increased to fifty-eight years. The great causes of death in middle and later life are diseases of heart, blood vessels and kidneys, diseases of the nervous system, and cancer. The progress that is being made would suggest that within the measure of time for this forecast the average life time of civilized man would be raised to the biblical term of three-score and ten.” He was born in Le Sueur, Minnesota.

29 June 1868 – George Ellery Hale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ellery_Hale

American solarastronomer, best known for his discovery of magnetic fields in sunspots, and as the leader or key figure in the planning or construction of several world-leading telescopes; namely, the 40-inch refracting telescope at Yerkes Observatory, 60-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory, 100-inch Hooker reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson, and the 200-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Palomar Observatory. He also played a key role in the foundation of theInternational Union for Cooperation in Solar Research and the National Research Council, and in developing the California Institute of Technology into a leading research university. In 1908, he used the Zeeman effect with a modified spectroheliograph to establish thatsunspots were magnetic. Subsequent work demonstrated a strong tendency for east-west alignment of magnetic polarities in sunspots, with mirror symmetry across the solar equator; and that the polarity in each hemisphere switched orientation from one sunspot cycle to the next. This systematic property of sunspot magnetic fields is now commonly referred to as the "Hale–Nicholson law," or in many cases simply "Hale's law." Hale spent a large portion of his career trying to find a way to image the solar corona without the benefit of a total solar eclipse, but this was not achieved until the work of Bernard Lyot. He was a prolific organizer who helped create a number of astronomical institutions, societies and journals. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.

Events of Interest

29 June 1613 – The Globe Theatre in London, built by William Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, burns to the ground. - https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-globe-theater-burns-down

The Globe was built by Shakespeare’s acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, in 1599 from the timbers of London’s very first permanent theater, Burbage’s Theater, built in 1576. Before James Burbage built his theater, plays and dramatic performances were ad hoc affairs, performed on street corners and in the yards of inns. However, the Common Council of London, in 1574, started licensing theatrical pieces performed in inn yards within the city limits. To escape the restriction, actor James Burbage built his own theater on land he leased outside the city limits. When Burbage’s lease ran out, the Lord Chamberlain’s men moved the timbers to a new location and created the Globe. On 29 June 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry VIII. A theatrical cannon, set off during the performance, misfired, igniting the wooden beams and thatching. According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches were put out with a bottle of ale.

29 June 1975 – Steve Wozniak tested his first prototype of Apple I computer. - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/steve-wozniaks-apple-i-booted-up-tech-revolution-180958112/

Apple I was the first computer from Apple. It was fully made by Steve Wozniak with little or no input from Steve Jobs. Apple I came without a keyboard, monitor and even an enclosing cabinet. It was basically a motherboard with chips. At the Homebrew Computer club in Palo Alto, California (in Silicon Valley), Steve Wozniak, a 26 year old employee of Hewlett-Packard and a long-time digital electronics hacker, had been wanting to build a computer of his own for a long time. It didn’t look like much—just a circuit board with 32 chips attached, connected to a video monitor and a keyboard. But when he turned it on? Magic. A cursor appeared on the screen—and better yet, it reacted instantly to whatever keys Wozniak pressed. “I typed a few keys on the keyboard and I was shocked!” he recalled in his memoir, iWoz. It was, he observed, the first time in history anyone had typed on a personal computer and seen the results “show up on their own computer’s screen right in front of them.” The sensation of success—he was looking at random numbers he had programmed—was “like getting a putt from 40 feet away.” The Apple I sold for only $666.66. (Wozniak picked the price because he liked repeating numbers; he had no clue about the satanic resonance.)

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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droneseco · 6 years ago

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VR Goes Mainstream: Oculus Quest is The Headset You’ve Been Waiting For

Our verdict of the Oculus Quest: The first true VR console, the Oculus Quest is an all-in-one system that requires no PC or external tracking sensors. The only let down is the tinny audio, but that's a compromise I can live with. 910

The Oculus Quest is a groundbreaking achievement: it’s an affordable VR headset that anyone can use. It doesn’t need a gaming PC; or any PC at all, in fact. It’s a self-contained unit, with full motion controllers, and an inside-out tracking system that doesn’t need external sensors. It just works. It’s the most console-like VR system yet.

Join me as I take a closer look at exactly what had to be compromised to make this possible in a $399 package. At the end of this review, enter to win your own Oculus Quest in our giveaway!

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Friends Don’t Let Friends Use Mobile VR

Not long ago, if you’d have told me mobile VR had any future at all, I’d have laughed. Google Cardboard and the Daydream successor were a thorn in the side of any real VR efforts. They poisoned the well, and now even Google doesn’t like to talk about them. If you met someone who said they’d tried VR and it was terrible, perhaps even made them sick, you can guarantee they meant they played with some horrid mobile VR headset. There’s a good reason Apple mostly left that market alone. Mobile VR has singlehandedly damaged the reputation of VR as a whole for generations to come.

But the Oculus Go gave us a glimpse of what mobile VR could be when done right. It was still ultimately limited to standing on sitting in one place, and using a pointer or gamepad to navigate, but it was a great refinement.

The Oculus Quest is groundbreaking. It offers a full “room scale” VR experience, with fully tracked controllers for both hands, in a single untethered all-in-one mobile package. It’s actual, real VR, in a mobile package. It plays real VR games. This is the headset that will bring VR to the world.

Oculus Quest Specifications

Oculus Quest Oculus Quest Buy Now On Amazon $399.00

Resolution: 1440 x 1600 per eye (compared to 1280 x 1440 on the Oculus Go, or 1080 x 1200 on the original Rift)

Display: OLED 72Hz

Weight: 571g

Snapdragon 835 with 4GB RAM

Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi ac/b/g/n

Internal speakers

Physical IPD adjustment

$399 for 64GB model, $499 for 128GB

In the box, you’ll also find:

5V 3A fast USB-C charger

3m/10ft USB-C cable

Left and right controllers

Glasses spacer

The glasses spacer can be used to increase the distance from your face to the lenses, in case your glasses are pushing up against them. My frames are quite small so I haven’t found this to be necessary, but you may. In terms of comfort, I found no issues with 1-2 hour play sessions. The semi-rigid strap should cup the back of your skull, relieving some of the weight from your face. If you’ve sweat a bit too much, the facial padding can be removed and washed.

The internal battery is good for about two to two and a half hours of use. The inclusion of a really long USB cable is generous and allows you to continue playing even when low on power. Many users are also buying shorter USB-C cables and attaching an additional battery pack directly to the back of the headset.

Two controllers are included in the set. These are very similar to the original Rift Touch controllers, with the same button layout and capacitive sensing features. Each controller features a thumbstick, grip and trigger buttons, A/B buttons on top, and a system or menu button. The only real difference is that the ring of tracking LEDs faces up top rather than down, for better visibility from the cameras in the headset. As with the originals, these are also designed for your left or right hand. Helpfully, they’re labeled L or R in the augmented reality view as you put on the headset.

Interestingly, these are also the exact same controllers used on the current desktop Rift S headset. Not just similar; they are interchangeable. If you own both headsets and happen to lose or break a controller, you will be able to use these instead, and vice versa.

Audio on the Quest is delivered in a similar way to the Oculus Go, using internal speakers within the headset. This results in appallingly tinny audio that everyone around you can hear, and it’s the only major criticism I have. You can optionally purchase a pair of stereo earbuds, or connect your own headphones, but this is additional wires on an otherwise very elegant design.

The Games

While the library is quite slim at launch, there are some amazing titles available: Beat Saber, Rec Room, and Robo Recall being the most notable. These are not new games–they’ve been available on PC for a while–nor are they in any way fundamentally different to their PC versions.

If you already own some games on the Oculus store, you may find they’re available to download on the Quest, too. But it’s unlikely. Some you may have to purchase again. To be clear: this is the developer’s decision, not Oculus. The facility for cross-buy is there, but it’s up to the developers to both add support for the Quest, and to set whether it’s free for existing owners.

Beat Saber is not free, even if you already own it for the Rift. It is the perfect game for demoing the Quest though, and apart from less flashing lights, it’s identical to the version on other platforms (not to understate the amount of optimization I expect it took the developer to get it up to that standard). The only downside is that you’ll really notice the lack of bass with the built-in audio.

Rec Room has been my main point of comparison, with around 300 hours mostly played on the HTC Vive. It’s often compared to Wii Sports, but it’s so much more than that. Consisting of many different games, each of which would stand alone as a full game in their own right, some are not yet available on the Quest. Paintball is, as is the Golden Trophy adventure. My verdict is: this is the exact same game, just with much less shininess. There’s less effects, less particles, less reflections, less lighting–but gameplay is the same.

In fact, you can even play alongside your PC VR, PSVR, and non-VR players on other platforms, as it’s completely cross-platform play. I played about 95% as well as I would on PC. In fact, the higher resolution means paintball sniping is actually easier. Rec Room is completely free, but you can support the developers through in-game tokens for cosmetic items.

Robo Recall is also not cross-buy enabled, and while I wasn’t much of a fan on the tethered Rift headset, the freedom of wireless really lets the game shine on the Quest, even with a small graphical downgrade.

The Quest doesn’t support SteamVR natively. That may sound obvious, since it isn’t connected to a PC, but they were originally rumors that a tethering feature might exist, enabling the Quest as a hybrid mobile/PC headset. I say “natively” not supported because an open source project called ALVR has enabled wireless streaming of SteamVR games to the Quest. Virtual Desktop has done the same, but the feature was removed from the Oculus Store version, so for either method, you’ll need to enable developer mode and sideload the APK through the SideQuest unofficial store. This can also be used to sideload custom Beat Saber songs!

Tracking

The biggest concern I had for the Quest was the inside-out tracking system. This uses no external sensors or markers, nor any laser emitters. Instead, four cameras on the headset itself look at your surroundings and see where both you and your controllers are located. Combined with IMU sensor data, this allows for accurate positioning in the 3D space.

This is essentially the same as the current crop of Windows Mixed Reality tethered PC headsets, and my experience with those has been… horrendous. It’s easy to lose tracking on the WMR controllers when they’re near your head, resting to the side, or behind you.

The difference is that the Quest combines four cameras worth of data (located on both the top and bottom of the headset), while WMR uses only two. This gives a much wider field of view around the sides of the headset, allows you to get closer to your face, move controllers further out to the side, and generally just works seamlessly.

In fact, the Oculus Quest has restored my faith that inside-out tracking is perhaps the most viable solution moving forward. There will always be room in the market for the epic warehouse scale and the flawless tracking capabilities of the Valve’s laser-based Lighthouse system, but for most people, the inside-out Oculus tracking is going to be more than sufficient.

Quest can work outside, but only after the sun has gone down.

There are some specific downsides to this approach. It won’t work in low-light because the headset is unable to locate itself. It won’t work in bright sunlight either, because the infra-red of the sunlight overpowers the infra-red tracking LEDs on the controllers (even though your headset itself will be tracking fine, you won’t have hands!). You shouldn’t be using your headset in bright sunlight anyway as even a few seconds shining into the lenses will burn the screen, but you may want to use it in the dark for a virtual cinema.

Oculus has promised a future update will address this, allowing the Quest to degrade to 3DOF (rotational only) tracking in dark environments specifically for use cases like watching a movie or using virtual desktop. This is a clever compromise, but there’s no specific date penned for this update.

Lights out mode. You will have the option to use 3dof tracking in dark rooms, mostly for media applications.

— John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) May 28, 2019

Some users are reporting success with IR lamps in dark rooms, too.

Passthrough Cameras

Using cameras on the headset to catch a glimpse of your real-world surroundings is nothing new–the original HTC Vive had it, Windows Mixed Reality has it–but the Oculus Quest has integrated it so seamlessly that it’s actually useful. When you step outside of your defined boundary, the real world comes into view. It’s somewhat grainy, monochrome, and the scale is every so slightly too small for my eyes, but it absolutely works. You can walk around, make a drink, answer the door, and do whatever it is you need to do before jumping back into your play space. It remembers where your playspace is even if you wander off somewhere completely different.

Passthrough cameras enable you to walk around and manipulate objects in the real world without taking off your headset. You’ll still need a straw to drink from it though…

I can’t emphasize enough how cool, and useful, this actually is. It’s a small feature that I never knew how badly I wanted it until I tried.

Beyond a stereoscopic passthrough view of the world, there’s no further deep integration into games or the system. It’s in this mode that you draw your boundaries, but there’s no augmented reality gaming, and no way to map your real-world objects into a virtual environment. Oculus has teased these sort of features, but I’d expect those on PC if they ever materialize, rather than mobile.

Should You Buy The Oculus Quest?

The Oculus Quest has that all-important quality of pick up and play. There are no longer any barriers to playing VR, and that’s an incredible achievement.

Should you buy a Quest if you already have another PC-based VR headset or PSVR? Probably not. You’ll miss out on superior graphics or exclusive games. Unless you really want one for travel or demos, there’s no need to buy this headset as well. It’s not for you.

Though I admit, even with a superior Vive setup, I find my VR time split equally between that and the Quest. I don’t always want to lock myself away in the basement. Sometimes it’s nice to be alongside other members of the family in the living room or kitchen.

This is the headset that will bring VR to the world.

Oculus Quest Oculus Quest Buy Now On Amazon $399.00

The Good

All-in-one device with no setup needed.

Inside-out tracking works well.

Stereo passthrough view of the world when you step outside boundaries.

Freedom to play anywhere.

Seamless, console-like experience.

The Bad

Audio lacks bass, and everyone around you can hear.

Light leak is problematic when it doesn’t currently work in the dark. A Lights Out mode is promised at some point specifically for watching movies.

Restricted library, and even those that are ported may not be cross-buy. You may find yourself paying for the same games on the Oculus store again.