HTC Vive Focus 3 Archives

A new report states that the device could feature a unique modular design.

XR hardware analyst Brad Lynch has released a new video revealing what he claims to be HTC’s next VR headset. The information, according to Lynch, comes from “many industry sources,” most of which from the supply chain. Lynch once again partnered with product designer Marcus Kane to provide realistic 3D renders of the product based on black-and-white photos shared by his sources.

According to the report, HTC is working on a standalone VR device similar in design to the HTC Vive Flow, HTC’s smartphone-powered VR glasses that were released last year. Referred to by Lynch as the “HTC Vive Flocus,” the device supposedly features four black-and-white tracking cameras as well as one RGB passthrough camera, similar to the Pico 4.

Lynch says that the device features separated 1920×1920 per eye LCDs running up to 120hz. The company is using pancake lenses to reduce the overall size of the device. Lynch was unable to confirm exactly which chipset is being used, though his sources have claimed that the device will feature a “much faster” chip than the XR2 Gen 1, the same one used in the Meta Quest 2.

Unlike the HTC Vive Flow, which uses your smartphone as a controller, the HTC Vive Flocus will be compatible with the HTC Vive Focus 3 motion controllers. Other neat features include a physical IPD adjustor, a removable face pad, and a USC-C port located inside the facial gasket area. Lynch speculates that this port could be used for eye-tracking accessories seeing as the device supposedly lacks any form of built-in eye-tracking technology.

Most interesting, however, is the HTC Vive Flocus’ modular design. According to Lynch, you can actually disconnect the back half of the headset, aka “cradle,” to enter what he refers to as “glasses mode. You can then connect to other power sources, such as a PC. With the cradle removed, you’ll actually be able to fold the arms of the device for easy storage.

According to Lynch, HTC is aiming to release the headset sometime in early 2023. No word yet on an official price, though Lynch says we can expect the device to cost under $1,000.

HTC has been teasing its new VR headset for the past few weeks on social media, but the company has yet to provide any details. Hopefully, we’ll learn more next year during CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Image Credit: Brad Lynch

A new firmware update introduces six predefined hand gestures and opens up quality-of-life opportunities.

The HTC VIVE Focus 3 is an impressive VR headset with its dual 2.88” LCD panels, Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, magnetic gasket, and easy-to-access swappable battery.

One of the VIVE Focus 3’s most exciting features is the AI-powered hand-tracking. Thanks to a recent firmware update, the hand-tracking experience has been improved even further, offering better stability, performance, and accuracy while in VR. The headset tracks your hands in real-time using a 26-point skeletal hand modeling system; even super-fast hand movements can be tracked with a high level of accuracy.

Image Credit: HTC

Along with improved stability and performance, developers can now easily integrate six predefined hand gestures into their experiences. “Point”, “Fist”, “Ok”, “Like”, “Five” (all fingers straight), and “Victory”, with the possibility of more gestures being included in the near future.

These gestures can be used in a variety of VR experiences. Because the hand tracking engine is OpenXR compliant and highly resource-efficient, it opens up more hand movement possibilities for developers.

The first thing you’ll notice after upgrading is that your hands feel more natural and reliable in VR. Thanks to the aforementioned hand modeling system, you’re able to wiggle and snap your fingers as you would in real life, whether you’re grabbing a virtual object or pushing a virtual button.

To get started all you need to do is set aside your Focus 3 controllers and hold your hands up in front of you while in VR. The outside sensors will automatically locate your hands and begin tracking your movements and gestures.

There are still some limitations you should be aware of when using hand tracking on the VIVE Focus 3. You’ll want to avoid complicated backgrounds as well as low or unbalanced lighting conditions in the camera frame. You’ll also want to make sure to roll up your sleeves and ensure your wrists are visible to the four onboard cameras and avoid any awkward side views.

Another thing to keep in mind is that hand tracking quality will depend heavily on the platform, VR headset, and mode. For example, more complicated experiences may result in less reliable hand tracking.

The improved hand tracking experience will allow you to navigate VR environments in a way that feels much more intuitive, and will be a big step in making VR more accessible for users as they explore the possibilities of the metaverse. It also opens up quality-of-life opportunities to explore VR for people dealing with physical disabilities that prevent them from interacting with VR in a more conventional manner.

For more information on HTC VIVE’s hand tracking engine, hop on over to the HTC developers hub.

Feature Image Credit: HTC

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HTC Improves Hand Tracking On The VIVE Focus 3