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I think the approach of giving it a fabric look and feel will be huge for the non techy consumer market appeal. This device looks like something that I can put

I think the approach of giving it a fabric look and feel will be huge for the non techy consumer market appeal. This device looks like something that I can put on and relax on the couch with. The other VR headsets I've seen are much more of a "strap this hard plastic gadget to your head" feel.

teej 10y ago
Where did you get this info from? The link posted only has a line drawing rendering of the device.
- lallysingh 10y ago
  http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/ http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/ has a live-stream of the event.
  - teej 10y ago
    Thanks. For others interested, here's a picture: http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/images/IMG_0202.JPG http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/images/I...
- kyrra 10y ago
  On the google store now too: https://store.google.com/product/daydream_view https://store.google.com/product/daydream_view
haydenlee 10y ago
Should be noted that the Oculus Rift is also made of fabric but agreed that it is a great idea, and unique in the mobile VR space.
- NathanKP 10y ago
  The difference is Google Daydream is really making the fabric texture very, very obvious. It almost looks like a soft American Apparel tshirt or something like that: http://i.imgur.com/F2iR3nm.png http://i.imgur.com/F2iR3nm.png On the other hand in Oculus marketing the surface doesn't even look like fabric: http://i.imgur.com/UnRJndA.png http://i.imgur.com/UnRJndA.png
  - wilg 10y ago
    I wonder how Oculus' fabric needing to be IR-transparent for the tracking LEDs affects their choice of fabric. Maybe it has to be black?
- thoughtpalette 10y ago
  Wait seriously? I've never noticed that!
  - nilkn 10y ago
    It's quite a nice touch, but it's not evident at all from their marketing material for the most part. It's pretty noticeable if you hold the actual device.
- pixelcloud 10y ago
  VR headsets are designed to be comfy to wear in general. This is an Apple like move, they made it sexy and "nice". Something that might appeal to the masses.
draw_down 10y ago
I agree. But isn't this limited by the fact it runs from a phone? Otherwise Oculus and whoever else are wasting their time developing custom hardware, no?
- jc4p 10y ago
  Oculus has been making a phone headset alongside Samsung called the Gear VR for years.
- detaro 10y ago
  Of course it's limited, but it beats the high-end solutions in other metrics (I'd guess price (if you aren't buying a phone just for it), weight, computer requirement, cabling) so there's going to be a market if it manages to work otherwise. The high-end solutions require quite a big commitment in comparison.
  - draw_down 10y ago
    Right, makes sense. Thanks.
usaphp 10y ago
The problem with fabric is that it gets dirty pretty quick, you can wipe plastic easily, but with fabric, it will be a dirty mess in a week of use.
- emehrkay 10y ago
  It looked like it was even fabric on the nose area, while very comfortable, I'd imagine that is where a lot of sweat would gather.
  - bolly 10y ago
    The part that actually comes in contact with your face is detachable and machine washable.
  - nrb 10y ago
    Depending on the type of fabric, it can breathe extremely well.
  - coleifer 10y ago
    What the hell do you think you're going to be doing? You'll be parked on the couch.
    - slowmotiony 10y ago
      Have you used any VR headsets? Sweating is definitely a real issue.
  - lawpoop 10y ago
    Also the human nose is very oily. Ever hear people mentioning "powdering their nose"
- BillyParadise 10y ago
  Good point, so I checked - it's hand washable.
  - 10y ago
wangchow 10y ago
The design reminds me of a nice, snug pair of underwear :) Clever distinction from the standard devices out there!
- ucaetano 10y ago
  My first thought was: a sleeping mask!
  - bch 10y ago
    My first thought (esp for the "slate" and "snow" colours) was star wars cold gear as seen on Hoth: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/2/24/Alliance_Cold_Weather_Headgear.jpg/revision/latest/thumbnail-down/width/250/height/255 http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/2/24/All...
Thaxll 10y ago
From what we saw from the pictures the material in contact with your skin looks pretty much the same as what Occulus / steamvr has, only the appearance looks different.
philip1209 10y ago
They remind me of the Allbirds shoes that are a fad right now - the same soft look and feel.
josu 10y ago
Xiaomi did it first https://www.google.com.mx/amp/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/circuitbreaker/2016/8/4/12373948/xiaomi-vr-headset-mi-play https://www.google.com.mx/amp/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/...
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
72deluxe 10y ago
Do you think people will come home and sit with screens 5cm in front of their faces after a long day? Personally I do not know anyone who thinks that wearing a headset like this is acceptable, nor can I see it becoming popular with consumers (eg how often do you see someone with a bluetooth headset for calls on these days). I certainly couldn't see my mum sat at home with one of these on - could you? Perhaps my perspective is biased by where I am (the UK).

teej 10y ago

Where did you get this info from? The link posted only has a line drawing rendering of the device.

lallysingh 10y ago
http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/ http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/ has a live-stream of the event.
- teej 10y ago
  Thanks. For others interested, here's a picture: http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/images/IMG_0202.JPG http://live.arstechnica.com/googles-104-pixel-event/images/I...
kyrra 10y ago
On the google store now too: https://store.google.com/product/daydream_view https://store.google.com/product/daydream_view

haydenlee 10y ago

Should be noted that the Oculus Rift is also made of fabric but agreed that it is a great idea, and unique in the mobile VR space.

NathanKP 10y ago
The difference is Google Daydream is really making the fabric texture very, very obvious. It almost looks like a soft American Apparel tshirt or something like that: http://i.imgur.com/F2iR3nm.png http://i.imgur.com/F2iR3nm.png On the other hand in Oculus marketing the surface doesn't even look like fabric: http://i.imgur.com/UnRJndA.png http://i.imgur.com/UnRJndA.png
- wilg 10y ago
  I wonder how Oculus' fabric needing to be IR-transparent for the tracking LEDs affects their choice of fabric. Maybe it has to be black?
thoughtpalette 10y ago
Wait seriously? I've never noticed that!
- nilkn 10y ago
  It's quite a nice touch, but it's not evident at all from their marketing material for the most part. It's pretty noticeable if you hold the actual device.
pixelcloud 10y ago
VR headsets are designed to be comfy to wear in general. This is an Apple like move, they made it sexy and "nice". Something that might appeal to the masses.

draw_down 10y ago

I agree. But isn't this limited by the fact it runs from a phone? Otherwise Oculus and whoever else are wasting their time developing custom hardware, no?

jc4p 10y ago
Oculus has been making a phone headset alongside Samsung called the Gear VR for years.
detaro 10y ago
Of course it's limited, but it beats the high-end solutions in other metrics (I'd guess price (if you aren't buying a phone just for it), weight, computer requirement, cabling) so there's going to be a market if it manages to work otherwise. The high-end solutions require quite a big commitment in comparison.
- draw_down 10y ago
  Right, makes sense. Thanks.

usaphp 10y ago

The problem with fabric is that it gets dirty pretty quick, you can wipe plastic easily, but with fabric, it will be a dirty mess in a week of use.

emehrkay 10y ago
It looked like it was even fabric on the nose area, while very comfortable, I'd imagine that is where a lot of sweat would gather.
- bolly 10y ago
  The part that actually comes in contact with your face is detachable and machine washable.
- nrb 10y ago
  Depending on the type of fabric, it can breathe extremely well.
- coleifer 10y ago
  What the hell do you think you're going to be doing? You'll be parked on the couch.
  - slowmotiony 10y ago
    Have you used any VR headsets? Sweating is definitely a real issue.
- lawpoop 10y ago
  Also the human nose is very oily. Ever hear people mentioning "powdering their nose"
BillyParadise 10y ago
Good point, so I checked - it's hand washable.
- 10y ago

wangchow 10y ago

The design reminds me of a nice, snug pair of underwear :) Clever distinction from the standard devices out there!

ucaetano 10y ago
My first thought was: a sleeping mask!
- bch 10y ago
  My first thought (esp for the "slate" and "snow" colours) was star wars cold gear as seen on Hoth: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/2/24/Alliance_Cold_Weather_Headgear.jpg/revision/latest/thumbnail-down/width/250/height/255 http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/2/24/All...

Thaxll 10y ago

From what we saw from the pictures the material in contact with your skin looks pretty much the same as what Occulus / steamvr has, only the appearance looks different.

philip1209 10y ago

They remind me of the Allbirds shoes that are a fad right now - the same soft look and feel.

josu 10y ago

Xiaomi did it first https://www.google.com.mx/amp/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/circuitbreaker/2016/8/4/12373948/xiaomi-vr-headset-mi-play https://www.google.com.mx/amp/www.theverge.com/platform/amp/...

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

72deluxe 10y ago

Do you think people will come home and sit with screens 5cm in front of their faces after a long day? Personally I do not know anyone who thinks that wearing a headset like this is acceptable, nor can I see it becoming popular with consumers (eg how often do you see someone with a bluetooth headset for calls on these days). I certainly couldn't see my mum sat at home with one of these on - could you? Perhaps my perspective is biased by where I am (the UK).