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Oculus Rift Sensor Overview

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In the original Oculus Rift shipment, you get two Oculus Sensors. This basic setup will be enough for seated play, but not really sufficient if you want to enjoy standing 360° gameplay or room-scale VR. At Oculus they quickly realized that in order to compete with HTC Vive, room-scale VR is mandatory.

For this very reason, not long after the initial release of the Rift, standalone Oculus Sensor is available for purchase. Simply put, you will need to buy at least one additional sensor in order to enjoy room scale virtual-reality. This means there are three options – 2, 3 or 4 sensor setups.

Oculus Rift Sensor on Amazon

 The Basic – 2 Oculus Rift Sensor Setup

Two Oculus Rift Sensor setup works most of the time only if you are playing in a seated or stationary position. It can actually work very well with games such as Robo Recall. You will have a visual reminder to re-orientate yourself in cases you turn around while playing.

So, the conclusion is, with only two sensors you can’t really enjoy standing 360° play. The problem occurs when you turn away from the Oculus Sensors, and at these times tracking won’t work properly. While you are facing the sensors, the tracking is perfect for the most part. Unfortunately, this is as far as you can go with the 2 Oculus Rift Sensor setup.

SOURCE: roadtovr

To be completely honest, room-scale is technically possible even with this setup, but it doesn’t really work as intended, so it may become a frustrating experience. You will quickly stumble upon the “blind spots” which won’t track the Touch controllers. Be it as it may, the 2 Oculus Rift Sensor setup still provides an unparalleled experience compared to those you get when using Google Cardboard or Gear VR.

 The Advanced – 3 Oculus Rift Sensor Setup

With the 3 Oculus Rift Sensor setup, you can play 95% of the games with pin-point perfect tracking. You can only encounter issues when you are at the edges of your dedicated play space or facing a corner in which you do not have a sensor placed. Three Oculus Rift sensors may be unable to track Touch controllers in situations when you position them very close to your body. However, you can easily deal with this in most cases by simply turning around in real life.

To cover some technical details, Oculus Sensors won’t track objects past 10 feet. The sensors’ field of view is 100° horizontal and 75° vertical. The image below explains how Oculus Sensor perceives the space. You should have this in mind when placing your sensors around the room. User experience suggests that mounting sensors to the walls or the ceiling provides the best tracking. If you are unable to do so, look for high shelves or other surfaces around your VR room, since you want to elevate the Rift sensors off the ground as much as possible.

Eventually, in order to set up a perfect VR room, you are going to have to invest not only in additional Oculus Sensors, but some cables, wall mounts or tripods too. For that reason, make sure to check out VRBorg’s list of best Oculus Rift cable extensions! If all those cables start getting in the way, especially the extended HMD cable, you should also check out the Rift HMD cable management tips & tricks!

Get the third Oculus Sensor, you will never look back

The Enthusiast – 4 Oculus Rift Sensor Setup

While the 3 Oculus Sensor setup is sufficient for the most part, we are aware there are many enthusiasts among our readers which are willing to experiment and improve their virtual playground even further.

If someone asks you, hey, why you getting that fourth Oculus Sensor when it can work just as well with 3? While definitely not necessary, it really smooths out the tracking. You will be able to expand your dedicated virtual playground to the 3×5 meters area.

It is probably a good idea to think ahead before purchasing the fourth sensor and extend the HMD cable so you can cover the required area. Most of the time, 3 Oculus Sensor setup will work fantastically. However, if you decide on buying the fourth one, you will take care of the Oculus Rift Sensor tracking issues forever, since you will never again encounter any!

More space and better tracking? Get the fourth and final one & you are done!

What are The Best VR Controllers for iPhone?

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Let’s assume you’ve treated yourself with a VR headset for iPhone. You have enjoyed some of the best VR apps and experiences, yet you get a feeling that when it comes to iPhone VR games, you are missing a crucial tool. The next logical step aiming to enhance the gameplay is getting an iPhone VR controller.

Playing iPhone VR games with a controller really takes it to the completely different level. Apple started its MFi program way back (Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod), a certification program for hardware, which includes external controllers too. So let’s take a look at some of the MFi certified best VR controllers for iPhone and gamepads!

SteelSeries Stratus Wireless Gaming Controller for iPhone

SteelSeries Stratus controller for iPhone, despite the fact that it is very small (2.4 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches), packs a powerful punch in terms of real gaming experience! The compact design allows portability, so you will be able to easily carry it along with your other Apple devices. SteelSeries Stratus VR iPhone controller comes at a reasonable price too.

Pressure sensitive buttons and analogue controls do the best to emulate the console feel. Intuitive controls make the transition to mobile gaming effortless. Wireless connection is established via Bluetooth, and while the product is small enough to be easily portable, it is still large enough for you to hold and manoeuvre. Buyers confirmed that the SteelSeries Stratus worked brilliantly even with the iPhone X, therefore you shouldn’t worry about compatibility with latest iOS updates. It comes in two colors, white and black. The choice is all yours.

Check out SteelSeries Stratus on Amazon!

SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller for iPhone

Steel Series Nimbus Wireless Controller for iPhone
Steel Series Nimbus Wireless Controller for iPhone

If you aren’t really into small and compact controllers, SteelSeries Nimbus is built as a regular size gamepad. Once again, this iPhone controller is MFi certified, it comes with Bluetooth 4.1 with an approximate battery life of over 40 hours. The time it takes to fully charge it is around ~2 hours.

The SteelSeries Nimbus provides an authentic console-like feel, featuring 2 analogue sticks and pressure sensitive buttons. Same as the Stratus, it comes in both black and white colors. What singles Nimbus out from the competition is the Nimbus Companion App, the free app which gives you access to charts of top free and paid games which are compatible with this device.

Check out SteelSeries Nimbus on Amazon!

Apple Certified Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i iPhone Controller

Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i iPhone Controller
Apple Certified Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i iPhone Controller

The whole idea behind wireless iPhone controllers is to make mobile gaming more comfortable for the user. If you ever used the Xbox One Controller, the Mad Catz Micro C.T.R.L.i will make you feel like at home. The components include analogue sticks, triggers and action buttons. All of the buttons and controls work smooth, however pressing them sounds a bit louder than expected.

Bluetooth connection is established easily with your iPhone or iPad. The product features AA batteries which offer up to 40 hours of unobstructed gameplay. It comes in glossy colors – blue, orange, red, white and black. This may be the only thing you’ll dislike about it since fingerprints often tend to stick to glossy surfaces, and if your hands sweat a lot while playing, it may become a bit slippery.

All things considered, Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i brings mobile gaming controls as close to those of console gaming as possible. It will definitely help you bring the VR mobile gaming and experiences to a much deeper level.

Purchase Apple Certified Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i iPhone Controller via Amazon

Megadream Apple MFi Certified Gamepad Joystick Controller for iPhone

Megadream Apple MFi Certified App Store IOS Games Gamepad Joystick Controller for iPhone X 8 8Plus 7 7Plus 6S 6 5S, iPad Air 2 Mini 4 3 Pro, Apple TV – Clamp Holder Included
Megadream Apple MFi Certified Gamepad Controller for iPhone

Megadream came up with another Apple MFi certified game controller for iPhone which works perfectly with the latest iOS versions and Apple devices. Once again, if you are an Xbox player, this one is a no-brainer.

It is compatible with a variety of controller games which are available on App Store. The finishing is done with high-quality rubber oil, which ensures comfortable and smooth feel. Additionally, it is durable to scratches and ensures a tight, no-slip grip. The build quality is more than sufficient, all buttons respond perfectly, and I was unable to find any real flaws in this Megadream’s controller for iPhone. There is only one minor drawback – it doesn’t feature a start button usually used to pause the games.

Order Megadream Gamepad Joystick Controller for iPhone via Amazon!

🎧 The Best Headphones for Gear VR

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Audio plays a huge part when it comes to virtual reality. For this reason, investing in a pair of high-quality headphones for your Gear VR sounds (no pun) like a good idea. This is pretty much the case with any VR headset – good audio makes virtual reality even more immersive, hence significantly improving the overall experience. When it comes to buying the best headphones for Gear VR, firstly you’ll have to decide whether you prefer lightweight Bluetooth headphones (earbuds), or the more robust over-the-ear headphones.

In-ear Bluetooth Headphones for Gear VR

If you prefer lightweight wireless headphones, then Bluetooth headphones are the way to go for you. Going wireless also ensures you won’t get all tangled up during your Gear VR sessions. Most of the time you will probably forget that you are even wearing them. Unless you forget to charge them before use, this makes it a sealed deal for most people.

Samsung Gear IconX

Samsung Gear IconX is designed for people who like to enjoy their music while exercising. They are completely wireless and offer up to 7 hours of battery life. In about 10 minutes of charging time, you gain an hour of battery life, so the earbuds are fully charged in about an hour. However, charging should never be an issue – you just simply put the earbuds in the compact carrying case.

Since Samsung Gear IconX headphones are built for fitness, they will remain in place no matter how much you move your head around. They have a 4GB built-in storage, so you can store approximately 1,000 songs on them. The mic is also incorporated, so you can answer calls or give voice commands via Bixby or Google Voice. This is certainly a pair of headphones for Gear VR which you can use in various other situations too. While they are a bit pricey, the sound quality and superb comfort they provide is definitely worth it!

Check out the Samsung Gear IconX on Amazon

Samsung Level U Wireless Headphones

This pair of Samsung headphones once again features a sleek design. The Level U Wireless Headphones provide a very comfortable fit, suitable for long-term use. Even if you aren’t wearing them at the time, the lightweight, around-the-neck design makes it easy to forget you are carrying them with you. Sound quality is satisfying, but it won’t really blow you away.

The bad thing about these headphones is that, due to design, the outside sounds cannot be stopped from leaking in. Additionally, it isn’t really sweat-proof, so if you tend to sweat a lot, the aforementioned Samsung Gear IconX may be a better pick as your headphones for Gear VR. All things considered, the Level U Wireless Headphones are a worthy in-ear headphone option.

Check Out the Level U Wireless Headphones on Amazon

Over-the-ear Headphones for Gear VR

At a first glance, over-the-ear headphones may not look as they could improve immersion as much as the in-ear solutions. But this isn’t necessarily true, because the over-the-ear design can utilize outside noise-cancelling technology.

Bose QuietComfort 35 & Bose QuietComfort 25

Bose has been known as the top-dog when it comes to manufacturing high-end wireless headphones. They have established themselves as the market leader in this field. Bose QuietComfort 35 offers top-notch noise cancellation which you can adjust to fit your current needs.

Check out the best Bose QuietComfort 35 deals on Amazon

Bose QuietComfort 35 aren’t only the best headphones for Gear VR, but possibly on the entire wireless headphones market. The downside, as expected, is the price – it goes over $300 mark. If you don’t want to spend $300+ on a pair of headphones, check out the older version from Bose – QC25.

Check out the best Bose QuietComfort 25 deals on Amazon

Edifier H840 headphones for Gear VR

In the end, we have the best headphones for Gear VR runner-up, which provides noise-cancellation, but more importantly, it costs under $50. The H840 provides pristine sound quality and good outside sound blocking. Edifier came up with fairly straight-forward, yet effective design, with emphasis on comfort. Earcups are enclosed, providing full audio isolation from the outside world, hence improving the immersion. The headband is steel reinforced and can accommodate all the sizes, while the headrests are made out of leather.

Click here for the best Edifier H840 prices

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These are the hands down best VRBorg’s picks for Gear VR headphones. There’s something for everyone, so pick your pair and immerse yourself like never before!

Sincerely yours,

VRBorg team

The Best VR Motion Chairs

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One of the problems of virtual reality is the recurrent motion sickness associated with the technology. A VR motion chair is one way to reduce these effects, because they actually turn you to face the direction in which you’re looking in virtual reality. This means that as the virtual world moves around you, so too do you, physically speaking. The inertia that you experience from the movement of the chair matches the movements of the virtual world, preventing nausea.

Most virtual reality chairs are motorized, and the controls of the motor linked in one way or another to either the VR software, or to the headset itself. A VR motion chair will also usually incorporate some external control mechanism, usually in the form of joysticks or pedals, though more complex controls are not unknown, as you will see as we go through various virtual reality chairs below.

Some chairs these days allow you to merely lean in the direction of movement to begin to move in that direction. If you’ve noticed when playing an intense game or flight simulator, on naturally tends to lean in the direction one wants to move in while playing a game, so this sort of movement is actually very natural in virtual reality.

There are a number of advantages to a VR motion chair

First of all, and perhaps the most obvious, is that you don’t have to stand all the time. While racing games or flight or space-combat simulators are perhaps the best suited to VR chairs, the fact is that just about any game can be played using them.

These virtual reality chairs might be the first step into ‘4D’ – that is to say, the chairs of the near future might be able to simulate wind, temperature, rain, and other environmental factors, to increase the immersion of your experience.

vr motion chairs roto-vr-with-elite

The Roto VR 360

This is one of the most interesting chairs on sale today, and offers a design reminiscent of the classic DX Racer. It is powered by a motor in its base, and this can turn the chair in either direction. The Roto VR 360 automatically rotates to face the direction you look in – this is done using a sensor called the “Roto VR HeadTracker”, a small unit that you have to attach to your virtual reality headset. It transmits the movements of your head in real-time to the control systems built into the chair.

If you look to the right, the chair turns in the same direction, following the direction of your head. This module is stored in a special compartment in the chair that allows it to be recharged. Once charged, the control module runs for about six hours before it needs to be recharged.

There’s a powerful – optional – vibration system that consists of two 500W modules placed under the chair and at the back of the backrest. The Roto VR 360 has lots of possible ergonomic settings ranging from the management of the backrest to the customization of the seat or the height of the armrests.

The footrest has two “buttons” or pedals that allow you to move easily. They are most commonly set to forward movement (since turning is handled merely by turning your head), and to jumping.

The Cable Magazine

An additional, optional accessory for the Roto VR 360 is the Cable Magazine, a system that allows you to avoid entangling the cables of your headset by allowing you to plug the headset directly into the top portion of the chair itself. This can be exceptionally useful when playing a combat flight simulator, for example. Not only does your VR headset plug in this way, but so do your headphones.

The chair transmits all the data it receives to corresponding ports in its base, which you can then connect with corresponding cables to your PC. This chair therefore provides an innovative and highly effective solution to the problem of cables getting entangled in one’s legs – or around surrounding objects – while one is in virtual reality. There are lots of other options that you can add to the chair to enhance your immersion in virtual reality.

MMOne VR Chair

A Ukrainian start-up has created the MMOne VR chair, a gaming chair for virtual reality that is actually able to move on different axes. This will allow it to create forces such as momentum and inertia, which is a big leap forward in virtual reality.

Advanced reality

Virtual reality companies are often blamed for only focusing on  sight, and sidelining thee other senses. Mounted on multiple axes that can move and rotate independently from 30 to 360 degrees at variable speeds, the MMone allows the player to feel momentum, inertia and (as in a driving game, for example) the movements and shocks of his vehicle in play. While this chair would hardly interest a player of RPGs, it’s in its element with a driving game or flight simulator.

Telepod

Eje, a company based in Japan, has developed the Telepod. This looks rather like those egg-seats you see in cinemas – the ones that specialize in 4D.

Telepod

It has an interesting method of operation – the audio feed for a VR headset is plugged into the ‘egg’ (that’s as good a name for it as any), and it vibrates around you along with the audio, just like those seats in 4D movie cinemas. It really adds to the experience. But what about the audio for your games? Well, it’s sent back to you via an incorporated set of excellent headphones in the Telepod itself.

The VRGO – a brilliant innovation in VR technology

The VRGO is rather interesting. It looks like a stool, but it’s an advanced piece of VR technology. This stool can lean in any direction – and when it does, you move in that direction in virtual reality! You can also use the stool’s sensors to look around effortlessly in a 360 degree movie. Weights in the base of the stool keep it stable, and prevent you from falling over no matter what you do – within reason, of course.

Yaw VR Motion Simulator

This is an amazing simulator that looks rather like a half sphere. The Yaw motion simulator is exceptional in being the size of a chair, yet being able to simulate the complex movements of a starfighter – in the real, physical universe.

The Yaw motion simulator is nothing short of a work of genius, and if the company gets well and truly off the ground, will be in the living room of every VR enthusiast. It weighs just about thirty pounds, and can fold to become amazingly compact. Still not convinced? Take a look for yourself…

Liked what you saw? Here’s a video that showcases some of the VR Motion Chairs we’ve been talking about – and others.

Wearality Sky Review

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While most VR systems today tend to provide a standard 110 degree field of view, and those systems that promise wider FOVs are mostly prototypes-still-in-development, a ‘wide field’ is something that the Wearality Sky actually delivers on. Wearality Sky offers a field of view that covers 150 degrees, which is exceptional for any VR device today. This superb FOV is created by special Fresnel lenses. Since the Wearality Sky are mobile phone based VR goggles, it is also rather economical, and the device costs a fraction of the price of‘dedicated’ VR headsets.

Wearality Sky is little more than a pair of complex plastic lenses in a frame that latches on to your smartphone. The goggles work with just about any 3D video or Google Cardboard app. However, the lack of casing does provide one distinct advantage – the device can actually fold away into your pocket, rather than having to be carried around in a special case. The fact that the Wearality Sky can so easily be folded up makes the lenses more resistant to getting dirty and scratched as well.

The team behind the technology

Wearality Sky is the creation of a highly competent technical team. Wearality’s CEO, David A. Smith, is in charge of innovating new technologies at Lockheed Martin. Smith is often seen at VR exhibitions, introducing Wearality Sky models with different fields of view – both their original model, with its 150 degree field of view, and a new prototype that offers a 180 degree FOV.

Mark Bolas is the team’s technical advisor, and has been associated with projects run by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies. Other big names are the reputed computer specialist Alan Kay, and the founder of eleVR, Vi Hart.

A new milestone in VR

The patented Fresnel lenses used by Wearality Sky tend to provide a rather optimal visual experience in VR. The Wearality Sky offers reduced weight, an enhanced field of view, a very compact pair of VR goggles, and high levels of visual fidelity, all of which – put together – is really quite impressive. The device offers excellent visual clarity, quite on par with most other equivalent headsets and goggles. The lenses of most VR headsets tend to distort colors around the edges – this is an effect of the sophisticated lenses used in these headsets. However, Wearality Sky seems to reduce this to a considerable extent as well.

The Fresnel lenses themselves are said to be an offshoot of technology used within the aerospace company, Lockheed Martin, that provides the U.S. government with military technology. The company’s Kickstarter campaign did very well, incidentally.

When you first put on the Wearality Sky, it doesn’t look too expressive. This is because the device has options for different fields of view, all keyed to a special app that Wearality has designed. The app allows for incrementally wider fields of view, so you may not be too impressed the first time you look into a Wearality Sky. But adjust the field of view, and you’ll be astounded. It widens, cycling through higher and higher fields until you’re looking at an astounding 150 degrees that gives you a real feeling of ‘space’.

When set to the maximum field of view that the device can provide, the VR experience provided is truly impressive. The wider angles are certainly far more immersive, and provide for a much greater level of realism. With clear images no matter in which direction you look, the Wearality Sky provides an experience like no other. Here’s a look into a Wearality Sky…

It’s rather a pity that this brilliant lens technology is coupled to a mere mobile-phone headpiece, rather than to a sophisticated system of high-resolution screens like that of the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive.

Check out Wereality Sky on Amazon

Perhaps that’s exactly what the future holds

These Fresnel lenses allow for less space between the device’s screen and the lens, allowing for far more compact VR devices. However, Wearality is also working on a sophisticated new prototype lens that will be even thinner and lighter. The new lens is thinner than the average small coin. Not only will this reduce the weight of the VR devices of the future, but it will further reduce the distance between the lens and the image-generating screens, allowing devices to become even more compact. The VR devices of the future may be just as compact as the average ski mask. The new lenses will also allow for fields of vision that expand to an astounding 180 degrees – a good deal closer to the human field of vision, which ranges at around 220 degrees.

wearality sky lenses

Reviews and first-hand impressions

While using Wearality Sky, unlike some of the VR headsets out there, one does not feel as if one were suffering from tunnel vision, limited by the small field of vision that one has to look through. In fact, if you try using an older model of mobile with it, or one with a smaller screen, you might find that your smartphone’s screen falls short on size due to the field of view offered by the goggles.

One intriguing aspect of this VR device is that it isn’t enclosed in the usual casing that VR headsets use to prevent light bleed. Oddly enough, the goggles work perfectly well indoors, and one doesn’t notice any significant levels of light bleeding in from the environment. However, the stretchable cloth cover that’s provided with the goggles can quite easily block out higher levels of ambient light. Not only does this arrangement let one feel less ‘enclosed’ than with a conventional headset, but one avoids the high levels of heat and humidity that are such a bane to the conventional headset.

Another advantage of the Wearality Sky is that it can be used with phones that have a large protective casing. You’ll find that the phone fits very easily into the goggles’ frame without forcing you to remove the casing every time you want to use the device. If you have a smaller phone, there’s an adapter provided with the goggles that will allow you to use it, though it goes without saying that the smaller screen will limit the wide field of view that is a trademark of the device.

Click here for the best Wearality Sky deals

Wearality Sky

Precautions when using the Wearality Sky

You must never clean the lenses by immersing them in water. This is because (in the case of each of the device’s lenses) what seems to be a single lens is actually two lenses that are clamped together. This means that the device actually has four lenses. If you immerse them in water or in a cleansing solution, liquid may get between the lenses, and then you’ll have to dismantle the device to remove it. This isn’t hard to do, but if you do dismantle the device in such a situation, remember that the two lenses clamped together aren’t interchangeable.

One lens belongs in front, and one behind, so if you dismantle the device, you should put the ‘front’ lenses into a clearly marked pouch, and make sure they are in front when you put the device together again.

How good is Wearality Sky?

Very good, really, for a pair of mobile based VR goggles. It’s cheap, provides an exceptional field of view, and it actually folds down to fit in your pocket – something that not many other high-quality VR headsets can do. They’re also built to last, and, since they incorporate no electronics, and will probably outlast most headsets that do. Those who wear glasses will find that they’re not needed when using the Wearality Sky, as the device focuses the eyes perfectly. While the device has been built to fit a person wearing glasses, they have not proved to be necessary for anyone we had try the device.

Customer service with the Wearality Sky is exceptional. We had a small issue with the lenses, and customer support sent detailed instructions on how to dismantle the device, as well as sending us a replacement, which arrived in a couple of days.

All in all, Wearality Sky is an excellent buy. The mobile-based goggles provide perhaps the best experience of virtual reality in its class, and one that actually provides features that even the most advanced headsets today do not. Of course, the Wearality Sky can hardly complete with the Rift or the Vive for resolution, and – so far at least – the Rift and Vive can’t compare with it for a wide field of view. The Wearality Sky remains an exceptional VR experience – at least until the Rift or Vive upgrade their lenses to match it for FOV.

Click here to get your Wearality Sky goggles today