Some information regarding the upcoming Vive standalone headset and HTC link from an interview. The interview is conducted with Raymond Pao (Associate Vice President of VR New Technology @ HTC Corp). The interview is in Japanese but you can run it through google translate easily
http://www.moguravr.com/raymond-pao-interview-htc-vive/
On standalone vive mobile headset with google
- Content will be different from PC Vive
- will focus more on videos (3D, 360,2D)
- weaker in performance than PC Vive
- headset has 6dof tracking, controller had 3dof so only simple gesture
- different tracking from PC vive (use Google worldsense)
- google will provide SDK for content creation
- understand google daydream has lesser content now but believe contents will increase when more daydream compatible phones are out
On Link
- different design philosophy
- KDDI and Softbank express interest in VR so HTC link was made
- planned for summer release
- HTC will release U11 before Link
- LED tracking system on headset
- controller has LED too
- headset and controller has 6dof tracking
- higher degree of freedom than standalone mobile Vive
- tying up with China companies
- LED tracking mechanism from third party partner companies
- HTC will be responsible for manufacturing
- Softbank and KDDI will be responsible with the content ecosystem for Link
- curreny have 20 VR apps ready for launch but not the final number, they are working on gathering more contents
- Link will require an external camera device for tracking
- not onmidirectional tracking so if you turn around the camera can lose tracking
- Link will focus on active VR app (eg games) while standalone Vive contents will be more passive (animated content)
- both have chips on par with snapdragon 835
- Link is established with the idea of delivery VR PC-like contents on smartphone
- Link and mobile Vive has different in house team in HTC
- HtC Link will be sold in KDDI and softbank shops while standalone mobile Vive will be sold in PC shops and others
- Link is exclusive to Japan. Google daydream is not released in Japan at the monent so HTC will want to bring it to Japan
- no plan for oversea for HTC link yet
- think mobile VR will accelerate VR growth in Japan
On vive branding
- 4 pillars (vive technology on hardware, vive studio for publishing, viveport for content delivery, ViveX to help with content creation)
- also looking at AR
- ViveX is supporting companies with AR technology
- israel acceleration center is developing AR/VR tech
- meeting with AR glasses companies all the time
- currently no production line for AR product
- raymond pao is focusing on standalone VR Vive at the moment
- Htc also working on 2nd gen Vive