HTC Vive Cosmos (2019)

ArmitageShanks

It looks like it hopefully has the same headphones as the DAS rather than the disappointing Pro ones.

MikeKay1976

dont leave me hanging... what was the 2nd ?

given the controllers dont support base station tracking, then for me it is sh*t or bust on the inside out tracking......
if i was going to go for light house vr it would be an index.

Atmos

Oh, it was a point about when you bring your hand back into the tracking zone they take longer to start tracking again than Touch controllers do for RiftS. Not a big deal.

Nivek TT

The pic of the Lighthouse tracking module is with Vive wands. Probably possible that the lighthouse tracks the headset and the headset tracks the touch style controllers. So you've probably got all options: wands, touch style controllers or Knuckles.

The Vive was 110 degrees FOV. In all they ways the claimed improvement over the Vive they never mentioned FOV. I reckon it'll be the same. It's also still 90 FPS.

Though wireless is extra at least it is an option. Something neither the Index or Rift S currently offer.

It's a very welcome addition to the market IMO and sits nicely between the Index and Rift S.

Atmos

I think Cosmos will offer two choices.

Inside out tracking plate - Cosmos Controllers.
Outside in tracking plate - Vive Wands and Knuckles.

Once you change the plate you’re reduced to two cameras so tracking Cosmos controllers whilst not impossible would be severely restricted.

I think the external tracking plate is an insurance policy so if Knuckles prove to be popular Cosmos owners won’t be left out in the cold. Hopefully the plate won’t cost more than £99.99

Presuming Ed

"The second main difference is a negative, but I don’t really know how to explain why it happened. During my demo with Swords of Gargantua I was able to fight off enemies just fine by blocking, parrying, and generally playing like normal. Then I did a little test where I held my arms behind my head, below my neck, and waited a few seconds for tracking to fully be lost, then slowly moved my hand back in front of me. On Rift S the controllers are very quick to return into view and snap back in place, but on more than one occasion it took a full two seconds or more for it to happen with Cosmos."

(Just completing that for you).

Nivek TT

@Atmos you're probably right that you won't have tracking cameras if you use the lighthouse module.

Even if you already have lighthouses, to buy a faceplate module and Knuckles separately on top of the HMD will push this quite a bit more than a full Index package. Not really an attractive option. Can't imagine anyone wants the Vive wands anymore even if you already own them. I don't see any compelling reasons to buy a faceplate module for lighthouse tracking.

Atmos

It would be a smart move if HTC sold a HMD only option which included the LH face plate for £460/500.  That would bring it inline with Index’s HMD only option. People would then have the option to mix and match HMDs from different vendors, Controllers or tracking solutions.

Nivek TT

Duplicate.

Nivek TT

Road to VR have a write up of their impressions (sorry, no link, on mobile). They were disappointed by the sweet spot of the lens as I think anyone who has used an Index likely would be (it still impresses me).

They reported HTC claimed the FOV is unchanged though claimed they felt it was slightly improved.

They weren't fans of the weight and balance of the controllers.