Shiftall Announces MeganeX Mark II & Index-Like SteamVR Controllers

Shiftall introduced and opened preorders for an upgraded MeganeX Mark II, in addition to Index-like GripVR controllers.

Shiftall was previously a subsidiary of Panasonic, an effort to commercialize the ultra-compact VR goggles prototype it first confirmed nearly six years in the past. Whereas MeganeX headsets nonetheless use Panasonic-designed pancake lenses, final yr Panasonic offered Shiftall off to a different Japanese firm.

MeganeX Mark II

Preorders for the present Shiftall MeganeX headset opened round a yr in the past, priced at $1900, and regardless of our considerations, the headset began delivery exterior Japan round April.

That makes it the one launched tethered PC-only VR headset with 4K micro-OLED shows, delivering a lossless picture with extremely excessive decision and OLED’s signature near-infinite distinction and deep blacks.

In accordance with Shiftall, the Mark II has improved “consolation, stability, and reliability” over the unique. Listed below are the precise adjustments:

• The cable port has been moved to the entrance of the headset, from the highest, and has been “strengthened for larger sturdiness”. Additional the headset’s enter voltage has been elevated from 5V to 9V, which Shiftall says permits for longer cables, as much as 5 meters.
• The angle and place of the SteamVR Monitoring photodiodes have been “fine-tuned”, which Shiftall says improves monitoring when wanting down.
• The onboard chip has been upgraded, and the firmware rewritten, which Shiftall says reduces the headset startup time by greater than 5x and improves connection stability with the PC.
• The growth USB port on the underside has been upgraded to 5V/2.1A output, which Shiftall says allows connecting a number of peripherals through a USB hub, comparable to earphones and a facial tracker.
• The diopter setting for every lens features a zero mark, making it simpler to set it to 0 for individuals with good eyesight.
• The “materials and form” of the face pad across the nostril space have been redesigned in order that no sharp plastic edges push towards the pores and skin of individuals with excessive nostril bridges.
• The interior warmth dissipation construction has been improved, which Shiftall says permits the inner cooling fan to run quieter.

Aside from these adjustments, the MeganeX Mark II is basically the identical because the Mark I. It is nonetheless a $1900 tethered PC VR headset with 3552×3840 micro-OLED panels that requires SteamVR Monitoring base stations for positional monitoring and would not embrace eye monitoring.

Whereas the headset nonetheless comes with its signature distinctive comfortable strap with a brow pad that helps flip-up by default, Shiftall has additionally made a $99 Exhausting Strap, that it says ought to begin delivery by the top of this month.

You possibly can preorder MeganeX Mark II within the US, EU, UK, Japan, and South Korea, and Shiftall claims it’s going to ship in late December, on the very finish of this yr.

GripVR Controllers

Shiftall additionally opened preorders for GripVR, a pair of SteamVR Monitoring controllers with a considerably related design to the Valve Index Controllers.

The thought right here is that for the reason that Index Controllers are now not available for purchase in lots of areas (Valve has already ended manufacturing) Shiftall desires to make sure that MeganeX consumers new to the SteamVR Monitoring ecosystem nonetheless have the power to acquire VR controllers different than simply HTC Vive wands.

The Shiftall GripVR controllers characteristic related hand straps that assist you to let go of them when not holding a digital object, however they lack touchpads and the deal with has a grip set off quite than finger sensing. GripVR does have finger sensing on the set off, AB/XY buttons, joystick, and thumb relaxation, although.

Basically, GripVR has the identical management components as Quest Contact controllers – which is what the vast majority of SteamVR customers have, and thus what VR builders are likely to design for.

GripVR is obtainable to preorder for $400, and Shiftall claims it’s going to ship in late December, as with the MeganeX Mark II.