26.4.2020

Oculus is arguably the leader in this field - the connection to Facebook still gives me the heebies, but let's ignore that.The GoodWatching movies on this is just divine. Watching Netflix on a screen that would make your posh neighbors green with envy is just fantastic. Free apps like Skybox can even play films from a server (DLNA or Samba) so you can ditch that old Kodi setup - or use it to stream to your Go using SMB if you're that way inclined. I ripped my DVDs to a DietPi box (which is way easier than it sounds and cheap fairly to do) and now I can watch them on a screen that would make an iMax theatre blush!This remains the #1 reason I got this machine and I'm delighted.Positional audio is surprisingly pleasant from a small pair of speakers hidden in the headset – so good that you would think you were wearing a mid-range pair of headphones driven by software like Boom or Dolby Atmos. Proper headphones are a must but only connect via a 3.5mm jack socket rather than Bluetooth which is a shame.3D movies are scarce but at least you get to watch without a pair of ... oh, wait...So, if big screen movie experience is what you’re after, ignore the rest of this… the Go is going to blow you away.There’s plenty of VR content out there and most of it is free. Adding 3D (which is quite spectacular coupled with binaural audio which is an experience that has to be heard first hand. While Atmos and Boom (to name two) do a reasonable job of HRTF positional audio, you still can’t really beat the real thing. I don’t have space in a review to explain why, but it’s worth seeking some out and having a listen although you can’t get the full WOW! Factor unless you have the 3D, fully surround visuals to go with it and trick your brain even more.The BadVR films are pretty "meh" once you get past the initial wow factor largely because the cameras are often fairly low resolution compared to what we're used to now. There are a bunch of other reasons but that's beyond what we can blame on the headset.VR games are, on the whole, tragically bad. Even the best are pretty average and while many claim AAA title graphics, what you get are on a par with mobile games. Even the odd stand-out titles are either repetitive or based on pre-rendered scenes to give you more of an interactive adventure/puzzle.The UglyOK, you want to know what's bad about this right? Quite a lot unfortunately - but it's more than made up for by the good IF you're looking for a cheap segue into 3D cinema or live alone and can't afford a 150" TV let alone the space to put it.Some of the ugly is shared with VR headsets as a whole, the thing that separates Go from the more expensive ones is the lack of full control (6DoF vs. 3DoF). For movies and very occasional gaming this doesn't matter but even simple arcade titles and a few others NEED a controller like the XBox 1S or the Nintendo Switch handset.However this is where is starts to go downhill.While it's comfortable to wear for about ... a second, the sheer weight of this beast will put a lot of people off. The headband and overall construction seem to be very well imagined but, like those headsets you get in a lucky bag – you know the ones you put a mobile in - this thing soon gets to feel dratted uncomfortable. Even lying down, the weight is very noticeable.I’ve even tried lying down but a lot of the apps on the Go won’t let you go fully horizontal while watching or playing.The other “bad” niggle is that you absolutely have to have a smartphone to get this thing working and even to trigger features such as BT pairing. I smell a privacy rat here but I can’t prove it.The Utterly HideousThis is where it becomes almost so bad you feel like shoving the whole thing back in the package and writing an angry letter to Facebook/Amazon.You may have read about the “screen door” effect where you can make out the pixels. This isn’t terrible on the Go because it has a decent pixel density on the screen. Best in class I think. “Screen doors” are the least of your worries – even if you don’t wear eyeglasses (there’s a spacer for those so you can wear many styles of eyeglass – I do so I know it works, even if they steam up occasionally).There are two issues here, one due to the FFR- “Fixed Foveated Rendering” that Oculus uses to reduce battery drain and the other due to the fresnel lenses that Oculus has employed (presumably to save weight).FFR is a real pain because it blurs (actually reduces fine detail) in our peripheral vision. The superior alternative, eye-tracked foveated rendering, would put the cost of this box up somewhat. The upshot of this is that a lot of the visual area is often blurry so you have to turn your head to make it sharp. This isn’t always a bind but it can be disconcerting if you’re watching a movie on a really large screen (even the Netflix app suffers) and actors are on either side of the screen. Our brain normally flicks our eyes around rapidly and imperceptibly over this tiny range to fill in these details but FFR can’t do that so you literally have to look left and right with your head which is a bit weird when you’re lying down!The Fresnel lenses are a bigger problem though. While they’re pretty good, there’s a very tight sweet spot these – and if the headset slips a little (as it’s wont to do if you’re getting a bit too excited with your movie or VR experience) you’re going to think your eyes are glazing over. It’s something that comes as a shock at first but you do get used to it after a while.Apart from the weight factor – something that’s difficult to control in any fully autonomous (wireless) headset is the battery. This is a real issue for me as I’m still struggling to see the claimed two hours (which is pretty short to begin with) even just watching movies with the brightness turned to minimum. For people who want to kick back and watch a good movie on Netflix/Prime etc. that’s a non-starter and you’re going to find yourself tethered to a beefy micro-USB adaptor. I use a 3A one (from Amazon) which is capable of keeping everything charged even while I’m immersed in my favourite TV.So there you have it… overall, it does what they claim with some serious caveats, but for kids of all ages, it’s a toy that will probably see a lot of use for your £200 (ish) – particularly if it’s a lad.

1.11.2018

The Oculas Go (GO) is completely stand alone, it is a headset with a single hand control. The headset has two lenses that are used to display an image in your eyes. These are fixed focus with no way to adjust the individual focus of each lens, or the position of the lenses. I don’t wear glasses, my eyes are tested regularly, but I found the display very slightly out of focus, however, if I pulled the headset a millimetre or so away from my head the focus became perfect. I will have to experiment with that. Cheaper headsets I have used have had the option to move and focus the lenses independently. I did find that after a couple of hours I was ready to take it off my head and go back to the ‘real world’.On the hand controller there is a small touch pad with 2 small buttons,and a trigger on the handle. The touch pad can be used to move things around. The headset straps have speakers built into them, but there is some sound leakage and other people can hear your audio. It is possible to plug in a set of headphones which turn off the strap speakers, making the whole experience more intense. On the headset there are 2 raised volume control buttons, which are easy to locate. An on/off button is to one side of the volume buttons and flush with the surface so it needs a deliberate press to work.The headset has movement detectors, so an image tilts as you move your head. You can point your head up, down, left and right to see a different view. There is an image of the hand control on the screen, this shoots a beam of light to act as a pointer to things you aim at. The hand controller is hidden in some Experiences (Games, apps etc), your head then becomes the control!Introductory screens go through a series of ‘lessons’ and set up various things. The controller remembers if you are left or right handed, the light pointer then comes out of that hand. The setting up is either done via an App downloaded to an Android Smart Phone or iPhone or PC but won’t work with a Windows phone. Once you are signed up your GO can access the Oculas site so that Experiences can be downloaded onto your GO, Experiences are the programs on the GPO such as games, movies etc. On the Oculas site there are over 1000 Experiences for their current devices, each experience says whether or not it will need an internet connection, or if it needs a different controller to the one that comes with the GO. There are too many Experiences to list but they include things like Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay, an Audio Area Demo, and even Dinosaurs in the Prehistoria Demo that walk over you. Non-games include Netflix TV, BBC Virtual Reality, Meditation, and more. There is a full list on the Oculas Go site. I had the 64gb version and after a ‘kid in a free sweet-shop ‘moment, I only had 19gb free on my GO, but you can unload things you don’t want any more. My favourite was a selection of Roller-Coaster Rides that were wilder than any in real life, and even though I knew it was only an image, my stomach did churn a bit! I would guess about a half of the Experiences where demonstrations of pay-for items. Prices varied wildly from very cheap to several pounds, you register your pay-for method so when you are in the Experience you just click to continue, or you can pay for them on your phone or PC. But like any form of purchase situation you have to check you have understood what you are signing up for. I you want to protect it a security system pattern lock can be setup on the GO. You set up a pattern which becomes your password. Otherwise there is no security and if you have used a payment method remembered by the GO, any body could use it and buy as they wanted.Facebook are involved with the GO and there are several Social Network things, such as vTime and Facebook 360. You can set up ‘rooms’ in your GO which you can decorate and invite other GO players to enter them, like Facebook, they could be people anywhere in the world.The battery in the headset seemed to last about 2 hours with my messing around exploring things, playing games, and watching videos. Although you don’t get a charger with the GO, you do get a USB cable that you can plug into a PC, Laptop, etc. You can charge as you go, but you have to be careful not to pull out the cable as you move your head around. I didn’t notice the head set getting warmer when charging it as I played.I had a problem with the controller at one stage, it decided my battery was flat, so instead of the beam coming out of the controller, it came out of my head! I then had to aim the beam moving my head and clicking a volume button! And worse of all, the other new batteries I tried gave the same message. A brief search on the internet gave me some options for issues with the setup. The one that worked was pressing the two small buttons on the controller at the same time to reset it. That done, everything was back to normal, still using the original battery. The battery in the headset can’t be changed, just recharged.I did manage at one point to connect my PC to the GO, I copied some MP4 video files and some photos onto it, these all worked well. I could not get my old Xbox controller (a USB cable connection) to connect with the GO, it is reported the wireless Xbox controllers can be connected by Bluetooth, but I didn’t try that.The GO ‘only’ has 3 degrees of freedom (DoF), it only allows you to look around and point, it doesn’t allow you to walk and interact with things more closely (which is 6 DoF). There are rumours of more power in later GO’s.The GO Experience is so absorbing that I find I forget the slight blurring. Each time I use it I am wearing it for a longer period. The GO is addictive, and while there are things that could be improved, it is great fun. I completely recommend it.

24.11.2018

What if you want to experience VR without a bundle of cables running to your PC? What if your PC doesn’t have the USB3 ports and nVidia 1060 or better graphics card you need for VR on a PC? What if you want your VR gaming to be portable, so you can play it anywhere in the house, or even take it to a friend’s house? What if you want your VR experience to be social, something you can play with friends, not isolated from them?The Oculus Go attempts to address many of these requirements. After the initial setup, which needs a mobile phone or tablet attached to your WiFi, the Oculus Go is completely wire-free except when you’re charging it. You don’t need a PC to use it.You can take it anywhere: it consists of only two parts, the headset and a single handheld controller, and comes in a small retail package that makes it easy to re-pack. There are no headphones to block outside sounds, so you can still talk to other people in the room (I don’t know how you hear stereo sound from the headset: it’s a minor miracle). There are several games designed for cooperative play (”Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes”, the bomb-squad game, is an excellent example) where one of you wears the headset and the other uses a smartphone or tablet to work cooperatively, so you *can* play with friends when you’re using VR.The idea is you wear the headset, and you are immersed in a stereoscopic 3D environment (there’s one tiny monitor for each eye). You can look all around, up and down, and the sounds you hear come from the direction of the thing making the sound, so you have a combined and quite convincing 3D world of sound and vision. What you see of course depends on what app you’re running. You buy the apps from the Oculus store and they download over your WiFi. Some of the apps are quite large (perhaps 6 GB) so getting the 64 GB version of the headset makes sense. Once you’ve bought each app it remains in your library and you can download it as many times as you want, but it’s good to avoid doing that too many times.There’s a whole variety of apps available, and the number is growing quite fast. Some are simply environments to explore: there are plenty of 360-degree panoramas of famous places, some static and some with full-motion-video - I explored a refugee camp in Tanzania in an app from PLAN International, which really helped me to understand what life as a refugee must be like). There are a number of films: you can watch Netflix films, and there are a few short immersive films shot specially for VR, such as Robert Rodriguez’s “The Limit”, a twenty-minute all-action short starring Michelle Rodriguez, where you experience the action - including a car chase and skydiving - in first person. But VR is used mainly for gaming, and there’s an awful lot of choice, including rather a lot of combat aeroplanes or spaceships, advancing zombies and shooting. There are also some rather fun-looking children’s games, puzzle games and adventure games, a genre that I particularly like.A limitation of the Oculus Go is that it can tell when you turn your head, but unlike the sort of headset that you connect to your computer, it can’t tell when you move around or up and down. It’s a bit like your head is stuck on a pole, able to look around but not move. This is addresses using the handset, which (depending on the app) may allow you to move around by holding the trigger or swiping over the touch-sensitive disc on top. It also lets you navigate round the menus (you see a sort of light-sabre effect inside the headset to show you where the handset is pointing). While we’re talking about limitations, be aware that the headset has a relatively short battery life of three to four hours. You can still use the headset when it’s plugged in to charge, but of course this limits your movement. Some people fan feel a bit queasy when using VR headsets, although with the Oculus Go you can use it while sitting down, which makes it less disorienting. You may find your eyes getting tired if you play for a long time without taking a break. Finally, there’s a bit of flicker in the headset, especially if there’s a bright white background - this might trigger migraines in some people.On the plus side, the headset is far better for people who wear glasses than the PC-connected version. The headset fits round my glasses nicely,and they’re not small glasses.A couple of other personal favourites: “Virtual Virtual Reality”, which is a comedy adventure with cartoon-like graphics and some very clever ideas, and “Dead Secret Circle”, a sequel to the gumshoe adventure “Dead Secret”, this time set in Chicago. It’s very atmospheric, with a few jump scares. Apps cost from nothing up to about £10, and some specialist programs cost more: there’s an impressive human anatomy program for £30).Virtual Reality is something everyone should get to experience. There will in due course be better headsets with higher resolution, but for now, the Oculus Go gives a really good Virtual Reality experience without all the hassle. It’s the sort of thing (almost) every teenager would love for a birthday or for Christmas.

9.9.2019

Having started with Google Cardboard (iphone), then moving upto Gear VR (Samsung phone eventually went kaput), I had a good understanding of what to expect on the Oculus go.Having gone 6 months with no VR I started to miss the personal cinema experience so started looking at those personal cinema glasses, all of which came with a price tag of around £649+.I eventually came across Oculus Go and knowing the previous experience along with the price tag of £249.99, it made sense. Not only would the Oculus Go provide me with the cinema feature to watch all films, Netflix and Prime, it would also be an entertaining VR headset at the same time.Version (32gb v 64gb)I opted for the 64gb version as from experience knew it was needed,I'm glad I did too as I overlooked the fact that the operating system and Oculus software took up a lot of this before installing any apps. I can't imagine how the 32gb is enough for anyone. If you are buying I urge you to spend the extra £50 and get the 64gb as there is no upgrading.BatteryThe battery I feel is just enough to enjoy a streamed film without worrying, I don't think I would play more than a couple of hours anyway. After every use I just plug it in and the light is solid green when I come to play it again. Note, allow a good 3-4 hours charge time after taking it out of the box from new.ComfortAfter the first few uses I have ended up with red marks on my cheeks however having messed with the strapping a few times I think I've eventually got it fitting great. Laying flat whilst watching films does not feel uncomfortable nor does it weigh heavily on my face.SoundThe built in sound is amazing, I can't even tell where the sound comes from but it does provide you with surround sound and is loud enough to blank out other noises. I use the wired headphones when watching films which work great given that they are the only wires.ControllerThe controller is comfortable and having played it everyday for a week, the battery (1 AA) is down to 80% so it doesn't use much. It's very responsive too, playing shooting games and carrying items around feel natural. I do find though that the swipe panel is a little high up the controller but I got used to it.I have connected an Xbox One S controller to it which is a great addition but does not offer the same interaction as the controller, also it's not compatible with all apps, it's good for backup though.DisplayThe screen is a massive step up from my my previous gear VR (Samsung S7), I have tried to look for the pixelation of the screen but struggle to find any, where as my previous Samsung phone showed clear signs. If you are thinking of upgrading from a gear VR I would say it's worth it as not only do you get a better display, you don't need to mess around with clicking your phone in every time you use it.The len's on the Oculus Go are far superior than those on the Oculus Rift which uses last gen len's, the spiral effect on the latest len's provide a much smoother experience in my opinion.The screen is at its hottest whilst streaming video's but I have not yet had any overheating issues. It seems to handle to heat 10x better than my mobile used to.SoftwareThe phone app works well with the headset however I suppose this will depend on what phone you have, I have managed to stream the headset's view to my phone which helps me guide people around and seems pretty smooth, I can't however manage to get it streaming to my Samsung TV, maybe the upscale is too much.Overall I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to either step into VR for the first time, upgrading from Gear VR or Cardboard or is looking to just have that personal cinema experience.It's worth noting though that this offers a mobile VR experience with mobile type apps/games, if you are wanting to play much larger demanding games then go for the £400+ headsets.

18.11.2018

As an Oculus Rift owner I feel able to provide a balanced view about the benefits and flaws of a mobile version. For those who have used neither, VR although in it's infancy, feels like the Amiga heyday, with demos aplenty and developers all clambering to make a mark (or indeed a quick buck) in an emerging digital landscape. In the last two decades of gaming, I have experienced such a variety of new content and fresh concepts since purchasing the Oculus Rift. The Go then, offers a different skew, portable, more accessible and lighter in tone.Setting up the Go is straightforward, download the app, connect and download apps to the Go via the app. The 64GB storage the Go has is loads.Most apps run around 500mb, no apps are downloaded to the phone, this is not a VR headset that uses the phone like DayDream or SamsungVR. It's headband is fully adjustable - it's snug for children and adults. It stays comfortable for long durations too, so watching video content is fine. You are able to plug in standard earbuds to keep the audio private, however the audio is vert effective and it actually seems like you are wearing headphones. It's weight does not cause discomfort either - unlike a heavy pair of gaming headphones I have. I assume this is because the weight is distributed better. It is much lighter than the Rift.The Go lends itself to casual gaming more than the Rift, which needs significant investment in a gaming PC to play. Since the hardware here is all in the visor, it has less ability and this is reflected in the gaming options. Games purchased in the Rift store will not work on the Go. The games are easy to pick up and play, with very crisp visuals and great sound. I've raised pets, caught fish, ridden rollercoasters and played a bunch of mini-games like archery, hidden object games and memory games. I found this creates much less nausea than the Rift too. These are all casual games. I've yet to invest in anything meatier, although even on the Rift I've found more casual games more suitable.The Go really comes to life with video content because the headest is convenient. Lie on the sofa and watch a film, sit in your bed and attend a live comedy show, use it on the train, in the garden. This is VR without the tether to a computer, there's no physical boundaries to be confined within (well, WiFI for streaming etc). This makes the Go "the" go to for immersive VR. The 3D is weaker than the Rift, however the picture is clearer that the Rift, and this is obvious with video content. Much of it can be streamed through WiFi in good quality and if you want great quality, downloading content is advised.Will a Go replace a console or a tablet for gaming - probably not, but the freedom it offers is fantastic and the battery life is good too. It charges via microUSB which is a great relief, no clunky power supply.I really can only fault one thing, the placement of the power button. It's in a place which instinctively you hold to adjust the visor. Plink! You just put the Go to sleep. D'oh! With experience this is not really a problem, but when you let a new user have their first go, it's almost guaranteed to happen. The volume is controlled via a well-placed button for the left forefinger. The remote is very intuitive, offering quick a few options from a small device.Another great product from Oculus, which may not change your life, but certainly offers another step forward in to the truly immersive world of VR.

22.10.2018

This really is an outstanding VR product which unlike the two other VR choices currently available does not need either a smartphone to slot into a usually inexpensive headset, or to be connected to a powerful Windows PC to run the VR graphics. Commonly Samsung use the first approach whereas Oculus Rift and HTC use the latter. The Playstation VR system doesn't need a PC but does need a PS4 and preferably the PS4 Pro. If you combine the costs of the hardware - including a mobile phone for the first option the Oculus Go is by far the cheapest way to access VR.I’m very familiar with the PlayStation VR system and using the Go is a lot less hassle.As it’s wireless you don’t need a PlayStation and a pile of wires for it to work - and equally compared to the Oculus Rift you don’t need a high-powered Windows PC. All you need is a charged headset and Wi-fi access. Also if you are carrying it about a case would be a good idea - a range are available on Amazon.Overall, for the money, the graphics are impressive. This is not a 4K experience but the graphics are a bit better than the Oculus Rift. I find Netflix perfectly useable on the Go with a large virtual screen and a good picture. Some games and VR 360 videos are very good, others less so.Compared to other systems the big difference, and weakness, is that the Go cannot track actual movement in all directions. It's a three degrees of movement system which means you can look up and down and turn around. You cannot move forward - unless using the controller to do this. Six degrees of movement allow you to physically move around in a space so if you walk forward the VR perspective will change. The Playstation and PC-based systems generally allow this. So with the GO if you physically move forward that does not change the VR view. Equally if you stand up nothing happens. You can move your head though to look behind you, and a lot of the software is adapted for essentially a front-facing view. I guess the other weakness is battery life at around 2.5 hours. However, the Go seems to charge very quickly so not too much of an issue and unofficially you can link a power pack to the USB micro charing input. Oculus suggest this causes the system to overhead but I have not found this to be a problem.What you are getting is an impressive, take anywhere, VR system that is amazingly cheap. It’s worth the cash just to experience VR, and the system is practical and works.The only other downsides I see is that the power/external access is via a micro USB when it should really be a USB-C connection. The 64Gb version is adequate. I'd avoid the 32Gb one. A software update might allow you to attach USB storage to the micro-USB. Also the software needs another update least. A simple example - it is not possible to change the time on the system after set up without resetting the headset completely - so forget about time changes. Finally, and this is always happening with technology, Oculus is releasing the Oculus Quest inn 2019 which will be about twice the price but is, like the GO, cable free and allows six degrees of freedom.Nonetheless the system is brilliant for the money, and an easy way to access VR. If you've an interest in VR buy it. Netflix is a standout app but so is Wander which uses Google StreetView data to virtually stroll around the world. There are games a plant as well.A definite five stars.

21.10.2018

I’ve been lucky enough to own an HTC VIVE and now the Occulus Go.They both have distinct advantages and disadvantages depending on the criteria you’re looking at.However before we get started ... the Occulus app is terrible to get set up. Registering for an account was painful and I had to restart it several times because it kept hanging.So lets start ....1. Price: The Occulus is around a half of the price of the HTC Winner: Occulus2. Resolution: The HTC is 1080x1200 per eye, the Occulus is 1280x1440. I have to say though it’s not noticeable and BOTH are grainy ... it’s not unusable grainy but as long as you realise you’re not looking at a computer monitor and a TV screen then it is passable and won’t interfere with the viewing pleasure.Winner: DRAW3. Freedom of movement: This is a hand down win for the Occulus GO. The HTC Vive has a stack of cables coming out of the back of your PC into the headset. It also means when you set up a playing space you have cables everywhere and when I bought mine there were even cable holders to screw into your ceiling to support them so you could move around. Guess what? Occulus Go is gloriously free of any cables slip the headset on and Go. Brilliant. A major win for the GO. Winner: Occulus4. Sound. The HTC requires a set of headphones, and with all the other cables (see above) it is a major pain in the but. You start to realise there’s simply too much stuff everywhere. The headphones are good though as you get an immersive experience. The Occulus Go comes with sound built in and that’s a real god send. However I was going to call it a draw here *but* the Occulus has a headphone socket AS WELL !!!! Awesome .... Winner: Occulus Go.5. Controls. This is an interesting one. Yes the HTC has a very good spatial placement system for it’s hand controller. For those of you who don’t know you set two laser detectors up above and behind you at 45 degree’s and another in front of you diagonally opposite. This means you get good special placement of the controllers. The Occulus .... well i’m Wondering how the heck they do it ... some kind of witchcraft. the spacial placement is just as good. So if you put the single controller down on the desk and put the headset on you can reach for the controller in cyber space and you will pick it off the desk. Excellent. The Occulus only has one controller but to be honest I can’t see it being long before they introduce another. It’s honestly not a drawback and given it’s so small and works so well and bins the laser scanners the HTC needs .... then this show be another win. However it’s only 1 controller for now so i’m Going to sat Winner: DRAWNow let me wrap and say the following. YES there is now an integrated sound version of the HTC costing 4 times the cost of the Occulus. It comes with much better resolution as well. However if you want this version with controllers and spatial trackers then it goes to 6 times this prices (Yes .... MORE than 1200gbp) and finally if you want to go wireless add another 300 to that price.It’s becoming increasingly obvious as well that HTC are pushing into the business and commercial market for their product.FINALLY ... the nail in the coffin. The HTC still needs you to have a top end PC available. The Occulus needs nothing but a wireless connection and the app.Game, Set and Match to the Occulus. Seriously .... I’m eBaying my HTC.

24.10.2018

The Oculus Go is a completely portable VR headset due to the no wires needed and takes a solid stance between the console/PC VR headsets which are at the top tier in quality, and the very cheap "VR" devices where you use your phone as the screen.This VR headset has its own integrated rechargeable battery, storage (not expandable, so get the 64GB version) and screen; the best thing about it, is it doesn't require additional hardware like a console or high-end PC to run, nor does it need a external camera to track your movements; pretty amazing if you ask me. The only thing you shouldn't expect, is high-end games which are typically found on the PSVR,Oculus Rift & HTC Vive; it's more mobile app games.Literally everything is included (even the battery required for the remote), except for one thing: a USB adaptor, which most people should have already in their homes this day an age; if not, you'll have to buy one with a decent output.The set-up process was incredibly easy to the point I don't think they could have made it any easier: You simply download the Oculus app and follow the steps one by one and before you know it, everything is all complete.One thing I had to do which was the only thing I found tricky, was to add the glasses spacer as I'm a glasses wearer; this is to stop your glasses hitting the VR's lenses. The Oculus team have made a nice video showing how this is done, but do keep an eye when removing the outer rim, which position it was as I didn't take not and it took me a little time to get it back in. Having the spacers in will not hinder those who do not wear glasses experience, so my advice is to just get it inserted from the get go.Picture quality potential to be quite frank is extremely decent; it really depends on the content you are viewing; such as Netflix where it sets you in a room looking at a HUGE TV (this can be toggled on and off) and the quality is great. When it comes to games, it's completely down to the developer; so if the game is made with rubbish graphics, it's not going to be as impressive. There's a huge library of content, some free and others require payment.Sound quality is decent but at times you may find that you'll want to plug in some headphones to isolate the audio more. Not using headphones will mean you will have more of a sense of that around you and others may be able to hear what you are listening too.As for the comfort, they are very comfortable to wear, however I personally can only handle up to an hour session at a time. I do like to switch off wearing Netflix, however I do give myself a little rest every hour, so couldn't watch a whole feature film without taking it off.Finally, tracking... It baffles me how smooth the headset is when looking around (dependant on content) and how well it's tracked. As for the remote control, if you place it down, you will most likely have to re-calibrate upon picking up again, but this is reset by holding down one of the buttons; other than that, the tracking is also great!Overall, the Oculus Go is a happy medium VR headset where wires are a thing the past and offers decent content and great quality. Would definitely recommend but as stated above, do go for the 64GB! It's worth the extra.

14.8.2019

I umm'd and err'd over getting this. I've tried VR on two different cellphones and it seemed like it had potential but the phone experience was poor due to constant drifting on both handsets.I was a bit worried the same might happen with this device, but it doesn't. You might see a tiny bit of drift over a reasonably long period, but it's easily reset with the handy remote.As for the headset itself - fairly comfortable. It's a little on the heavy side but you get used to it quickly enough. I find I have to adjust it for a while to get a clear image. Even a tiny move can make a lot of difference to the clarity of the picture. There's quite a gap between the nose groove so if you look down you can see the light.

15.3.2020

Oculus (AKA Facebook) have achieved superb results with this low cost standalone headset.To set the device up will require either a tablet or smartphone with internet connectivity. You download the Oculus APP from the App Store and the app will guide you through the initial setup of your device. It takes about 15 mins to set up the device and after that the device is entirely standalone. It can connect to WiFi networks using its own interface after the initial setup.As shipped you get the headset along with a hand controller that works inside the interface as a laser pointer allowing you to navigate around the various sections of the interface and control software you install on the device.

2.4.2019

What a great little device! Totally self-contained, you simply connect to the internet and immerse yourself in VR. Oculus have an app store on the device which allows you to purchase or download (for free) various apps, games and experiences. There's something to suit all audiences and the headset is perfect for casual and/or social use.I've experimented a bit in the past with an Oculus DK2 and also have a Windows Mixed Reality headset that I bought cheap just after Christmas. The Go is by far the higher quality experience. The display is far superior to the DK2 and it 'just works', unlike the Windows Mixed Reality headset which is incredibly finicky in terms of set up and will frequently crash out.

29.10.2018

In spite of being an avid and general tech type, I’ve not been particularly drawn to VR. The phone based versions seemed like a cludge a best, while the pc/console accessories seemed expensive, fussy and not particularly well supported (which is true of most pc/console accessories). However, as a standalone device the Oculus Go seems like a far better option.Arriving well packaged and smartly presented, the Oculus go feels like a quality device and getting it up an running is straight forward if a bit long winded (it also requires a smart phone). With the headset charged and ready to go it takes a bit of messing around to get a good fit, but once you’re comfortable it’s a pretty good visual experience.

3.7.2018

To be honest I was in two minds as to whether to get the Oculus Go as I already have two Samsung Gear VR’s. There didn’t appear to be a lot of difference image wise and I was a bit concerned that there was no expandable memory on the Go (hence why I bought the 64Gb version) but the GearVR needs the phone(s) installed and the Go offers a couple of options for people (like my wife) that wear glasses so this was enough to make me buy one. I’ve now had/used to Go for a couple of days and I definitely made the right decision! The optical quality is a little better than the GearVR (more to do with the lenses than an increase in pixels I think) but not having to sacrifice the phone is a huge bonus.

29.1.2019

I currently own a Psvr, cardboard and now the Oculus Go and have to admit, I'm blown away by the oculus.The "Cardboard" headset is trash. It's one of the £40 generic plastic affairs found lurking around amazon and almost entirely pointless.Psvr is excellent but the image quality is lacking. Despite all of the tech and software magic that went into the Psvr, it's just not quite "there" but I'm still happy to use it for some racing and a few other games.The Go, for me, shines with media playback. I haven't had much experience gaming on there, but love the image quality and I'm blown away with the audio. The audio will not replace a decent pair of headphones, it still does a good job. In an empty room,

3.1.2019

I had played on a friend Oculus Rift when they first came out and was instantly blown away. Being a Mac user, however, it's never been an option for me. I've also always wanted my parents to experience VR too, I was delighted to see that the Oculus Go had been released as a standalone (though requiring a phone / tablet).So, Xmas came and the Oculus Go popped up and I bought my Mother one. Again, I was blown away just as I was before and the multiplayer aspect dawned on me.....so I bought myself one. I'm now connecting with my Mother (me in my house and her at her house) and we connect in a virtual room to play games. That's only what we've done so far. I have a lot more planned.The VR headset is of a reasonable build.

Oculus Go - Reviews

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