A new competitor has stepped into the virtual reality ring, albeit a very surprising one. While Samsung will likely introduce the Gear VR headset with a premium price tag, Archos has introduced the VR Glasses, which take a lower price point route at just $29.99.
Much like all other VR headsets, users will place their device (optimal device stated by Archos features a 5″ 1080p display and quad-core processor) into the headset, then strap it to their head. After that, a number of games, videos, and other applications will allow you to escape real life, transporting you into a world of virtual reality.
Virtual Reality is still a growing platform, but with manufacturer support booming thanks to Samsung, Facebook, and Oculus, it’s only a matter of time until developers catch up with amazing content for these headsets.
VR Glasses will be available this November through Archos’ online store and in a number of retailers.
Interested?
ARCHOS VR Glasses: Jumping Into the Mobile Virtual Reality World
Available in November, starting at $29.99, ARCHOS VR Glasses create immersive experiences for smartphone users
Denver – October 16, 2014 – ARCHOS, a pioneer in Android™ devices, announces developing its wearable technology with ARCHOS VR Glasses. Immersing users in a virtual reality environment, the French company keeps on making cutting-edge technology universally available.
Consuming content in a whole new way
“Consuming digital content has gone through lots of revolutions lately. Virtual Reality is another one that we help sharing with people by providing high quality yet attainable devices” says Loïc Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS.
Coupled with a smartphone (up to 6 inch, all operating systems including Android, Windows Phone and iOS), ARCHOS VR Glasses will:
- Transform gaming and more with the upcoming ARCHOS Bluetooth game controller
- Turn videos into 360° 3D videos and allow users to be a real part of them
- Make it possible to achieve Icarus’ dream and feel like flying thanks to drones
- Send people to time travel to ancient Egypt, actually giving the feeling of being there
Compatible with all Virtual Reality applications (more than 100 as for now), ARCHOS’ latest wearable product is also made to free users from reality thanks to its lightweight yet robust material.
With the upcoming ARCHOS Video Player update, users will also enjoy 3D videos in a stereoscopic mode on their mobile, creating the illusion of seating in a 3D movie theatre.
Optimum requirements for an immersive experience are a full HD 5” smartphone with quad core processors (or higher) and motion sensors such as an accelerometer and a gyroscope.
ARCHOS VR Glasses will be available in November, starting at $29.99 from www.archos.com and its usual retailers. For more information about ARCHOS’ entire selection of smartphones, tablets and connected objects, visit us at www.archos.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
So why are they saying they “developed” this? Looks like another company already sells this and the Archos product is just a rebranded version of that one.
http://www.dx.com/p/neje-lj-01-universal-google-virtual-reality-3d-glasses-for-4-7-smartphones-black-332676#.VE5-8vnF-KI
wow. Will support playback of 3D videos. This is just what I need for late-night movie watching.
How is Facebook’s $2 Billion dollar acquisition of Oculus looking now?
FaceBook in 3 D, sounds about as great as a Facebook Phone, oh wait
How is this different than what Samsung announced alongside the Note 4?
It’s $170 cheaper.
Omg, you point out the tiniest detail.
This, paired with the new Nexus = awesomeness.
At that price point I’ll take part in a gimmick.
5″? Too bad I can’t fit the Nexus 6 in this.
“Coupled with a smartphone (up to 6 inch, all operating systems including Android, Windows Phone and iOS), ARCHOS VR Glasses will:”
I stand corrected. I guess I should read the entire announcement prior to posting stupid ass comments. I’ll wait for Droid-Life’s review before purchasing it.
That is barely more than I paid for a Google Cardboard set. I’ll need to see some real reviews, but yeah, I am interested.
Eye doctors across the nation are crying tears of joy at the money they are about to rake in.
I’ll wait for Google Cardboard for Nexus 6
I hope this virtual reality fad dies like 3D has almost done. In fact, I’ll do my share to help it along by not supporting any of the VR developers/manufacturers with my money.
Bummer. I really enjoy 3D. 3D started out bad, people bailed, but like most tech, it updated and became quite nice.
I have been playing Trine 2 in 3D this week, and it looks gorgeous.
I have tried all three major VR products and they all are super nice with a great experience.
Given that they created the Cardboard I’ll be amazed if they don’t soon announce a bit better crafted VR adapter for the Nexus 6 given its quad display. What else is a quad display good for, really.
I’ve had Archos products in the past and that alone interests me. At $30? You know the drill: shut up and…
well this isn’t really an Archos product. It is a rebranded headset that you can already buy from a company called NEJE. http://www.dx.com/p/neje-lj-01-universal-google-virtual-reality-3d-glasses-for-4-7-smartphones-black-332676#.VE5-8vnF-KI
Umm………Sooo are they providing this “Up to 6 inch” smartphone? . . . Because just the Shell is $30
Reading is hard.
You can’t just stuff a random phone and expect optimal experience
Which is why it’s at $30 I’d imagine
Why not? It works for Google with Cardboard.
What we experience through our senses is already virtual reality, this is virtual to the second power.
We need to get out of the Matrix
funny you guys mention that… as the Matrix was playing on TV the other day I was chatting with my girlfriend and mentioned how we’re all pretty much in a “matrix” of sorts, seeing as how everything you see is really only a reflection and in a narrow spectrum at that. People take sight for granted, thinking that if they can’t see it, then there’s nothing there. But just like any other sense organ, you only pick up a range. Just like we don’t hear really high or low frequences, we don’t see them. From tropical fish to flowers, there’s a ton of colors and patterns right under our noses. Really makes you wonder what else might be hiding in plain sight, only we’re not equipped to know it’s there.
Also, it’s hilarious to watch the future without smart phones 🙂
Ummm… I believe that’s called reality (Or our perception of reality).
At a $30 price point, it’d be hard for me to not be interested.
Almost have to buy it just for the hell of it. On the positive side, it gets VR in a lot of homes, creates awareness, and piques interest. This will drive people to do more research, finding out that VR is on a serious comeback, thus driving demand.
The negative is that this could be such an awful experience and people totally write off VR and set companies like Oculus and Sony (among others) back a bit. This would more likely be the casual user, not the educated consumer who follows tech/VR.
I think the upside is worth the risk, though.
The experience is only going to be as good as your phone, not only in terms of hardware as the article states but I’d imagine software compatibility would be an issue as well.
It works with *any* Android, iOS, or Windows phone with a 5 to 6 inch screen, quad core+ processor, and motion sensors? Riiight.
At a $30 price point, it’d be hard for me to not be interested.
Meh.
Shows how stupid the price point is on Samsungs Note 4 holder.
Somehow I doubt this will work nearly as well as Samsung’s though, since it actually has some hardware inside the adapter to assist the phone with more accurate/faster sensors to make it feel much more realistic.
Well, considering Google Cardboard only costs $3 lol
However Gear VR features sensors and this solution doesn’t.