Comment by NBJack
1 year ago
If you haven't tried it, especially if your workplace allows your phone to have access to some corporate data, DeX + a good pair of AR or just integrated display glasses feels like the future.
I run my S23 Ultra with a pair of XReal One's, and a folding Bluetooth keyboard (DeX let's you use your phone as a touchpad). It is really amazing in widescreen mode sitting in a coffee shop, reading through technical documents and answering work email. When I'm done, it can all fold up and fit in a (spacious) pair of cargo shorts.
I think Samsung has played the long game on DeX, with an eye towards their collaborative XR glasses with Google next year. As great as XReal has been, I am eager to see a "first-party" solution.
I tried it for a while with the best AR glasses I could find at the time, XReal Air 2 Pros with an Xreal Beam, and although I could see the potential, it wasn't good enough to get work done. The screen size was too small, the resolution too poor, and it was a little too jittery and unnatural feeling.
Are the Xreal One's that much of a step forward that you can use it for serious work? Even on my Quest Pro I find it just on the edge of being too annoying to do coding-work. Web browsing is decent.
And second question, worth buying the One or waiting for the One Pros?
Xreal One removed the biggest problems with that tech, it's usable now. No more "jittery and unnatural feeling" or stupid dongles/pucks. They put custom silicon in the glasses which stabilizes things and optionally locks displays in space.
It's not perfect but usable.
I'd say take another look. The beam has a LOT of issues. The One basically says "give me a signal, I'll project it in 2D and track it with 3DoF." Its smooth, and while it can drift a little (it is only an accelerometer), it is stable for me.
I wear glasses with mine, yet I still find it surprisingly crisp for text in ultra-wide mode. I'd say it is a fairly unobtrusive experience. It also helps that the nose pads don't dig into my skin.
That said, if a Quest Pro isn't good enough, I hesitate to recommend it. The FOV is certainly smaller on the One.
Thanks. If you have experience with the Quest Pro would you say the text clarity is a step up with the Ones? Supposedly the One Pros will be even better, and are coming out soon.
Yep, I do this too. It works well. I rather would have a Linux Desktop but for now I can get all my work done like this.
> Linux Desktop
This is exactly what Librem 5 phone offers. (My daily driver.)
How's the battery life? Have you tried it with XR glasses?
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I'm extremely interested in this use case. I can imagine a future where your employer ships a "company headset" and peripherals rather than a laptop.
Why don't we have virtual offices to wander around yet?
> Why don't we have virtual offices to wander around yet?
I worked at a place that used one.
Because the actually functionality they provide is the same as Slack, but worse in basically every way, is maybe why.
This is the problem. VR/AR can add value but you really have to tailor the experience to it. And it has to be a suitable usecase.
If you just lift over what you have in 2D it becomes only more painful. But this is what most people do. Also many platforms, like Microsoft Mesh. Yes, it's cool that you can join a teams meeting in VR. But until they add something that actually takes advantage of being in VR, all it does is add more friction. Roasting marshmallows and other cutesy minigames does not add any value whatsoever.
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That was what SimulaVR was advertising on. Unfortunately it seems things are a lot more difficult than they anticipated and they still have not shipped any devices.
Same with the Immersed Visor. Also still vaporware. They had lots of journalists fly over for a demo that didn't actually work and all they did was show off hardware.
What bluetooth keyboard do you use? I thinking I want to try this out :)
If you want a really small one I've been happy with this:
https://www.amazon.com/iClever-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Foldable-S...
Wouldn't recommend for extended typing though.
Thanks. Do you only connect Dex + XReal + Keyboard with no mouse? I'm worried no mouse will be uncomfortable.
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I tried this and battery goes down very quickly on the phone. Do you have a solution for this?
Any usb-c docking station should work. (should being key, many are lacking something useful - commonly the monitor port is a usb-A video interface with windows-only drivers not a display port that would just work).
Though I suspect a laptop is still what you want. Your phone will generate too much heat to leave in your pocket. Or maybe some backpack (fanny pack?) wearable?
powerbank?
The issue with this is usually that you can't have power from the powerbank going into the only USB-C socket on the phone while the display signal comes out on the same cable. I think it's technically doable, but not usually with dongles that would fit in your pocket.
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I meant for a pocketable setup as parent explained. You wear the glasses in a coffeeshop connected to your mobile phone (the single USB-C port).
Based on some quick testing this consumes about 1% per minute on my S24 Ultra which makes this scenario unrealistic (at least for me)