Do any HMDs support desktop cloning?

BurntJello

BurntJello
I've been doing research on VR HMDs, but I can't seem to find any definitive answers for this question:

What VR headsets support cloning the desktop out-of-the-box?

I have created a (bad) image to illustrate the feature I am asking about:
m0PkmU3.jpg


I consider this feature to be "critical baseline functionality". Why? Because a head-mounted-display should be usable as a head mounted display. It would also allow the HMD to be used with all existing (non-VR, non-3d) content, like old games or movies.

As best as I can tell, Rift and Vive do NOT support this.
It appears that OSVR HDK v1 headsets may have (1, 2, 3, 4) but I can't tell if HDK2 supports it (maybe through the software?)

Note: Please avoid mentioning non-free software like Virtual Desktop. If I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars, I expect this feature to be part of it.
Note2: No phoneVR either please. I'm only interested in "real" VR HMDs that plug into a PC.
Note3: I've elimited Rift, Vive, Pimax4k from my personal shopping list. OSVR HDK2 seems promising, but I need to know the answer to my question... but please leave replies about all other HMDs as well, as others may find this information useful.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

Edit: 2017-08-01
Note4: No motion-tracking. All I'm looking for is a statically positioned desktop clone on the HMD. Not a VR environment.

Edit2: 2017-08-02
Note5: Confirmed the OSVR HDK1x line appears to have the feature I want. Unfortunately, the newer HDK2 does not. [sad]
 
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Kaltern

Kaltern
Why should HMD hardware developers create software to do what multitudes of software do already? BigScreen already does this, for free, and is probably about the best solution you're going to find.

You have to keep in mind, that the view from within the HMD is NOT rectangular, so you're not going to get a 1:1 duplicate of the monitor, unless you zoom in to the screen and 'look around' the desktop.

Also, due to it not being 1:1, the resolution is nowhere near the monitor resolution, so you're going to get an inferior clone of the desktop anyway. It IS possible to use, as BigScreen has the useful ability to curve the screen, so you can look left/right in a more natural manner, and I personally have worked my day(night) job using it while watching another screen with a video playing.

I suspect what YOU want, however, is impossible right now.
 

CylonSurfer

CylonSurfer
BurntJello said:
Note3: I've elimited Rift, Vive, Pimax4k from my personal shopping list. OSVR HDK2 seems promising, but I need to know the answer to my question... but please leave replies about all other HMDs as well, as others may find this information useful.

Thanks for any info you can provide!
Click to expand...

Errrr why? The OSVR HDK2 looks pretty poor in honesty, it's advertised as "For developers and enthusiasts" so not even a commercial release and as far as I can tell, it does not support any sort of motion contols other than leap motion which is great - as a novelty but has no real life application of any merit.

Both the Rift & Vive support desktop mirroring via Virtual Desktop / BigScreen....To my knowledge, no VR HMD shows you your desktop out of the box, you will always need a software solution. At this time the Rift also costs less than the OSVR HDK2.
 
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TorTorden_VR

T
As for out of the box. steamvr has a desktop view in the main menu.
Any had can use steamvr if you would like. But if you buy a rift there are many reasons not to.

As for virtual desktop software definitely another vote for big screen.
Being able to move the screen around is crucial. And the steamvr pause menu cannot.
 

A D

A D
BurntJello said:
I've been doing research on VR HMDs, but I can't seem to find any definitive answers for this question:

What VR headsets support cloning the desktop out-of-the-box?

I have created a (bad) image to illustrate the feature I am asking about:
http://i.imgur.com/m0PkmU3.jpg

I consider this feature to be "critical baseline functionality". Why? Because a head-mounted-display should be usable as a head mounted display. It would also allow the HMD to be used with all existing (non-VR, non-3d) content, like old games or movies.

As best as I can tell, Rift and Vive do NOT support this.
It appears that OSVR HDK v1 headsets may have (1, 2, 3, 4) but I can't tell if HDK2 supports it (maybe through the software?)

Note: Please avoid mentioning non-free software like Virtual Desktop. If I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars, I expect this feature to be part of it.
Note2: No phoneVR either please. I'm only interested in "real" VR HMDs that plug into a PC.
Note3: I've elimited Rift, Vive, Pimax4k from my personal shopping list. OSVR HDK2 seems promising, but I need to know the answer to my question... but please leave replies about all other HMDs as well, as others may find this information useful.

Thanks for any info you can provide!
Click to expand...

I have a HDK2 and haven't come across a desktop clone feature out of the box.

There is an application called Virtual Desktop (mentioned above) which lets you use the HMD to display your computer desktop in a wrapper. Its available on Steam. I haven't used Big Picture so can't really say how it compares.

P.S. Re motion controllers, HDK2 now supports "Nolo" hand-held controllers, which I believe can be purchased with the HMD.
 
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Orvidius

Orvidius
A D said:
There is an application called Virtual Desktop (mentioned above) which lets you use the HMD to display your computer desktop in a wrapper. Its available on Steam. I haven't used Big Picture so can't really say how it compares.
Click to expand...

Virtual Desktop is also available in the Oculus Home storefront. There's also one called Deskverse there.
 

Kaltern

Kaltern
Neither of which are free, which the OP did say was something he wanted.

BigScreen (IMO) is miles better than Virtual Desktop. Very good for viewing movies I would suggest. But then all desktop clone apps will ultimately look identical in the visual quality department. As in, not great.
 

Chromezero

Chromezero
The Vive definitely has a "show desktop" function, built-in to SteamVR. However, I prefer to use OVRDrop for accessing my desktop while in games such as ED.
 

ziddan

Z
I use the steamvr desktop, got it set to hang about just over half a meter from my face and resize it to be about 1.2 meters wide, very usable to look stuff up ingame by just hitting the button on the side of the HMD and using the mouse and keyboard like normally.
 

TorTorden_VR

T

BurntJello

BurntJello
Thanks for the replies. Keep em comin'!

I checked some videos of what BigScreen really is, and it is way beyond what I am actually looking for. I'm not looking for a VR desktop environment. I do not want to sit in a virtual room looking at a virtual TV. If I want to look at a TV, I can do that outside VR. That said, it is very cool and would probably be interesting to use.

One of the big things I do not want for my use-case is head-tracking. Motion tracking is fine for VR, but it's not what I would be looking for to play minesweeper on a HMD. It would only get in the way for things where standard keyboard/mouse is all that is needed. Obviously this would not be a "VR experience", but that's not what I'm after here. (added to original post)

All I'm really looking for is HMD desktop clone, everything else black. I just want an immersive screen glued to my face. [where is it]

Maybe BigScreen (or something else) can be configured to do this? I would really like to have a solution for this before I buy anything. Then I could take it off my list of "required baseline features".
 

Kaltern

Kaltern
I could almost guarantee you could never use the type of display you are asking for.

If you have a static image, which has no frame of reference, it would basically stay in the same place as you move your head. Even small movements will cause your brain to question why what it's seeing isn't changing. Anyone with a HMD can try this - when ED loads up, the first splash screen is static, in the same way I explained. I defy anyone to be able to move their head around and not immediately feel very dizzy.

And, as I mentioned previously, HMD displays are not rectangular. Therefore you can never see a 1:1 representation of the monitor, and it would be completely unusable.
 

CylonSurfer

CylonSurfer
BurntJello said:
Thanks for the replies. Keep em comin'!

I checked some videos of what BigScreen really is, and it is way beyond what I am actually looking for. I'm not looking for a VR desktop environment. I do not want to sit in a virtual room looking at a virtual TV. If I want to look at a TV, I can do that outside VR. That said, it is very cool and would probably be interesting to use.

One of the big things I do not want for my use-case is head-tracking. Motion tracking is fine for VR, but it's not what I would be looking for to play minesweeper on a HMD. It would only get in the way for things where standard keyboard/mouse is all that is needed. Obviously this would not be a "VR experience", but that's not what I'm after here. (added to original post)

All I'm really looking for is HMD desktop clone, everything else black. I just want an immersive screen glued to my face. [where is it]

Maybe BigScreen (or something else) can be configured to do this? I would really like to have a solution for this before I buy anything. Then I could take it off my list of "required baseline features".
Click to expand...

No head tracking? I guess you need to pick up a secondhand Sony HMZ-T# series personal 2D/3D viewer then (or a similar product). You are clearly not in the market for a VR device at all.

I'm honestly a little confused in regard to what you are trying to achieve or why you would want to do this but each to their own.
 
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Mxpower76

Mxpower76
BurntJello said:
Thanks for the replies. Keep em comin'!

I checked some videos of what BigScreen really is, and it is way beyond what I am actually looking for. I'm not looking for a VR desktop environment. I do not want to sit in a virtual room looking at a virtual TV. If I want to look at a TV, I can do that outside VR. That said, it is very cool and would probably be interesting to use.

One of the big things I do not want for my use-case is head-tracking. Motion tracking is fine for VR, but it's not what I would be looking for to play minesweeper on a HMD. It would only get in the way for things where standard keyboard/mouse is all that is needed. Obviously this would not be a "VR experience", but that's not what I'm after here. (added to original post)

All I'm really looking for is HMD desktop clone, everything else black. I just want an immersive screen glued to my face. [where is it]

Maybe BigScreen (or something else) can be configured to do this? I would really like to have a solution for this before I buy anything. Then I could take it off my list of "required baseline features".
Click to expand...


Yes big screen has a setting called the void. Just a black screen with your desktop on it.
 

Flapdrol1337

F
BurntJello said:
Thanks for the replies. Keep em comin'!

I checked some videos of what BigScreen really is, and it is way beyond what I am actually looking for. I'm not looking for a VR desktop environment. I do not want to sit in a virtual room looking at a virtual TV. If I want to look at a TV, I can do that outside VR. That said, it is very cool and would probably be interesting to use.

One of the big things I do not want for my use-case is head-tracking. Motion tracking is fine for VR, but it's not what I would be looking for to play minesweeper on a HMD. It would only get in the way for things where standard keyboard/mouse is all that is needed. Obviously this would not be a "VR experience", but that's not what I'm after here. (added to original post)

All I'm really looking for is HMD desktop clone, everything else black. I just want an immersive screen glued to my face. [where is it]

Maybe BigScreen (or something else) can be configured to do this? I would really like to have a solution for this before I buy anything. Then I could take it off my list of "required baseline features".
Click to expand...

You can set the background to completely black and make the screen as big as you want in bigscreen.

Just having the desktop displayed on the hmd screen 1:1 without creating a virtual screen wouldn't be usable. The elite dangerous loading screen does a static image for a few seconds this and it's awful.
 

TorTorden_VR

T
BurntJello said:
Thanks for the replies. Keep em comin'!

I checked some videos of what BigScreen really is, and it is way beyond what I am actually looking for. I'm not looking for a VR desktop environment. I do not want to sit in a virtual room looking at a virtual TV. If I want to look at a TV, I can do that outside VR. That said, it is very cool and would probably be interesting to use.
Click to expand...

But that is exactly what you want, since it's the only thing that works.

It has to be rendered in the virtual environment, what you ask for would almost be like taking your cell phone and wearing it on your nose.
Can't really do anything like that, regardless of lenses and focusing.
 

BurntJello

BurntJello
CylonSurfer said:
You are clearly not in the market for a VR device at all.
Click to expand...
That's not quite right. I do want a VR device. I just don't want it to be limited to VR only.

I have an expectation that I should be able to use a head-mounted-display as a monitor. I am disappointed that the current crop of devices do not meet that expectation. [blah] Realistic or not, it is what I expect.

Mxpower76 said:
Yes big screen has a setting called the void. Just a black screen with your desktop on it.
Click to expand...
Is it possible to make the "desktop" stationary? (disable headlook? even by unplugging the sensor camera?) What about latency? Even 1 frame delay would ruin it's usefulness. Just wondering. Need to know for twitch-shooters.

Thanks!
 
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