For Windows Mixed Reality platform
According to sources within Taiwan's head-mounted display (HMD) industry, ASUS is currently in the process of picking suppliers to assemble its upcoming Mixed Reality (MR) headset made for the Windows Mixed Reality (formerly Windows Holographic) platform launching next month.
Asus originally showed a VR-like head-mounted display at Computex 2016, with a design similar to the Samsung Gear VR. The device featured stitched leather straps, a touchpad on right hand side, a rocker switch for volume, and back buttons towards the bottom. Then last month, NotebookItalia leaked a slide detailing a new ASUS "All In One" VR headset with less focus on making a fashion statement and more functionality as a standalone unit. The device is expected to launch later this fall and will be a bit different from the Oculus and HTC Vive, as it will likely contain a dedicated processor, graphics, memory and storage units that the existing VR headsets do not.
The industry sources note that Samsung is currently the top choice as a supplier of display panels for the ASUS AIO VR headset as AMOLED panels from other manufacturers begin to mature. Meanwhile, demand for AMOLED panels in head-mounted display units has been strong thanks to advantages in "thinness, lower power consumption and industrial design" compared to traditional TFT LCD displays. Pricing for the panels has also been on the rise since earlier this year due to existing supply constraints.
In late October, Microsoft's Terry Myerson said that its initial partner list for Mixed Reality Platform headsets would include Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. While most existing head-mounted displays are priced over $500, the new pricing structure for Microsoft partners will start at a base of around $299. With the Creators Update due to launch in mid-April, we can expect some of the first headsets from these manufacturers to launch within the next few weeks. Acer will be first with an HMD designed specifically for developers later in March, while other partners including ASUS will launch later this fall.
EmoticonEmoticon