Facebook Opens Oculus Link Hardware Specs to Third-Party Manufacturers
The Oculus Link for Quest enters into the beta phase a few weeks from now. This will allow the standalone Oculus Quest virtual reality headsets to be connected to a PC via a USB-C cable and the headset will now work as a “Quest PC” and will be compatible with all PC VR apps. The First Oculus Link tests have been positive and the cable connection with video streaming feels almost like a native PC connection.
Oculus Link will enable users to play Rift games on Oculus Quest. The feature is set to launch in November. Oculus Product Manager recently issued a statement to the effect that the company will also make the Oculus Link specs available to third parties. This will give users not only choice but also the confidence to purchase items that have been designed for the task.
Through a post on Reddit, an Oculus Product Manager stated that the Oculus Link cable will be thinner and more flexible than the standard USB 3 active cable. The company also factored in the data integrity, ergonomics, flexibility, length as well as the weight.
To use Oculus Link, users will require a compatible USB-C cable (connection USB 3, USB-C or A-go) that has a high data throughput and a length of at least 4 meters. Without these specs, the virtual reality experience will be too limited. It would even be better to have a longer cable that is both thin and flexible which will not pull the VR headset as much.
There isn’t much choice in the performance class. However, don’t expect all the cables to offer optimal performance.
The 5 meter Oculus Link cable will cost $79. Some users might find the price tag a bit on the higher end. According to Oculus, the cable will be “barely noticeable” in virtual reality games. Facebook hasn’t provided the exact date when the cable will be launched.
While any other fast USB-C cable will work as well, Oculus is keen on providing specifications of its own Link cable to interested third-party manufacturers. These manufacturers could then provide a cheaper cable.
During the unveiling of the Oculus Link OC6 earlier this month, Oculus had stated that most of the high-quality USB 3 cables should smoothly work with Link so users aren’t forced to fork out $79 for the 5-meter (16-foot) cable.
With its release of the Oculus Link cable specifications for third parties, Oculus is unlikely to mint a fortune from its Link accessories.
The video below provides additional information about the exact technical specifications for Oculus Link.
https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2019/10/29/facebook-opens-oculus-link-hardware-specs-to-third-party-manufacturers/https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Oculus-Link-Will-not-Interfere-with-VR-Games-600x350.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Oculus-Link-Will-not-Interfere-with-VR-Games-150x90.jpgBusinessOculusThe Oculus Link for Quest enters into the beta phase a few weeks from now. This will allow the standalone Oculus Quest virtual reality headsets to be connected to a PC via a USB-C cable and the headset will now work as a 'Quest PC' and will be compatible...Sam OchanjiSam Ochanji[email protected]EditorVirtual Reality Times - Metaverse & VR