Hands-On with HTC Vive Pre Developer Kit VR Headset

We go hands-on with the new HTC Vive Pre developer kit to test its new camera-enabled Chaperone guidance system! Afterward, we chat with HTC and SteamVR developers to learn how this advancement will affect the final Vive virtual reality headset. Plus, our frank impressions of the system.

Shot and edited by Joey Fameli

Tested is:

Thanks for watching!

[stegwise]

HTC is alone among VR producers in recognizing the importance of locating your bong.

[pchkt]

Damn, Norm is brutal with the questions! Keep it up lots of great info.

[BlobVanDam]

12:00 - Dammit Ryan, nobody buying VR knows the size of a yoga mat!

[hannibalbarkas]

Absolutely perfect questions Norm, even if the answers were not that satisfactory sometimes. Thank you!

[sateenropinaa]

Wow the guy interviewed in the first half is really "good" at dodging questions and sticking that parrot marketing speech there.

[paulboranian]

19:42 "Shit it's the guy I fucked over"

[InstantCasette]

Nobody covers VR like tested. Love the in depth content !

[DeceptseaN]

I have been watching tested videos for some months now.. Norm is the BEST at interviews... the questions he asks, his straight forward responses and you can tell he is knowledgeable on all subjects he speaks on.

[lreak]

You've really stepped up as head of tested, norm. :)

[SIGNALacquired]

I very much like the inclusion of the single camera on the front of the Vive Pre .
Very good safety feature.

[thegregpetty]

Wow, great interview. There are almost no awkward pauses. It's so good it almost seems scripted. Very intelligent back and forth. This product is very exciting. Thanks guys

[Netsuko]

Who ever thinks that the Vive will be significantly cheaper than the Oculus is delusional.
New state of the art, early adopter tech is ALWAYS expensive. It has always been everywhere.
There is a certain price attached to new technology. People have to remember that this is the very first true generation of consumer VR.
Hell, people buy high end monitors for way more than $700. If you want quality, especially from the very start, then you have to expect a higher price. I don't need another google cardboard.

[peanutismint]

As someone who has used VR headsets for prolonged periods, that front facing camera seems like such a no-brainer/game changer to me. The ability to do things like find your keyboard or take a drink without removing the headset seems like such an inconsequential yet killer feature, not to mention being able to see obstacles/avoid collisions with things in the real world!

[Keavon]

That HTC spokesperson really impressed me with his ability to memorize so many responses from his scripts.

[davef]

Thank you Norm for being prepared and asking all the questions no one else is asking! Thank you also for showing the Chaperone system - I haven't seen that in any other videos. I have to admit that I laugh my ass off watching your videos - not because they're inherently funny, but because I love watching the deer in the headlights look on the faces of the PR people you're interviewing. They don't ever seem to expect being interviewed by someone as knowledgeable as their own devs.

[Perjoss]

Great interviews and as mentioned in the other comments really good questions. I don't know much about PR but the HTC guy seems to be good at his job, but it felt like your were trying squeeze information out of a protocol droid but he was just playing back recorded messages haha!

[crabjockey]

All the Oculus videos I've watched the players have been using the headphones attached to the oculus. This one has the player wearing the Cloud headset. LOVE THAT.

[Broodjemetbeleg]

best coverage so far on yt of the new Vive!

[MarcelRobitaille]

This guy is good at avoiding questions.

[conman]

I am surprised there are no questions on scale-ability of software for various physical impairments. Lack of a hand or immobile folks should still be able to share these experiences. I hope they are encouraging accessibility development.