Archive

We ran some simulations of our FPGA’s image processing pipeline for our headset’s AR Mode: https://simulavr.com/blog/testing-ar-mode-image-processing/

We’re releasing an early Review Unit to an anonymous tester: https://simulavr.com/blog/review-unit-in-transit

We added diopter adjustment to our optics: http://simulavr.com/blog/diopter-adjustment/.

In today’s update, we discuss our FPGA signal & image processing pipeline: http://simulavr.com/blog/fpga-image-processing-pipeline/

We provide an estimate of the time remaining for our “Polished Review Units”: https://simulavr.com/blog/2023-timeline/

We just sent our Camera Boards to PCB fab: https://simulavr.com/blog/camera-boards-submitted/

We recently used an X-Ray to scan for potential PCB faults: https://simulavr.com/blog/x-rays

Talking about Simula’s Auto-IPD adjustment system: http://simulavr.com/blog/simula-one-auto-ipd-adjustment/

We bring good news regarding Meta’s recent subpoena of us, and compare the Simula One against the new Quest Pro: https://simulavr.com/blog/simula-one-vs-quest-pro/

We recently got served a subpoena from Meta Platforms in their case with the FTC: https://simulavr.com/blog/subpoenaed-by-meta/

First glimpse (including videos) of Simula One Review Units! https://simulavr.com/blog/first-glimpse-of-review-units

While waiting for our second iteration boards to finish at PCBA, we’ve started working on a new camera adaptor for our AR Mode system: https://simulavr.com/blog/camera-syzygy-adapter/

This picture above is from our recent board integration tests: https://simulavr.com/blog/board-integration-tests/

Showing off our assembled facial interface, and some successful board integration testing: http://simulavr.com/blog/facial-interface-assembled/

Our first batch of boards have been assembled!

Test-fitting them into Simula One review units: https://simulavr.com/blog/first-batch-of-boards/

We’ve begun printing our VXR boards :)

For more details, as well as new shots of our headset enclosure: https://simulavr.com/blog/vxr-assembly-and-misc/

Discussing laminar clean benches, or how we’re keeping our lenses free of dust: https://simulavr.com/blog/dust-free-lenses/

We just took our newly manufactured boards to a PCBA: https://simulavr.com/blog/pcba/

Our first review unit is now projected to be finished in July. Details discussed here.

This week we announce upcoming price changes, and talk about FPGA connectors.

We’d like to confirm that all Simula One units will now receive 12th Gen Alder Lake processors!

In addition, we’ve added a 32GB RAM upgrade option to our preorder shop. Upgrade details are discussed here.

This week, we discuss our FPGAs and camera system, and how they are impacting our review unit design.

Today we talk about progress made on PCB boards.

This week we give an overview of Simula’s Software Stack.

This week, we show our latest review unit print and VXR board.

This week, we chronicle premium workstations & first-in-kind computing hardware over time. How did legendary figures of the past leverage new hardware to get more done?

This week, we showcase new prints and renderings for our upcoming review units.

This week, we run our newest lenses through some optical tests.

This week, we talked with VR YouTuber Gramsy about the Simula One. Topics discussed include headset weight vs. battery life tradeoffs, comparing VR Computers to Macs, and other cool things.

We otherwise continue to make progress against our recently published review unit timeline. We’ll have updates regarding our lenses and VXR7200 connector board during our next update.

We are planning on releasing Simula One review units (stripped of certain features) at some point over the next 1-2 months. Here we outline the things we need to do before review units can be released, and provide some time estimate ranges.

Simula is upgrading its Founders’ Edition headsets to Alder Lake processors + 32GB LPDDR5 RAM (formerly: Tiger Lake + 16GB of LDDR4X). Regular edition headsets will likely also receive the CPU upgrade (though not yet confirmed). Details of our improved specs can be found here.

This week, we discuss the Simula One’s display system, outlining specs in more detail and ending with a video demonstration.

This week we review progress made on our headset’s front-facing AR cameras. We discuss the innards of our camera system, state our resolution & performance targets, and end with an estimate for what our camera latency might be.

This week, we showcase progress made on our headset’s optics, and explain how we extract 45% more pixel density from our displays via our special lens system (provided by Limbak).

Our headset shop is now live! https://shop.simulavr.com/

Our Portable Linux VR Computer can be preordered in full for $2,699, or reserved with a partial deposit of $1,499.

If you have any questions about the way our headset preorders work, we are available to answer them any time in our Discord.

…with a lower price.

This week, we explain why we’re no longer using Kickstarter as our launch platform, and will instead be self-hosting our own pre-orders via Shopify. With the money we’re saving from Kickstarter fees, we’re passing on a $100 price reduction onto all of our headsets (now priced at $2,699 instead of $2,799). In addition, we’ll be opening up the option for people to place $1,499 half-deposits to reserve units (off of a higher base price).

Our preorder store will be opening this weekend; as promised, we will notify early waitlisters an hour before our launch to give them a better chance at securing the early headset discount ($2,499 price; 50 units available).

We just put the finishing touches on our Simula One teaser video: https://youtu.be/a3uN7d51Cco

More news coming very soon. See you in a few days!

This week, @SkarredGhost from The Ghost Howls interviews our team about Simula’s upcoming crowdfund.

We are otherwise putting the finishing touches on our video commercial while getting our campaign materials through Kickstarter’s approval process.

See you soon!

This week, we explore all the reasons why working in a VR Computer is better than working on PC or laptop. Given we spend several hours per day working on traditional computers, upgrading to a VRC could have big impacts to our productivity.

Let’s call a spade a spade: the Simula One is an expensive, early adopter product. Is it really worth such a high price?

In case you’re on the fence about this, we discuss this issue head on, outlining the benefits of VRCs and comparing the Simula One’s specs to premium office laptops, standalone AR headsets, and ultra-premium (high-PPD) VR gaming headsets.

If you’re reasonably sure you want to purchase a headset, and you’d like to be notified an hour before the campaign starts (to maximize chances of getting early discounts), add your email to our new “Early Kickstarter Backers” list.

This week: we discuss the pricing, discounts, and campaign target of Simula’s imminent pre-order campaign.

This week, we discuss the history and design goals of Simula’s headset. We also unveil a few bonus features which might be added if our upcoming Kickstarter this month raises enough funds.

This week, we run a detailed comparison of the Simula One versus the Quest 2 and Valve Index.

See here for this week’s technical overview of Simula’s VR Computer – including our headset’s specs, performance, and design choices. In short, the Simula One will offer a very capable computing experience coupled with a higher PPD display than any other portable headset on the market.

If you’re receiving this email, it means you’ve signed up for the Simula One Waitlist. We are now providing weekly updates to waitlisters – complete with teaser pictures, videos, & discounts – towards our upcoming January Kickstarter launch.

Click here for our first update (includes teaser shot of our headset prototype).