[benz145]

Silicon Micro Display is launching their first product, the ST1080 1080p head mounted display. They announced official pricing at $799 back in December and were planning on starting pre-orders in January, but were delayed. Now on March 1st it's finally happening.


That's the jist of it -- I've got some additional details and a new photo of the ST1080 here if you're interested .

 

[tory40]

I don't get the see through part of this device. Wouldn't that greatly limit maximum brightness or do you not see through the lens which have color emitting? I like the compactness of the device compared to the Sony, thats for sure.

 

[benz145]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tory40 /forum/post/21685219


I don't get the see through part of this device. Wouldn't that greatly limit maximum brightness or do you not see through the lens which have color emitting? I like the compactness of the device compared to the Sony, thats for sure.

Yeah I agree, Silicon Micro Display's positioning of the device is sort of strange. It's like they want to make the product for augmented reality software, but are selling it like a regular home media device.

 

[Nitemage]



Quote:
Originally Posted by benz145 /forum/post/21686527


Yeah I agree, Silicon Micro Display's positioning of the device is sort of strange. It's like they want to make the product for augmented reality software, but are selling it like a regular home media device.

I'm guessing a strip of black electrical tape on the front would eliminate the 10% see though if desired.

10% see through is not much anyway with augmented reality software you would still be walking into walls.

Now the real question is how well does it do 3D?

 

[nikonf5]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitemage /forum/post/21686871


I'm guessing a strip of black electrical tape on the front would eliminate the 10% see though if desired.

Now the real question is how well does it do 3D?

Dont know why we dont have an official thread on this as I would love to get my hands on one but I am in Canada.


It beats the Sony unit in quite a few depts but the company doesnt have the PR that Sony does and thats whats hurting them right now.


The transparency thing getting harped on as a dealbreaker by some people, is just plain bitching and nitpicking with no technical merit.

The black tape fix was the first thought that came to mind when I first read about this months ago and fixes the problem so why bother.

Also, for those using this in darkened home theaters there will be nothing coming through anyway.


As far as its merits, from what I understand, it has the following benefits:


[1] Half the weight of the Sony unit.

[2] LCOS instead of OLED although whether thats a benefit is beyond my knowledge.

[3] Full 1080p with no SDE whatsoever as reported by people who demoed it at CES 2012.

[4] The sound can be muted or disconnected completely and the headphones look like they can be un-plugged so for people like me who are planning to use it with the sound from an existing AVR/5.1 setup, it kills the most obvious problem with the Sony unit.

[5] Much less bulkier than the Sony so no obvious need for any third-party over-the-head straps like the Sony.

[6] If you look at the CES 2012 page on the company website, they say that its biggest feature is the focus being uniform across the screen which is usually the biggest problem with this technology.

 

[CyberScott]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitemage /forum/post/21686871


I'm guessing a strip of black electrical tape on the front would eliminate the 10% see though if desired.

10% see through is not much anyway with augmented reality software you would still be walking into walls.

Now the real question is how well does it do 3D?

I read on the sites' blog that the glasses will ship with a snap on cover that will eliminate the 10% see through.


I'm actually thinking of doing the pre-order on this due to the discount. I hope that the ST1080 will get into the hands of some reviewers prior to shipping so we can all get a better idea of the quality of the glasses and make a more informed decision on purchasing.

 

[bahnzii]

I received the March 1 order email and I am very tempted to throw down for it.

Anyone else??

 

[hal11]

I am very interested in ordering. I returned the HMZ after I gave up trying to modify it to make it not painful to wear. I am very excited that this could be what I had hoped the HMZ would be.


Does anyone know what kind of return policy is in place for this?

 

[acegamer]

I'm really interested in reading user impressions of this. Especially from those who have experience with the HMZ. I'm very happy with the results from my HMZ now that I'm no longer experiencing pain from wearing it. I replaced the stock pads with a thinner piece of padding from a cycle helmet and that seemed to do the trick. I will be really interested in hearing if the image quality is as good on the ST1080 unit. I am really curious to know wheter or not the blurry edges issue that I still have on my HMZ is present on this unit.

 

[nikonf5]



Quote:
Originally Posted by acegamer /forum/post/21690839


I am really curious to know wheter or not the blurry edges issue that I still have on my HMZ is present on this unit.

Click the link here and although the whole page is interesting to read, the answer to your quoted remark can be found by scrolling down to the middle paragraph of the section called "It was all about image quality."


The one thing I dont like at all about this company is they do not know how to market AT ALL.


Some extreme closeups with a macro lens so you can see the product, and its control box, in detail would have been very nice and would have answered a lot of questions from the techie minded who can decipher drawings.


In any case, I hope this is one of those we-suck-at-marketing-but-our-product-sells-itself kinda deals.


Am sending them a bunch of questions right now so will post any answers on this thread if and when I get them.

 

[acegamer]

thanks for the link, that sounded promising. Have you found any hands on reports on the web from show attendees who got to try out the unit? Reading reports from the manufacturer are fine but I am really interested in reading 3rd party accounts of how well the unit compares to the HMZ. I am really curious about the comfort level since there doesn't appear to be anything to hold it on your head other than the side arms so you would think that it would rest on your nose and create possible discomfort after several hours. I will definitely have to keep an eye out on this one.

 

[CyberScott]

One thing discussed on their blog site is no built in support for side by side or top and bottom 3D formats. http://www.siliconmicrodisplay.com/1...he-st1080.html

 

[stumlad]



Quote:
Originally Posted by CyberScott /forum/post/21699421


One thing discussed on their blog site is no built in support for side by side or top and bottom 3D formats. http://www.siliconmicrodisplay.com/1...he-st1080.html

That's a huge ouch.. you'd need a unit in between that could convert the side by side or top/bottom to frame packed.. If you're using a PC it would not be a problem...

 

[bravia3D]

I already have the Sony HMZ and really enjoy it... This seems smaller and lighter, plus full 1080p. Has anyone actually gotten their hands on one of these for a test? Is the 3D good like the HMZ? I am considering one of these but wanna know more before I buy.. There is a real lack of info on their site, I want reviews of the 3D quality and how good it is!

 

[bravia3D]

Also March 1st is pre-orders.. If we pre-order when do we actually get the device?!

 

[CyberScott]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bravia3D /forum/post/21715856


Also March 1st is pre-orders.. If we pre-order when do we actually get the device?!

They have not provided an exact date, only "Shipments to USA customers will start in early May"
http://www.siliconmicrodisplay.com/blog.html

 

[bravia3D]

Thanks for the info, well... I am in Japan but can always have it shipped to my US address

 

[SoulTaker78]

Well the site was updated with new photos of the unit and a tiny HDMI cable you can buy on the site but it doesn't let me go any further when I click the pre-order button.


They are probably still setting up the server where the orders will be filed into.


Update: Well Just pre-ordered my unit in black! I have to caution everyone though, if you pre-order, you have pay upfront but it uses paypal to process your payment. Total was $731.50 which is with shipping.


Other Countries outside the US also get the $699 price but it's not $699=£699 as far as I know. Here is the list of countries:


•Argentina

•Australia

•Brazil

•Canada

•Chile

•China

•European Union Countries

•Iceland

• India

•Liechtenstein

•Mexico

•New Zealand

•Norway

•Russian

•Singapore

•Switzerland

 

[bravia3D]

I just made a pre-order for 2, one white and one black. I figure I could sell one here in Japan for a pretty penny and keep one for myself if I like it.

 

[nikonf5]

A word of caution from what I see on the ordering page.


HMD = Head Mounted Display


In the Buy section, the retail unit does not have an HMD video cable [controller --> HMD] listed as being included and I believe this might have to be purchased separately as hinted at by the presence of a separate ordering page for just those kind of cables.


The DDK explicitly has the HMD cable listed as included but the retail unit does not.


Also, if you look at the cables they sell, there are two types listed that could possibly be valid [Type D or Type C] but they make no mention which one their HMD uses as the small port is on the HMD end.


The actual product page for the item DOES have the cable listed as included which makes it even more confusing although it would make sense.



Next up is the first official mention of the cover which is listed as being a method for removing the 10% transparency if required.

It is in the "View To The World" section on the order page for the unit.


It is then listed as an add-on option under the Display section of the Technical Specs part of that same page and I have a feeling it wont be included.



There is a review forum thread available here from someone at MTBS3D who demoed a working unit at CES 2012


There is also a video interview the same site had with SMD @ CES 2012 that can be found here