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Pimax 8K Progress Update
Posted by Pimax 8K VR (Creator)
Hi Futurists,
Following a very busy start to 2018 at CES, we've been taking on board all the feedback from both press, and you, the Pimax community.
As a result, we thought it best to update you on where we are in the build and iteration process, and to give you a bigger picture of the timeline and progress thus far, and what it means for you.
First off, we figured a timeline would help provide you with some context:
PIMAX 8K TIMELINE: V1 - V5 HARDWARE ITERATIONS
Jan 2017: Prototype V1 - The 1st prototype was built - more of a display unit, and to give our audience an idea of what the HMD would look like
Aug 2017: Prototype V2 - Our first Roadshow prototype was developed, giving users the first chance to try Pimax 8K for themselves - from this we set goals for V3:
Enable IPD Change HDMI to DP Improve build qualitySept 2017: Kickstarter went live!
Oct 2017: Prototype V3
What we improved for V3:
Hardware IPD enabled Changed HDMI to DP1.4 Changed USB to Adapter Build quality - Improved sealing for dustproof; Improved tablet compressing to prevent screen damageGoals for V4:
Enable software IPD Extendable interfaces Quality - Damage resistance; Dustproof Comfort - Reduce weight; Improve ergonomicsDec 2017: Prototype V4
What we improved for V4:
IPD - Optimized the IPD adjustment design and mold; Changed the cloth around the lenses for better elasticity and dustproof The extendable interfaces enabled Quality - Reliability / Crash Test; Dustproof Comfort - Better heat dissipation and strength with light-weighted alloy; Optimized structure material to reduce weightOptimized ergonomics e.g. Increase distance of exit pupil to prevent eyelash from touching the lensesGoals for V5:
Improve brightness Optimize visual quality with new lenses Prepare for mass productionJan 2018: Prototype V5 - The CES build!
What we improved for V5:
Added LEDs to improve brightness Lenses changed Mass production - Production testing software and tools read; New material to cover sensor; Mockup lens - lens tooling v1.0; Headset toolingGoals for M1:
Fine-tuning Debugging Change the medium number of IPD Optimize ergonomicsIt's also worth noting, that for each iteration, the circuit boards were tested and optimized too!
So this brings you up to date with where we've been over the last year, and you can see, at each stage we've been painstakingly tweaking features and making improvements, to ensure that the end result of what we deliver to you is what you'd expect.
So, what's next? Well, after spring festival (when our suppliers usually take vacations for half a month), we will have the M1 version done - this is our close-to-mass production unit, so we're getting very close to delivery!
Starting from mid-March, we plan to showcase M1 in roadshows and bring the new build to you, our backers, to put your hands on the first mass production version. While this is happening, we also have a small, closed group from the community testing M1. From there, we've been working hard with our manufacturing and development teams to give you a realistic timeline for the completion of the final version, so we can give you a date for shipment of the finished product.
Currently, taking into account the fixes for the final version, we are now looking at a delivery window of Q2. So we're certainly getting there! We will continue to offer you more frequent updates as we pass those milestones and tweak towards our final version. We are so grateful for the feedback you've given us, and for the patience, you've shown in allowing us the time to really hone Pimax 8K to be the best it can be.
We do understand that our initial estimate for delivery was perhaps generous, and for this we sincerely apologize. It's been very encouraging to hear from press and community that have tested the latest version, and that they feel we're almost there, but we of course know we've got a lot of work to put in over the coming weeks. We don't want to let you down on final build quality, so we're back at the grindstone, and as M1 becomes available, we'll have an even clearer idea of our trajectory, which we will of course share with you ASAP.
Thanks again, and look forward to updating you very soon!
Best Regards,
The Pimax Team |
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