Last week, at Computex 2017, Microsoft showed off new Windows Mixed Reality headsets coming later this year from some of its hardware partners, including ASUS, Dell, and Lenovo. Of course, Acer and HP have already released their own head-mounted displays (HMDs) in the form of Development Edition units, enabling devs to begin creating new virtual reality experiences in the coming months.
Now, Acer and HP have released companion apps for their HMDs on the Windows Store.
The listing for the "Acer Windows Mixed Reality HMD DCA" app (shown above) states that it"s only available for PCs; but curiously, HP"s "Device Companion Application" (below) is listed as being available on Windows 10 Mobile devices as well.
That"s especially odd when you read the app"s Windows Store description:
Device Companion Application is the application that comes at first run holographic device. When the user plug in the VR HMD (Head Mounted Display), it will run automatically and users are immediately delighted by holographic experiences and can seamlessly set up VR device.
Both the Acer and HP apps offer little functionality unless you actually own one of the headsets, and it"s connected to a Windows 10 PC - and it does need to connect to a PC, not a phone. Indeed, if you try to install the app on a Windows phone...
...you"ll get an error message telling you: "To see the devices this product works on, see "Available on". This product is not supported by the current device."
The "Available on" section of the Store listing claims that the app can be installed on PC, Mobile, Holographic and Hub - but that"s clearly not the case, and it"s presumably an error in the listing that needs to be corrected.
If you don"t own a Windows Mixed Reality Development Edition headset, the new apps won"t be of much use to you. But you can find out more about Acer"s HMD by checking out our hands-on impressions of the device.
Download: Acer Windows Mixed Reality HMD DCA / HP Device Companion Application
Via: MSPoweruser