Firefox Reality Vr

[Elsa Hoelscher]

FirefoxReality is a fast and secure browser designed for standalone virtual reality headsets. Switch seamlessly between 2D and 3D and discover great immersive content with the speed and security that you trust.

This version of Firefox Reality comes with many features, including, private browsing mode, 360 video support, voice commands in several languages, full screen or focus view, theater mode, bookmarking and curated content on the home page.

Earlier this year, we shared that we are building a completely new browser called Firefox Reality. The mixed reality team at Mozilla set out to build a web browser that has been designed from the ground up to work on stand-alone virtual and augmented reality (or mixed reality) headsets. Today, we are pleased to announce that the first release of Firefox Reality is available in the Viveport, Oculus, and Daydream app stores.

Among these features is the ability to search the web using your voice. Text input is still a chore for virtual reality, and this is a great first step towards solving that. With Firefox Reality you can choose to search using the microphone in your headset.

From the moment you open the browser, you will be presented with immersive experiences that can be enjoyed on a VR headset directly from the Firefox Reality browser. We are working with creators around the world to bring an amazing collection of games, videos, environments, and experiences that can be accessed directly from the home screen.

We know a thing or two about making an amazing web browser. Firefox Reality is using our new Quantum engine for mobile browsers. The result is smooth and fast performance that is crucial for a VR browser. We also take things like privacy and transparency very seriously. As a company, we are dedicated to fighting for your right to privacy on the web. Our values have guided us through this creation process, just as they do with every product we build.

We are in this for the long haul. This is version 1.0 of Firefox Reality and version 1.1 is right around the corner. We have an always-growing list of ideas and features that we are working to add to make this the best browser for mixed reality. We will also be listening and react quickly when we need to provide bug fixes and other minor updates.

Here at Mozilla, we make it a habit to work in the open because we believe in the power of transparency, community and collaboration. If you have an idea, or a bug report, or even if you just want to geek out, we would love to hear from you. You can follow @mozillareality on twitter, file an issue on GitHub, or visit our support site.

Since its launch, Firefox Reality offered users a unique browser in the mixed reality space. It was the first cross-platform browser built by a trusted company, Mozilla, and quickly adopted by companies for use in their hardware devices.

We are excited about Igalia building on the legacy of Firefox Reality and look forward to good things to come from it. At Mozilla, we will continue to invest in new and emerging technologies. Stay tuned for more to come from us in 2022.

Yes, I have made a few changes to the way we initiate XR (thou it was technically correct before). There are still a few open bugs in firefox reality that I am waiting to be fixed, but in general - it is working well.

Now that we know Firefox Reality is official being sent out to pasture and Igalia is forking it to take over development as "Wolvic" I have to assume HTC has a game plan to replace Firefox Reality w/ Wolvic on the Focus 3 ASAP. Do you guys plan to put out a statement about this soon, or have anything you can share about what direction you'll be going? I'm thinking about trying to build it myself for the Focus 3 with the latest WaveSDK, but I don't really want to put in the time if you're already working on doing that.

Yes, please let us know how HTC is planing to go forward with browser integration in focus 3. I am planning to by 10+ focus 3 headsets for a small university project for which webxr integration will be instrumental. Right now, with the current firefox reality version mozilla hubs is not even working properly for me. This would be a deal breaker for

Hey there crapshot.ai - I really haven't given it much more of a try so far, I keep hoping we'll hear something back officially soon. If I have some time this weekend maybe I'll give it another go. I was able to get the foundational WaveSDK pieces set up and working properly for a native app and deployed it successfully to the headset, so I at least have the base pieces in place, but compiling an entire browser not properly targetted for the device...that's a little out of my comfort zone. ? But I might be able to make it work. If I do I will let you know.

Thx for getting back so quick. Can relate ... but the current version of the Unity waveSDK works properely with focus 3? Was thinking of making a Unity multiplayer app instead of using mozilla hubs. I could probably manage to set up voice chat with photon, but all the other stuff I need like screen sharing or displaying pdfs, no idea. Would be great if HTC could get a working vr browser integrated into a 1400 EUR piece of tech. Anyway, the problem is likely the firefox reality or hubs end ... My Quest 2 (sorry Meta 2) has no problems and the integrated browser works like a charm, but cannot use those for obvious reasons ...

Wolvic FAQ now actually states the HTC Vive Focus is on their support list. When can we expect to hear something from the HTC Vive team about our roadmap for browser plans? I've pretty much given up trying to use WebXR content on the headset as things have degenerated in Firefox Reality over the past year.

Currently we are focused on relatively capable stand-alone Android/AOSP based operating systems and HarmonyOS tethered systems, including: Huawei VR Glass, HTC Vive Focus, Oculus Quest, Pico Interactive, and Lynx devices. We are not currently focused on some legacy devices like the Oculus Go.

OK, they seem to plan something then. I also asked them directly via email and got the following reply "Wolvic doesn't support any HTC devices officially yet. We are working currently on trying to close partnerships for 2022-2023 and will release a public roadmap and FAQ with some clarifications about this topic soon. We of course would like to officially suport the Vive Focus 3 headset, but for now we cannot confirm when/if this will happen." So maybe we will see something in the near future. ... I have just order 10 Focus 3 headsets ... in the worst case we have to stick with some commerical content like Vive Sync or get something unity-based running as an app. If you hear anything, I would really appreciate any news regarding this issue.Cheers, Uli

If you're open/able to go with other app based content also (not sure what specifically you're doing of course) I would check out StereoKit. I've been following along with the project for a good while and testing and experimenting with the Focus 3 when I can, and if you have people on your team with OpenXR/C# experience it's pretty straight-forward to make simple VR apps. All depends on your needs tho of course, Unity/Unreal might be better.

Thx for you reply, yes something unity-based would be an option, as I have some experience with Quest 2 development there. Do you have experience with the Wave SDK and Focus 3? I might have to look into this. Regarding the browser issue: i inquired with the company, who is the sole business distributor for HTC Vive in Germany about the browser issue and the asked HTC about it. The information that I got was still somewhat vague, but they said that they are working on a Vive Browser that might be released in Q2/2022. Lets see ...

And the response via Twitter, "VIVE Browser was created because the Firefox Reality is being removed from stores, this initial VIVE Browser is intended to give you the immersive browser and bring the basic browser you know and love into VR - it is compatible with VIVE products."

I also asked on Twitter if it's Chromium based or something VIVE has been working on for their version of Firefox Reality/Wolvic? I'd really be nice to get some clear technical information on this - browsers for WebXR are so stuck right now with Chromium and I've given up on WebXR on the Focus 3 for now.

Just to circle back here in case anyone else has been watching this - VIVE Browser is now supported on the Focus 3, at least on my headset on the "Beta" branch. The performance feels about the same as the old Firefox Reality for now, but hey I'll take it...baby steps toward a fully supported, WebXR compliant browser with enhancements for VIVE products is fine by me as long as it's getting updated regularly. I do hope the team considers making it an open source project on GitHub so people can more directly contribute and follow its development.

Also please VIVE team, please let us install directly from the headset some day? ? I think I had to 2-factor 4 or 5 times back and forth, from trying on phone, which was blocked no matter what I tried due to cookie requirements, to then PC, to then back to the headset which had decided to log me out again. It is not the most user friendly process, Business focus or not.

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