C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
In brief
- Meta has released the Meta Quest HDMI Link app, which allows users to connect their headsets to HDMI and DisplayPort devices.
- The app supports Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro headsets and offers content with 1080p resolution and low latency.
- An additional UVC and UAC compatible capture card is required to set up the feature.
Meta has released a new app, Meta Quest HDMI Link, designed to extend the functionality of its VR headsets. Available for the Meta Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro models, the app allows users to connect their headsets to various HDMI or DisplayPort equipped devices such as game consoles, laptops and even smartphones, effectively turning the headset into a virtual display. (via The edge)
The Quest headsets have traditionally been positioned as standalone devices for VR experiences, but with HDMI Link, the company is addressing users’ desire to access content from other devices within their VR environment.
HDMI Link supports 1080p content with low latency and offers a customizable virtual screen experience. Users can change the size and position of this screen within the VR environment, making it suitable for gaming, watching movies, or even private work.
Setting up HDMI Link isn’t as simple as plugging a USB cable into your phone or game console, however. It requires a compatible capture card – a small device that connects your HDMI source to your headset via USB – which adds complexity and cost. Meta acknowledges this in its blog post, warning users that it’s not quite as easy as they might expect.
Another major drawback of HDMI Link is the inability to display content protected by HDCP, which is common among many streaming services. This limitation means that while the feature is versatile, its usefulness for streaming movies and TV shows may be limited.
Meta stresses that HDMI Link is not intended to replace existing features like Air Link or Xbox Cloud Gaming, which provide wireless streaming options under ideal network conditions. Instead, it is intended to provide a solution for situations where Wi-Fi is unreliable or unavailable, or when users want to connect devices that are not supported by other methods. The app is currently available on App Lab, which suggests it is still in development and may need some work to fix some issues.
