Presentation: The good news is the Universe2go does come nicely presented in a shop ready style packaging with all the information you might need right there on the white box. Ok, so once that box is open there really isn’t a lot inside of it because the headset is so light it doesn’t need that much protection. But it still makes for a nice gift for someone.
Universe2go Box Contents
- Headset
- Instructions
Description: Have you ever stood under the starry night sky and wondered what all the stars were up there? Or are you an amateur astronomer who has only looked into space through a telescope? Whatever the answer, Universe2go will fascinate you – because you have simply never experienced the night sky in this way before. This interactive viewer connects the real night sky with an augmented reality digital world thanks to you inserting your smartphone device into it.
There are not many augmented reality headsets that require you to use your smartphone, but this one makes very good use of it. Is this the future of amateur stargazing? Well, maybe not. But for anyone just getting into astronomy, this could help increase their knowledge and grow their understanding of the universe. It’s pretty simple to use as well, just download the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play store, then insert your smartphone into the device. The easy to follow on-screen instructions make it a joy to use. It’s not going to take over the work of the telescope, but it could encourage people to learn even more about the stars and universe around them.
Headset: Universe2go
Manufacturer: Nimax GmbH
Launch Price: $50
Release Date: May 2015
Headset Type: Smartphone Powered AR Headset
Size Compatibility: 4.7″ to 6.2″
Field of View(FOV): 70°
Interpupillary Distance Adjustment: Yes
Screen Focus Adjustment: No
Weight: 50g (0.05 KG)
Review: If you have a child who is interested in learning about the stars (or maybe just yourself), then this is a great product. But the truth is it doesn’t work half as well as you might want it to. It takes a while to calibrate and the right phone is needed to make it shine (the brighter the screen the better). The other good news is you can get this far, far cheaper on eBay, so do shop around because being a smartphone-powered VR headset it is only a plastic headset (without a strap), so the cheaper you can grab it the better. On the whole, it works and is kind of interesting, but it is one of those things you will probably use once then never again.
