The Fairy drone is an aerial photographer with nearly magical powers

It’s been years since you believed in the tooth fairy, your fairy godmother, or the best known fairy of all — Tinkerbell. But that doesn’t mean fairies don’t exist. In fact, the Fairy drone is very real indeed. It’s a pocket-sized drone that promises to be able to fly and take photos just about anywhere.

Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, the Fairy has clearly captured the imaginations of backers around the globe, with nearly 800 individuals already pledging almost $100,000 as of press time to bring this drone to market. What makes the quadcopter so appealing is likely its relative ease of use. This drone promises to be “perfect for newbies,” combining easy flying control with a 1080p FHD camera, auto tracking, motion control, and 16 minutes of flight time on a single charge.

With the Fairy’s companion app, you can quickly transform this flying device into your personal air camera. Meant to be used on the go, the drone folds into the size of a phone and weighs in at just 140 grams, which means that it can literally fit in your pocket. Plus, this particular quadcopter does not require FAA registration (though you should still certainly fly responsibly).

“The Fairy drone has been designed with a high-performancing camera and a Sony 1/3” (CMOS) sensor to deliver 1080P full HD videos (30 fps) and 8-megapixel images,” the team notes on its Kickstarter page. The camera offers continuous capture and delay capture modes, which ought to help you acquire the footage you need.

The Fairy’s auto-tracking mode will automatically have the drone follow you around so that you can have a hands-free content-capture experience. Alternatively, the motion control mode allows you to turn your phone into a motion-sensing controller, which means you can tilt your phone and have the Fairy follow you. And thanks to Fairy’s SLAM 3D precise position hovering technology, the drone purports to take steady images, and maintain high altitude. That said, given how little the drone weighs, we’re a bit skeptical of how well it would perform on windy days.

And if landing a drone still seems like a tough act, the Fairy should be able to return home quickly. The team claims to have developed a smart function that forces the Fairy to return to its initial starting point should it venture out of range or otherwise become too difficult to manage. This is made possible with the drone’s dual-band GPS that tracks exact positioning as well as its starting point.

Fairy promises three different sensitivity modes for different flying experiences depending on if you’re flying for the sake of capturing photos or video, or engaging in some high-altitude racing.

The team behind the drone claims to have already sourced their suppliers and parts, and completed a trial manufacturing run. Mass production is slated to begin at the conclusion of the campaign, which ought to take place in just under four weeks.

While you should always exercise caution when backing a crowdfunding campaign, if the Fairy drone seems to be up your alley, the team is offering early bird pricing of $99. Delivery is anticipated for July 2018.

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Bose’s revolutionary adaptive suspension gets a reboot for 2019

Bose

Bose is a company known for audio equipment ranging from home and personal use, to even commercial applications. But what about car suspension designs? Not really.

But for those of us who remember this video demonstration clip from the early 2000s of a first-generation Lexus LS400 sedan exhibiting virtually no body motions through various driving tests, your memories aren’t tricking you and it wasn’t a simulation. It was indeed a Lexus LS400 prototype equipped with an active adaptive suspension made by the same company that makes some of the best active noise-canceling headphones today. And after 30 years since it was conceptualized, the technology is set to officially reach production, thanks to a new proprietor called ClearMotion, a U.S-based engineering and tech startup.

Bose actually designed and produced a working adaptive suspension setup?

Yes, Bose actually engineered its own electromagnetically controlled adaptive suspension system, initially designed to revolutionize traditional and current automotive setups. In 1980, Amar Bose himself expressed interest in developing alternative solutions to the traditional spring-and-shock absorber suspension setup after having a hellish ownership experience with a 1957 Pontiac equipped with air suspension and a 1967 Citroën, whose hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension always leaked.

During his company’s peak of developing loudspeaker drivers for home theater systems for the digital age, he realized that the idea of a speaker, which consists of a magnet and an electromagnetic coil that oscillates a speaker cone in and out to produce sound, can be scaled to move a corner of an automobile weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Because vehicle suspension struts only move bidirectionally, the idea wasn’t at all far-fetched.

With the help of advances in technology that provided the industry with better electromagnetic motors, more powerful electrical amplifiers, and most of all, significantly improved computing power, Bose was able to make his vision a reality. By 2004, the company felt comfortable enough with its development to impress its own accounting department by releasing its first video demonstration of his suspension system in action as a proof of concept. It was called Project Sound.

How does it work?

Similarly to modern adaptive and active suspension setups today, it utilizes a combination of clever engineering and software to essentially eliminate all body motions for a completely flat and level handling and driving experience. Bose’s system specifically uses what’s called a linear electromagnetic motor or “LEM” at each of the vehicle’s four suspension corners, instead of the conventional shock-and-spring setup. Amplifiers then pulse electricity to the motors, which also regenerate power from each compression of the strut. This provides the main benefit of the LEM in that their oscillation range isn’t limited by the inertia incurred by the dissipation of energy in conventional fluid-filled dampers.

This ultimately improves vehicle handling significantly by further managing the distribution of weight under specific driving situations while maintaining a center of gravity for the utmost control.

But not only that, the system can anticipate specific road imperfections and hazards and could even actively jump the car over an obstacle in order to completely avoid an impact, essentially rendering speedbumps and potholes a complete nonissue.

So what happened to this technology?

While a technical success with a strong proof of concept, Bose’s active suspension system never commercially took off because it was still too heavy, too complex, and too expensive to implement. But 30 years following its conception, the company’s incredible technology finally got the reboot it needed to actually get on the road. Back in 2013, ClearMotion bought the rights to the technology with hopes to revive it with modern updates and to put it into production.

“Our technology is the fastest proactive ride system that exists today,” ClearMotion CEO Shak Avadhany said in an exclusive interview with Autocar. “It really delivers an almost instantaneous level of isolation that’s so noticeable you’d feel the difference in the first 10 feet of driving.”

“In our system, we equip the damper with an active valve that allows the fluid inside to pass in and out,” Avadhany continued. “We have real-time accelerometers that are reading the road and reacting instantly, with motors providing the car with unparalleled ride quality.”

To help drive the cost down, ClearMotion is reworking Bose’s original design to be more cost efficient than the original. So far, more than five luxury and high-end automakers expressed their interest in the tech, but Avadhany didn’t specify which ones.

ClearMotion plans to introduce its new suspension system in a new “low-volume” vehicle in 2019 with hopes to further implement the system to the mass market by 2020.

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From BigDog to SpotMini: Tracing the evolution of Boston Dynamics robo-dogs

Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics makes some of the most badass robotic beasts around. Launched in 1992 as a spin off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the company has created some remarkably sophisticated machines, especially when it comes to replicating animal movements. It took more than a decade for the company’s first robots to emerge from its lab, but since then, Boston Dynamics has positioned itself as a leader in the field, unveiling robots that can sprint faster than Usain Bolt, leap onto buildings, and backflip better than most humans. But its most well-known creations are its canine-inspired robots.

Here’s a list of the evolutionary milestones made by Boston Dynamics, from it’s first iteration of BigDog to the commercialization of SpotMini.

January 2009 — BigDog makes its debut

Boston Dynamics first hit the scene in 2005 with the introduction of a three-foot-long, two-and-a-half-foot-wide, 240-pound robot named BigDog. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — which specializes in high-risk, high-yield investments — BigDog was designed to be a pack mule for soldiers, capable of carrying 340 pounds, climbing 35-degree inclines, and no doubt striking fear into the heart of opposition.

February 2009 — LittleDog crawls into the spotlight

If BigDog was the size of a beefy Great Dane, LittleDog was unveiled as a scrappy chihuahua. Also funded by DARPA, LittleDog represented the smallest four-legged robot in the Boston Dynamics product line. Powered by lithium polymer batteries, LittleDog had a 30-minute operation limit, could be controlled remotely, and was capable of crawling — albeit slowly — across rocky terrain. Whereas BigDog was built by Boston Dynamics for Boston Dynamics, LittleDog was developed as a testbed for use by third parties.

September 2011 — AlphaDog Proto introduced

When AlphaDog Proto came onto the scene in 2011, Boston Dynamics’ military aspirations became ever more transparent. Thanks to funding from DARPA and the Untied States Marine Corps, AlphaDog Proto was capable of varying a 400-pound payload during a 20-mile mission through varied terrain. An internal combustion engine served to quiet the noisier BigDog — which came with a rather loud rumble — making it more appropriate for missions in the field.

September 2012 — Legged Squad Support System arrives

The next evolution of AlphaDog Proto was the Legged Squad Support System (LS3), which proved more versatile and robust than it’s predecessor. An array of sensors along the LS3 let it follow its human leader, while simultaneously navigating rough terrain to avoid obstacles. If tipped over, the robot could roll itself upright.

February 2013 — BigDog takes on objects

BigDog returned with a new trick in 2013 — arguably its most intimidating to date. This time, equipped with an “arm,” the robot could pick up a 35-pound cinder block and vigorously toss it up to 17 feet behind it. To do so, BigDog was trained to use its legs and torso as leverage, gripping and slinging the rock like a drunken Olympian throwing discus.

February 2015 — Spot

In 2015, Boston Dynamics unveiled it’s latest creation — an electrically powered, hydraulically actuated robot named Spot. At just 160 pounds, Spot was significantly smaller than previous canine-inspired models, and was designed for both indoor and outdoor activities. Sensors in its head allowed it navigate rocky terrain and avoid obstacles in transit. Spot could capably climb stairs and ascend hills, making it more versatile than its beefier forebears.

June 2016 — SpotMini bounds into the spotlight

We got a glimpse of Spot’s little brother, SpotMini, in 2016. Weighing in at 55 pounds, SpotMini was by far the smallest — and most mischievous — Boston Dynamics robot yet. Promoted as all-electric, meaning there were no hydraulics involved, SpotMini boasted 90-minutes of operation on a single charge, a slew of sensors that gave the robot advanced navigation capabilities, and the ability to perform some basic tasks autonomously. SpotMini sported an optional arm and gripper that let it pick up fragile objects and right itself after slipping on a banana peel.

November 2017 — SpotMini gets a makeover

In November 2017, Boston Dynamic introduced the new and improved SpotMini, a yellow robot whose fluid movements showed significant improvement over the more jerky prototype. But it wasn’t until a few months later that the robot’s robustness was demonstrated in a series of videos showing the machine pulling a door open, deftly putting its leg in front, and even working against one of the many Boston Dynamics engineers who seem hellbent on breaking its stride.

May 2018 — SpotMini explores autonomously

A video posted by Boston Dynamics in May of 2018 shows just how far its SpotMini has come. Equipped with a sophisticated navigation system, the robot is able to autonomously navigate through the company’s offices and lab, following a path it had previously mapped out during a manually driven run. This video was soon followed by news that, after nearly three decades, Boston Dynamics will make the SpotMini commercial available in 2019.

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How to buy the OnePlus 6: Options include online, pop-up events

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The new OnePlus 6 has high-end specifications, a beautiful and modern design, and a lower price tag than other flagship smartphones. It’s safe to say that the OnePlus 6 lives up to the company’s “flagship killer” moniker.

Want to check out our impressions? See our OnePlus review for an in-depth look. How do you nab one for yourself? We break it down in our handy OnePlus 6 buying guide.

Does my carrier support the OnePlus 6?

The most important fact to know before buying the OnePlus 6 is that it does not work on Verizon or Sprint networks. The phone, like all of its predecessors, also doesn’t work with many crucial CDMA frequencies. That also means that Sprint and Verizon mobile virtual network operators, like Boost Mobile and Straight Talk, are incompatible as well.

Thankfully, the device does work on GSM networks, like T-Mobile and AT&T. If you’re already on one of those networks, you should be good to go. If not, you’ll have to think about switching carriers if you really want one.

Get it unlocked

In the U.S., OnePlus sells its phones unlocked directly from its website, and the OnePlus 6 will be no different. The phone is officially available on May 22 on the site, but the company has also announced a few pop-up events in Europe, India, and the U.S. on May 21.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

In the U.S., the pop-up event will take place in New York City at The Flat NYC from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Popular YouTubers MKBHD and Linus Tech Tips will be present as special guests, but perhaps more importantly, you will be able to buy the phone at the event. We recommend arriving early, as the line can tend to get quite long. You can check the OnePlus website for a full list of all the other pop-up events in other countries.

There are a few models of the phone, and they don’t all come at the same price. Here’s a quick rundown of the pricing of the OnePlus 6.

• Mirror Black with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage: $530
• Mirror Black with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage: $580
• Midnight Black with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage: $580
• Midnight Black with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage: $630
• Silk White with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage: $580

Other than the OnePlus website, the OnePlus 6 will also be sold through Amazon and various other partner retailers.

OnePlus Bullets Wireless headphones

Along with the phone, OnePlus is also selling a pair of wireless headphones called the Bullets Wireless headphones. The headphones connect through Bluetooth, offer magnets that can pause your music when activated, and more.

The headphones come at $70, and will be available from OnePlus’ website. Unfortunately, they won’t be available until the end of June, and there’s no specific date just yet. They may also be available from retailers like Amazon, but we’ll have to wait and see.

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Acer’s new 4K, HDR, 144Hz G-Sync gaming monitor will cost $2,000

If you need a 27-inch monitor that has just about every cutting-edge feature there is for a gaming display, Acer’s new Predator X27 4K is right up your street. The only downside is that it’s incredibly expensive. While you can pick up a monitor with 4K resolution, or a high-refresh rate, or G-Sync support for a few hundred dollars, if you want all of them in one display, it’s going to cost you a lot.

For a few years now, the only real way to experience high-refresh rate gaming was to opt for a 1080P or 1440P display. That’s not been much of an issue, considering almost no one could afford a graphics card that could support high frame-rate gaming at 4K anyway. Now that we have a new Nvidia graphics generation on the horizon though, Acer has stepped up with a brand-new 4K monitor that can do just about everything.

The new Predator X27 4K has a full, 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160), a 144Hz refresh rate, 99 percent coverage of the Adobe RGB color gamut, 10-bit HDR support, G-Sync frame synchronizing technology, and a brightness of 1,000 nits. There are no monitors out there for gamers that have that kind of feature set and perhaps that’s why Acer feels confident pricing the new Predator display at $2,000.

Other features of this display include a 4ms response time, which isn’t as good as some, but is certainly fast enough for almost all users and is still rather impressive, considering this display is made using an IPS panel. That’s why it can support a huge viewing angle of 178 degrees on both the horizontal and vertical axis and guarantees a uniform color display across the screen.

In terms of inputs, it sports HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB hub with four USB-A 3.0 ports. The monitor stand can be adjusted through all three major axis, offering tilt, swivel and height adjustment. It also supports VESA mounts for those who would rather use an adjustable arm.

You can’t quite buy this monitor just yet, but you can pre-order it from Newegg, as The Verge points out. The price is currently set at $2,000 and unless some competition shows up in the near future, is unlikely to come down for a while.

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Microsoft acquires conversational A.I. technology firm Semantic

Microsoft is betting big on artificial intelligence. In a blog post published Sunday, May 20, the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant announced the acquisition of Semantic Machines, a company focused on building conversational A.I. “Their work uses the power of machine learning to enable users to discover, access, and interact with information and services in a much more natural way, and with significantly less effort,” Microsoft notes. The move could help give Cortana the leg up it needs on competitors like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

“AI researchers have made great strides in recent years, but we are still at the beginning of teaching computers to understand the full context of human communication,” wrote David Ku, CVP and chief technology officer of Microsoft A.I. and Research. “Most of today’s bots and intelligent assistants respond to simple commands and queries, such as giving a weather report, playing a song or sharing a reminder, but aren’t able to understand meaning or carry on conversations.” But conversational A.I. could turn this norm on its head, and Semantic could be at the forefront of this change.

Semantic has previously worked with major tech firms, leading automatic speech recognition development for Apple’s Siri. In essence, Semantic employs machine learning in order to provide context to chatbot conversations, making dialogue seem a bit more natural and better-flowing.

“With the acquisition of Semantic Machines, we will establish a conversational AI center of excellence in Berkeley to push forward the boundaries of what is possible in language interfaces,” wrote Ku. “Combining Semantic Machines’ technology with Microsoft’s own A.I. advances, we aim to deliver powerful, natural and more productive user experiences that will take conversational computing to a new level. We’re excited to bring the Semantic Machines team and their technology to Microsoft.”

Thus far, no financial details of the acquisition have been disclosed.

Microsoft is by no means the only company trying to make strides when it comes to artificial intelligence and its smart assistants. Amazon, for example, is trying to give Alexa a better memory, while Google is making bots so human-esque that they’re practically indistinguishable from humans during phone conversations with its new Duplex offering. We’ll just have to see how Microsoft keeps up.

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Will you be using a case with your OnePlus 6?

The new glass back is screaming for some sort of protection.

The OnePlus 6 officially goes on sale today, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, it’s absolutely worth checking out. It’s fast, has a great set of cameras, and features one of the most stunning designs we’ve ever seen from the company.

OnePlus opted for a glass back on the OnePlus 6, and while this does give the phone a striking appearance, it also makes it quite a bit more fragile than past releases.

Some of our forum users recently started talking about whether or not they’ll be using a case to protect the phone when they buy it, and this is what they had to say.

Armeniandave
05-19-2018 11:01 AM

“

I’m torn between the full karbon case and the nylon case. I’m just concerned the nylon one will be too thick. It does look really nice though!

Reply

bhatech
05-19-2018 11:23 AM

“

Same here I think I’ll go with Karbon since had the Hyperknit case for S9 and Google pixel 2 XL case which both have similar kind of fabric material. Initially it was nice but felt it was not that comfortable to grip after few days.
Also, the nylon case will be adding little extra bulk compared to Karbon case. Both should be good but personally will go for Karbon this time around.

Reply

vwite
05-19-2018 03:24 PM

“

same here, nylon looks really nice but it’s just nylon (cheap material) karbon is actual kevlar and slimmer, I barely look at the back of my phone so I think I’ll go with karbon if I don’t find a third party better one

Reply

Ca_lvn
05-20-2018 09:45 AM

“

Hopefully there offer the Sandstone case the same as my 5T best case ever , no slip with the sand design and minimalist

Reply

How about you? Are you going to use a case with the OnePlus 6?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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YouTube Music has the potential to solve Google’s streaming conundrum

Spotify, you might want to pay attention to what’s happening here.

On May 17, Google officially announced YouTube Music and YouTube Premium — the two services that’ll immediately be replacing YouTube Red and Play Music later on down the road.

Despite offering an excellent product, Google’s presence in the music streaming market has been less than prominent for some time. Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and others have dominated, but Google’s struggled to find its footing.

The all-new YouTube Music aims to fix this, and while it’s too early to say for sure whether the gambit will work, I think it’s the best shot Google has at reserving a place at the head of the table.

The new subscription model makes sense

In its current form, Google’s options for music streaming is beyond complicated.

To a newcomer, the most obvious choice would be to sign up for Google Play Music All Access — the paid version of Play Music that gives you access to on-demand listening, the ability to save songs for offline use, etc. With that subscription, you also get access to YouTube Red for add-free YouTube videos, original programming, and more.

Alternatively, if you’re tired of watching ads before YouTube videos, you can sign up for YouTube Red. However, along with improving your YouTube experience, this also comes with Google Play Music All Access as an added bonus.

As a YouTube Red/Play Music All Access subscriber, you can listen to music through three apps — Play Music, YouTube, and YouTube Music. You can’t sign up for YouTube Music separately, but it comes with your subscription just because.

It’s all very confusing.

With Google’s new service, you’ll sign up for YouTube Music and access all your songs, playlists, and more through its app. Want to watch YouTube Originals and have ad-free YouTube videos? Just pay $2 more each month. This new setup is clean, simple, and is far easier for everyone to understand.

Music + Premium is more expensive than Red, but it’s still a tremendous value

One of the biggest points of contention for the new YouTube Music is its price. As it stands, $9.99/month secures you with all the features found in YouTube Red and Play Music All Access for one monthly fee.

If you’re an existing YouTube Red subscriber, you’ll get all of the YouTube Premium benefits for the old $9.99/month rate.

That $9.99/month rate is sticking around with YouTube Music, but you’ll only get music-centric features — such as ad-free music and the ability to both download songs and listen to music videos in the background.

If you want to watch YouTube Originals, get rid of ads before you regular YouTube clips, and have non-music videos playing in the background, you’ll sign up for YouTube Premium for $11.99/month.

Google’s doing good by its existing subscribers by grandfathering them into the old rate, but for new members, this still looks like a great deal. YouTube Music’s $9.99/month rate makes its pricing identical to Spotify, Apple Music, and just about everyone else, but only YouTube Music allows you to pay $2 more each month for an enhanced YouTube experience and access to (some) high-quality original programming. That’s a huge value proposition, and it should make YouTub Music awfully enticing to potential customers.

Unlike Google Play, the YouTube brand means something

Something else that Google has working in its favor is the YouTube brand. While this was present with YouTube Red, Play Music serving as the primary music app gave it something of an identity crisis. Plus, it doesn’t help that “Google Play” doesn’t mean much of anything to some consumers.

YouTube, on the other hand, is a brand that’s recognizable by everyone. We all know what YouTube is, so YouTube Music naturally seems to be a service that offers music streaming and access to music videos. YouTube Premium, on the other hand, sounds like a premium/upgraded version of the regular YouTube we know and love.

What the hell was YouTube Red supposed to mean?

The branding for these services may not directly impact you with your day-to-day use, but they can severely hinder or excel Google’s prominence in the streaming market. YouTube Music and YouTube Premium are far easier to understand than the current mix of YouTube Red, YouTube Music, and Google Play Music, and that simplicity is something Google desperately needs.

Google can excel with a top-notch Android app

More functional branding and a better subscription model are both great, and these can be made even better with a high-quality mobile app.

YouTube Music is pretty barebones in its current state, and while Play Music looks and feels a lot better, it’s in dire need of a visual refresh.

Google’s given us a tease at what we can expect from the new YouTube Music app, and what we’ve seen so far does look promising. YouTube Music will be gaining all of the AI elements found in Play Music, meaning that it’ll recommend certain songs and playlists to listen to based on what you’re doing. AI is what Google does best, so injecting it into its premier music service only makes sense.

Add that together with a dark theme, bottom-navigation tabs, and an overall sleek look, and YouTube Music has what it takes to offer one of the best music experiences on Android — especially when big names like Spotify are lagging so far behind.

What do you think will happen?

Google’s poised to do something special with its new YouTube Music + Premium initiative, but do you think it’ll actually work?

Sound off in the comments below with your own thoughts and let me know what you think Google should do!

LG announces Q7 mid-range series with glass designs and slim bezels

The lineup includes three phones — the Q7, Q7+, and Q7a.

Hot off the heels of the G7 ThinQ, LG’s announced three new Android phones for 2018 that are targeted directly at the budget market – the LG Q7, Q7+, and Q7a. These are successors to LG’s Q6 series, and they keep with the trend of offering a premium design with mid-range specs at affordable prices.

First, let’s talk about what’s included with the phones no matter which variant you choose. LG’s using a 2.5D Arc Glass design this time around, offering a big improvement over the plastic we saw with the Q6 last year. Despite the glass construction, you’ll still find an IP68 dust/water resistance and a MIL-STD 810G rating.

No pricing details have been announced yet.

On the front of the phones is a 5.5-inch FHD+ FullVision display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and slim bezels all around. The Q7 series comes equipped with LG QLens that uses “AI technology” for enhanced image recognition, Android 8.0 Oreo is on-board out of the box, and you’ll find a 1.5GHz or 1.8GHz octa-core processor depending on which phone you choose.

Both the Q7 and Q7a come equipped with a 13MP camera on the back and a 5MP Super Wide Angle front-facing shooter, with the Q7 also offering a version with an 8MP selfie camera. On the other hand, the Q7+ boasts a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP Super Wide Angle or 8MP sensor on the front.

As for RAM and storage, the Q7 and Q7a come with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal space that can be expanded up to 2TB. The Q7+ kicks things up to 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage that can also be expanded to that 2TB limit.

The Q7 series will initially be available in “key markets” in Europe next month, with countries in both Asia and the Americas to follow after that.

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How to fix an Oculus Go Controller that doesn’t connect

Don’t let your controller grief you

Sometimes technology does that thing where it randomly decides, “Hey, yeah, I don’t wanna work anymore. Cool? Cool.” So before you panic, we’ve got some solutions for you to try out before you get too frustrated. Here’s how to get your Oculus Go (OGO) controller to connect to your device so you can get it back into all the super cool experiences it has to offer!

Check the controller

The Oculus Go controller is not chargeable like the controller for the Google Daydream. Thankfully a battery was included in the box with the OGO! Outside of this, there are a few things you want to check for when going over your controller. Before anything, go through all these steps first.

Remove the cap from the controller. Get a firm grip on both ends and pull. Don’t worry, you won’t break it.

Check inside for the instructions. This will give you all of your warnings and let you know which direction the battery goes.

Check the inside of the controller for any dirt, grime or parts that look like it might be severing the connection.

Make sure the battery connection on the other end of the controller is also untarnished.

Insert the battery. The flat side goes in first.

Press down the battery to ensure you have a secrure fit.

Re-cap the device and test the connection once again!

After you’ve gone through all of the checkpoints you want to make sure that there are no loose or broken pieces. If there are, contact the seller of your device to see what the warranty on it is as you might need something replaced. If you have no visible issues but still cannot connect your controller try out the next options we have.

Testing buttons

Your controller isn’t connecting so let’s try to now convince it that it’s disconnecting from this ghost pairing it has. Go through these steps to reset the controller with just the buttons on it.

Press any button on the controller.

Press and hold the Oculus button to try and reset the position of the controller.

Press and hold the Oculus button and back button until the controller LED blinks and then fully lights up to re-pair the controller.

While doing these steps if you do not experience any lights you might just have a defective controller. In this case contact Oculus Support about a replacement.

Using the app

Now test to see if the controller is even connecting to the app and registering it as your controller. If you do not see a controller listed on the app and none of the above steps worked, check in with Oculus Support as you might need a replacement.

Unpair and re-pair your Oculus Go controller:
Open the Oculus companion app on your phone.
Tap Settings from the bottom menu.
Tap the headset you currently have paired.
Tap Controller, then tap the controller you currently have paired.
Tap Unpair Controller.

Last options

If nothing has been working for you, or you are still experiencing issues, it might be time to try and reset your device. Thankfully Oculus has made that process very easy to be done. Otherwise, the only option might be to contact Oculus Support to see what options they have available to you. Be sure to have your receipt and which company you bought your device from handy.

How to reset your Oculus

Oculus Go

• A parent’s guide to Oculus Go
• Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
• Best Gamepad for Oculus Go
• Best Battery Backup for Oculus Go

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB