Is Meta Remote Display Useful? We put it to the Test on Quest 3

Meta Remote Display is labeled as a "Beta", but sometimes it feels like barely an Alpha. With so many alternatives offering display sharing from a PC, how did so much get left out?
In this video, I go into the particulars where I think Meta really needs to step up their game on this app, as well as similar.
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Hope to see you all in virtual reality!

[@aarondavis9208]

This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite channels you’re covering the best parts of the Quest 3 nobody is paying attention to AND 3D printing too! So much fun, keep it up!

[@bc_labs]

Thank you so much! Honestly I have such a backlog of projects that I habe videoed and need editing, plus new stuff coming up (tons of quest games and apps I'd love to show off in more than shorts). Your support means a lot, so I hope I can keep putting out content that is informative amd/or enjoyable.

[@c6jones720]

i love the idea of the touchscreen for windows it makes a lot of sense. For Colab office did you try using something like a Logitech k830 keyboard, would that work, it works for me for a lot of quest apps.

[@bc_labs]

You can use physical keyboards in mice over Bluetooth with Quest apps, even sideloaded ones like Collabra Office. I've tested it before on Acode also because a code runs in a similar way where you can't resize without giving up the close keyboard. But you can actually run python programs right inside of Acode which is really cool If you're using the remote display app, usually you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to the quest and that gets streamed over ( I tested on most of them but I haven't tested on remote display), or you can use a keyboard and mouse that's directly connected to the computer my Bluetooth or USB.

[@bc_labs]

I feel like we're just better window / app management for flat style Android apps, meta could really beat Apple to the punch on having a productivity headset that works at standalone. Even if it's not as fancy and as powerful, it would also be far cheaper. I'm really hoping that they listen and make some of these things happen.

[@bazzeil]

as far as android, I goto developer options and force apps resizeable and force freeform for all apps. This gets around Samsung's Fold flags so apps will always be resizable and full screen when switching from external to internal screen, as well as resizing windowed apps. I'd say give it a try on Quest, it may get around this issue.

[@bc_labs]

If the Quest lets me set that, I will, but I don't recall having that option exposed by meta. I've used Godot on my Fold4, and it's not bad. I don't recall setting that option before using Godot on the inner screen, but I think I did it earlier when trying to test the phone limits.

[@Ibe678]

Why the screen very close now

[@YoungMoneyFuture]

It said I'm not logged into my headset lmao, but in the Meta store shows 3 screens so I think they'll add more to it

[@zackgreer2827]

If i could pull up multiple tabs side by side i would use it for sure. But for now i dont see much use versus using the browser or just using the laptop alone.

[@bc_labs]

I would agree, I think it needs this to be useful

[@renehasp]

I agree. there needs to be a remote accsessible multi monitor xr solution.

[@bc_labs]

Honestly, and I think this is only possible in Linux since Microsoft is probably not going to make it easy, I would say there really needs to be something kind of that can throw application Windows individually as individual streams to a VR headset There's also some Brilliance that could be introduced if such an application also exposes the Z height or layering of the elements, and applies a very slight depth to them in VR.

[@newguy3588]

That's interesting, because windows 11 works really well with touch right out of the box. So there's hope someone will figure it out. Windows does get touchy (ha pun) about its touch interface though. For example; nonnative applications don't get full touch support, like right click from a pen or press and hold.

[@bc_labs]

The issue is just a combination of meta not necessarily polishing up the interface for apps running in the flat style mode ( which affects many different kinds of apps on the quest), combined with him just not passing the inputs into the app over across the remote desktop connection. It's definitely possible, because virtual desktop allows the option for you to send inputs to your computer fron the quest controllers.

[@sunkingorg]

Try controlling a laptop away from your desk. Use passthrough to see the built in keyboard and trackpad while interacting with a virtual screen.

[@bc_labs]

I actually have an unedited video feed of that. Hoping to get that out soon but no promises. I have a massive backlog of footage. I used my laptop at a different desk that was empty as well as on my lap and it was pretty usable. But you definitely need a backlight display on your keyboard for it to be easy to read the keys unless you're in a really well lit room

[@limebulls]

What's the best virtual desktop app for the quest 3? Remote Display Beta? Virtual Desktop? Immersed? Horizon Workrooms?

[@bc_labs]

Unfortunately I don't think there's a best yet. Each one excels at different things and none of them have completely cracked the formula

[@dannyseville2543]

@@bc_labsIs there one that simply acts as a way to show a screen on the quest as it would normally look on the desktop? I have found that the mouse cursor is massive and not always aligned whole some of the text is oversize as well.

[@bc_labs]

@dannyseville2543 immersed I think is the closest to that. As well as virtual desktop. But the cursor issue you are discussing is part of the meta UI that needs improvement. I believe I put a Bluetooth mouse with my headset and then was able to use Virtual desktop and it sent the keyboard and mouse back over to the computer, but I I couldn't play FPS games like that due to the fact that the mouse doesn't have an infinite range like when you play a PC game, instead it hits the border and stops turning. For productivity purposes it still works in that scenario

[@dannyseville2543]

@bc_labs a few hours after asking here, I bought the virtual desktop app and it's amazing. That for me jas made the whole reason I wanted a q3 come to life. Yeah the games are good and some of the immerso e content is pretty cool but having a computer monitor the size of a wall and still look sharp is what does it for me. Also being able to watch films from my PC on a virtual cinema screen is amazing.

[@jradoff]

I'm watching a video on remote display while using remote display on my MQ3

[@kubwimana]

Can you use samsung dex with the quest

[@bc_labs]

You know that's actually a good question, I haven't tested that. If I find a way I'll share or make a video

[@GarrettTobyC13]

Have you tried immersed yet?

[@bc_labs]

Yes I have an immersed tutorial that's available, it's a bit longer because it's not only just a evaluation video it's a tutorial on setting it up and an overview of its features.

[@ojbeez5260]

How do you do it? I've tried multiple times to do this and cannot do this...tried install, reinstall, log on multiple times redownload and reinstall. Crazy cannot get it to work...just say we encountered a problem, try again...etc...re-login ...restart...tried everything, multiple , multiple times. Someone pleas put in a 'how to' guide or setup guide!!!

[@bc_labs]

Do you have the meta virtual desktop client on your computer? Are you signed into your same account as your headset? Are you on the same Wi-Fi between the headset and the computer?

[@ojbeez5260]

@@bc_labs all, yes. so what am I missing?

[@bc_labs]

@ojbeez5260 I'll honestly have to do a little bit of experimenting, because I don't know off the top of my head of what could be causing it

[@AmCanTech]

try the google daydream remote

[@vsundarraj]

Will slowly replace Virtual Desktop with updates

[@bc_labs]

Honestly I hope that it can, but I doubt soon

[@Ibe678]

How can you change the distance

[@bc_labs]

There's a button in the bottom left of the menu bar. I think it's like two or three buttons from the left side, right after a notifications. That button switches between near and far mode. Bar mode adds curvature and kind of projects like it's against a wall, and near mode can be picked up with your hand and carried around more like a tablet

[@Ibe678]

@@bc_labs I can’t find that

[@Ibe678]

⁠@@bc_labsthe screen very close when you chose switch view and screen is curved the other one I can move it but you can’t make it bigger the one not curved

[@bc_labs]

@Ibe678 yes that is correct, unfortunately you cannot resize the close View come on I think that's very frustrating because it's a lot more convenient of a mode. If they add resizing to that it would be great.

[@Ibe678]

@@bc_labs it’s true

[@legendaryrayman5216]

ahah this was exactly what I thought after I installed in on my quest 3 and laptop lol, "okay cool, but why?" this literally has no real purpose.. there's much potential...

[@ms.uglyduck5501]

this has many bugs. maybe snapdragon doesnt have power for a vr.. the tracking is not bad at all

[@bc_labs]

The bugs are pretty much all software, not Hardware Limited. Overall the xr2 chip from Qualcomm does an excellent job. Meta is just still going through the growing pains of creating an interface for a type of experience that previously was not possible. It took quite a few years to make the interface as well as some of the software for touch screens to be as smooth as it is today. This video is mostly just a show off the Meta Remote Display specifically and it's quirkiness

[@ojbeez5260]

WHY...this is super useful as it is. You could use a real keyboard and mouse. Super useful...but I cant get it to work!!!

[@bc_labs]

Did you try with the keyboard attached to the computer or the quest? Some of the apps seem to pass through keyboard and mouse commands from the quest to the computer and other ones don't. I haven't been able to narrow down the list of which support it and which don't.

[@holynightofserenitea]

Lmao you can use the touchscreen with your desktop and extra windows with the quest 2 using chome remote desktop on the quest. 😂

[@bc_labs]

That's pretty sad that it's supported there but not with meta's Native app. Wow. Did you sideload chrome? Or how did you get Chrome remote desktop?

[@holynightofserenitea]

@@bc_labs Sideloading chrome and basically any app is as far as I know impossible, but google has a website that if you search "chrome remote desktop", I am sure you will fine where you can host your desktop and have it streamed to the quest 2. Like I said before it works with touch controls too.

[@holynightofserenitea]

@@bc_labs Specifically under "remote access" that works with touch controls, it takes a bit of set up, but it should be easy over all.

[@Durs]

Do not use the Meta Remote Display app currently, as it has a horrendous memory leak. It'll run on startup and I've seen upwards of 24-30GB of RAM used after 4-6 hours, having never connected the quest.

[@bc_labs]

Wow, that's nuts. I usually close all clients when I'm done, but wow.

[@CaptainMarder]

My experience, if you use VR displays it's fine even with oculus link. MR is a joke, it's completely useless, maybe unless one has all perfect lighting setup.

[@bc_labs]

For me mixed reality is more so you don't have to take off the headset to go grab something from the fridge, for so you can at least align your hands on the keyboard or a mouse, unless you have great lighting it's definitely not like looking through glass or anything. I'm hoping they to leverage some of the upscaling tech for Snapdragon to make it a little bit clearer

[@undefinedchannel9916]

The idea is OK but I’d rather not have a screen attached to my eyes 8 hours a day

[@bc_labs]

I mean if you're using your smartphone or a desk computer for 8 hours a day it's not all that different. I think the main point of problems is the focal length on a headset like this is not constantly changing, which is the hardest part on your eyes. Also most people are not using VR for more than a few hours at a time, the Comfort hasn't quite got there yet but it's good for a portable option for a multi screens if you maybe you're away from home with a laptop for a trip.