[SKYBOX VR PLAYER] Important Announcement: SKYBOX will soon become a paid app

[Skybox.xyz]

Hello, everybody. This is Zixiong, CEO of Source Technology.

It's been six years since my first experience with VR. For all these years, I have believed that HMDs (AR & VR) are the computing platform for the next generation. It is based on this belief that we created SKYBOX. We wanted to create the most immersive video viewing experience.

We started to work on SKYBOX in 2016. It's been 4 years now. However, we have always maintained the Alpha/Beta status for SKYBOX, because we understand that there are still many things that can be improved, although SKYBOX is already the highest rated VR video player by user ratings.

We are still not quite satisfied with what we have done with SKYBOX. Our to-do-list is still long. I believe we share the same higher expectations towards SKYBOX with many of our users, like videos with 6DOF, a photo gallery, better compatibility, online videos, etc..

These features require much more manpower and energy than we currently have. So we have decided to start charging money for SKYBOX in order to support our further development.

1. The change will begin on May 18th 2020, including Steam and all the Oculus platforms, safe for Cardboard and Mi VR.

2. The initial price will be 14.99 USD.

3. For those of you we have already downloaded SKYBOX for free prior to May 18th 2020 can keep using it for free without any additional charges or changes.

4. The free version will also get the exact same updates as the paid version.

5. Before we have found any other better business models, we will just keep this pre-paid charging method. However, we reserve the right to further raise the price or return to free in the future. We hope you guys can understand. This is just another business decision.

6. If you guys wish to keep SKYBOX free, but want to support us in our development. We now have a Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/skyboxplayer

We hope this plan can cover our development cost and let us make SKYBOX better.

Thank you.

Zixiong

[DaftnDirect]

Kemson said:

I have the Oculus GO and I have used the Skybox app often to watch movies.  I was thinking on buying the Oculus Quest in the near future;  after,  I found out that I would have to paid extra $15 for Skybox.  I am thinking that this is a deal killer.   I am not going to take $500 to paid to the equipment; then, $15 extra for Skybox.   I think that Skybox CEOs should have made a deal with oculus CEOs to get the $15 from the cost of the equipment.   

Is there an good alternate solution to Skybox?   

So you basically want Oculus to pay for software you like to use. Interesting idea... maybe they should pay for software other people like to use too? I think that would be a deal killer for them!

Anyway, there are a couple other media players, just do a search on the Quest's store webpage. This thread is really for Skybox made by its developer so I think it's probably fair to keep this discussion about Skybox, thanks.

[ohgrant]

Kemson said:

Is there an good alternate solution to Skybox?   

 You don't really need a 3rd party software to play movies on the Quest. "Oculus Gallery" will play them on a large screen in your home. I'm able to use it to watch almost all my ripped 3D blueray files. There are a few that I can't get the aspect radio set and a few that has sound issues, but most work well. I still much prefer Skybox. It plays everything well on a much larger screen. Of the many VR players I've tried it is the best by far. 

[sonderm4nn]

I bought the skybox app for my Oculus Go. Next month I buy the quest 2. Can I use skybox with the quest 2 or do I have to pay again?

[Deadaus]

All current apps will work with Quest 2 and you will not have to buy the app again as long as it is the same account.

[Double_Shot]

I have no problem supporting devs and their endeavors but curious, how does this compare to Big Screen?  Big Screen is free and I use it solely for the purpose of watching movies and I think it does that pretty well - but I have no prob moving to a pay app if it does the job better.

[JohnnyDioxin]

You could always try it and ask for a refund if you don't like it or feel another one suits you better.

[Double_Shot]

JD-UK said:

You could always try it and ask for a refund if you don't like it or feel another one suits you better.

I could, but then there would be no point in having a forum...grin....

[gregor616]

I have found Skybox to be the most versatile player out there, I have a couple NAS devices that I keep my vidoe and other files on. This app makes watching that media easy. 

[Double_Shot]

gregor616 said:

I have found Skybox to be the most versatile player out there, I have a couple NAS devices that I keep my vidoe and other files on. This app makes watching that media easy. 

 I really like the idea of an NAS device.  Can I ask which ones you are using?

[DaftnDirect]

I use it with an old Synology 4-bay NAS (410j), and locally stored movies on the headset. I have all my blurays including box sets ripped to the NAS. Pretty much all my stuff is H.264 1080p @ around 10,000 kbps and 640 kbps 5.1 AC3. I find my NAS can just about cope with supplying 2 movies to 2 devices simultaneously with these files, not sure how much more it could do. Skybox plays pretty much any movie I throw at it with zero stutter and nice simple interface.