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Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:49 am
by bad-aries
Hello:

We could have gone with battery power for the TrackClip Pro, but we felt that having the lightest weight device possible was paramount. Also, if we had done gone the battery route, we would have needed a status light to tell you it was "on", then a switch, then replaceable batteries, or a charging system, and then it just got to be more expensive and complex, so a wire it was, and lightweight it is. You can make it battery powered quite easily, just cut the cord or solder something to the clip part, very low power, like 16ma, so a battery could last for 24 hours, I am sure someone will make something, if the market demands it!
If making this battery operate that easy, why Natural point didn't make it? I personally don't think weight is a big issue. Consider that your USB cable connecting to the headset will not be light anyway.

My feeling was that Natural Point is making this USB version first,then having the battery version next so it could be sold 2 times. Just like the Japanese toys makers, they make Optimus Prime without trailer first, and then 3 years later they make a version with a trailer.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:53 am
by BM357_TinMan
My question is this, can we turn off the LED's in the trackIR unit like we used to be able to?

Before I got vector expansion, I used an active LED that I made myself, and in the old software, I could turn off the LED's in the TrackIR unit itself. Will the trackIR LED's be turned off if the trackClip is used?

Thanks

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:29 pm
by steku
I was just ready to order TrackClip Pro, because in my wife's opinion I look silly wearing Track Hat indoors.
But I use high quality Sennheiser headphones and no quality hi-fi audio headphones are ever connected by USB.
So TrackClip Pro, without battery power, is not a product for me.
What a pity

I think you should clearly indicate on your product page that TrackClip Pro is not battery operated and requires USB for power. I was realy suprised when I learned about this in this thread...

Whats the required voltage? Is one AAA rechargeable battery enough (1,2V)? Or do you have to use more? I'm afraid USB provides 5V - it means four batteries. It clearly goes to the heavy and bulky side...

Please consider adding batery powered version to your product line.

Without battery power it's really niche product only for those using USB headphones. But maybe you intend selling bundles with Creative hedphones and making additional margin this way?

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:43 pm
by VincentG
Are your current set of headphones connected by a wire at all, or are they wireless?


The headphones don't have to be connected to the USB port. Only the TrackClip Pro requires a USB port, as a power source.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:52 pm
by steku
There are no high quality hi-fi audio wireless headphones on the market. Wireless connection is prone to noise and audio quality degradation. It doesn't matter during simming but really matters when listening to the music.

My headphones are equipped with high quality lightweight wire.

You suggest adding power wire? It can work...
What about including such accesory in your product line? Lightweight 2 m power wire with some kind of clever straps to attach power wire to headphone wire and then easily remove it.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:58 pm
by VincentG
All we would be adding is the power wire required by the unit, as for "straps" I will forward the information to the development team.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:01 pm
by Jim
Hello:

The USB power tap cable for the TrackClip Pro is very very small and light weight, I think it is a good compromise for the design. We don't have any plans to offer a battery powered version in the future, but I wish we were smart enough to have a master plan to sell everything more than twice! Our goal was to provide an alternative to the hat clip, and a headset clip was the best solution.

Yes, the TrackIR LEDs are turned off when using the TrackClip PRO and the light senstitivity is automatically adjusted to be higher, so stray background light isn't as much of an issue.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:12 pm
by steku
Could you post a photo of this "power tap cable"?

I'd like to check if it's possible to extend it to 2 meters and attach to headphone cable (by some kind of do-it-yourself).

Did you really checked how much percentage of headphones are USB type? All my friends have a pair of headphones but I don't know anybody using USB type because:
- it's complicated,
- you often have to use drivers,
- virtually every computer has free headphone socket but USB sockets are often already used by other devices,
- you can't use USB headphones with your audio devices. Why buing two pairs of cheap headphones when you can have high quality one at the same price?

But it's your product, your market research, and your business after all. I'm simply sad, becasue I would really enjoy this product

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:33 pm
by VincentG
Maybe I'm not understanding you very well. We aren't talking about needing the customer to have USB headphones.

The TrackClip Pro, which is an attachment device which clips onto you already existing headset, uses the USB port on the computer as a power source nothing else.

Re: New TrackClip Pro!

Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:44 pm
by steku
But how you can provide the power from USB socket in your PC to TrackClip Pro mounted on your headset (with classic headphone cable)? You have to use another cable. So two cables are required. And standard USB cables are rather heavy (when compared to headphone cable) and stiff...

This is why I suggested an accesory USB power cable (with only two wires inside), 2 meters long, flexible, lightweight, with straps designed to attach it to regular headphone cable. This way you will have two neat lighweight cables running together instead of two cable mess.

What about a photo of "power tap cable"?
What's the required voltage?