WEb VR broken by default in iOS 12.2 ! Arghhh!

Q&A about the latest versions
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REdwards
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Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:54 pm

The beta warned us ... and now Apple has incredibly turned off 'Motion & Orientation' gyro function by default in iOS 12.2 breaking webVR experience.

I know it can be turned on in Settings > Safari > Motion & Orientation … but this is too complicated for most non techy users.

What’s the Pano2VR plan?

Can this be fixed at all?

Thanks !
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Tony
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At least other iOS browsers - e.g. Firefox or Chrome are unaffected by that Safari change and are still allowing gyroscope/acceleration sensor usage by default.
Tony Redhead | Panoramic Photographer | mobile: +61438501002 | website: https://tonyredhead.com - https://redsquare.com | Pano2VR Tutorials: https://tonyredhead.com/pano2vr | instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyredhead/
REdwards
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I agree - at least for now ...

But most people use Safari by default on iOS.

iOS also chooses Safari by default when reading QR codes via the iPhone Camera App.

Problem is, unless something can be done, most users will just think VR doesn't work on their phone and give up.

I'm guessing the only solution is to add a pop up screen explaining what needs to be done via Settings when no gyro is detected as activated.

Can this be done at Pano2VR software / skin level Martin and Thomas ?

We really need some solution before non beta is released.
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Hopki
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Hi Guys,
This is what we found is far...

Safari has this setting so there is nothing we can do from Pano2VR about this.

The other thing is if your website is not using a secure server (https) then the Gyro will not function at all!
It will not matter if you enable the gyro in Safari or use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browsers, iOS will block it.

Here was a quick test:

http://hopkimedia.co.uk/gyro

https://ssllin1.123-secure.com/~hopkime ... index.html

Regards,
Hopki
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REdwards
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Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:54 pm

Thanks Martin ...

This decision by Apple is a big disappointment for all web VR users - with no simple solution.

Once you know what to do and how to activate gyro, it's easy ... but for Apple to restrict this feature seems ridiculous.

Apparently it's for privacy reasons as some unscrupulous hackers and developers may be able to interpret your gyro data for nefarious purposes.
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thomas
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REdwards wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:27 am Apparently it's for privacy reasons as some unscrupulous hackers and developers may be able to interpret your gyro data for nefarious purposes.
Advertisers are already using this data to track you.
MfG, Thomas
REdwards
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Thomas - love Pano2VR ... please keep up the great pioneering work with your invaluable team. :)

Can anything be done to make the whole web VR experience easier for first time users? I know you can turn the Motion & Orientation Access on, maybe add a pop up screen in the skin, but it's not easy for most novice users to know this. Certainly not click and play ...

Is it worth web vr developers complaining to Apple for a better solution as they have pretty much ruined web VR for iPhone ?

:(
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