13.12.2.1 breaks Quest "Open in Browser" button

metrocube

For sites that implement the DeoVR API and present a gallery view, there has always been an "Open in Browser" button to view the website in the DeoVR web browser instead.

The latest update fixed a lot of stuff, but also broke this button and it no longer opens the website in the built-in browser.

Repro:

Go to wankzvr . com
Click "Open in Browser".
Browser view does not appear.

KatDEO

metrocube passed this on to our devs.

EUZfZxe7j

Facing the same issue.

Nice case of murphy's law too, the one time I don't make a backup of the APK this happens, so I can't revert to the working version. Kinda annoyed with myself lol.

Psikosen

EUZfZxe7j lol I was thinking the same it's a bit annoying. Since I tend to do it, but for the first time I didn't. Lack of the button makes websites hard to navigate and just discourages me from using vr

Psikosen

KatDEO any updates on this fix ? Thanks

EUZfZxe7j

We are a few releases further and this issue has not been solved. Is there anything we can do to help get this fixed?

Usually I don't like to spin things in a negative way, but this does have a smell of what we in UX design call a Dark Pattern, making it hard or even impossible to use a product in a way that is beneficial for the user, in favor of the business. I sincerely hope this is not the case.

Kieshi

EUZfZxe7j hi, sorry for the wait. Could you please let me know what device you are using? Does it have the latest version of the app?

EUZfZxe7j

Kieshi Hi, thanks for getting back on this!

I am on the latest version, and I am using the app on the pico4. The first version showing this behavior is the one released on/close before 15 Nov last year, the date of OPs post.

I don't know what others that are facing this issue are using, there was at least one other thread on this forum but I don't recall it mentioning which platform.

Just for completeness I will also add my steps to reproduce:

Open App and navigate to any site that has a /deovr endpoint (for example wankzvr.com, povr.com, any czechvr)
Click the Open Web button, see screenshot.
Observe the page flicker once, looks like a reload. The same /deovr content is shown.

At step 3 I expected to see the regular homepage, where I can then login and use the page as I would on a standard browser.

Open Web button

excerpt from logcat, in case useful: pastebin because too large to add to one post here.

(in the above case the app was paused and resumed, because I took off the headset and put it on again. The issue also occurs when starting the app afresh)

Kieshi

EUZfZxe7j Thank you for detailed explanation! I will pass it on to the team to investigate

beauskinner

Hi again Kieshi, any updates on this one? It's a real shame. Thanks!

EUZfZxe7j

Bump. Please reconsider priority on this one so I and my users can use DeoVR again.

Interestingly when I create my site without a default /deovr or /deovr.json, but instead make a link to go to the grid view like so: <a href="deovr://https://example.test/deovr-grid.json">deovr grid view</a>. This works as expected and as documented at https://deovr.com/app/doc#intro-to-integration under section "Called from a deeplink on the site":

load the normal web view at https://example.test
click link to go to grid view -> works and see grid view
press the "Open Web" button -> works (!) and I get back to normal web view.

VRLovr

I'm experiencing the exact same thing, on PC using Oculus Rift with Meta Quest Link.

chace

I'm having the opposite issue. Video files linked from the web browser are playing in the browser, and will not open in the media player.