I'm blown away by the value in this review from a regular customer. Both in terms of reassuring others of the value of the product, and providing incredibly valuable real-world feedback to the company. I hope OP gets at least a personal thank-you from Engo, if not a free pair of their next iteration to review.
Hey, thanks for saying so. I've never reviewed a product before so wasn't sure how it'd go. I normally write (on another blog) about software development like the rest of the HN crowd so this was quite different for me.
It would be amazing if more real reviews of this depth existed, or where easy to find. Any long reviews are usually just crap ad copy, especially for sporting gear. To find the rare honest review is getting harder and harder.
Really? Reading this review I wouldn't buy them - the whole gimmick of seeing your stats on the display falls apart if the stats just fail to display for no reason. Yeah cool that they are comfortable and the display isn't distracting, but if the stats sometimes don't show then why would you buy this, unless you like being a QC tester and paying for it.
This is the analogy I'm going to use from now on when people ask how I liked them.
I think Engo has a chance to win though, at least for a while. They could release v2 next year with improved hardware and a slightly lower price and cyclists would eat it up.
Meanwhile, Apple is going to release their AR glasses but I don't think the initial version will be rugged enough for sports use. And I imagine they'll be MUCH more than $300.
Having seen pictures and then experiencing AR myself (just HoloLens) I feel like honest photoshopping is probably the best we can do. But then that doesn't take into account the actual two-eye experience (maybe even more important in a monocular display), and the effect of movement.
I was doing a little user study recently where I was using HoloLens and the researcher was watching the streaming view. I felt like I had to keep explaining what I was really seeing because the stream felt so inaccurate.
How can you use an image to show the displayed image intersecting or displaying behind a real object? A stereoscopic capture might help, but seeing how things react to head movement is a big part of visual understanding. A short stereoscopic video might give some of that, and yet there is still a difference between watching that video and being the person that moves their head to interrogate the environment.
I'm looking for a HUD solution for monitoring. I spend all day with some numbers and status displays on a screen, and I'd like to just be able to wander around and not have to look at my phone all the time.
What are my hardware options? I'm able to write to any SDK they give, but preferably I'd just ping a website as http or websocket and show the stuff on glasses.
I also think I'd be interested in generic AR glasses to connect my own application to, but I'm curious why it would be preferable to have the manufacturer's website sitting in the middle of your pipeline?
Personally I would find it preferable if I was talking directly to the glasses and did not have to use any cloud service.
Perhaps something smartwatch-based would make sense for this. Almost certainly cheaper and easier than AR and still more immediate than pulling out a phone.
More like a HUD than AR. Also a HUD to display HUD's battery life, watts and distance seems not super important. Maybe elevation, coming road geometry, weather, traffic..
Maybe pedantic, but this seems like just a heads-up display. AR implies the projected image interacts with real objects in your field of vision. I wouldn't call this AR. Nice HUD though.
I guess this is why there isn't hard science fiction anymore: nobody knows anymore if a toy is one thousands years in the future or it was invented yesterday :-( .
I read my son a fantasy book featuring lots of magic. I was a little surprised at how he didn't bat an eye at any of the magic. Halfway through I realized the fantastical crystal ball the characters were using is not fantastical to my son at all- he makes video calls on a tablet every day.
Quite a few of the better cycling glasses are available with prescription lenses. I imaging Engo will eventually offer that if they can build enough of a user base.
I had not considered that. I don’t imagine you’d be able to wear glasses while wearing them, no. But unless you need glasses to ride a bike you won’t need them. Even if you are near sighted you can see the AR display.
Very cool. I can't wait for a more generic data device pairings to these interfaces. I would love them for paragliding, where we have a variometer to track metrics that impact decision making (ascent/descent rate, air/ground speed, altitude, etc) and weight/deck space are a big factor.
Recent H1 here- how responsive are paraglider controls? I feel like for hanggliding I want to see those numbers while I'm airborne, but have no idea if they'd be useful because of how sluggish the response can be.
I was never sold on VR. AR on the other hand is something I see huge potential in and I'd happily use on daily basis. That said, the only appealing option I've seen so far were the now defunct Intel, then Focal, then ultimately killed by Google, glasses. Those were something I'd have loved to have and develop on top of. The Engo ones came close but somehow they aren't the type of glasses you could casually wear. I have spent stupid amounts of time over the past 6 months trying to figure out a way to prototype something similar to what Intel was originally planning to do and I'd happily develop and open source something like it. All you need is a high resolution resin 3D printer to make the frame for the glasses and house the components. Small oled screens are pricey and the best option I could find[1] came at around 120$ a pop but that isn't the issue. For the most part an esp32+battery+lcd screen+resin+some other small components would set you back around 200-250€ which is fairly reasonable(most of which I already have). With deep sleep, the battery would last for weeks the way I'd use it. The biggest problem so far are the lenses. In essence you'd need to get your hands on custom prism lens with very accurate focal distance which in my case has proven to be practically impossible to come by. I haven't been able to find anyone that can/would produce small volumes/single units, at least within reasonable distance from where I live, not to mention how expensive that would get. I've been planning to contact a local optomechanical school and see if they can offer a hand but I'm extremely skeptical at this point.
These look awesome! I am just getting into cycling but have yet to invest in a bike computer. Currently use the Apple Watch to track everything. Do you know If you can speed/distance/heart rate from the Apple Watch? If so, it would be an instant purchase.
As a very experienced cyclist, thinking back to when I was getting started, my advice is to not worry about something like this.
None of the data the glasses display, except for power, are of any real value to the degree that you need to see them constantly. Heartrate is pretty worthless, and I actually often make a point of NOT looking at distance, like on a longer ride - it can make the ride feel like it's dragging out. Especially with an out-in-front computer mount which are very common these days, glancing down at your bike computer really isn't much of a hassle at all.
Consider spending money on things that will make you more likely to ride, such as clothing for different weather conditions - or if by cycling you mean "for transportation", things that will increase the utility of your bike.
If you want really good mapping and routing, check out the Hammerhead Karoo head units, which run Android. Top-notch routing. The garmins are...OK. Garmin's definitely been far too cozy (little serious competition.)
The watch can do it, but you’ll get better gps on the phone. I’m using Cyclemeter, generally pretty happy with it. It will work with on the watch, or on the phone using the watch for HRM.
It’s not really useful for checking while riding though, it’s more along the lines of a data logger. Might be a bit different with a mount for the phone, but I avoid having visible elevtronics while riding.
I am a cyclist (7/8k km/year) and I think that this product will become popular only if the price will be low.
It's just a fancy tool, but not it does not give you real advantage in terms of better training or improved cycling performances.
Maybe it would be better to have an integration to something similar with Veloviewer than display HRM and power information.
A use case for glasses like these with the heads up display would be while riding a TT bike in the aero position. The bars are not conducive to mounting a bike computer and it is a regular occurrence for it to fall off during a triathlon. With these glasses though you could just put the computer in your shirt pocket or wherever and not have to look down.
Very interesting! I'm a cyclist too, but I haven't read about the battery, how long it last? And the lenses have good quality/are fast to switch from clear to dark? (by the way the price tagof about 400€ is expensive to what looks like a bit more than "a toy")
The battery is claimed to be 10 hours, but I didn't test it to that limit. The lenses were really good quality - at least as good as my Tifosi's. Very comfy and stayed in place, which is crucial for AR. They don't actually switch the lenses themselves from clear to dark, it's just the brightness of the text that increases, which is instant. But if you wanted to ride at night, you wouldn't be able to wear them.
I agree they're expensive, especially since they aren't self contained like a typical bike head unit is. I keep comparing them to the Form swimming goggles - which are also AR. I feel those are totally worth it. But the Engo's are just a bit too expensive for what you get.
400E/$450 is enough to buy a really nice head unit, or a power meter, or clothing for more weather conditions, etc.
Just really doesn't seem that useful, and reminds me of all the "help cyclists navigate with LED displays" junk. I swear, it's like every industrial designer's right of passage to design some crap accessory to "help" cyclists!
I remember when Google Glass was hitting the first peak of the hype cycle, and thinking this would be a great use for them when they got a little better and cheaper. Will think about buying the next generation.
I never liked the idea of using a watch as a bike computer. If all you want is to record the data for later use it's fine, but then just use whatever you already own - your phone, Apple Watch, etc. If you need to actually see the data while moving the wrist isn't a safe place to be directing your eyesight.
[+] [-] tempestn|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] takk309|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gambiting|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bredren|4 years ago|reply
This product reminds me of portable mp3 CD players with anti-skip technology.
It was _good_ but it was missing the mark in so many ways and about to be obliterated by iPod.
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
I think Engo has a chance to win though, at least for a while. They could release v2 next year with improved hardware and a slightly lower price and cyclists would eat it up.
Meanwhile, Apple is going to release their AR glasses but I don't think the initial version will be rugged enough for sports use. And I imagine they'll be MUCH more than $300.
[+] [-] gumby|4 years ago|reply
You shoot through the glasses? At CastAR we shot all our demo through real hardware and I believe Tilt5 is too.
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ianbicking|4 years ago|reply
Having seen pictures and then experiencing AR myself (just HoloLens) I feel like honest photoshopping is probably the best we can do. But then that doesn't take into account the actual two-eye experience (maybe even more important in a monocular display), and the effect of movement.
I was doing a little user study recently where I was using HoloLens and the researcher was watching the streaming view. I felt like I had to keep explaining what I was really seeing because the stream felt so inaccurate.
How can you use an image to show the displayed image intersecting or displaying behind a real object? A stereoscopic capture might help, but seeing how things react to head movement is a big part of visual understanding. A short stereoscopic video might give some of that, and yet there is still a difference between watching that video and being the person that moves their head to interrogate the environment.
[+] [-] exabrial|4 years ago|reply
I sweat an unbelievable amount. This is sorta incredible. But I'm absolutely intrigued despite this. Would definitely need Garmin integration!
[+] [-] smilespray|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lordnacho|4 years ago|reply
What are my hardware options? I'm able to write to any SDK they give, but preferably I'd just ping a website as http or websocket and show the stuff on glasses.
[+] [-] jstanley|4 years ago|reply
Personally I would find it preferable if I was talking directly to the glasses and did not have to use any cloud service.
[+] [-] d--b|4 years ago|reply
Isn't a watch app enough? With some way of telling it to beep when numbers go beyond some threshold?
[+] [-] cillian64|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] agumonkey|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] m_herrlich|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pengaru|4 years ago|reply
At least not in a world marketers haven't completely taken over, where words still have meaning.
[+] [-] naikrovek|4 years ago|reply
to me, listening to a podcast while driving is probably augmented reality, and that has nothing to do with driving or the route I'm taking.
this does augment the activity intended.
[+] [-] unknown|4 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] dsign|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ip26|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bpiche|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] junon|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] flyinghamster|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dev_tty01|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cwhittle|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] joatmon-snoo|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] axegon_|4 years ago|reply
[1] https://lcdscreenmfg.com/product/0-39inch-micro-oled-display...
[+] [-] Jdvaugha|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] KennyBlanken|4 years ago|reply
None of the data the glasses display, except for power, are of any real value to the degree that you need to see them constantly. Heartrate is pretty worthless, and I actually often make a point of NOT looking at distance, like on a longer ride - it can make the ride feel like it's dragging out. Especially with an out-in-front computer mount which are very common these days, glancing down at your bike computer really isn't much of a hassle at all.
Consider spending money on things that will make you more likely to ride, such as clothing for different weather conditions - or if by cycling you mean "for transportation", things that will increase the utility of your bike.
If you want really good mapping and routing, check out the Hammerhead Karoo head units, which run Android. Top-notch routing. The garmins are...OK. Garmin's definitely been far too cozy (little serious competition.)
[+] [-] wiredfool|4 years ago|reply
It’s not really useful for checking while riding though, it’s more along the lines of a data logger. Might be a bit different with a mount for the phone, but I avoid having visible elevtronics while riding.
[+] [-] davidw|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lormayna|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tyjaksn|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bni|4 years ago|reply
It's very easy to make an honest video about what user will actually see, but these companies are not interested in that.
Many people believe that the functionality shown in these videos actually exist.
[+] [-] giuliomagnifico|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
I agree they're expensive, especially since they aren't self contained like a typical bike head unit is. I keep comparing them to the Form swimming goggles - which are also AR. I feel those are totally worth it. But the Engo's are just a bit too expensive for what you get.
[+] [-] KennyBlanken|4 years ago|reply
Just really doesn't seem that useful, and reminds me of all the "help cyclists navigate with LED displays" junk. I swear, it's like every industrial designer's right of passage to design some crap accessory to "help" cyclists!
[+] [-] GekkePrutser|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ZeroGravitas|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] GhettoComputers|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TrueGeek|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stewbrew|4 years ago|reply