Changelog

On this page we cover the fixes, changes, and improvements in the Headjack Unity SDK and web CMS.

Future development is discussed on the Headjack Roadmap Trello board

Aug 25, 2023

Aug 4, 2023

  • Updated Headjack SDK to new version 5.6.4, including:
  • SDK updated to latest Unity 2021.3 LTS
  • Increased Unicode character support in all Headjack app templates to include Latin Extended-A character set
  • Fixed minimum Android API Level for the Meta Standalone platform to match new Quest Store/App Lab requirements
  • Improved readability of some error messaging around video playback settings
  • Fixed edge case issues around app offline mode and offline video playback
  • Big update to all official Headjack app templates, including:
  • Updated text rendering and many text layout fixes, including supporting longer project names
  • Added subtitles support in Mobile Essential apps and Headjack Link on Android/iOS
  • Added subtitles selection in Headjack Operator remote control solution, to show subtitles on all connected devices
  • Added support for subtitles when streaming video on Mobile/VR Essentials apps
  • Remember and load previously selected subtitles language when playing subsequent videos
  • Fix updating subtitles in existing apps
  • Cardboard mode can now be switched on/off during video playback in the Mobile Essential Template and the selection is remembered for the next video
  • Add Headjack Operator remote control support to Mobile Essential apps and Headjack Link on Android/iOS, you can now remote control phones running your Headjack apps just like VR headsets with the Headjack Operator tablet app
  • Improved layout and style of video control menus in various app templates
  • Support gaze interaction in more menus in the Kiosk Essential Template
  • Add “remember” app pincode option to Headjack Link on VR headsets to log into the same app when restarting the Link, together with a matching “logout” option in the main app menus (Grid/Kiosk/Cinema menus) to return to the pincode login menu
  • Added various new Template Settings, including the ability to disable the “Delete” button to protect against accidentally deleting content and to disable the “Logout” button in Headjack Link apps to lock in an app login
  • Various other fixes and improvements to the Headjack Video CMS, App Templates and Headjack Apps

Jun 22, 2023

Apr 5, 2023

  • Complete server migration of the Headjack CMS, including:
  • Dedicated server instance for Headjack CMS hosting and databases
  • Dedicated server instance for Headjack app analytics handling
  • Dedicated server instance for Headjack Cloud Build handling
  • Dedicated server instance for legacy Cinema functionality
  • Much improved performance of the Headjack CMS pages
  • Much improved stability of the Headjack CMS
  • Improved stability and faster Cloud Builds
  • Updated server software and libraries for improved performance and security hardening

Dec 20, 2022

Aug 25, 2022

  • Completely overhauled Headjack Get Started page with many more learning resources
  • Released Headjack 101 Lessons, consisting of 7+ articles explaining all Headjack systems in fantastic detail (also coming soon in video form)

Aug 9, 2022

  • Added dedicated Studio(+) plan pricing page with new pricing options including custom bundles
  • Headjack users can now upgrade to the standard Studio plan themselves for as low as $99/mo*
  • Migrated the legacy Cinema remote control web interface to new server architecture for improved reliability
  • Various styling improvements to the Headjack CMS

* see Studio pricing page for details

Jul 11, 2022

  • Overhauled email backend architecture for improved reliability and security
  • Redesigned automated system emails to better inform Headjack users of account status
  • Various styling improvements to Headjack website

Jun 14, 2022

  • Improved analytics backend architecture for improved network performance and stability
  • Migrated Headjack website to entirely new server architecture for much improved performance
  • Various smaller server optimizations for improved stability

May 10, 2022

  • Fix Offline Mode on Android with certain configurations
  • Fix occasional crash in Operator when switching video
  • Fix network connectivity check with specific network configurations on all platforms
  • Updated Headjack Link app on multiple app stores

Jan 11, 2022

  • Freshened up the style of various CMS pages
  • Entirely redesigned the onboarding flow for new users
  • Improved the tutorials and account progress indicators in the CMS
  • Massive improvements to video streaming on Android-based devices, with much better initial video quality and faster switching to higher quality (if connection permits)
  • Fixed issue with Quest 2 not always being recognized as a separate platform (from Quest 1)
  • Various smaller fixes and improvements

Nov 9, 2021

  • Released the Headjack Link app for Android phones/tablets, iPhones and iPads, download here!
  • Huge update to video encoding and playback preferences!
  • With Transcode Profiles you can now configure exactly how every video is displayed on every individual platform, like allowing only streaming video on Android/iOS and only downloading the original video file on Quest 2
  • The Headjack CMS will now transcode your videos up to the maximum resolution of our supported platforms, like transcoding to 8K 60 FPS on Quest 2
  • Improved the quality of downloaded video (when using transcoding) by increasing the maximum bitrate to 85 Mbit/s
  • Streaming video resolution and quality have also improved, up to 5.2K 30 FPS or 4K 60 FPS and with new higher bitrates up to 32 Mbit/s
  • Streaming video now supports more configurations, like as an alternative to downloading the original video or as the only option
  • These video preferences can now also be changed after the initial upload, just click on one of your videos on the Content page to have a look
  • Improved the perceived quality of flat video in VR headsets, by better matching the video resolution to the headset resolution
  • On Android, granting the external storage permission is no longer required when first launching your app (in most cases)
  • The comfort of viewing monoscopic immersive video has been improved by setting a better default projection distance, this distance can now also be customized on a per-project basis
  • New Headjack Unity SDK 4.0.3 with full support for the new Transcode Profiles
  • Allow developers to access more Project metadata, like the project’s creation date
  • NOTE: Updating an existing app with a new cloud build that uses SDK version 4 may result in previously downloaded content getting removed, requiring you to re-download your projects
  • NOTE: it is still possible to add new videos to previously built apps, just take a look at the Legacy Apps platform when configuring your videos
  • New limits have been introduced for users with a Free plan; the Free plan is limited to 100 total views, offline mode is unavailable and uploaded videos can only be configured for one platform. Upgrade to a Pro plan to remove these limits entirely. More information on the Pricing page

Apr 30, 2021

  • Prices cut by up to 50%!
  • Pro plan gives you more than ever, like unlimited white-label apps
  • Check the new Pricing page for all the details
  • Fixed Cardboard lens distortion on latest iPhone models
  • Fixed rare case of incorrect video orientation on phones
  • Fixed cases of offline mode not starting during app initialization

Mar 29, 2021

  • Released the Headjack Link app on the Oculus App Lab for Quest (2)
  • Replaced background download library on Android platforms for better performance
  • Make Headjack Unity SDK and (cloud build) apps compatible with all Oculus App Lab technical and usage requirements
  • Improve compatibility and performance on Oculus Quest 2
  • Fixed rare case of app not loading when using the Packaged Content cloud build feature

Feb 16, 2021

  • Updated Headjack Operator tablet app to the latest Headjack SDK and include support for standard/flat video formats
  • New and updated support articles in our Knowledge Base
  • Added SDK function to allow the app to continue playing video while it is not currently in focus (disabled by default)
  • Fixed recentering of immersive video view on Cardboard platforms
  • Improved support for apps with a very large number of video projects

Dec 16, 2020

  • Large update to the Headjack Unity SDK documentation
  • Added SDK property to check if video is available as adaptive (live) stream, for best video streaming performance
  • Fixed rare case of controllers not tracking on app startup on SteamVR platform

Nov 17, 2020

  • Improved the performance and fixed issues with video looping, allowing more seamless looping of a downloaded video
  • Fixed issue with displaying of videos with a custom field of view (e.g. 180º video)
  • Various smaller bug fixes
  • Updated Headjack SDK to version 3.2.9
  • Updated Headjack Link and Headjack Operator apps in the app stores to the latest Headjack SDK
  • Added more resources to the ever growing Headjack Knowledge Base

Oct 15, 2020

For template developers: this update will require a template update; to the new Headjack SDK 3.2.3 and Unity 2019.4.12f1 LTS (more info)

  • Migrated the Headjack SDK for Unity and Headjack Cloud Build to the latest Unity long term support version (2019.4 LTS)
  • Released Knowledge Base, combining our existing and new documentation on a structured and searchable page
  • Added support for uploading and viewing Standard / Flat videos on a large virtual screen in VR or full screen on smartphones
  • Added support for Oculus Quest 2, including up to 8k resolution support
  • Included the ability to upload stereoscopic standard format videos to view in 3D on the virtual screen in VR
  • Completely overhauled the Headjack SDK for Unity, to use the new Unity XR Plugin system and Unity package system for (VR) SDKs
  • Updated to the latest Oculus XR Plugin, SteamVR SDK, Audio360 SDK, Pico SDK and a great Cardboard VR SDK
  • Increased render resolution on Oculus mobile platforms (Quest, Quest 2, Go) for slightly increased video quality at higher video resolutions
  • Fixed and improved compatibility with multiple app stores, including support for the latest OS versions like iOS 14 and Android 11 and building 64-bit apps on all platforms
  • Now using Unity Video Player on Windows and iOS, replacing outdated and proprietary third-party video player plugins
  • Streaming video support on Windows and iOS now handled by AVProVideo, which is included with every app built with Headjack Cloud Build
  • Headjack SDK 3.2.3 supports building locally for iOS in Unity, for testing purposes
  • Discontinued the Gear VR, Wave VR and Daydream VR platforms due to lack of official support or lack of use
  • Oculus Go support will continue until the end of 2020, after which the platform will be deprecated and support is not guaranteed

Apr 23, 2020

  • Added ability to retrieve download progress of individual media to Headjack SDK
  • Fixed field of view not always being consistent between platforms when watching video on mobile devices without VR

Feb 10, 2020

  • Added full controller rendering support for Oculus Quest / Rift S
  • Fixed some button mapping issues with specific VR SDK versions
  • Various smaller fixes and improvements to Headjack Unity SDK

Jan 13, 2020

  • Fixed rare issue with Google sign-up to CMS
  • Various small style and alignment fixes on CMS pages
  • Updated iOS Cloud Building to support new App Store requirements
  • Added initial SDK support for self-hosted app content

Nov 29, 2019

  • Improved clarity of Pricing page
  • Improved subscription checkout flow and clarity
  • Various smaller bug fixes and improvements

Nov 7, 2019

  • Massively improved download stability on Android with sub-optimal internet connections
  • Various smaller fixes and improvements

Oct 28, 2019

  • Improved stability of Operator app by always playing 1080p video on tablet
  • Improved playback sync performance of Operator and VR apps
  • Fixed spatial audio artifacts occurring under some very specific conditions

Sep 6, 2019

  • Added media preview and overview to media select menu in CMS
  • Overhauled video encoding options menu in CMS
  • Fixed spatial audio error on latest iOS version

Aug 8, 2019

  • Improved system emails
  • Added ability to detect Oculus Quest as separate platform in SDK
  • Updated all third-party libraries in SDK
  • Multiple bug fixes

Jul 27, 2019

  • Launch Headjack Operator app to tablet app stores
  • Launch Headjack Link app to VR app stores

Jul 1, 2019

  • Change default template to Essential All-in-one
  • Add support for offline analytics caching
  • Small bug fixes and improvements

May 3, 2019

  • Show white label logo based on domain name
  • Added input fields to FOV settings
  • Fixed uploading MKV files
  • Improved iframe layout
  • Fixed reset project name after adding new category
  • Various fixes and improvements

Apr 1, 2019

  • Added Pico as build platform
  • Added white label logo for paid plans
  • Added programmatic user creation
  • Added iframe domain masking functionality

Mar 12, 2019

  • Added folder structure feature
  • Improved project edit flow from app edit page
  • Moved per-project template variables to project edit modal
  • Various small fixes

Mar 5, 2019

  • Fix for media uploads with file names including special characters
  • Performance improvements
  • Show warning before leaving edit pages without saving
  • Style improvements to lock feature
  • Various small fixes

Feb 26, 2019

  • Added embeddable WebVR player and embeddable heatmap to Project Edit page
  • Added lock feature to prevent projects and media from accidentally being edited or deleted
  • Increased thumbnail generation speed and remove image size limit
  • Lazy load certain large and infrequently needed libraries to improve page loading time
  • Improved template variables modals
  • Several bugfixes

Jan 31, 2019

  • Massive UI overhaul to allows apps to be built in way less steps and with more explanation
  • Added installation modals with detailed installation steps per platform
  • Show builds list on app page
  • Allow Free users who exceeded their capacity limit to still upload small (<30MB) files
  • Improve page loading times (e.g. by using 8-bit PNGs as thumbnails)
  • Several bug fixes
  • Improved error handling in VRsideloader

Jan 29, 2019

  • Fix stereo mode not always saved correctly when uploading video

Jan 21, 2019

  • Implemented Vive Wave, adding support for Vive Focus and Pico headsets
  • Improved platform select dropdown
  • Made platform IDs human-readable
  • Improved analytics logic

Jan 8, 2019

  • Increased upload speed dramatically (up to 75x if uploading from SSD)
  • Increased speed of saving and of starting a build by using queues

Dec 11, 2018

  • Simplified & optimized signup process
  • Removed “Apply” buttons to prevent confusion and unintended redirects when saving

November 26, 2018

  • Lowered price of Pro plan to $99/mo
  • Added support for custom FOV videos
  • Added support for left/right stereo
  • Added QR codes to builds page for easier installation on mobile
  • Added option to change name of media items
  • Added button to download the original file uploaded by users from the media view page
  • Retain original name of uploaded file
  • Make file and project names more readable by giving them more space in the UI
  • Fix bug with OBBs that have a version number > 1
  • Fix analytics bug related to Oculus Go
  • Several small bug fixes and improvements

October 23, 2018

  • Launched new frontend for Headjack with more info and easier access to resources.

July 23, 2018

  • Added a Cinema Control page, allowing users to give access to Cinema controls for a single app without having to grant access to their entire Headjack account. A link to the Cinema Control page of an app can be found at the bottom of the app’s page.

May 29, 2018

  • Fixed incorrect bundle ID verification for iOS
  • Fixed builds remaining in queued status even though they had already finished building
  • Small bug fixes

May 24, 2018

  • Added support for Oculus Go builds
  • Set Oculus audio device as default, as per Oculus Store requirements
  • Added option to give a name to a stream on the Media page
  • Added exit survey
  • Added admin option to delete all of a user’s data to comply with GDPR

May 17, 2018

  • Added support for streaming spatial audio in AmbiX format
  • Changed encodes for all platforms to HEVC
  • Reduced encoding time by a factor of 3
  • Increased playback resolution on iOS devices to 4K
  • Improved adaptive streaming on all platforms
  • Improved sync between video and spatial audio by implementing latest Facebook Spatial Decoder (v1.50)

May 11, 2018

  • Added privacy policy and terms of service to registration form to comply with the GDPR law
  • Added improved onboarding tour
  • Added FAQ behind ? button
  • Added thank you page after signing up
  • Added account setup progress on Dashboard
  • Added links to resources on Dashboard
  • Added links to tutorials on App Signing page
  • Small fixes and textual changes

March 9, 2018

  • Fixed resolution selection during playback of odd sized videos

February 15, 2018

  • Added organization name to signup form for improved account initialization
  • Added ability to change email address
  • Added tooltip for long media names in media list and project edit
  • Small fixes on to modals and emails
  • Implement ExoPlayer as Android player to support fMP4 and DASH

January 23, 2018

  • Added example content to new accounts
  • Added introduction video on Cinema page
  • Small fixes on checkout and billing pages

January 18, 2018

  • Improved CDN caching at edge locations to further improve streaming and downloading speeds

January 11, 2018

  • Removed watermarks in apps when on a Free plan
  • Added dedicated checkout pages
  • Added support for payment through PayPal
  • Unlocked Cinema feature for all accounts
    • Free plan is limited to controlling 1 device simultaneously  
    • Pro plan is limited to controlling 3 devices simultaneously
  • Updated Dark Galaxy template now that everyone can use Cinema
  • Changed Cinema workflow to require re-activating Cinema for an app every 72 hours
  • Improved handling of media upload failures by automatically retrying uploads
  • Improved performance of Template pages
  • Added emails for nearing or hitting bandwidth limits when using a Free plan
  • Small performance and layout improvements on various pages

December 04, 2017

  • Removed microphone and call permissions
  • Heatmaps now run at 60fps and show smoother animations
  • Updated Oculus SDK to 1.20
  • Fixed an issue with the app.json
  • Updated minimum Android SDK for Gear VR to 21, to meet Oculus Store requirements
  • Fixed Gear VR app signing for store builds

November 24, 2017

  • Reduced load time of the App pages by up to 60%
  • Reduced video transcoding time by up to 30%
  • Added support for viewing HLS stream media on the Project page
  • Fixed sorting App and Project lists by session/view count and average duration columns
  • Improved performance when sorting App and Project lists
  • Various layout and style improvements

November 07, 2017

  • Added Hollywood template
  • Adapt Try Pro for Free link to new price plans

November 03, 2017

  • Added battery level and device temperature indicators to Cinema feature

October 20, 2017

  • Updated Headjack and templates to Unity 2017
  • Fixed several issues with iOS builds
  • Fixed issues with Daydream app icon and controller

October 10, 2017

  • Added annual price plans

September 5, 2017

  • Improved template variables from just strings to multiple different types, as well as the ability to set variables per project instead of only per app
  • Improved UHD Zencoder settings for mobile devices, specifically for Samsung S7 and Daydream phones
  • Added onboarding tour

August 29, 2017

  • Improved payouts for affiliates and template creators using PayPal MassPay
  • Added advanced options to set build- and version numbers
  • Added option to delete credit card when on a Free account
  • Several layout fixes

August 14, 2017

  • Improved layout on mobile devices
  • Fixed displaying of correct price after applying coupon
  • Added warning emails when credit card cannot be charged
  • Added tutorial video to Cinema page
  • Refactored code

July 3, 2017

  • Small bug fixes

June 12, 2017

  • Launched Cinema feature to control multiple VR devices at a distance

May 12, 2017

  • Added “Try Pro for Free” link
  • It is now possible to add a YouTube video to a template page
  • Updated “Print” template
  • Added “Parallax” Cardboard template
  • Added follow-up CRM features

May 1, 2017

  • Added support for Google Daydream
  • Added support for UHD @ 60fps playback on Oculus, VIVE and Daydream
  • Added feature to package video files up to 2GB inside the app
  • Fixed sorting and pagination of projects in app
  • Better Zencoder error reporting
  • Added animation tools for Headjack templates
  • Added support for Oculus Touch & Daydream controllers
  • Performance improvements

April 4, 2017

  • Plan charge and additional charges are now merged into a single invoice
  • Several improvements around payments and switching between plans
  • Fixed video artefacts in black scenes
  • Improved VP9 encoding quality
  • Fixed errors when saving Account Settings when current password was autofilled by browser

March 31, 2017

  • 20-fold (!!) page-loading speed improvement of the website
  • Fixed bug when adding projects to apps
  • Fixed bug with selecting app signing credentials
  • Added blur tool for Unity UIs
  • Fixed reset password URL
  • Fixed bug with adding or replacing credit card
  • Fixed 403 errors for non-existing images
  • Improved downloading of invoices from Billing Info page
  • Fixed display of average session/view duration
  • Added check for valid osig files
  • Add video to project even if video is still processing

March 17, 2017

  • Added NSCameraUsageDescription key for iOS store builds
  • Added option to disable mipmaps for downloaded textures
  • Thumbnails now display in original aspect ratio in CMS
  • Revamped Marketplace UI
  • Added 2 new templates to the Marketplace
  • Fixed spatial audio bug on Windows
  • Added new video sphere for better monoscopic playback

March 13, 2017

  • Fixed UI upload bar when uploading multiple files
  • Fixed unique views and average session duration analytics
  • Performance improvements

March 3, 2017

  • Several UI improvements
  • Small bug fixes
  • Added chat support widget

February 28, 2017

  • Launch Headjack 2.0
  • Completely re-written CMS backend for better performance and faster content delivery
  • Completely re-written Unity project to support standalone app building directly from the Unity editor
  • Added “skip encoding” option for Agency and Enterprise accounts
  • Improved encoding settings
  • Improvements to Headjack Unity API and performance of apps

January 16, 2017

  • Public launch of Headjack
  • Fully functioning analytics and heatmaps
  • Added Key/Value pairs to Templates for further customization
  • Added affiliate program and support for paid templates
  • Significantly improved the performance of our apps, especially Gear VR
  • Improved encoding settings for 360 videos
  • And countless other fixes and improvements

December 8, 2016

  • Added support for Splash image to App add/edit page
  • Fixed issues when uploading large files
  • Fixed issues with Safari
  • Added full-page drag & drop functionality on Media page
  • Several fixes for analytics
  • Improved video encoding
  • Fixed uploading of custom templates
  • Improvements to default templates
  • We no longer force monoscopic content in Free apps
  • Added project duration, project file size and app background skybox to template API
  • Added fade to templates and API
  • Added Access Management functionality so you can invite developers to your account
  • Swipe & zoom in full-screen video in Cardboard apps
  • Fixed long build times with Unity Cloud Build
  • Fixed issues where app builds failed or remained pending forever
  • You can now cancel builds
  • Added support for paid templates, so you can actually earn some cash money with your creations
  • Improved the user interface of the Headjack CMS
  • And much, much more!

November 9, 2016

  • Added support for up to 8k video uploads
  • Added a workaround for Unity Cloud Build failing with shader compile errors when building Android or iOS apps
  • Fixed incorrect MIME type for video uploads
  • Fixed the Vive menu and added Vive controllers
  • Fixed issue with uploading multiple files simultaneously
  • Fixed Template uploading and editing
  • Fixed Facebook and Google login

October 27, 2016

  • Closed beta launch of Headjack

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