Remember the original Quest headset that Meta (then Oculus) trumpeted back in 2019? Meta seems to hope you don’t, since the company officially stopped supporting the wireless VR headset in 2023 to focus on the more popular Quests 2 and 3. However, tinkerers haven’t abandoned the hardware and recently released a new root-access exploit and bootloader that gives “developers and enthusiasts full control over Quest 1 hardware.”
The QuestStack project integrates previously known vulnerabilities in the Quest’s Android fastboot process into a privilege escalation chain that leads easily to full root access on the device. The bootloading process is now streamlined enough that it can be completed without any downloads through a web interface after connecting the headset to a PC.
With this exploit, the original Quest hardware can now be officially divorced from any reliance on Meta’s servers or services to be useful. That means enterprising Quest owners should be able to sideload apps without needing to register for a Meta Developer account and activating Developer Mode through Meta’s mobile app. It also means users should be able to go through the initial setup and login steps for a fresh Quest headset even if and when Meta decides to shut down the servers that currently support this process.
Now do the Portal TV!
(Which has been a life-changing device for us, by the way)
what does that do that an android tablet doesn’t?
How it started:
- “hey portal, call my kids” and it shows up on the fucking TV. That’s the workflow. It lights the TV, switches inputs and starts a call. Boom.
- microphone array works from everywhere
- digital-ptz camera was game-changing
- “hey portal, answer call” when the TV was off would light the TV, select the right HDMI and start the call. The workflow again was a single command.
- setup: plug in HDMI, plug in power . Use QR to auth the unit to your account.
- it was loss-leadered at like $100, which is why we outfitted the entire family during covid for the cost of a single tablet.
How it’s going:
- the M agent is dead, so its voice control for calling no longer works.
- the Alexa link is dead, so it no longer works as an Alexa agent for home control
- the streamer apps are dead, so it can’t do Netflix, britbox, prime, etc
- zoom is too weird to set up with the remote, so no zoom
- video works
- Cam still crushes it
- sound still rocks
- poking the remote HDMI-CECs over to the portal still, like what voice commands did
But it still - and here’s the thing - is a single set-top appliance with an easy UI and controller that puts video chat on the damned TV
Grandma can no longer use her voice, but she can use the tivo-style remote to start calls. And, again, they’re on this gorgeous big screen so nana can see everyone.
I simply cannot describe the difference between a phone, even a tablet, and a monster fucking TV image to make you feel really connected with people of normal size. I’d say it again if I thought it’d make a difference.
It’s amazing how an appealing product can become so grotesque just by attaching Meta’s name.
Glad there’s a way to free them up.
Hoping this can come to quest 2 and 3 soon enough. I haven’t updated my quest 3 in years in anticipation for a bootloader exploit.
I’m really hoping that this comes out for the quest 2 especially. I’ve tried disabling updates on my quest, but updates are still forced pushed to it and now it runs like shit. Slow as molasses, and buggy as garbage
The original quest is a perfectly capable little VR headset if you’re looking to tinker.
Got one for really cheap about a year or so before support was dropped. It still gets regular use. Although I’ve been waiting for the Frame for the more open system. Would be funny if this exploit enabled me to install SteamOS on it.
Probably not immediately, but they’re both on Snapdragon ARM chips, so very possibly in the future.
Can it handle steam streaming? I’m debating picking it up on ebay, but I’m not sure exactly what it can handle.
Yes. I played Half Life Alex via my wifi, even.
Interesting… Does it require mounted hardware for tracking?
Nope. Headset has a motions sensors and gyros and orients to the environment using its built-in cameras. The wands have lights tracked by the headset cameras as well as their own gyros. Works pretty well. I think the wands can lose tracking from the camera if they’re down by your waist, but the gyros take over at that point and you’re probably just pointing them around down there.
The original Rift and Vive both had external doodads you had to deal with, but the Quest is completely self contained.
SteamOS when
deleted by creator
Fuckin’ finally!
I’m basically running mine without Meta since they mandated the switch from an Oculus to a Meta account.
I’m still pissed that they dropped support a month before adding the ability to use it while lying down to the Quest 2. All it basically does is allow you to set the head tilt to 0. That was so hard that it took them years to implement. My disabled ass could have really used it.
Cool!
Figures this would happen after I already sold my Quest
Which I sold due to all the software updates that rendered my mostly FOSS setup unusable unless I streamed from PC.
I have been waiting for this day. Now I just need a free weekend to do it.
Hope this works for the Rift S too. Have one at work, and the Meta bullshit is annoying af
Neat, I was thinking of selling mine since fuck facebook. Would be amazing to run a custom OS on it
I wonder if this was a push from John Carmack? I faintly remember him talking about trying to do something like this with Facebook/Meta years ago.
he’s been gone for so long I’d be amazed if it were.
Oh nice, I still have my Oculus Quest. But will I be able to play the games that I bought from the store after this?
who the hell wants VR
Flight and car Sims players for starters.
id rather use my computer screen, i hope VR dies
Who pissed in your cereal, old man?
VR chat did
I find VRC a fun place to hang out and talk with random people. I also am looking forward to the Steam Frame, being able to play my games on a virtual big screen while laying in bed sounds pretty peak tbh
VR Chat is the peak of cringe
I would want it for Google Earth or similar
i dont
