In many cases, such as events or exhibitions, it can be useful if the users of the Pico VR headset only see the 360 video that is intended for them. The video kiosk mode for Pico headsets is an ideal solution for these types of applications. In this article, we will take a closer look at video kiosk mode and then walk you through the steps required to set your Pico headset up in kiosk mode.
What is the purpose of the video kiosk mode?
The purpose of the video kiosk mode is simply, that the user can do nothing but watch the desired 360 videos. When you wake up the VR headset and / or start it up, it immediately starts playing a 360 video. When the headset then goes back to sleep, you can choose to have the 360 degree video replay or pick up where the user left off. The Pico kiosk mode can convert stereoscopic and mesoscopic videos in 2D. It can play in 180 and 360 formats.
The Pico video kiosk mode is especially ideal for events and exhibitions. This way you do not have to select the 360 video for each user separately, the user cannot accidentally close the video or open other applications. In this way you can preload the Pico with the desired content in advance, so that the user does not have to do anything during the event / exhibition to experience the content.
Setting up video kiosk mode for the Pico G2 4K
To set the video kiosk mode on the Pico G2 4K, you need the following:
- Pico G2 4K (S or Enterprise)
- Windows PC
- Mini-USB cable
- 360 video in an mp4 format
If you are already using kiosk mode on the Pico headset, we recommend removing it before proceeding.
Rename the 360 videos on your computer
The video kiosk mode supports multiple types of 360 videos. This makes it important to ‘encode’ the video name.
- Start the video name with a number, such as: 01_ or 02_ or 08_. The videos will be played in this order. Please take this into account when assigning a song to the video.
- Then you can name the video as you would like. This could be anything.
- Finally, add the type of video that applies to your video. See the table below for an overview of the different types of videos and their corresponding code.
| Type of Video | Code |
| 2D video | _2D |
| 3D video with left and right side image combined. | _3D_LR |
| 3D video with top and bottom side image combined. | _3D_TB |
| 360 video | _360 |
| 3D 360 video in top and bottom format. | _3D360_TB |
| 3D 360 video in top and bottom format. | _3D360_LR |
| 180 video | _180 |
| 3D 180 video in top and bottom format. | _3D180_TB |
| 3D 180 video in left and right format. | _3D180_LR |
When the above steps are done correctly, the video name should look like this:
- 01_goodvideo_360.mp4
- 03_awesomevideo_3D360_TB.mp4
- 09_whywouldyou_2D.mp4
Create a new folder on your computer
The next step is to create a new folder on your computer with a specific name. Here you have 2 choices:
- Name the folder “video_replay” if you want the video to play from the beginning when the headset is put on.
- Name the folder “video_continue” if you want the video to continue where it left off when turned off or taken off during sessions.
When the folder is created you can copy one or more ”encrypted” videos to the folder. Then grab a mini USB data cable and use it to connect the Pico headset to the PC. Then place the entire folder with the video in the main directory of the Pico (Note, do not place it in another folder!)
Putting the Pico G2 4K into Developer mode
To put the Pico headset in video kiosk mode, a number of applications must first be installed from the computer; this is called ”sideloading”. Before you can side-load, the headset must first be put into developer mode. Follow these steps to do this:
- From the main menu in the Pico headset, go to settings (located next to the battery level in the main menu).
- Select ”About” on the far right of the settings menu.
- Click + – 8 times on ” PUI Version ” at the top in settings. You will be notified as soon as you are in developer mode.
- Navigate back to the settings menu. Next to ”About”, on the right side, a ”{}” symbol will now appear with ”advanced settings”. Click on it
- A 2D Android settings menu will appear. Scroll down (click and drag) and select “System”. Then select “{} developer options”.
- Finally, make sure USB debugging is turned on.
Side-loading applications on to the Pico G2 4K
To establish the Pico video kiosk mode, you need to sideload 3 applications on the Pico headset.
1 APK: Auto Play Service (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0Qa5e6jCL2ug0V2McTw920LDivajzkI/view)
2 APK : Video Player (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dWbm2lBHg4xIbp3OwZ4hgei0Vyxv7p7o/view)
3 APK : VRLauncher
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/11wT-DloDPjSKjuwugOhIBCGiPO_UX4nh/viewsideload)
Follow the steps below to install the APK’s on your headset:
- Connect the Pico headset to the computer with a USB cable.
- Download the above APK’s.
- Navigate to the Pico headset with the Windows file explorer.
- Copy the downloaded APKs to the internal storage space of the headset.
- Now put on the Pico G2 4K headset and go to “File manager” from the main menu in the Pico.
- At the top of your screen you can choose from ” Videos, images and APKs ”. Select APKs.
- Finally, select the applications to install them.
Reboot the Pico G2 4K
When the applications are installed, all you need to do is ”reboot” the Pico G2 4K headset. You do this by simply turning the headset off and on again. When the power off and on is complete, Pico video kiosk mode should be enabled. The videos will now be played automatically.
Disabling video kiosk mode
To disable the video kiosk mode, and therefore restore the Pico launcher, you will need to open the 2D setting menu by pressing simultaneously the Confirm button (on the right side of the headset) and the Volume Down button on the headset.
When the 2D settings menu has been opened, select Apps & notifications -> Advanced -> Default apps -> Home app and choose the PVRLauncher. When the PVRLauncher has been selected, you will need to reboot the headset as described above. Then the reboot has been completed, the Pico launcher should be restored.
Do you have questions about how to put the Pico G2 4K into video kiosk mode?