Samsung Gear VR review ~ Reviews th3ch

The Samsung Gear VR is a mobile virtual reality headset developed by Samsung Electronics, in collaboration withOculus, and manufactured by Samsung. The headset was released on 27 November 2015.

When in use, a compatible Samsung Galaxy device (Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge/S6 Edge+, or Galaxy S7/S7 Edge) acts as the headset's display and processor, while the Gear VR unit itself acts as the controller, which contains the high field of view, as well as a custom inertial measurement unit, or IMU, for rotational tracking, which connects to the smartphone via micro-USB. This IMU is more accurate and well calibrated with lower latency than internal smartphone IMUs, such as those used for Google Cardboard.

The Gear VR headset also includes a touchpad and back button on the side, as well as a proximity sensor to detect when the headset is on.^[1] The touchpad and button allow for a standard minimum input capability for users to interact with the virtual environments, whereas Google Cardboard devices only feature a button.

The Gear VR was first announced in September 2014. To allow developers to create content for the Gear VR and to allow VR and technology enthusiasts to get early access to the technology, Samsung had released two innovator editions of the Gear VR before the consumer version.

Operation and Controls

The Samsung Gear VR is designed to work with Samsung’s flagship smartphones. Currently supported are Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge.^[2] The smartphone has to be paired with the Oculus™ app.

The device can be calibrated using the wheel at the top of the headset. A trackpad is located on the right of the device and back button is located just above it. Volume can be adjusted through the volume rockers also found on the right hand side.

History

Although the Samsung Gear VR consumer edition was released in November 2015, Samsung had obtained a patent on a HMD (Head Mounted Display) way back in January 2005. This was one of the first ideas of using a mobile phone as the display for a HMD. However at the time the patent was submitted mobile phone technology was simply far too lackluster for them to develop anything which had decent quality and performance. They continued to research VR and HMD internally.

With the release of the Galaxy S4 in 2013 an official team dedicated to developing a virtual reality based device that would work with a smartphone was formed. This team developed multiple different prototypes yet the performance and display (even though the Galaxy S4 has a Full HD display) were not yet up to standards.^[4] However all this development did not go to waste, Samsung learned several of the key elements which would lead to the successful development of VR technology.

In 2014 they partnered with Oculus (the creators of another well-known virtual reality device, the Oculus Rift) to help with the development. The Samsung Gear VR was unveiled during the Samsung press conference at IFA Berlin on 3 September 2014 (along with a smartphone capable of running it, the Galaxy Note 4).

First Innovator Edition

The first innovator edition of Samsung’s Gear VR was released in December 2014. This version was only compatible with the Galaxy Note 4. This edition was mainly released for developers so they could get an understanding of how the device worked and so they could create content which would be ready for the official release of the consumer version of the device. It also gave the chance for VR/technology enthusiasts to gain early access to the technology. Thus also allowed the developers and enthusiasts who owned the device provide Samsung with feedback of improvements that could be made for the consumer edition. This edition was sold out at Samsung and AT&T stores the day of release.

Second Innovator Edition

The second innovator edition of Samsung’s Gear VR was released in March 2015. This edition is almost identical to the first apart from a few minor changes. The first improvement is that this device will support the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge and the second is that a small fan was added inside to prevent the lens fogging. The slightly smaller displays used in these devices, compared to the Note 4, give this version a slightly improved visual quality but slightly smaller field of view.

Consumer Edition

This edition is simply referred to as the Samsung Gear VR. It was released on 20 November 2015. Pre-orders for the device went live on Amazon, Bestbuy and Samsung on 10 November 2015 and the device was sold out on the day of release. This edition has again a few minor changes compared to the previous iterations. First of all this edition supports six Samsung Galaxy devices so far: the S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, Note 5, S7, and S7 edge. It is also 19% lighter than the previous Innovator Edition, it has improved ergonomics and a redesigned touchpad for easier navigation.^[7] Samsung gave out a large number of Consumer Editions of the Gear VR with pre-orders of their new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones. As a result, the Gear VR is one of the first VR headsets to be widely adopted and used by consumers in significant numbers.

Hardware

Some of the major goals Samsung set for this project regarding hardware were: that their headset could support MTP (Motion to Photon) latency less than 20 ms; the optimization of hardware and kernel; and also to create Galaxy Note 4’s QHD display that enables high-resolution rendering in the headset. The volume buttons and back buttons on the headset help to navigate through the gear without taking it off. The lenses range is 96 degrees.^[9]^[10]

Software

Oculus Home

Oculus Home is the main facility to download and use content on the Samsung Gear VR. Oculus Home is also the main line for software distribution on the Gear VR.

Applications

As of February 17, 2016, there are 185 Apps available for the Gear VR on the Oculus Store.

Nick DiCarlo, VP/GM of immersive products and VR at Samsung stated that there is still work to be done but it is progress:

“We think that we've hit the formula, but the idea is that we're able to move VR forward -- 'existence-proof,' to steal a word from John Carmack. VR exists! Thank goodness it finally exists! We think people are gonna really, really like it, but we know that there's a lot of room to continue to make it better and we will do that.

With the VR headset there is a number of games and applications currently available. Notable games include Herobound: First Steps, Ikarus, Dreadhalls, Esper and Proton Pulse.

Other uses of the Gear VR currently include viewing of 360° images, from the 360° view by Getty Images app. This allowed the viewing of spherical content from Getty’s archives and features stills from the World Cup and Cannes Film Festival amongst many more.

Netflix have also released a service to stream and view TV shows and films through the Gear VR, which presents the user a large lounge space with a large screen to view the desired media on.

A number of training and simulation applications are possible in future. However, some unwanted symptoms have been caused by prolonged use of virtual reality headsets. These issues are being studied and may need to be resolved to ensure optimal training and simulation is feasible with such headsets.

Mount Mara

The Samsung Gear VR is used in Mount Mara, a rollercoaster in the Belgian amusement park Bobbejaanland as of 2016. During the ride passengers have to wear such device. The scene of the ride is an erupting volcano.

Galactica

In 2016, Alton Towers refurbished Air, their flying roller coaster, to be Galactica as the world's first roller coaster with dedicated virtual reality using the Samsung Gear VR headsets. The scene of the ride is a journey into space, however wearing the headset is optional.

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