Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge can grab themselves a Samsung Gear VR very soon. Samsung and Best Buy have announced that pre-sales for the virtual reality headset will commence tomorrow at Best Buy stores, and you can expect it to arrive May 8th.
Those are all the details we have right now so there’s no pricing information to be had. Beyond that, this should be the same Samsung Gear VR that was fit for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 that we’ve come to know and love. It’ll give you a unique look into some VR-ready content such as the collection of goods found inside Samsung’s Milk VR app, as well as the new VR feature on YouTube. There’s also a decent selection of other apps scattered about that might interest you.
We’ll be sure keep our eyes on Best Buy’s website to see if we can’t get more details. In the meantime check out our Samsung Gear VR review to see what you can expect once you have one of your own.
After Samsung began allowing casuals to test drive the Gear VR at their local Best Buy, the virtual reality headset will officially make its retail debut this Friday, March 27th. That’s when the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition — powered by Oculus — will hit more than 100 Best Buy retail locations across the US (with additional locations throughout the year), meaning you’ll officially be able to walk in, test it out, and walk out with a Gear VR if you like what you see.
If you’re still on the fence about the virtual reality craze, our own Kevin Krause was probably the biggest skeptic, but later raved about the Gear VR in his full review. The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition is only compatible with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as of now (there are workarounds), but an official Galaxy S6 version is also expected sometime down the road. In case you missed it, we got a chance to play with that model during this year’s Mobile World Congress and were basically blow away.
The Gear VR simulates movement using your smartphone’s motion sensors and displays dual-images to each eye for an added 3D effect. While there isn’t too much VR content at the moment, the list is definitely growing. It was last week YouTube added support for 360-degree 3D videos via their Android app and Chrome, while Samsung has their own app for watching immersive 3D videos via the Milk VR app. Oh, and if “adult” entertainment is more your thing (we wont judge), we already got people are already working on that too.
The Gear VR IE is currently available online at BestBuy.com for 0 but if you’re interested in waiting until Friday, you can find a list of Best Buy locations where you can walk in and buy one right here.
While you’re still thinking up reasons why you should pick up one of the soon-to-be-many VR headsets available on the market, one man was able to watch the birth of his child in 360-degrees. Over the weekend, Samsung Australia uploaded a video to YouTube showing how they were able to bring a man — over 2,485 miles away — closer to his family using the Samsung Gear VR headset.
It’s what Samsung is calling the world’s first “live virtual reality birth” using the Samsung Gear VR. Once strapped in, the man was able to watch the entire birth of his child live, in stunning virtual reality, almost as if he were in the room. Of course, it would take a great deal of effort to set something like this up and as Samsung notes, requires more than just a headset (360-degree camera, streaming equipment, Galaxy Note 4).
Not matter what your thoughts on virtual reality are, you have to admit — that’s pretty damn cool. The 6-minute emotional video can be found below. Bring a tissue.
It’s the same headset, essentially — you put it on your face, drop your phone in and take in a horde of content in virtual reality — but this one will hold the company’s latest flagships instead of yesteryear’s phablet. Pricing is expected to be similar so try to set aside 0 if you’re interested. If that’s too rich for you, well, it should still work perfectly fine inside of something like Google Cardboard.
Samsung has been the odd man out of the circular smart watch battles with LG, Motorola and even Huawei providing some pretty good options, but they could be looking to enter the fight soon. New trademarks filed by the company reveal that they’re working on a Samsung Gear W, and that it might have “Wheel UX.”
The timing of both trademarks surfacing side-by-side and the term “wheel” for its UX implies that this Samsung Gear W will be round, with a Tizen-based circular user interface customized specifically for such a form factor.
Unfortunately the trademark filings don’t give much more information on their own, but we do know Samsung has filed design patents for circular smart watches in the past. Samsung’s current smart watches — while nice — aren’t really seen as elegant, but a circular design for their next big wearable could help change that perception.
Gear VR users will get the chance to experience the fashion and culture of cities far and wide thanks to a new partnership with Refinery29 that will see the virtual reality series Fashionably Bound make its way to Samsung’s Milk VR service. Fashionably Bound focuses on immersing viewers in a 360 experience that showcases the street style of cities including New Orleans, Berlin, and Tulum.
The VR series promises virtual tours of nightlife, boutiques, dining, and, of course, plenty of young, attractive, and fashionably dressed locals. Through their partnership, Samsung and Refinery29 hope to “open up the world of virtual reality to the tech-savvy female consumer, one style destination at a time.” The goal is to turn what would typically exist as a 2D layout in a fashion magazine into a mesmerizing view into the exotic and unique styles of the three cities the series will visit.
Style icons abound in the series, including DJ Chelsea Leyland and Urban Bush Babes founders TK and Cipriana Quann. It will be among the first Milk VR productions to make use of surround sound in conjunction with a number of other filming and production techniques to create a rich virtual viewing environment.
But really, what Fashionably Bound actually promises is eye candy and plenty of it. With the Gear VR’s expanded availability for the newly released Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, its clear Samsung’s stake in the game is only growing, and they seem dedicated to producing quality content to push the platform forward.
Samsung has not been one of Android Wear’s biggest supporters. They have opted to use their own Tizen OS instead. The Gear 2 is one such device to use Tizen, but a tinkerer at XDA has fixed that. User biktor_gl has successfully ported Android Wear over to the Gear 2 after four months of work. That’s dedication.
The implementation is still very rough. The only things working so far are touch and basic Bluetooth support. It has taken so long to get this working because Android Wear is not the same as Android. Anyone can download Android from AOSP, but Android Wear is not open source. Despite everything, Biktor has proved that a Tizen smartwatch is not limited to what Samsung wants to do with it. Android wins again.
Do any of you have the Gear 2 or other Tizen smartwatches? Would you prefer Android Wear?
It wasn’t long ago that we highly praised the Samsung Gear VR in our full review. In fact “highly praised” would be putting it lightly- to quote from that review, the proper terminology would be “stunned’. Only a few months have passed and Samsung has already announced huge improvements that help address some of the few (but hugely important) pitfalls of the Gear VR.
To remind you what an immersive, mind-blowing experience the Gear VR can be, watch our very own Chris Chavez dive head first into an alternate universe by way of Samsung’s new virtual reality technology:
There are some quotable gems in there, folks… Chris Chavez, ladies and gentlemen.
You can see in the photos that this new hardware looks identical to the existing Note 4 ready version, only the portion that houses the phone now fits the S6 and S6 edge. Adding this will drastically increase the pool of eligible buyers, but Samsung would optimally offer a one-size-fits-all option or (although it’d be much more expensive) build the screen and guts into the headset hardware itself.
I tested two experiences:
Theatrical show with a sprinkle of scandalousness
Flight simulation warfare game
They were equally amazing in their own way. The first allowed you to enjoy entertainment as you explored the world around you. It was like the difference between watching a movie at the theatre or going to an interactive experience (like SleepNoMore in NYC) where you become part of the movie itself. I’m really excited to see where this takes the entertainment industry as whole. Film makers who embrace this could create some truly stunning experiences. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung partner up with a major film maker or studio to help push out a big launch that is only available on the Gear VR.
The game was promising as well, bringing me back to the days of Starfox 64 but instead of playing on the TV, I became part of the action, tracking my opponents with real life head movements instead of merely button mashing. It’s a pretty amazing experience that, unfortunately, doesn’t translate over YouTube and needs to be experienced for yourself.
The graphics weren’t exactly mind blowing and aside from shooting down incoming enemies there wasn’t much to explore, but this is just a demo. And as a demo it served its true purpose: I’m convinced that gaming on the Samsung Gear VR could revolutionize gaming.
That crazy Android Wear hacking developer is at it again, this time with a new video showcasing what he was able to slap on his Android-powered smartwatch. Corbin Dallas’ latest feat? Emulating 1987’s Apple Macintosh II on his Samsung Gear Live. It’s like the Apple Watch we could have seen 28 years ago in some alternate reality.
You can see him struggling a bit in the video, but this is because the OS being emulated (using Mini vMac II emulator on Google Play) generally requires a mouse and keyboard. Mr. Davenport’s potato fingers, however, weren’t exactly optimized for input on such a tiny display. Anyone else would have difficulty too.
Samsung told us the Gear VR for their Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge would be available today, and sure enough you can go ahead and buy one. The virtual reality headset is available to buy online for 0. Unfortunately you won’t be able to head into Best Buy stores to buy it in person until May 15th, though waiting another week for the convenience of doing so hardly seems unfair.
The Samsung Gear VR for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge shouldn’t be all that dissimilar to the version we reviewed for the Galaxy Note 4 back in 2014. It’ll allow you to drop your phone in, slap it to your face and view videos and play games in virtual reality 3D goodness.
Samsung has been building a library of content fit for the headset which you can find within the Samsung Apps Store and Samsung’s Milk VR app. You can also view 360-degree videos on YouTube, an experience that’s absolutely nuts if you haven’t already tried it. Add to those facts that Samsung is teaming up with one of the leaders in consumer VR tech — Oculus Rift — and we’d have a hard time finding any reason not to buy one.
Unfortunately consumer-grade virtual reality is still in its infancy (which explains why they still call these things “Innovator Editions”) so there won’t be a huge repository of content waiting for you once you get it in your hands. That said, it’s always nice being on the cutting edge and being able to take it all in while it’s happening. Grab it from whichever source you prefer using the links ahead.
The Samsung Gear Live was Samsung’s first Android Wear powered device, and nearly a year after it first made its debut at Google I/O, the smartwatch can no longer be found on the Google Store. Before the Gear Live, Samsung was exclusively using their own in-house Tizen operating system to power inject their watches with some smarts.
It wasn’t too long ago the LG G Watch was officially discontinued, so it’s entirely possible these first gen Android Wear watches are simply being phased out in favor of new models on the horizon. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
A few weeks back Samsung confirmed round smartwatch rumors when they revealed their upcoming Gear SDK for developers that showed a variety of round smartwatch faces and apps. Today, the folks at SamMobile were able to dive into said SDK and managed to dig up a few details on Project Orbis, which could officially launch as the Samsung Gear A later this year.
The most interesting hardware feature is the inclusion of a rotating bezel that can be used to navigate the watch’s Tizen-based software. Samsung’s answer to the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown, the secondary form of input can be used for app specific actions, zooming in and out of images, to change the volume, or simply to navigate between screens. Initially it sounded odd, but now we’re getting a better picture of how useful this feature could be when used properly.
The Gear A will also feature a round 360 x 360 resolution display and appears to be using a fair amount of aluminum in its housing. A handful of sensors were also revealed and include the standard accelerometer, gyrosensor, heart-rate monitor, pressure sensor, and magnetic sensors. Wi-Fi, GPS, and a cellular radio were also on board, but absent was a camera and ambient light sensor.
The all new 100% more round Samsung Gear A is expected to be officially unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 later this year. Although not an Android device, it still looks to be an interesting entry into the smartwatch category.
The folks at Oculus are looking to fuel game development for the Samsung Gear VR. To do this, they thrown together a little contest they’re calling Mobile VR Jam 2015. The contest promised more than ,000,000 in prizes in exchange for developers’ hard work, with the top dog being awarded a 0,000 cash prize. Yeah, that can buy a lot of ramen.
More than 1,000 developers from all over the world contributed and after 4 weeks, Oculus is ready to announce their top picks. If you’re looking to try out some exciting new content on your Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, you came to the right place. All 27 winners have supplied a download link to their apps where they can easily be downloaded and manually installed to your Android device. Let’s take a look at the top 27 winners.
SteamCrew VR
SteamCrew VR is a unique steam punk themed game that requires 2-player co-op to pilot an underwater submarine. You’ll need to download the game on each Gear VR (hopefully you have a spare laying around) and yell out commands to the other player to avoid terrain or fire torpedoes. The title wont Oculus’ top award for VR game, netting the development team a cool 0,000. Sounds like a wicked good time.
The Night Cafe: An Immersive Tribute to Vincent van Gogh
This one won the award for best “app experience” meaning it’s not really a game, but definitely worth checking out. Basically, you traverse a world brought to life by Vincent van Gogh’s unique artistic style. It’s a lot like an acid trip without all the long terms effects. Groovy.
DRIFT is a self-proclaimed bullet simulator. Player take control of bullets as they search out their target: the elusive green man. To make things easier (or more dramatic), players can slow down time to a crawl in order to guide a bullet around obstacles. With a unique visual style, this one’s got VR written all over it.
Because not every game is all about action, Daydream Blue takes players on a relaxing fishing trip to the lake. With your pet robot by your side, you’ll catch fish, watch the clouds from your boat, or play fetch with your robot. Sounds like the perfect weekend getaway.
VR is a great medium for telling stories. Colosse brings rich storytelling to the Gear VR in something that reminds of the game Shadow of the Colossus. Users need only to direct their gaze in order to make sense of everything going on around them. Simply put, it looks fantastic. Just keep in mind this is a preview version and not the full game.
Another VR experience, Along the Trail takes users on a visual journey across past memories. It does this by connecting to social network like Facebook, allowing users to “relive” past moments — only in trippy VR kinda way.
If you’re looking for some slower paced action, Scorched Battalion has got you covered. It’s basically a VR version of the classic Scorched Earth turn-based game tank game in a table-top, WWII setting. Sound intriguing? Check out the video above to see how it works in action.
If you’re looking for something more out of your VR headset than just mindless entertainment, Neuralgia could be exactly what you’re looking for. An “asymmetrical co-op game,” you and a friend team up to make sense of clues and solve puzzles. Just don’t pull each other’s hair out.
If you’ve always wanted to experience the life of a warden, Panopticon finally makes it happen. You’ll need to keep a careful eye on inmates to ensure their captivity, and make sure no one escapes on your shift. You even get to use a whistle!
In Bazaar, players travel down canal on a magic carpet, matching colors of object with others hidden in the environment. Once an object has been cleared, it travels up to the sky where it becomes a consolation. Yeah, doesn’t make sense, but it looks like some good clean fun.
In Soundscape VR, you and an anonymous player team up for a futuristic jam session. Players are brought together using Soundscape’s online matchmaking system, or there’s always the option to simply play alone.
Speech Center is an incredibly unique VR experience that looks to help you master public speaking. It does this by putting you in a huge room full of people while a coach provides you with tips on improving your speaking skills. It’s honestly pretty genius.
What platform would be complete without a good old fashioned tower defense game. In Atop the Wizard’s Tower, players must fight back an oncoming horde of enemies — all while sitting comfortably atop their tower, out of harm’s way.
Maiden Chaos is a top-down, run n’ gun shooter set in the future. You basically control a little woman in a red jumpsuit as she blasts robots in a military compound. This one requires the Samsung Gamepad controller, so hopefully you have that handy.
Audio Arena is a music game that requires players to hit targets to the beat. You’ll need to stay on beat to clear out enemies that surround you, building up sync bonuses for combos. It’s actually pretty fun looking and the soundtrack is a nice touch.
PhaseShift is a “cinematic platformer” with twist. Players must guide Dr. Hoffman as he jumps around between dimensional portals controlled by the player’s gaze. It’s a lot like Prince of Persia but with an entirely unique take on the platforming genre. We think the retro 3D pixel art was also a nice touch as well.
If you were a fan of look-and-tap adventure games like Myst, Captain Clark Adventures is essentially a VR title in a similar vein. You’ll basically need to solve puzzles in an effort to escape the dastardly pirates that have taken you prisoner. The trailer looks pretty epic, so have a look see.
Technolust transports players to a dystopian future where they take control of a security professional who must maintain order while fueling his obsession for ramen noodles and VR apps. Players do this by tracking down suspected criminals and preventing crimes before they even do them based on their AI profiles. You’ll only have a limited amount of time to do so, so you’ll need to act quick.
Polo is a 2-player, asymetical game of cat and mouse. Whoever is wearing the VR headset will take control of the mouse (Polo) while someone else uses an Android phone or tablet to control the cat (Marco). If you don’t have any friends, there’s also a single player mode where you go up against the CPU.
Wendy is definitely one of the more lighthearted titles on this list. Players basically assume the role of a witch named Wendy who must learn how to make potions and magic through a variety of puzzles. Oh, and she’s got a pretty cute cat too.
Blind Swordsman is the most graphically intense, visually impressive VR title you’ll ever see. The only problem is you’re a blind man, so you can’t really see any of it. Basically you get faced up against opponents and must use your senses to attack opponents as they near. One false move, and you’re done for.
Double Destruction is another 2-player co-op game in which communication and teamwork are vital to success. One player controls a shrunken down version of themselves who must escape a tabletop dungeon while their friend keeps enemies at bay with a lantern using their Android smartphone or tablet.
DMZ is another VR experience, but one that’s arguably more impactful thanks to being based in reality. Directed by Hayoun Kwon, DMZ is an interactive documentary on the secrets behind the Demilitirazed Zone on the North Korean border. You’ll hear a firsthand account of one soldiers memories, brought to life in virtual-reality.
Because what good is VR if it can’t actually teach us anything, NeoS: The Universe is an educational experience meant to showcase the power of scientific communication by way of VR. It’s more or less a technical demo of the things you can build in NeoS VR (formerly World of Comenius).
In House of Languages, a cute and friendly language instructor — named Mr. Woo — takes you around a room full of everyday objects in an effort to teach you a new language. English, German, and Spanish are all covered, and you must identify objects to help Mr. Woo find what he’s looking for.
An audio-visual experience, Tana Pura takes players on a journey on what happens after death, all set to music from Jonny Greenwood. Since it’s more of a passive experience, you wont have to do too much, but there are small interactions in the app making each play through slightly unique from the last.
Bouncinator is Oculus’ Community’s Choice Game winner and involves taking control of a bouncer who must inspect party goers for any dangerous objects before entering. There’s all kinds of weapons tools at your disposal, from x-ray specs, to flame throwers. Whatever you do, don’t get fired. It ain’t easy out there for a robot.
