03-28-2017, 02:32 AM
Samsung's latest superphone will be officially unveiled on March 29, but one of its implied accessories has already seen the light of day. The newest version of the Gear VR was already shown off weeks ago at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona. The new model -- the fourth iteration of the accessory that turns various Samsung Galaxy phones into a virtual reality helmet -- now includes a dedicated controller, too. While the nascent virtual reality movement has struggled since bursting on to the scene in 2016, the Gear VR has been a bona fide hit. In fact, with over 5 million Gear VR headsets sold as of January, Gear VR may well be a larger VR platform than Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR combined. (The Gear VR incorporates Oculus tech, too.))
Samsung's Gear VR may be the Galaxy S8's greatest fringe benefit - CNET
The ultra-cheap Google Cardboard may beat Gear VR on numbers if you count all the giveaways handed out over the years, but it's also not a platform in the same way: there isn't a Cardboard app store, per se. Gear VR, like the Daydream View -- which is basically Google's answer to Gear VR -- is connected to its own app ecosystem. It's more finely-tuned. And, it's far more of an immersive experience. No, Gear VR isn't as advanced as a Vive, Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR. You can't walk through rooms or lean into objects. Like with Google Daydream or Google Cardboard, you need to sit down or stand still and turn your head around to look at things. But its impressive app library includes a host of channels for 360-degree videos and streaming 360-degree content. .
Samsung's Gear VR may be the Galaxy S8's greatest fringe benefit - CNET
Consumers are giving the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive a tepid reception, but organizations like NASA and BMW think the VR headsets are great for things like training and design. HTC is today launching MakeVR, a program built in collaboration with Sixense that lets you do modeling and sculpting in VR, then export the results to a CAD program or 3D printer. As we saw last month, it uses the Vive's controllers (and maybe the new trackers, more on that in a sec) to let you do freeform modeling and design..