Lucky me, lucky me!
This week I was able to get hold of the Oculus-powered Samsung Gear VR so I could take it along for “show and tell” at Radio 2GB during my tech talk on Saturday afternoon.
After spending some time trying all the different elements of the hardware and content, it’s obvious that we are on the edge of the precipice when it comes to a new paradigm for entertainment.
I say that with the knowledge that this Samsung Gear VR is the Innovator edition and not a fully retail-ready product, and I am quite forgiving with the apps I’ve been testing out. That said, this could indeed be a game changer, more so than Google Glass as a new tech category.
It took Palmer Luckey and Oculus to hone in on the issues surrounding virtual reality technology, including barriers to entry such as price and usability, and with the Samsung Gear VR, there’s no doubt that the rise of the smartphone and the inherent processing power has given us a true Mobile VR product perhaps sooner than anyone had thought possible.
The success of the Samsung Gear VR will ultimately be in convincing owners of the Galaxy Note 4 that it’s worth investing in a Samsung Gear VR accessory, and then to invest in content, be it games, education or entertainment.
What is abundantly clear right now is that developers will be looking for some degree of success in order to justify developing apps for Mobile VR – and the best thing that Samsung has done is provide a platform base of potential users that is more mainstream and consumer facing than anyone could have imagined.
Build it and they will come? Now it’s build it, and they will strap the headset on.
Here’s my first true hands-on video of the upcoming Samsung Gear VR. Let me know if you have any questions and put together a Q & A list during the week.
Peter Cupitt says
What do you believe is the quality of the image when watching a movie file (avi, mp4, flv, etc) through the Gear VR headset. OBVIOUSLY it won’t be 3d surround enabled, but as a “personal Cinema Screen” would I be perfectly happy lying on the lounge or in bed, watching a late night movie without disturbing “She Who Must Be Obeyed”. Naturally I understand that headphones or ear buds would also be required.
Could this be the ULTIMATE Motor racing FAn device? Both hands free for beer and sausage sandwich while watching recorded (Or live) motor racing ????? WHOA man Beer and Snags at 200Kms/Hr RADICAL !!!!
Regards
Peter