WHILE MUCH OF the talk surrounding virtual reality (VR) has been about Oculus Rift, Samsung is the first company to officially release its own device.
Working in conjunction with Oculus Rift, the Gear VR has gone on sale on Samsung’s online store in the US for $200 (€169) although the major caveat is you need a Note 4 to use it (to put it into context, you could pay up to €699 for one on prepay).
Alongside the demos that will feature, it will also have a new content service coming out called Milk VR, an extension of its video content service. According to the blurb, it will deliver “new and immersive 360° videos five days a week, with channels in music, sports, action and storytelling.”
While it’s not here yet, the manual does show how it will work when you’re selecting videos, images and games. Choosing content will work by moving your head around and selecting something from the menu in front of you, while a touchpad on the side allows you to select, scroll or move around the screen.
When you put it on, you will be presented with a home screen, somewhat similar to what you would get on your phone except in VR. Accessing recent apps as well as your library, the Oculus store and Samsung’s own content.
Although there are quite a number of precautions to take in before using Gear VR. The manual starts with five pages worth of notifications before launching into the product proper and has a number of them near the end.
They include motion sickness, preventing children under 13 from using it, not to wear glasses when using it (Samsung recommends you wear contacts before putting them on), not to use the device when hot as it may cause mild burns, and to expect post-use symptoms such as “excessive drowsiness and decreased ability to multitask.”
Most of these warnings are to be expected considering the technology that’s at play, and some of the tips provided are quite practical:
Take at least a 10 to 15 minute break every 30 minutes, even if you don’t think you need it. Each person is different, so take more frequent and longer breaks if you feel discomfort. You should decide what works best.
Although others are a little bizarre:
Do not try to dry your mobile device in a microwave oven. Doing so may cause a fire or explosion.
The more you know.
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