Owners of the Galaxy Note 4 will have a new toy to play with early next month with the launch of Samsung's Gear VR Innovator Edition. Like Google's Explorer Edition, this version of Samsung's VR headgear allows users to check out the hardware before the retail release. Presumably, Samsung is looking for user feedback to fine-tune the hardware as well as developer feedback regarding apps designed specifically for this headset.
According to some very small print on the product page, this Innovator Edition was created for "innovative consumers, specifically VR enthusiasts, developers, mobile experts and professionals, and early technology adopters." The drawback with this headset is that it depends on the Galaxy Note 4 for its content, which sports a 5.7-inch screen with a 2560 x 1440 resolution.
The Gear VR provides a 96-degree field of view, a motion to photon latency of around 20 ms, and an interpupillary distance (IPD) coverage of 55 to 71 mm. The headset also includes a touchpad, a back button, a volume key, a focus adjustment wheel, and a microUSB port for connecting the headset to the Galaxy Note 4. The headset weighs a mere 0.835 pounds and measures 198 x 116 x 90 mm.
The company indicates that once Innovator Edition users fire up the Gear VR, four exclusive apps from Oculus will be downloaded to the Galaxy Note 4. These include Oculus Home, Oculus Store, Oculus Cinema and Oculus 360 Videos and Photos. Users will also have access to exclusive Samsung/Oculus content such as Tony Stark's lab from Age of Ultron, interaction with DreamWorks character content, and more.
"In addition to an immersive entertainment experience, Gear VR Innovator Edition has potential for innovative uses for enterprise, including realistic training simulation for vehicles or aircraft, 360-degree views of scans for healthcare, and interactive learning experiences for the classroom," Samsung's blog said on Wednesday.
Although many consumers may be disappointed about the fact that the Galaxy Note 4 is the only compatible device for the headset, perhaps this is a good thing. All content and applications will be siphoned through Oculus VR, so users will know the apps will work. A single hardware set means that developers will have an easier time providing said apps and content than if they were developing for multiple Android devices.
The Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition will be released in Frost White in early December for an unspecified price.
For more, check out our earlier interview with Oculus VR's Nate Mitchell on the Gear VR.
Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.
