Samsung Calling its VR Headset ''Gear VR''

News
By Kevin Parrish
published

Back in June, Engadget reported that Samsung was currently working on a virtual reality headset, and was hoping to beat Oculus VR (Rift) and Sony (Project Morpheus) to the market. Many developers already have early versions that are powered by flagship Galaxy devices, but according to the report, the final Gear VR consumer version will require next-generation, unannounced tablets and phones.

Note that the headset is not the rumored Galaxy Glass, but a different project altogether. The device has two AMOLED screens rumored to be equal if not better than the second Rift development kit. What’s unclear is how the device connects to smartphones (presumably wired), and if the headset tracks head movement by using an external camera.

The report also states that in addition to hitting the market first, Samsung is also looking to undercut Oculus VR and Sony in price: what the price will be is unknown at this point although the current second-generation Oculus Rift development kit is $350. The report also points out that the headset will focus on Android gaming.

Now SamMobile is reporting that the headgear will be called "Gear VR," and will be introduced alongside the Galaxy Note 4 at the IFA 2014 convention held in Berlin on September 5 to September 10. This headgear allows users to dock in a Galaxy device via a USB 3.0 port, and use the phone’s sensors to track the user’s head movements.

SamMobile reports that Gear VR has a see-through button on the right side which uses the phone’s built-in rear-facing camera to provide video feed of the real world. Under the button is a touchpad for navigating through the user interface located on the Galaxy smartphone.

Because Gear VR will depend on smartphone hardware, the price is expected to be substantially lower than competing devices. The hardware is being built by Samsung itself, but the software is in development in cooperation with Oculus VR. The first full-blown Gear VR development kit will be made available sometime right after the announcement.

Finally, Samsung is expected to dedicate a special section in Samsung Apps for Gear VR, just like it has for the Gear smartwatches. The first set of apps compatible with Gear VR include Gallery, Theatre and 360 Player.

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Kevin Parrish
6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cozmium
    Samsung must have watched SAO.
    Reply
  • The_Trutherizer
    Well I'm starting to think that if Oculus does not get to the market soon they will have so much competition later that they do not hit close to the figures they can get if they launch right now for instance.
    Reply
  • everlast66
    Samsung once again leaving someone else to pay for R&D and create a product category and then moving in with their vast manufacturing capacity and scavenging whatever they can from the innovators and making a fat profit.

    Samsung: "Thanks Oculus"
    Reply
  • everlast66
    Well I'm starting to think that if Oculus does not get to the market soon they will have so much competition later that they do not hit close to the figures they can get if they launch right now for instance.
    I'm thinking the same, both Sony and Samsung are way more capable at bringing hardware goods to market compared to Oculus/Facebook. The Facebook takeover of Oculus is starting to look more and more like a stupid move.
    Reply
  • K-beam
    The winner in all this will be the one who produces the cheapest device with the best display, lowest latency and software support. Samsung already has advantage on the first two, they only need the third and fourth...
    Reply
  • merri1
    Well I'm starting to think that if Oculus does not get to the market soon they will have so much competition later that they do not hit close to the figures they can get if they launch right now for instance.
    I'm thinking the same, both Sony and Samsung are way more capable at bringing hardware goods to market compared to Oculus/Facebook. The Facebook takeover of Oculus is starting to look more and more like a stupid move.


    Oculus has been acquiring a major hire on a near weekly basis since the FB acquisition. They've literally got a VR dream team working on the tech, as well as teams built for creating first-party content. As for Sony or Samsung being more "capable at bringing hardware," I think, is bullshit. Firstly, FB and Oculus have the capital to get their hardware from anyone, and incentivize whoever to create displays, or other tech in the headset, specifically made for VR. Furthermore, Oculus and Samsung actually have a sort of partnership now, but I imagine you guys haven't read about that- Samsung and Oculus' partnership is that of sharing software and hardware. Samsung's VR is going to be getting help from, and using Oculus tech (which, because of their pension for not going patent crazy, almost everyone is kind of using Oculus tech for their headsets right now) and Oculus gets to be in the pocket of pretty much the best display manufacturer. If Samsung and Sony are "more capable at bringing hardware," how does the FB acquisition change that for Oculus, and make the acquisition a "stupid move?" Without the acquisition, wouldn't they still be "more capable at?"


    As for hurrying up and coming to market, Oculus is a little less concerned with "when," and far more concerned with "how good/the best". Their roadmap has always been Dk1, DK2, CV1, and they've largely stuck to it since the company was a company, only two years ago (is that taking forever?!). The DK2 is shipping sometime between now and a couple weeks, and up next will likely be the consumer version, and with a ton of content.
    Reply