I received my Gear VR last night and want to post my unboxing and initial impressions. I've been a VR advocate for awhile now and was excited to finally get my hands on a virtual reality device.
A little about my history going into this.
I'm an avid gamer and was extremely excited about VR since the DK1, however I've never used any of the previous devices. Several times I have been tempted but decided to "wait for the next one with more upgrades" until I couldn't wait anymore and finally took the plunge.
BUILD QUALITY:
This thing feels solid enough, however it somehow manages to feel cheap as well...almost like a toy. It could be my bias against shiny plastic though, I wish they went with matte rubberized finish. Another fear that I have is the USB connector seems a bit flimsy. I've had USB chargers bend in the past, so it makes me wonder if it will hold up with all the docking and removing.
Packaging was nice, I love the hard case and extra foam insert they give you. The one that came on the Gear VR didn't have a nose bridge pad which made a gap between my nose and device (my nose must not have a big enough bridge). The alternative foam had the padding in the nose area which helped immensely.
USE:
SCREEN DOOR EFFECT. Everyone seems to play this down, maybe because they've been jaded by using the earlier devices which had super screen doors...not sure. This is my first VR device and I have to say, the screen door is very apparent. I can't imagine they would release it like this to consumers. Resolution needs to increase before they can market this.
I also had a hard time dialing this in to the point where it's clear and without haze. There always seems to be a a bit of haze around text and no matter what I do, turn the dial or lift and lower the goggle, the haze is still there...better...but still there. To give you all a point of reference, my PD for my eyes is 56 (pretty darn close together).
The experience is fairly good so over time you learn to forgive the screen door and haze, but I can't imagine this being consumer ready.
The best apps seem to be the ones which are computer generated. The movie theater is what I always go to when I want to show the capabilities, it's amazing. The Pacific Rim demo is pretty good too.
However, I'm not too impressed with the 360 videos. It doesn't seem like you are "really there" like everyone says. I still feel that it lacks a feeling of depth. It feels more like I am staring out of a bubble or clear globe of some sort. I still thing it has a ways to go.
Overall, I'm in-line with most the sentiments about this being a showcase product to show the POTENTIAL of VR to people. It's not super clear, it's almost immersive enough, but it's not quite ready for prime time yet. I don't think the current games are fun enough yet either. Overall, I can't do anything with this device at the moment other than watch movies and show people demos.
Here's a link to the unboxing video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFyCH4UWb-A
https://www.youmagine.com/designs/cooling-cover-for-samsung-gear-vr-note-4
My best friend just bought and set up his 3d printer, im going to have him make me this!!!
That's great! Except the front of the Gear VR is already heavy enough. I would build it so the power supply is hanging off the back headband instead of the face of the unit.
very cool
That could work (attaching the battery pack to the strap). I just wanted to keep it simple.
I've attached a fan with 2 battery packs on the strap. Just wasn't worth it at the end of the day. I posted pictures a few days after the gear vr was released
Hi all
Because of the price point ($150 CDN), the gear live is one of my finalists for a smartwatch.
My question is, obviously, is the device still a good purchase in 2016?
Why or why not?
Thanks!
I would say yes I got the watch for christmas from my wife and have been using it every day since, lasts me all day with a few texts here and there, connects to my bluetooth headset, plays music independantly of phone, plenty of watchfaces on android market and can make your own with watchmaker app. Heart rate monitor is pretty consistent, screen res is nice and always on with dimmed mode. All in all a nice looking functional watch
yep mine still works awesome. I think google said that all android wear watches will get marshmallow update so it atleast good for another year. The always on display is a big feature.
I would say no....
I recently bought the Samsung Gear Live (new for $80) and also a new LG Urbane and I think I would have skipped the SGL if I had to do it over.
They are both running the same code and quite frankly, the SGL is a bit flaky compared to the LG.
ekaiser57 said:
Hi all
Because of the price point ($150 CDN), the gear live is one of my finalists for a smartwatch.
My question is, obviously, is the device still a good purchase in 2016?
Why or why not?
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
I would avoid the Samsung Gear Live at any price over $80 USD.
I purchased a SGL in November 2014. I wore it all day every day until December 2015 when I picked up a Huawei Watch.
Samsung Gear Live:
Pros:
AMOLED Display
Heart Rate Sensor
Comfortable Ergonomic feel when worn
Acceptable battery life (I keep tilt to wake, always on display, and Wifi active)
IP67 Certification with silicone straps work well with an active lifestyle
Cons:
Display likely to pick up a few scratches over time. The outter bezel is not raised from the screen which makes the watch easier to interact with, but offers no protections against incidental contact. (I am very careful with electronics but my watches always seem to get nicked up. Unless you go with a Huawei watch with sapphire crystal this will likely be an issue on any android wear watch.)
Charger quality in question. The charger cradle clips on the back of the watch and secures tabs in the cradle into recesses on the sides of the watch. One of the tabs on my charger broke after around 6 months. I purchased a replacement from Samsung which is still holding up. I have even read cases of the recessed cavities on the watch breaking.
The plastic around where the watchbands connect has cracked and chipped off. The band is still held securely in the metal casing but I would think this will happen on all SGLs with time. This appears to affect the watches water resistance as it creates openings into the case.
The Lugs/connection place for the watch bands has a unique profile that in my opinion only looks nice with the watch band that comes with the watch. It will work with most 22mm watch bands but third party bands just don't look right to me.
The connection on the stock watch band is secured with two punch-through pins and can disconnect if the band gets caught on something like your belt or pocket.
The watch does not include an internal speaker and therefore will not support the speaker features in the Marshmallow Android Wear update.
Final Thoughts
I still wear my SGL when playing sports or working out but due to the build quality issues and look/style with custom watch bands I would not recommend it as a daily watch. I would suggest an Asus Zenwatch 2 in a similar price point as it includes an embedded speaker and has a more standard watch lug design that will allow you to use third party straps without compromising the look.
Once the Marshmallow Android Wear update is available you will definitely want a watch with an embedded speaker. I am so looking forward to being able to easily answer a call on my watch while either my phone is close but not accessible or my hands are not able to get to my phone. My most common examples wold be driving, cooking, and playing video games.
I have also accrued 5 new watch bands in addition to the one that came with my Huawei watch and I change them very frequently. I was not able to do this with the Gear Live as I hated the way after marked watch straps looked at the connection between the watch strap and the watch case.
If you still want a Gear Live I would suggest setting up an alert for it on Slickdeals and wait for a good deal to come along. It was available for $80 USD for a short time on 1/15/2016 on eBay.
Let me know if you have any more detailed questions about the SGL.
Hi,
I own an LG G5 which offers a 5.3 inch screen, roughly the same dimensions and an equal display resolution as Samsung's top models. I am looking for the best VR glasses to watch movies (2D, 3D, 180°C, 360°). I am not interested in games or any other features, so basic google cardboard compatible apps and head tracking using the phone's gyro sensor will suffice.
QR Codes to configure the Gear VR in Cadboard app are also available.
So my question is: Is the Gear VR a viable option for non Samsung phones beause of its superior lenses, wide fov and lightweight design? Or ar standard cardboard like glasses the better option in this case?
Thanks for your help.
ColinMacLaren said:
Hi,
I own an LG G5 which offers a 5.3 inch screen, roughly the same dimensions and an equal display resolution as Samsung's top models. I am looking for the best VR glasses to watch movies (2D, 3D, 180°C, 360°). I am not interested in games or any other features, so basic google cardboard compatible apps and head tracking using the phone's gyro sensor will suffice.
QR Codes to configure the Gear VR in Cadboard app are also available.
So my question is: Is the Gear VR a viable option for non Samsung phones beause of its superior lenses, wide fov and lightweight design? Or ar standard cardboard like glasses the better option in this case?
Thanks for your help.
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I would do a search for "virtual reality headset" on Amazon, and choose one of the many, many models they have there. Be sure to get one with a bluetooth controller for the best experience. These headsets may not have the positional hardware, and touchpad that the Gear VR has, but, they will be usable with your phone. The Gear VR is made specifically for the models listed, and if you try to use your G5 in one, you may damage your phone, the headset, or both. I have both a generic, and the Gear VR. For watching movies, the generic versions are even better, because the field of view is so much wider than the Gear VR. The only problem I have had with the generic players, is there tends to be some drift over time, and you may need to recalibrate the sensors in your phone. Luckily, that option is built into most VR software for cardboard. Btw, Cmoar VR cinema is the one I use with my Note 4 on Cardboard. Haven't used any others, since I like that one, so there may be better options out there. Either way, enjoy VR, it's a whole new world.
Thank you for your answer. Which one are you using? I have a Shinecon Headset with adjustable lenses, but it only offers a 80°C FOV. I am considering the Zeis One Plus, the Baofeng Mojing 4 VR and the Bobovr z4.
But why would it damage the phone? Of course, I would not connect it to the phone.
ColinMacLaren said:
Thank you for your answer. Which one are you using? I have a Shinecon Headset with adjustable lenses, but it only offers a 80°C FOV. I am considering the Zeis One Plus, the Baofeng Mojing 4 VR and the Bobovr z4.
But why would it damage the phone? Of course, I would not connect it to the phone.
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Click to collapse
All my research on the subject led me to Bobovr Z4. And I was not disappointed and neither were the friends I bought them for. It however is no match for Gear VR which I received from my parents just a day later. The experience is so much more improved that I just bought an extra super cheap Note 4 on ebay and use my Gear with that.
I have tried a couple of headsets.
The Baofeng Mojing 4 VR offers the widest FOV, but I just could not get a sharp image with it.
The Bobovr Z4 has the sharpest image and a good FOV, but it just didn't create any feeling of immersion. The3D effect is very weak, barely noticeable at all. It feels like watching a 2D movie, staring at a flat surface.It also lacks any kind fo ventilation and the nose padding it too narrow, I have to breath trhough my mouth when wearing the headset.
The Zeiss VR One Plus is comfortable and offers the best immersion of all headsets I tried. The 3D effect is superior to every other item I tried. It does however magnifiy the image too much, so you can clearly distingiush individual pixel. Also the content usually lacks the resolution for this level of zoom. It also lacks the option to adjust focal length. While this usually isn't a problem, there are cases where it helps to get a clearer image.
The Gear VR just does all this things right. It doesn't zoom in as much as the Zeiss but far enough to create a nice Fov and great immersion. It offers lens adjustment. The colors have a cold touch on TFT displays, though.
So even for Cardboard content on a non Samsung phone, the Gear VR is probaby the best option. I am currently deciding between the Zeiss and the Gear.
How is the experience with the Gear VR on a Samsung phone better? As I mentioned, I am only interested in watching movies.
ColinMacLaren said:
I have tried a couple of headsets.
The Baofeng Mojing 4 VR offers the widest FOV, but I just could not get a sharp image with it.
The Bobovr Z4 has the sharpest image and a good FOV, but it just didn't create any feeling of immersion. The3D effect is very weak, barely noticeable at all. It feels like watching a 2D movie, staring at a flat surface.It also lacks any kind fo ventilation and the nose padding it too narrow, I have to breath trhough my mouth when wearing the headset.
The Zeiss VR One Plus is comfortable and offers the best immersion of all headsets I tried. The 3D effect is superior to every other item I tried. It does however magnifiy the image too much, so you can clearly distingiush individual pixel. Also the content usually lacks the resolution for this level of zoom. It also lacks the option to adjust focal length. While this usually isn't a problem, there are cases where it helps to get a clearer image.
The Gear VR just does all this things right. It doesn't zoom in as much as the Zeiss but far enough to create a nice Fov and great immersion. It offers lens adjustment. The colors have a cold touch on TFT displays, though.
So even for Cardboard content on a non Samsung phone, the Gear VR is probaby the best option. I am currently deciding between the Zeiss and the Gear.
How is the experience with the Gear VR on a Samsung phone better? As I mentioned, I am only interested in watching movies.
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I just got the latest gear vr headset and can use it with my LG G4 if I take it out of the case and take the battery back cover off. I was going to sell it but so far it's the best of all the headsets I've used.
petermg said:
I just got the latest gear vr headset and can use it with my LG G4 if I take it out of the case and take the battery back cover off. I was going to sell it but so far it's the best of all the headsets I've used.
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how did you get the Samsung VR apps on there???
bloodstorm666 said:
how did you get the Samsung VR apps on there???
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I didn't. I just use Google Cardboard and other VR apps from the app store. They work fine.
There was an ebay sale here in Germany and I was able to replace my LG G5 with an S7 for just a minor investment.
The difference is very noticeable. Content just looks right. With every Cardboard App the distorition correction never provided satisfactionary results. With Samsung VR everything looks exactly like it's supposed to. The immersion is much better when watching vr p... films.
Gone are also the heavy motion blur every cardboard app suffers from, as is the annoying drifting. Only the lack of AC3/DTS is a heavy drawback, but one can still use VRTV for that. Inside the GearVR Services one can enable a Developer Mode which reduces motion blur even in cardboard apps.
The app selection besides media consuming is severerly lacking though. There are a couple of games, but its all more proof of concept.
ColinMacLaren said:
I have tried a couple of headsets.
The Baofeng Mojing 4 VR offers the widest FOV, but I just could not get a sharp image with it.
The Bobovr Z4 has the sharpest image and a good FOV, but it just didn't create any feeling of immersion. The3D effect is very weak, barely noticeable at all. It feels like watching a 2D movie, staring at a flat surface.It also lacks any kind fo ventilation and the nose padding it too narrow, I have to breath trhough my mouth when wearing the headset.
The Zeiss VR One Plus is comfortable and offers the best immersion of all headsets I tried. The 3D effect is superior to every other item I tried. It does however magnifiy the image too much, so you can clearly distingiush individual pixel. Also the content usually lacks the resolution for this level of zoom. It also lacks the option to adjust focal length. While this usually isn't a problem, there are cases where it helps to get a clearer image.
The Gear VR just does all this things right. It doesn't zoom in as much as the Zeiss but far enough to create a nice Fov and great immersion. It offers lens adjustment. The colors have a cold touch on TFT displays, though.
So even for Cardboard content on a non Samsung phone, the Gear VR is probaby the best option. I am currently deciding between the Zeiss and the Gear.
How is the experience with the Gear VR on a Samsung phone better? As I mentioned, I am only interested in watching movies.
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Thanks for the tricks !
I was looking to buy a BOBO VR Z4 since i have a OnePlus and not a Samsung...sad the Gear VR is only compatible with Samsung brand...
I heard that it overheats quickly and you get warnings. I am deciding between this phone and the S7 Edge. I like the bigger display of the S6 Edge Plus in case I want to put it in another headset down the line which has a bigger FOV and thus I won't see the phone bezels. If I got the smaller S7 Edge, I may see the bezels. However, the S7 Edge has better thermal heat management.
So, S6 Edge Plus? Good or bad for VR?
tboy2000 said:
I heard that it overheats quickly and you get warnings. I am deciding between this phone and the S7 Edge. I like the bigger display of the S6 Edge Plus in case I want to put it in another headset down the line which has a bigger FOV and thus I won't see the phone bezels. If I got the smaller S7 Edge, I may see the bezels. However, the S7 Edge has better thermal heat management.
So, S6 Edge Plus? Good or bad for VR?
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Go for the s7 edge. A different VR headset will not work with Gear VR / Oculus software. You will be limited to Cardboard apps and, although you might get a wider FOV, it will be a crap experience. Quality of Gear VR apps is currently unmatched, not even by Google Daydream VR.
Enviado de meu SM-G935F usando Tapatalk
Aside from the obvious overheating issues with the SGS6 Edge. I would say that everything is more or less the same in terms of visual quality. The battery performance may not be as good as current Samsung Flagship devices in the Gear VR
Have s6 edge plus. Only overheated once in the 2 years I've had it playing AltspaceVR.
Before this thread becomes ancient...
There's an outer shell for Gear VR called 'CUVR' (3rd party) that mitigates this issue. Pretty simple thing; has a built-in fan and also a wireless charger. Of course, so far as I know, you can't charge while in use, and I can't imagine too many folks who don't keep a spare phone for VR will just leave their phone in it to charge, but the fan has worked well for me. It fits on the same way the Samsung dust cover does.
Just don't stick it somewhere it'll get jostled around with other stuff (The casing is 3D-printed and not super-durable). Broke off one of the attachment tabs on mine and had to fabricate a new one. It stays on pretty securely, though.