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Samsung’s surprisingly good virtual reality solution: Strap a phone to your face. Samsung’s surprisingly good virtual reality solution: Strap a phone to your face.
(about 7 hours later)
I'm horribly afraid of heights. Yet here I am, hanging off the edge of a helicopter skid, looking down at a canyon. For a split-second, I can feel my stomach flip-flopping.I'm horribly afraid of heights. Yet here I am, hanging off the edge of a helicopter skid, looking down at a canyon. For a split-second, I can feel my stomach flip-flopping.
I tighten my grip involuntarily and remember: I'm not actually flying anywhere. I'm in a desk chair in my cubicle, wearing Samsung's Gear VR virtual reality headset and probably distracting the heck out of my co-workers.I tighten my grip involuntarily and remember: I'm not actually flying anywhere. I'm in a desk chair in my cubicle, wearing Samsung's Gear VR virtual reality headset and probably distracting the heck out of my co-workers.
Between the Oculus Rift, Google Glass and Microsoft's forthcoming HoloLens, it seems like virtual and augmented reality is on the cusp of the mainstream. All those headsets hold incredible promise, and come with their own visions of how gadgets worn on the face will revolutionize our everyday lives.Between the Oculus Rift, Google Glass and Microsoft's forthcoming HoloLens, it seems like virtual and augmented reality is on the cusp of the mainstream. All those headsets hold incredible promise, and come with their own visions of how gadgets worn on the face will revolutionize our everyday lives.
The Samsung Gear VR has a big advantage over them all: it's actually available. Now. To everyone. You could go buy one for $200. They're available online and on store shelves at  Best Buy and AT&T, which loaned The Post this device for review. The Samsung Gear VR has a big advantage over them all: it's actually available. Now. To everyone. You could go buy one for $200. They're available online from Best Buy, Samsung and AT&T, which lent The Washington Post this device for review.
At that price the Gear VR is not exactly cheap, but still cheaper than one might expect for such a new piece of technology. Even Oculus, which partnered with Samsung for the design of the Gear VR, charges developers $350 for its Rift headset. Part of what makes the Gear VR less expensive is the fact that it uses a smartphone -- specifically the Galaxy Note 4 -- as its screen and for its power. So if you don't already have a Note 4, then you should factor in the cost of the phone -- also $300, subsidized -- into your budget as well.At that price the Gear VR is not exactly cheap, but still cheaper than one might expect for such a new piece of technology. Even Oculus, which partnered with Samsung for the design of the Gear VR, charges developers $350 for its Rift headset. Part of what makes the Gear VR less expensive is the fact that it uses a smartphone -- specifically the Galaxy Note 4 -- as its screen and for its power. So if you don't already have a Note 4, then you should factor in the cost of the phone -- also $300, subsidized -- into your budget as well.
The Gear VR is well-made, which helps justify the price. It's also fairly simple, made of glossy white plastic with very few buttons -- in fact, just a touchpad on the right side of your head, a volume rocker and a back button above the touchpad. It also has a focus knob up top -- so you can wear the device without your glasses and a minimum of squinting -- that just might remind someone of those old stereoscopic ViewMasters.The Gear VR is well-made, which helps justify the price. It's also fairly simple, made of glossy white plastic with very few buttons -- in fact, just a touchpad on the right side of your head, a volume rocker and a back button above the touchpad. It also has a focus knob up top -- so you can wear the device without your glasses and a minimum of squinting -- that just might remind someone of those old stereoscopic ViewMasters.
In terms of size, think of the biggest pair of ski goggles you've ever seen, and then add an inch or so to the front of them. It's not terribly big, though it certainly isn't what you would call discreet. This is a very noticeable gadget; more so to the people around you than to yourself.  If the reaction in this newsroom is any indication, people will take pictures of you while you're wearing it and looking silly -- and you will be completely unaware.  The Gear VR may be cool but it will not make you look cool. (For evidence, I refer you to the video above.)  You're going to have to be okay with that.In terms of size, think of the biggest pair of ski goggles you've ever seen, and then add an inch or so to the front of them. It's not terribly big, though it certainly isn't what you would call discreet. This is a very noticeable gadget; more so to the people around you than to yourself.  If the reaction in this newsroom is any indication, people will take pictures of you while you're wearing it and looking silly -- and you will be completely unaware.  The Gear VR may be cool but it will not make you look cool. (For evidence, I refer you to the video above.)  You're going to have to be okay with that.
But beauty is hardly everything, especially since this isn't a device you're going to be wearing on trips down the sidewalk. The Gear VR, like the Oculus Rift, is not an action device. You can't see the real world once its on. What you want it for is content: namely games and video.But beauty is hardly everything, especially since this isn't a device you're going to be wearing on trips down the sidewalk. The Gear VR, like the Oculus Rift, is not an action device. You can't see the real world once its on. What you want it for is content: namely games and video.
Right now, admittedly, the content portfolio is a little thin. In my time with it, I explored the store and found a range of good but fairly limited content currently out there. There was a handful of games of varying genres. They were all fun -- the most successful of which pulled users into the world gradually, eliminating the figurative and literal whiplash you feel when you suddenly have to look behind you.Right now, admittedly, the content portfolio is a little thin. In my time with it, I explored the store and found a range of good but fairly limited content currently out there. There was a handful of games of varying genres. They were all fun -- the most successful of which pulled users into the world gradually, eliminating the figurative and literal whiplash you feel when you suddenly have to look behind you.
There's another point in the Gear VR's favor: it's cordless, which makes spinning around a much easier endeavor. And there's a lot of spinning to be done when you're looking at 360-degree pictures.There's another point in the Gear VR's favor: it's cordless, which makes spinning around a much easier endeavor. And there's a lot of spinning to be done when you're looking at 360-degree pictures.
You can spend a lot of time with the headset, but it is worth nothing that the headset is hard on a smartphone's battery, even when it's idle. I left a mostly charged Note 4 in the headset overnight, and woke up to a dead --  0% battery --  phone. While you probably wouldn't leave your actual phone in the headset overnight, it's worth noting that playing around with all those heavy graphics and processors do take their toll.You can spend a lot of time with the headset, but it is worth nothing that the headset is hard on a smartphone's battery, even when it's idle. I left a mostly charged Note 4 in the headset overnight, and woke up to a dead --  0% battery --  phone. While you probably wouldn't leave your actual phone in the headset overnight, it's worth noting that playing around with all those heavy graphics and processors do take their toll.
One place where the Gear VR does disappoint is in its resolution, which is grainy, especially for tech-lovers used to ultra-HD screens and retina displays. While the Note 4 itself has as crisp a display as you could want, it loses that clarity through the VR's goggle-like lenses. It's not enough to detract from the novelty of being dropped into the middle of a landscape, but can get a little annoying while playing games.One place where the Gear VR does disappoint is in its resolution, which is grainy, especially for tech-lovers used to ultra-HD screens and retina displays. While the Note 4 itself has as crisp a display as you could want, it loses that clarity through the VR's goggle-like lenses. It's not enough to detract from the novelty of being dropped into the middle of a landscape, but can get a little annoying while playing games.
It also makes it a little harder to trick your brain into thinking it's in a truly 3D world. The slight blur, combined with the normal motion-sickness some people feel when using VR headsets, can lead to some serious dizziness. I've tried out the Rift a couple of times, and have never felt dizzy, despite being prone to a little wooziness. (First-person shooters, I'm looking -- well, actually, pointedly not looking -- at you.)It also makes it a little harder to trick your brain into thinking it's in a truly 3D world. The slight blur, combined with the normal motion-sickness some people feel when using VR headsets, can lead to some serious dizziness. I've tried out the Rift a couple of times, and have never felt dizzy, despite being prone to a little wooziness. (First-person shooters, I'm looking -- well, actually, pointedly not looking -- at you.)
But even a twenty-minute session playing with the Gear VR made me feel unsteady on my feet once I took it off. That feeling became more pronounced after watching some of the best video the review Gear VR had to offer, in which wearers can take a helicopter tour through part of Iceland. The fact that my eyes were pretty convinced I was moving, but the rest of my body didn't know what to do. Ultimately, it was definitely best to use the thing while sitting down, preferably in a swivel chair.But even a twenty-minute session playing with the Gear VR made me feel unsteady on my feet once I took it off. That feeling became more pronounced after watching some of the best video the review Gear VR had to offer, in which wearers can take a helicopter tour through part of Iceland. The fact that my eyes were pretty convinced I was moving, but the rest of my body didn't know what to do. Ultimately, it was definitely best to use the thing while sitting down, preferably in a swivel chair.
If one were using the Gear VR for a long time -- say, on a first-class Qantas flight? -- it could be a bit hard on your brain.If one were using the Gear VR for a long time -- say, on a first-class Qantas flight? -- it could be a bit hard on your brain.
The disconnect can also pull you out of the world your eyes tell you you're in, particularly at times when you want reach out for something you see.  The Gear VR moves its field of view seamlessly as your turn your head, but while its trackpad is elegant and easy-to-use, it still isn't exactly intuitive. It's nice that you only have to wear one piece of equipment to get a VR experience, but the fact that it can't read the position of your hands or feet does pull you out of the virtual world.The disconnect can also pull you out of the world your eyes tell you you're in, particularly at times when you want reach out for something you see.  The Gear VR moves its field of view seamlessly as your turn your head, but while its trackpad is elegant and easy-to-use, it still isn't exactly intuitive. It's nice that you only have to wear one piece of equipment to get a VR experience, but the fact that it can't read the position of your hands or feet does pull you out of the virtual world.
Overall, the Samsung Gear VR is a very cool device, but probably not one I'd recommend to anyone but a hard-core tech fan quite yet. It's maybe a generation -- or two, even -- from being a must-have entertainment gadget. There's a reason the version out now is called the "Innovator Edition." It has its own share of kinks to work out to reach a market beyond the truly enthusiastic.Overall, the Samsung Gear VR is a very cool device, but probably not one I'd recommend to anyone but a hard-core tech fan quite yet. It's maybe a generation -- or two, even -- from being a must-have entertainment gadget. There's a reason the version out now is called the "Innovator Edition." It has its own share of kinks to work out to reach a market beyond the truly enthusiastic.
That said, it's one of the first headsets I've tried in which I could see the potential for wider appeal. The fact that it's powered by smartphone makes it all the more intriguing as a gadget to follow in the next few years as the competition for face-worn gadgets intensifies.That said, it's one of the first headsets I've tried in which I could see the potential for wider appeal. The fact that it's powered by smartphone makes it all the more intriguing as a gadget to follow in the next few years as the competition for face-worn gadgets intensifies.