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Samsung won me with VR but is losing me with updates
I want to get a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, I really do. I like my Galaxy S6 Edge, with its striking curved screen, and the new model improves on it in nearly every way. Most importantly, I like to dabble in virtual reality -- I'm not ready to commit $700+ to a PC-based headset yet -- and I can still get a new Gear VR headset free with the S7 Edge. Shamefully, though, my S6 Edge hasn't received an update to Android 6.01 Marshmallow, leaving me high and dry with Lollipop. I certainly didn't expect that with a $800 flagship phone, and I refuse to let it happen again.
The Olympics will be shown in VR, but only on Samsung headsets
NBC began outlining its plans for broadcasting Rio 2016 yesterday, but a few more juicy tidbits have now filtered through. The AP (via ABC News) is reporting that around 85 hours of programming will be available to watch in VR, but only if you use Samsung's Gear VR. The brief report claims that the opening and closing ceremonies will get the 360-degree treatment, as will the men's basketball, gymnastics and track and field. Details beyond that brief outline are sketchy, although it's interesting that the footage is provided by a unit of the International Olympic Committee rather than the usual suspects, like NextVR. All of the content will be available on the NBC Sports app, assuming that you've got a Gear VR-compatible smartphone, of course.
Samsung is encouraging filmmakers to create VR experiences
Samsung has launched a new initiative called "Creators" to entice storytellers and filmmakers to spin VR and 360-degree tales that Gear VR users can enjoy. To start with, the Korean company has teamed up with YouTuber Casey Neistat to spotlight creators on the website who put out compelling 360-degree videos. They plan to show a curated list of works by those YouTubers at VidCon, where Samsung will also provide seminars and classes to filmmakers under the Creators program. VidCon is an annual online video conference in SoCal, which will take place from June 23rd to 25th this year.
Facebook's 360-degree photos invade your News Feed today
We knew they were coming, and now they're here: 360-degree photos on Facebook are rolling out on the social network starting today. The new feature spans across Android, desktop and iOS and thankfully uploading your panoramic and spherical shots doesn't sound much different from how you'd share 2D photos. In the News Feed, you'll be able to differentiate between the two thanks to a compass icon denoting what photos you can drag around to get a different perspective. Folks with a Gear VR-compatible device (Facebook owns Oculus, remember) can even check out the fancy new uploads in virtual reality.
Samsung brings back its free Gear VR promo
Miss out on your chance to get a free Gear VR headset by pre-ordering a Galaxy S7? You can rest easy. Samsung is launching a US Father's Day promo that gives you a gratis Gear VR when you buy one of the company's higher-end phones from the past year, including most Galaxy S6 and S7 variants (sorry, no S6 Active) and the Galaxy Note 5. The deal also gives you an Oculus bundle with "hit games and experiences." You'll have to buy the phone between now and June 19th to qualify, but that's no big deal if you were already thinking about an upgrade and just needed a nudge to get moving.
Gesture control is coming to phone-based VR
Right now, gesture control in virtual reality typically requires an expensive PC and specialized sensors. But what if you can only afford (or simply prefer) VR on your phone? Don't worry, you're covered. EyeSight Technologies has developed gesture control that uses your phone's rear camera to allow touch-free input. It should work with any Android or iOS device, and it isn't picky about headsets. Anything from Gear VR to Google Cardboard should work, although we can't imagine Cardboard owners having much luck if they don't have a head strap.
Oculus highlights over 1 million Gear VR users with new content
While full-fledged VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive have gotten a lot of press lately, it's worth remembering that Samsung's Gear VR has been around for a lot longer. And due to its lower price and the fact that it only requires a phone, it's also a whole lot more accessible. That could explain why just six months after the consumer Gear VR launched, over 1 million people have used Gear VR in the past month alone, Oculus revealed today. The Facebook-owned entity took this milestone opportunity to not only introduce a slew of new video content but also give us an update on how mobile VR is progressing.
This weekend's Kentucky Derby will be broadcast in VR
Television networks have already broadcast boxing, basketball and other sports live in VR. Heck, we've even stepped inside a soccer game. Virtual reality is becoming a regular part of live sports coverage, and that includes horse racing. NextVR and NBC are teaming up to stream his weekend's Kentucky Derby in VR for the first time. In fact, the duo says that this will be the first virtual reality broadcast for the sport of horse racing as a whole.
Samsung brings nightly storytime into VR for busy parents
Parents don't always have a chance to read to their kids at night -- especially if they're traveling, or working late. Samsung is working on a potential solution for this modern dilemma: BedTime VR Stories, a new Gear VR app that lets parents experience a story together with their children. At first, it might seem like a dystopian realization of a sad, disconnected future (especially when the mother and daughter in Samsung's video try to hold hands, only to reach out into nothing). But there's certainly potential, especially for busy parents who want to do more than just video chat with their kids before bed.
'Minecraft' arrives on Samsung's Gear VR headset
Last month, during GDC 2016 in San Francisco, we learned about Microsoft's plans to release Minecraft for Gear VR. Still, details such as pricing and availability were unknown at the time. But that's changing today: Oculus has announced that the open-world hit is now available on Samsung's virtual reality headset. Officially dubbed Minecraft: Gear VR Edition, the game is said to support the same features as the Pocket Edition, including its creative, survival and multiplayer modes, as well as the character skins your familiar with.
Samsung's 360-degree camera will arrive on April 29th
Samsung unveiled its 360-degree camera, aptly called the Gear 360, earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Today, the company announced its ship date. The tiny ball-shaped camera will be available for purchase on April 29th this year. As a reminder, the Gear 360 packs in two F/2.0 fish-eye lenses, with a 15-megapixel sensor on each. It'll capture 3,840 x 1,920 video at 30 frames per second and still images at a rather large 7,776 x 3,888 resolution (that's 30 megapixels). It doesn't have on-board storage, but there is a microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 128GB of storage. The Gear 360 is just the latest in Samsung's VR efforts. Its Gear VR headset has been very popular and the company gave a hint at its developer's conference that a standalone headset (usable without a phone) is also in the works. "VR is amazing, but the industry is still in infancy," said Injong Rhee, Samsung's executive VP for Research and Development, adding that the camera is for consumers in addition to professionals. "We're enabling more people to create more VR content." Update: We've learned that the Gear 360 will be available only to select regions, including Korea, where it'll be available for 399,000 won (that's around $347 USD). US pricing and availability is still to be determined.
Japanese internet cafes' latest service is VR theater for one
Smokey Japanese internet cafes aren't where the possible future of entertainment is typically revealed to the press, but here I am. An association of said internet cafes and entertainment complexes will roll out a virtual reality 'theater' service across Japan, starting with 31 establishments in the Kanto region. Importantly, it'll feature content that people might actually want to watch: a quick VR take on popular anime series Attack On Titan as well as a full 15-minute Ghost In The Shell 360-degree CGI movie. For better or worse, Gear VR will be powering the service, and to make it seem all the more futuristic, some cafes will have egg chairs to sit in. Cool, yes. But, comfortable? Well...
Samsung Gear VR now works with the web's native VR format
Samsung's Gear VR already has a web browser, but it's now ready to browse the virtual reality experiences you find on the web, too. The company has introduced experimental support for WebVR that gives you full immersion when you visit supporting content using the headset. You'll have to enable it yourself, and Samsung is quick to warn that things can break (WebVR isn't a finished standard). Nonetheless, this is a big deal -- it helps justify the Gear VR browser's existence, and might give you one more reason to wear the device.
NCAA to stream Final Four and championship game in VR
Streaming sports in VR isn't that novel these days, but that's not stopping the NCAA from employing the tech this weekend in Houston. The collegiate sports governing body announced plans to livestream the Final Four and National Championship games in virtual reality Saturday, April 2nd and Monday, April 4th. This is the first time a VR stream will be available for the culmination of March Madness, offering 180-degree views of the action on the hardwood. The stream will be available on Samsung's Gear VR through the March Madness Live app in the Oculus Store. If you don't have a headset, there will be a 2D 180-degree livestream on the March Madness website alongside 360-degree game highlights.
Hulu's Gear VR app puts you in a virtual viewing room
Your Gear VR just became a very personal TV. Hulu has launched an app for Samsung's virtual reality headset that lets you watch conventional movies and TV shows alongside native VR video from the likes of Discovery, National Geographic, Showtime and Hulu itself. If you're watching plain 2D content, the app will plunk you into a customizable virtual viewing space, whether it's a posh living room or the beach.
Microsoft is opening up the world of 'Minecraft' to Gear VR
The Oculus Rift isn't the only virtual reality platform getting a piece of Minecraft's pie. Today, at a GDC 2016 event, Microsoft and Oculus are set to announce that the open-world phenomenon is also coming to the Gear VR, a spokesperson for the companies confirmed to Engadget. For many people, Samsung's headset is a far more accessible option than the consumer Rift, so this is good news for anyone who wants to play Minecraft in VR without breaking the bank.
Oculus Social launches on Gear VR, Facebook tie-in coming soon
Following the lead of nearly everything else on the internet, Oculus has announced it's adding social features to the company's VR platform. Starting tomorrow, Gear VR owners will be able to create a profile of their own, and then search for others by their real name or username. Social hooks aren't that unexpected for a company owned by Facebook and of course, tie-ins for that are coming as well. We reached out to Oculus and the company says linking your account with Facebook will be completely optional, but for those who want it, it's coming next week.
Fox Sports will stream the Big East hoops tournament in VR
Between the news that March Madness Live will be available on more devices than ever this year and TuneIn partnering with the NBA to host live game audio, it's been a pretty interesting week for hoops fans already. But Fox Sports isn't content to sit on the bench while others boost their draft prospects, announcing it'll be broadcasting the last seven games of this year's Big East Men's Basketball Tournament in virtual reality.
Samsung Galaxy S7 buyers can claim their free Gear VR
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones, it offered a pretty nice enticement to pre-order buyers: A free Galaxy Gear VR headset and six-game bundle worth $150. If you plunked your money down or are planning to do so before March 18th, you can now claim your goodies through a new portal on Samsung's website. All you need to do is select the carrier or retailer you bought it from and follow the instructions. Verizon buyers can pick a Gear S2 smartwatch valued at $300 instead, while T-Mobile users get a free year of Netflix on top of the Gear VR, a $120 perk.
Samsung and Six Flags team up for virtual reality roller coasters
If you're making the trek to a Six Flags park this summer, virtual reality will be an option for some roller coasters. The company teamed up with Samsung on a number of virtual reality roller coasters that offer a more immersive experience thanks to Oculus-powered Gear VR headsets. A total of nine rides spread across the US will have the new option, and six of those will show a "New Revolution" futuristic battle to save Earth from an alien invasion. The other three will serve up a Superman-themed VR experience where riders must defeat Lex Luthor during a tour of Metropolis.
