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Samsung Gear VR : Consumer Edition Thread: Goodbye, real world.

Received mine from Best Buy earlier today. I'm simultaneously impressed and disappointed. Netflix and Oculus Cinema look way better than I expected and the focus adjustment makes the image pretty damn clear in spite of my terrible vision, but with anything using 3d rendering the phone (an S6) can overheat extremely quickly.

Not sure if it works with the S6, but if it's on there, taking off that semitransparent plastic shield cover helps. You can also take the back off your phone (or could with the Note 4, anyway), which helps more, but leaves things a little exposed for some comforts.
 
Not sure if it works with the S6, but if it's on there, taking off that semitransparent plastic shield cover helps. You can also take the back off your phone (or could with the Note 4, anyway), which helps more, but leaves things a little exposed for some comforts.

All of the 2015 flagship Samsung phones are locked down case wise like the iPhone unfortunately. Was bummed to hear the gear didn't have a micro sd slot too, gonna fill up my phone fast.
 

Bsigg12

Member
All of the 2015 flagship Samsung phones are locked down case wise like the iPhone unfortunately. Was bummed to hear the gear didn't have a micro sd slot too, gonna fill up my phone fast.

I opted for the 128gb S6 for this reason. Between Spotify and VR content, I have only used about 30gb of it so far.

Just finished watching a few episodes of The Flash on the Netflix app while the girlfriend went to sleep. It's awesome having what looks like a tremendous TV in front of you and some headphones to be able to watch whatever you want without disturbing even someone 3 feet away from you on the same bed.
 

Man

Member
If you are stuck on a Note 4 and want all Gear VR experiences (and have the means) then I would suggest upgrading to a 2015 Samsung phone (Note 5, S6 etc). On the other hand if it's just a stop-gap device before PSVR, Rift, Vive etc then probably not.
Note 4 is a pre-consumer GearVR device and it had a regression opengl Android 5.1 update making it feeble as well as a different chipset than the 2015 models (which have changed to Samsung's internal Exynos chipset). Support is so-so and I don't think it will get better at this point.

PS: Land's End |OT| is up.
 

jon_dojah

Banned
I have a DK2 and a decent PC and use my GearVR as much if not more than my DK2. If you already have a compatible phone and are even mildly interested in VR it is absolutely worth the $99 IMO.

Same here. Its just a different beast. I was pretty skeptical before I got GearVR even feeling snobbish like "How can this be better than my DK2 w/ positional tracking running off my powerful rig?". I really havent touched my DK2 since getting GVR back in May. Still super excited for consumer Oculus though.
 

Peru

Member
Getting bored waiting for a European release. Is it possible importing this from somewhere? (I'll probably wait but dang just give me a date)
 

julrik

Member
I opted for the 128gb S6 for this reason. Between Spotify and VR content, I have only used about 30gb of it so far.

Just finished watching a few episodes of The Flash on the Netflix app while the girlfriend went to sleep. It's awesome having what looks like a tremendous TV in front of you and some headphones to be able to watch whatever you want without disturbing even someone 3 feet away from you on the same bed.
How is the IQ, though? The screenshot on the previous page didn't look very good, to put it mildly.

I have a Galaxy S6, and have never tried VR before. Might have to buy this when it releases here (Norway).
 

Kyne

Member
How is the IQ, though? The screenshot on the previous page didn't look very good, to put it mildly.

I have a Galaxy S6, and have never tried VR before. Might have to buy this when it releases here (Norway).

one of the major problems of the headset atm is the inability to capture/produce good screenshots/feed. It's something that the developer has come out about and will be supporting very soon.
 
Mine's coming in today from Best Buy. I can't express with words how excited I am!
AU7Amsc.gif
 

Ravager61

Member
So, I know OP says I should be fine but is there any reason currently to buy this if I have an S6 innovator version besides ergonomics?
 
Mine should be here today, but I haven't gotten a phone update from Verizon yet. What should I expect if the device comes before Verizon pushes an update?
 

Zabka

Member
Not sure if it works with the S6, but if it's on there, taking off that semitransparent plastic shield cover helps. You can also take the back off your phone (or could with the Note 4, anyway), which helps more, but leaves things a little exposed for some comforts.

Shield was off, can't take the back off the S6, later had a fan blowing in my face.

I saw some people modded fans onto the plastic cover. Maybe I'll mess around with that.
 

Dachande

Member
I had a go of the Innovator edition last night at a games event and was pleasantly surprised by it. No, it's not the absolute best top-of-the-line VR experience, but it worked far, far better than I expected, and if the consumer version is much better then that's very impressive.

Probably worth adding Viral to the list of games in the OP. It was that dev's kit I was using and the game was quite fun, definitely worth a punt for people who're planning on getting a Gear VR.
 

Sho Nuff

Banned
I ordered this off Amazon on day one, when is this shipping?

edit: Looks like Amazon has blown it for preorders. Got it off Bestbuy.com with free shipping, will get it on Tuesday.
 

Kyne

Member
I had a go of the Innovator edition last night at a games event and was pleasantly surprised by it. No, it's not the absolute best top-of-the-line VR experience, but it worked far, far better than I expected, and if the consumer version is much better then that's very impressive.

Probably worth adding Viral to the list of games in the OP. It was that dev's kit I was using and the game was quite fun, definitely worth a punt for people who're planning on getting a Gear VR.

I remember seeing this a while back. Good find. Added it to the OP.

I ordered this off Amazon on day one, when is this shipping?

Reddit has had a field day with Amazon reps all week... basically they have no idea what they are doing. Your best bet is cancelling and pre-ordering from Best Buy if you want it by next week.
 

Foggy

Member
Anxiously and excited to get mine delivered from Best Buy today!

While I wait until the end of the work day, what should I have downloaded and prepped on my phone before I get home and get the headset?
 

ZOONAMI

Junior Member
Isn't this just going to cause awful eyestrain? Seriously using my note 5 results in far more eyestrain than other screens.
 

Kyne

Member
Isn't this just going to cause awful eyestrain? Seriously using my note 5 results in far more eyestrain than other screens.

please see above; the reviews give you an idea of what you're dealing with.

any chance best buy has them in store today?

No, I don't believe so. From what I understand they are online only until the 27th when T-Mobile starts carrying them in store.
 
Almost all mobile VR headsets, eh?

Yeah not gonna even bother reading the fucking Verge for an informed review on VR. It's a shame too cause when Topolsky was still with them he was one of the first to champion it publicly, even took the Oculus dk1 on Fallon (pre tonight show) for him to demo. That place went downhill fast.

That said gonna be a long wait for the ups guy, gotta love those end of day deliveries :/
 

Zabka

Member
I didn't get a screen door effect but on stationary images I could sometimes notice the subpixels in the image.

I'm surprised there isn't a trailer section in any of these apps since 3d trailers would be a great demo. Hell I think there's only one 3d movie available to watch and that costs $20.
 

Kyne

Member
fyi, don't order from Samsung.com. They seemed to have put the product on back order. Amazon still doesn't know wtf they're doing. Best Buy is still your best bet.
 
fyi, don't order from Samsung.com. They seemed to have put the product on back order. Amazon still doesn't know wtf they're doing. Best Buy is still your best bet.

I was tempted to change my pre order several days ago to Amazon cause of no experience pre ordering through BB and what to expect, sooo glad I didn't.


Nice, what time zone you in? Post some impressions once you get it!
 
I was tempted to change my pre order several days ago to Amazon cause of no experience pre ordering through BB and what to expect, sooo glad I didn't.



Nice, what time zone you in? Post some impressions once you get it!
EST, I certainly will. UPS likes to fuck around though, sometimes packages don't get her


NEVER MIND ITS HERE
 

Ferrio

Banned
Tempted to cancel my order and switch to BB. Thoughts? Won't get here until next week with BB.

edit: Went ahead and did it. Amazon says "Item temp out of stock" ya fuck that noise.
 

vermadas

Member
I'm going to limp along with the Note 4 and the innovator edition. Seeing support drop off from some of the big titles is kind of worrisome, but it's just not worth upgrading for me. The consumer version isn't vastly superior to what I have, and Samsung's 2015 lineup is gimped with lack of external storage and removable battery.
 

Kyne

Member
updated the OP with more reviews. Most (if not all) of them are positive. It would explain the influx of orders today and why both Amazon/Samsung are out of stock now.

edit:
just kidding. Everyone is out of stock. Rip.
 

I just can't get into video content long term with vr unless its for straight 2d on a flat screen like oculus cinema. Tried a few vr porn videos on dk2 and while its certainly immersive the first few times, you adjust to the effect fairly quickly and it soon feels like you're just watching a regular video just with large fov. That said I'm hoping the smaller sde on the gear can at least change this for me with some of the empathy pieces, or the felix and paul produced content.
 

Ferrio

Banned
Okay so now BB is outta stock, wonder if I got there in time?

Wow Oculus you guys fucked up big. This does not make me very confident about your Rift release.
 

Kyne

Member
Okay so now BB is outta stock, wonder if I got there in time?

Wow Oculus you guys fucked up big. This does not make me very confident about your Rift release.

Pretty sure they had no idea what the demand would be like. The buzz around it has been relatively low, probably because of the specific platform base. All the glowing reviews came pouring out of nowhere in the morning by every major tech/news website and anyone who had $100 and a Samsung phone probably came to the thought of "Sure, why not!" all at once. It makes an excellent stocking stuffer for just about anyone.
 
I just can't get into video content long term with vr unless its for straight 2d on a flat screen like oculus cinema. Tried a few vr porn videos on dk2 and while its certainly immersive the first few times, you adjust to the effect fairly quickly and it soon feels like you're just watching a regular video just with large fov. That said I'm hoping the smaller sde on the gear can at least change this for me with some of the empathy pieces, or the felix and paul produced content.
Without going into too much detail (this is a family friendly website after all) VR porn is cool because you get to choose what you look at and therefore don't get forced into some of the more horrendous camera angles regular porn subjects you to (for example, the extreme closeup of a dudes **** and ***** slapping against the lady's ******).
 

Bsigg12

Member
How is the IQ, though? The screenshot on the previous page didn't look very good, to put it mildly.

I have a Galaxy S6, and have never tried VR before. Might have to buy this when it releases here (Norway).

It's actually surprisingly good. While watching Netflix, I noticed a little screen door effect but it was only in scenes with a lot of white.

Games have done a pretty great job minimizing the effect as well. Lands End and Gunjack both ran great, which helps tremendously with avoiding any sort of nausea.

I'm looking to by a Bluetooth controller today to play around with the arcade stuff.
 
Without going into too much detail (this is a family friendly website after all) VR porn is cool because you get to choose what you look at and therefore don't get forced into some of the more horrendous camera angles regular porn subjects you to (for example, the extreme closeup of a dudes **** and ***** slapping against the lady's ******).

For me its usually pov or bust. High framerate is a must too, I've been spoiled by 60 fps videos, which for some reason some of these vr porn outfits aren't doing. 24 or 30 doesn't cut it when you're trying to do vr, even with video content.
 

Ferrio

Banned
Pretty sure they had no idea what the demand would be like. The buzz around it has been relatively low, probably because of the specific platform base. All the glowing reviews came pouring out of nowhere in the morning by everyone major tech/news website and anyone who had $100 and a Samsung phone probably came to the thought of "Sure, why not!" all at once. It makes an excellent stocking stuffer for just about anyone.

No idea what the demand would be like even though all these people not getting it had it preordered? That's worse.
 
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