The Samsung Gear virtual reality headset will be available at Best Buy stores starting Friday. The Inventor Edition starts at $199.99, a relatively affordable price.
Earlier this year, Samsung and Best Buy sold the VR headset online for a brief period, the first time the gadget became available in store. The new Samsung Gear VR was designed specifically for developers, but anyone who is interested can use it. One caveat about the Inventer Edition is that it requires a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone to use it. Best Buy offers the phone for $200 on a two-year contract.
Introducing Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR debuted last year, and it was built with the help of Oculus Rift. Unlike similar products, this one does not have an independent display or processor. Users slide the Galaxy Note 4 into the frame, which transforms the quad HD display into a low-latency processor. It makes it capable of 360-degree visuals and 4K playback.
The new virtual reality headset will also work with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Both phones are expected to be launched next month. The phones feature some nice improvements, including eliminating the plastic back of the phone and slimming down the phone by at least 15%.
Facebook joins in on the fun
Social media giant Facebook recently announced plans to support 360-degree videos embedded in users’ news feeds. The company demonstrated the technology with Oculus Rift (which it owns) during the F8 conference. It is called Spherical Video, and it lets users preview a 360-degree video experience. It also allows users to choose the viewing angle at which they want to explore their surroundings.
Virtual reality and wearable headsets could become the next big thing in technology. The advent of wearable technology also brings the internet wherever the user is; it redefines how people use technology. Samsung is the company to watch right now.
