Galaxy's VR headset "Gear VR" review that you can experience virtual reality Hatsune Miku and roller coasters

"Oculus Rift"PlayStation VR"HTC Vive"As the release of the high-end type VR headset is getting closer, it is the first to appear as a VR headset that can be driven as a single unit by inserting Galaxy"Gear VR"is. I bought it and tried the virtual reality actually, I was able to taste the virtual reality too much enough as an entry model as to what the power of the VR headset which output is affordable and high-spec PC is also unnecessary So I will review the situation with photos and movies.

Gear VR | Wearable | by Galaxy
http://www.samsung.com/jp/product/gearvr/#gear-vr

Gear VR video viewing application "VR CRUISESo, you can see the live landscape where Hatsune Miku sings and dances in virtual reality very closely.

Hatsune Miku's live performance that can be approached in the VR space of "Galaxy Gear VR" looks something like this - YouTube


◆ Photo review
So, Gear VR came.


The Gear VR compatible with "Galaxy S7 / S7 edge" which is coming soon in "Game 5", "S 6 edge +", "S 6", "S 6 edge" of the Galaxy series.


I will open it at once.


There was a surprisingly light VR headset inside.


Included items are instructions, straps, and Gear VR bodies.


Once you attach the strap, you will be able to wear it on your head.


Looking from the front like this.


On the left side "Powered by oculus" is written with the logo of "Gear VR". It is a VR headset made by Oculus and Samsung joint development, and Oculus' s account is necessary for installing applications and others.


The right side is like this, the one with the cross in the square is the "touch pad" which operates the VR screen with swipe and tap, there is a "return" button above it.


You can see that it looks like glasses as seen from the mounting surface.


There is a speaker and Micro - USB port on the bottom. There is no battery in the Gear VR itself, but if you insert a USB cable, you can use it while charging the Galaxy main unit.


There is a cover on the front, you can put Galaxy when you remove it casually.


The part written as "A · B" indicates the position of the device lock button, A is Galaxy Note 5 / Sg edge +, and B is Galaxy S 6 / S 6 edge, so it is OK to set according to your terminal.


This time I will set up Galaxy S 6 edge and review it. When you set the terminal to Gear VR ...


Since Galaxy S 6 edge enters setup mode, remove it once.


After setting up, set Galaxy ......


Preparing to leave to the virtual reality is completed if we set the cover.


◆ Installation and control of Gear VR
Actually wearing Gear VR will look like this.


First of all, we set the focus with the knob on the top. People wearing eyeglasses need to be removed, but because they focus on the knobs, it does not mean "they can not see because there is no glasses!"


You can move the cursor on the screen by moving the head and select the screen and slide with the touchpad. You can swipe in this square or tap it.


For more immersive feeling it is recommended to wear headphones. Headphones are directly attached to the Galaxy main unit.


Because we can not see outside at all, sitting on a chair with the carry came the most to safely taste the 360 ​​degree view.


In addition, when you start Gear VR, the home screen accessing the application store and each application is displayed first, but you can experience what kind of place the home screen is in the following movie.

The home screen of "Galaxy Gear VR" looks something like this - YouTube


Home screen that is displayed when it starts up. Although it is divided into two screens, it is actually seen in both eyes, so it appears as one screen.


When turning around, it seems that he is in a vast living room unknown how many tatamis are there.


You can access the app store from this screen ......


Access to libraries that have installed applications installed.


In addition, you can load the setting screen by holding down the "back" button of the main body from any screen. From the setting screen, it is possible to adjust the volume, screen brightness, screen position and so on. You can also activate the camera mode that allows you to see the surroundings with Galaxy's camera while wearing Gear VR. When setting to camera mode, you need to remove the cover.


Switch to utility, you can display screenshots and movie shooting menu. However, since these functions are rather hard to use, we are expecting improvement in the future.


◆ Play movie of various free apps with immersive feeling Max in Gear VR
Gear VR 's app can be downloaded from Oculus' s app store, and free things to fee are released. This time I picked up the application which responded well from the free application and tried putting together the state of playing in the movie.

· "Netflix"
Netflix offers VR applications that can enjoy the same video content as web applications and mobile applications in virtual realistic "virtual viewing space" with a huge screen. Where you are actually watching anime on the TV in virtual reality you can check with the following movie.

Looking at the Netflix virtual viewing space with 'Galaxy Gear VR' when watching TV like this - YouTube


When opening the Netflix application, a huge screen exclusively for Netflix is ​​installed in front of you. Although it is hard to understand in the image, it feels like a huge TV that is as wide as one wall.


I am sitting on the sofa in front of the screen and relaxing.


When you look around, you can see the scenery outside and you can see that it is a rather large living room.


As you turn your eyes on the screen you can move the cursor to move, you can see any content being delivered with Netflix.


When you play back one content, the surroundings become dark automatically, you can watch your favorite animation on a super large screen. Galaxy is easy for the terminal to generate heat, and there is a high possibility that it stops when you continue to view long-time content such as movies, but you could watch without an animation if you wish one animation. It's an application that allows you to enjoy flat images instead of 360 degree content in virtual viewing space, but once you experience it, you will see screens that are comparable to movie theaters at home, and you can think that "TV is not needed at home ... ..." It was about.


· "Smash Hit"
Smash Hit "which breaks the glass which was provided as a smartphone application as a Gasher Gasher has also been released with the VR version and it got a different play experience as when playing on a smartphone. You can see in the movie below how you get out of sight of the imminent glass.

Play "Smash Hit" game which crushes the approaching glass with "Galaxy Gear VR" - YouTube


It is a game that advances automatically straight ahead straightly before, fires a huge pachinko ball with a touch pad and destroys crystals and obstacles on the route, but in the VR space it is a game of broken glass When the debris approaches sideways or when the launched pachinko balls are reflected and come back, there is an illusion that really hit us, so you can feel the realistic feeling of not thinking "Wow!"


· Oculus Video
"Oculus Video" allows you to watch 360-degree movies with Oculus's official app. Content such as GoPro surfing and extreme sports, beautiful images of National Geographic, live scenery of U2 etc. are prepared, and Disneyland's picture can truly experience like going to Disney land abroad, experience of roller coaster In the scene I felt gravity unintentionally.

"Galaxy Gear VR" virtual reality to Disney land roller coaster - YouTube


When you start Disney content with Oculus Video, goofy will appear and magically flick the user around Disney Land.


Suddenly I suddenly got on a roller coaster and when I saw it for the first time, I was surprised that "I will fall out of a chair!"


At the end, the contents were skipped to places where Mickey & Minnie and Cinderella Castle can be seen, making it a content that makes me feel the future of "VR travel".


Hatsune Miku's live content at the beginning was provided by the Japanese VR content creation company eje's application "VR Cruise", in addition to Hatsune Miku, "Movie of the live action club of live action version" and Momoiro Clover Z You can see the live movies etc etc.

Hatsune Miku's live performance that can be approached in the VR space of "Galaxy Gear VR" looks something like this - YouTube


Hatsune Miku appears in the virtual space. Because Hatsune Miku always sings and dances while watching this, there is some sense of affinity.


Although it is hard to understand in the image, there are also scenes that Hatsune Miku approaches so that it seems to be "the nose is hitting", and even if I know it is virtual reality it will just be frustrating.


◆ Summary
Gear VR has a viewing angle of 96 degrees and it is a little bit narrower than the Oculus Rift's about 110 degrees, but if you wear headphones you get a feeling of immersion. "Gravity" is felt so much that you can not stand on the image such as a roller coaster, and the mood of "being in virtual reality" was sufficiently tasted. Since you can play anywhere with the main body and terminal, you can enjoy it with friends by taking it to the place to go out and having fun.

I felt that the battery speed of the installed Galaxy S 6 edge is decreasing, and it is the limit that it is limited from 30 minutes to 1 hour that you can play continuously at maximum. Although it is possible to play while charging the USB cable to Gear VR, if the Galaxy main body generates too much heat, a warning will occur and the application will fall easily. When the application stops, there is no countermeasure only to detach the terminal from the Gear VR, and it is troublesome to repeatedly attach and detach the terminal and detach it to the head many times when playing by force, and it is troublesome, "It takes 2 hours and 3 hours on a holiday Enjoying the reality "It seems difficult.


However, Gear VR has a main unit price of 15,000 yen or less, which is considerably lower than the high-end class VR headset that will appear in the future. It is expensive to buy at the same time as the fixed price Galaxy, but it can be said that if you consider that you can enjoy virtual reality without preparing high spec PC like Oculus Rift, it is quite affordable. The editorial department also said that "If you have a corresponding Galaxy you absolutely buy" "There was a cheap prejudice of wearing a smartphone, but you can have enough VR experience beyond your imagination", Galaxy users There seems to be no loss even if you buy it.

Please note that Galaxy Gear VR is available from Amazon and can be purchased from the following page. The price at the time of article creation is 14,860 yen including tax.

Amazon.co.jp: Galaxy Gear VR S6 / S6 edge compatible SM-R322NZWAXJP: Home Appliances · Camera


· Continued
How to record & mirror the "Gear VR" play screen at 60 fps & nullsack Conclusion - GIGAZINE