Virtual reality for your Galaxy S6

IF YOU own a Samsung Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, it’s time to dive into the full 3D virtual-reality experience with Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition goggles. How about an aerial tour of the stunning New York City skyline or a dive among exotic fish in a tropical sea – right on your phone? You can even travel back in time to the Jurassic Period and get up close to the dinosaurs.

The 3D goggles with magnification lenses have a slot up front for your S6 or Edge. Using the Oculus app, you see a pair of screens below each lens, one for each eye and, through them, images in which the brain perceives dramatic depth. Oculus has developed games, apps and movies for use in this 3D environment specifically with the Gear VR in mind.

Light and comfortable to wear, the goggles with focus adjustment are just 196x107.9x82.9mm and a little more than 420 grams. Two straps lock them around your head, one behind and the other over top. A USB connector links up the smartphone and a phone-lock key. 

A touchpad controls the app and your interaction with the virtual reality, with a separate key for stepping backward among the options and setting the volume.

The touchpad on the right side of the goggles has an embossed centre to make it quite user-friendly. Just swipe your finger left or right or up and down to move the imagery around. Tap it to change the view selections.

A second micro USB port is for connecting to an external power source, since running the phone, apps and goggles uses up the S6 battery charge fast.

I popped on the goggles and they immediately focused on my eyes and launched the Oculus app. Suddenly I was in a large living room with a high ceiling – the Oculus Home screen where you browse, download and launch the various apps and features.

There’s a cursor – a small circle – right before your eyes that moves around as you turn your head. An accelerometer, gyro sensor and proximity sensor aid in the illusion of moving about in the virtual environment – and such marvellous environments, truly immersive!

On the Oculus Home screen “living room” I looked up and could see every detail of the ceiling. To my left was a big TV screen and comfy-looking sofas, to my right more sofas, in the middle a dining table, in the rear right corner, still more sofas for lounging, and behind me a kitchen.

The Home screen displays a panel showing downloaded and recently used apps, along with access points to the Oculus Store, Oculus Cinema, VR Games and Oculus 360 Videos. Some of these are free, others for sale. A Library button shows what you’ve already bought.

In the virtual Oculus Cinema you can watch film trailers or your own movie files in this completely new and immersive world. The range of viewing settings is quite exciting, including home or multi-screen cinema – or even the surface of the moon. The cinema setting puts you right in the middle of a realistic cinema, rows of seats in front, behind and beside you and, down the aisles, even an exit door.

The Oculus 360 Videos app is terrific fun, transporting the wearer to wondrous landscapes both realistic and fantastic. Enjoy a breathtaking helicopter ride, tour a superhero’s lair, visit a futuristic sports arena or journey far back in time. 

I spent quite a while swimming through a BluVR movie of the ocean teeming with sea creatures, including whales, manta rays and dolphins. A huge blue whale came alongside me and whale sharks glided toward and under me. Above I could see the dappled sea surface. From there I journeyed to the Arctic Sea to play among the orcas.

“Jurassic World: Apatosaurus VR 360” is no less incredible an experience. With trees all around and a flying dinosaur in the sky, the Apatosaurus walked toward me and rose on its hind legs to chomp on tree leaves, some of which fell on my head. The dinosaur bent low and peered right into my eyes. My only regret is that Oculus has yet to create gloves with which I might pat the dinosaur on the head!

Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition for S6 retails for Bt6,500.

 

Key Specs

 

- Sensor: Accelerator, gyrometer, proximity (mount/unmount detection)

- Field of view: 96 degrees

- IPD coverage: 54 to 70 mm (fixed lenses)

- Usage duration: Two hours (heavy content), three hours (light content)

- Controls: Touchpad, Back button, Volume button

- Accessories: Replaceable face form, carrying pouch, lens-cleaning cloth

- Colour: Frost White

- Connectivity: microUSB connection to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

- Dimensions: 196x107.9x82.9mm

- Weight: 420.4 grams