Samsung announced today the new Gear VR headset and the Galaxy Note 7.
The system comes with a USB Type-C connection compatible with the Galaxy Note 7 and includes micro USB connector to making it compatible with older phones like the Samsung S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, S7, S7 Edge and the Galaxy Note 5.
It does not use an adaptor for the retro compatibility. Instead, the user will be able to unlock the connector and shift it to the other one to give the users the option to use whatever phone VR-compatible they have. The USB Type-C replaces the conventional micro USB port to not only charge the phone but to transfer data too, which means it could be used in the future for some accessories for games.
Samsung Gear VR price and release date
The Samsung Virtual Reality Gear will be released August 19 for the U.S. and for the U.K. release date has not been given yet, but for some of those who pre-order the Galaxy Note 7 in the U.K., the phone will come with a free headset.
It will have a price of $99 just like its predecessor, and it is already available for pre-order on Samsung’s website.
The Gear VR comes in a black- dark blue design on the exterior and on the interior as well, in response to customers of the previous version that claims the white interior does not permit a real immersion because it reflects the light.
It has a Home button to send the user to the main menu and a Back button, a difference respecting its predecessor that only has a Back button which you could hold down to do the same thing the new Home button does. Along with them, it has the volume key and a touchpad.
The system has a wider field of view in comparison with the older model with a viewing angle of 101 degrees.
Samsung VR experience at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Samsung partnered with NBC Universal and Olympic Broadcasting Services to broadcast some selected events at the Rio Olympics in VR for the first time. Those of which include the opening ceremony as well as the closing ceremony, basketball, gymnastics, diving and track and field.
Only about 80 hours of the whole Olympics will be broadcasted in VR and those who want to experience it will need a Samsung smartphone with a Gear VR headset, the NBC Sports app, and a cable subscription.
“The Olympics will give extra momentum to virtual reality,” said Mario Laffitte, Samsung’s VP of marketing in Latin America. “Virtual reality is having a big wave right now,” added Laffitte during an interview at Sao Paulo.
Source: The Verge