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Gear VR review

rushmore

rushmore

Extreme Android User
I ordered mine with free shipping Thursday afternoon and got it yesterday.

+Good build
+Comes with a hard case (device is already in it, along with sd card)
+Fairly straight forward process

Before putting the device on head:
1. Dragged the Gear sd card folders to my 128gb card
2. Installed the VRintro APK to get the software install process started (the main apps are installed)
3. The process requires a simple registration to access the Oculus market
4. I skipped the card process since already dragged the content to my 128.
5. Once registered, the Oculus Cinema installs :)
6. Then the fun starts! Put the N4 in the Gear and adjust the gear to fit head
7. Then a brief simple calibration process and tutorial

Quick perspective / review:
1. More immersive than expected
2. Games are good for demos, but I mainly got it for movies
3. The 3D & 360 are surprisingly good
4. The Oculus Cinema ROCKS!!!
5. 2D movies worked fine. The only thing I could not get to work was an older concert from Youtube that was in FLV format and one avi. AVI, MP4, WMV and MKV worked fine.
6. The best Cinema options IMO are Cinema and Void. Void is nice since you can lay down and re- orientate the device view :) Void also provides the most display real-estate , so highest resolution. That said, I prefer Cinema a tad more due to the immersion.
7. Speaking of resolution, it is best described as between around 720p or a tad less. Before you balk at that, the experience more than compensates and the sense of large scale is impressive and the image quality is very good. Screen door goes away in your mind after a minute or two.
8. Device got real warm, but Void mode was less so, since just a black background.
9. Battery life for me was a tad over four hours watching video. Void mode might add 30 minutes.
10. Did not test a controller yet, but forum reports are any bluetooth controller should work.
11. Also did not test many images, but the immersion was great there too.

I can see this becoming HUGE for Note 4 owners and others companies jumping on the bandwagon. Also eating my words on Qhd being overkill. I now want HIGHER res on the Note 5 so video looks even better :)

If you are a Note 4 owner and video fan: Buy This Now :)
 
Just purchased the Note 4 will be getting the Gear VR sometime soon. From the looks of it and what I am hearing you experienced many of the common issues. First being resolution even though its 2560 X 1440 there is still some pixelation issues. The other is the unit gets pretty warm after 3 or 4 hours. From what I would really want to know if you could still use the GearVR headset with the Note 5? Because really GearVR is just lens and a USB connection to the outside world. The other thing I would like if we could get a longer power/USB cord to plug into an external adapter in the future? Running QUAD HD video really makes the batteries work on the Note 4. It seems like they are trying to limit peoples use of the the Gear VR?
 
Its new tech - doubt it'll be intentionally compatible with other devices. To be honest by then I'd hope it can be improved substantially. The focus is poor and should be adjustable on the horizontal plane too - then lens are too close together for me. Adjustment isnt in the lens but by moving the device in and out. Very crude.
However I appreciate its a dev product at this stage.
In use, my phone locked up after about 30 mins as the processor got too hot, so had to restart it.
The experience is however excellent even taking into account focus and heat. Very immersive - makes you want to reach out in some apps.
Dont like Temple Run at all - makes me feel sick immediately.
No problems with other apps though. All of which are short demos currently.
I can see this really growing but they have to focus on ...er focus and lens adjustment - not too hard to overcome. Wouldnt hurt having a titchy fan built in too - however expect this would dry eyes quite quickly.
I'm in the UK and bought from a US ebay seller. Got it in 10 days for around £240.
Worth it? Yeah - theres a big future here. Especially it they can build in kinetic type sensors.
 
I only use the VR for movies. Games are interesting ON IT, but we need cooler running chips to make this practical for games IMO.
 
Okay, I just got the Gear VR yesterday and set it up this morning. I found it a refreshing PRO that my Note 4 fits the Gear VR with the wireless charging back cover. However:

I copied the contents of the supplied folder into an Oculus folder on my 128GB card in the Note 4 DE. But the Gear VR couldn't find the install or operating elements. Samsung tech support maintains that I have no choice but to swap cards out and only use the supplied card with the Gear VR. That is a huge CON for me.

What is the step-by-step method for getting the Gear VR to work with my 128GB card? Where do folders go, what goes into each one, etc.? My Note 4 DE is rooted and ROMmed with Definitive 1.9, which is Gear VR compatible. Thanks!
 
I got it figured out. I did all the extractions using the Samsung card, then copied all files to the root of the 128GB card and merged the folders. Put the "priceless" Samsung card back in the case for safekeeping. Works great now.

The graphics take a hit due to SDE (Screen Door Effect) which should be resolved with the Note 5's rumored 4K screen resolution and the Gear VR commercial release.

Still, I plopped my Darling Bride in a rotating chair, put it on her, and sent her to another world. All she kept saying was "WOW". Our former male tax deduction (read that "adult son") said a little more. He kept saying "This is sick!"

:)
 
I also LOVE the Gear VR. I've had mine a few months now and LOVE showing them to Friends.
Their reactions are all the same, they are Amazed.

Just waiting for more games and content for my Note 4 and the VR Glasses.
 
I took my gear with me in the office yesterday. It was the last working day for me for this year, and kinda relaxed. An first experience with VR for many. Showed it to the IT guys as well, who were practically drooling to give it a try. I let them. It was fun to see their reactions, and enthusiasm.
There is a cool app with the Avengers, completely computer rendered, showing the gear's full potential. They were all trying to grab Thomas hammer :)
 
Just got this yesterday and I must say I'm not thrilled. It's still a great experience, but some differences from the 2016 model that I don't like are one, the padding around the edge is a bit smaller and thinner which causes some more light bleeding from the outside and is a little more uncomfortable on the face after prolonged use. They also removed the volume rocker on the unit next to the touch pad which I used quite a bit.The controller is something to get used to if you are pointing with it as it is independent of the headgear eyesight location and I find myself resetting the direction of the controller pointer quite often and I usually end up using the touchpad out of habit, but maybe I just need more experience with it. All in all, I still love going into VR, but paying for the new model because it's only a half inch larger seemed to bother me, but I reallly didn't have a choice with the Note 8 phone, so it is what it is. Haven't received the 360 cam yet so I cannot comment on that, but it's due in next week.

On a side note, one of my favorite games is 'InCell' and I opened it up on the new VR and the video will not show up, just audio and I haven't had an issue with any other game yet. I uninstalled and reinstalled many times with the same results. It might just be the game itself, so I will see what happens as I did email the developer.
 
I agree on the light bleeding, once you notice it it becomes very hard to ignore and is distracting. Still us early adopters have to suffer these early problems. Hopefully it will get better with time.
 
so far ive had the 360 camera for a couple weeks and i have had lots of fun with it. i fooled around in the oculus "lobby" and tried a couple of thigns and they seemed to be fine, but ive not delved deep into that VR stuff. still thanks for the review form olde uses of this stuff.
 
I've figured out a really low-tech fix for the light bleed. That spot on the bridge of the nose where the foam padding just... stops is the culprit. The fix?

I rolled up a little square of black cloth material and stuck it in there.

I taped it in to see how well it works, and I'll probably figure out a way to hot-glue it in place - unless I can find something that works better. Maybe some weatherstrip foam from the hardware store?

I'm working on it: but at least we know what to do about the problem!
 
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