Samsung’s smartphone powered Gear VR Innovator Edition headset is now available for purchase in the U.S. from Samsung.com or AT&T. Powered by Oculus, the company behind the amazing Oculus Rift, the Gear VR will allow a fully immersive VR experience when coupled with the Galaxy Note 4. It is possible that future Samsung devices will also support the Gear VR, although we haven’t heard anything specific about that. Think of the Note 4 as the brains behind the operation, with the Gear VR being the brawn. Separating the two allows for a lower price point than say the Oculus Rift which is one solid unit.
The Gear VR Innovator Edition, intended for developers and tinkerers will also have access to the Oculus Mobile SDK which includes Oculus Home, Store, Cinema and 360 Videos and Photos to get you off to the right start.
Hit up the source links below to purchase your Gear VR Innovator Edition headset for $199.99.
Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition Now Available in United States
Samsung’s First Virtual Reality Product powered by Oculus Set to Inspire and Entertain
December 8, 2014 – DALLAS – Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung) announced today that the Samsung Gear™ VR Innovator Edition powered by Oculus is now available in the U.S. Using the Galaxy Note® 4, Gear VR Innovator Edition gives content creators and VR enthusiasts a chance to get their hands on the first low persistence virtual reality experience powered by a smartphone, enabling developers and early adopters to see and experience content as it is created.
“With Gear VR Innovator Edition, Samsung is putting the device in the hands of creators to craft amazing experiences, as we define this new mobile category together,” said Justin Denison, vice president, Product Strategy and Marketing, Samsung Telecommunications America. “This is a great opportunity for the enthusiast community, developers and Samsung to get feedback and continue to innovate in this exciting new space.”
At launch, Gear VR Innovator Edition includes sample gaming and experiential content like HeroBound, a whimsical dungeon exploration adventure, Anshar Wars, a multiplayer space shooter, and theBlu, an exploration of undersea life, along with a number of other titles and demos. There will also be a variety of 3D 360° video content available, such as a specially filmed portion of the Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana. These made-for-VR demos, games, and experiences are available for download through the Oculus platform.
Gear VR Innovator Edition leverages the Galaxy Note 4’s display for breathtaking 360° experiences and stunning visuals to create an immersive experience, thanks to a 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED® display, ultrafast response time and the Gear VR’s optimized tracking hardware. Equipped with a touch pad, back button, volume controls and focus adjustment wheel, Gear VR Innovator Edition’s flexible, lightweight materials make it comfortable to wear and easy-to-use.
Gear VR Innovator Edition is available for $199 online at Samsung.com and ATT.com.
Full details are available at www.samsungmobilepress.com and www.samsung.com. Developers can access the Oculus Mobile SDK at developer.oculus.com/. Software updates required for Galaxy Note 4 based on carrier availability.
Samsung Gear™ VR Product Specifications:
| Gear VR Innovator Edition | Optical Lens | 96? Field of View |
| Sensor | Accelerator, Gyrometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity | |
| Motion to Photon Latency | < 20ms | |
| Focal Adjustment | Covers Nearsighted / Farsighted Eyes | |
| Interpupillary DistanceCoverage | 55 ~ 71 mm | |
| Physical User Interface | Touch Pad, Back Button, Volume Key | |
| Connection | microUSB connection to the Galaxy Note 4 | |
| Dimension (Headset) | 198 x 116 x 90mm | |
| Weight (w/ strap) | 379g | |
| Contents | Available through Oculus | |
| GalaxyNote 4 | Display | 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440) |
| Camera (Pass-Through) | High Frame Rate Preview (60fps) | |
| Audio | 3D Spatial Sound on Samsung VR Player for VR Gallery contents (Earphone needed) |
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Oculus.
Oculus, a Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) company, is revolutionizing the way people experience video games and other digital content. The company’s virtual reality platform allows users to step inside digital experiences with immersive, stereoscopic 3D, an ultra-wide field of view and super low latency head tracking. For more information, visit: www.oculus.com.
Samsung, Gear, Galaxy Note and Super AMOLED are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Read and follow warnings and instructions with the Headset before use. The Headset should be calibrated before each use. Not for use by children under 13. A virtual reality experience may trigger health reactions. See a doctor before use if you have a history of seizures. Stop use if you experience health reactions.