Questions about Gear VR / Gear VR2 - Ordering & Requirements

[linvanchene]

Update / Edit:
to save you a long read:

The general recommendation seems to be to wait for Gear VR2 that is designed to work with a Samsung Galaxy S6.

Thank you all for providing and confirming this much needed information!


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Original Post:

After the latest GTC announcents about OctaneVR

http://home.otoy.com/otoy-unveils-octanevr/

I deceided to try to order a Gear VR but was stopped in my tracks by a lot of questions:

- 1) Is the HMD I need to use Octane VR this one:

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite ... index.html

- - -

- 2) What else do I need in order to use a Gear VR with Octane VR?

Some sites mention Galaxy Note 4. Is there an additional phone or tablet required?

And then that seems to work only in the US?

Gear VR is only compatible with a Samsung GALAXY Note 4 that’s purchased through a US carrier

Can I even use Gear VR without a GALAXY Note 4?

- - -

- There seems to be a Gear VR Innovator Edition:

Designed for innovative consumers,
specifically VR enthusiasts, developers, mobile experts and professionals,
and early technology adopters.

3) But what exactly does the Gear VR Innovator Edition include?

- - -

And last but not least:

4) How and where can customers located in Europe / Switzerland and any other non US based countries order a Gear VR Innovator Edition?

I tried to create an account on the international Samsung web page but all fields only support US states and no option to add other countries in the address field.

The Oculus web page also only links to the US Samsung page:

https://www.oculus.com/gear-vr/

Does Otoy have any direct phone line to Samsung to make them aware that international customers are having difficulties ordering if the local pages are not having the Gear VR Innovator Edition in their store?

5) Will Otoy customers have a way to internationally order a Gear VR Innovator Edition provided by Otoy in cooperation with Samsung?

- - -

[ten]

I looked into this recently a little bit, so will try and help where I can

1) Both the GearVR and GearVR innovators edition should work with OctaneVR

2) You need a Galaxy Note4 to use the original GearVR, no other phone will work with it. No you cannot use it without a Note4

3) There is some conflicting info around about the GearVR innovator edition. A version for the Note4 is apparently available but Iam not certain if some are confusing it with the original GearVR. Anyway, the one just announced in March is for use with the galaxy s6 and s6 edge phones. Its 15% smaller and has a usb port for power. Check when ordering which phone it supports as I mentioned, there is some conflicting info about a note4 innovator edition existing also.

4) As far as my efforts have gone you cannot actually order one yet in UK/Europe (although I didnt try to hard). Everywhere shows the GearVR in stock 'soon!' and not much about the Innovator edition either - example - http://www.handtec.co.uk/accessories/ph ... tAodDhwAKw

so long story short,

yes they should both work with octane VR
yes you NEED a certain type of samsung galaxy phone to use one (note4/s6/s6edge)
Innovator edition is smaller and has usb power
should be able to order them in europe....soon !

hope that helps a bit,

ten

[linvanchene]

I looked into this recently a little bit, so will try and help where I can

1) Both the GearVR and GearVR innovators edition should work with OctaneVR

2) You need a Galaxy Note4 to use the original GearVR, no other phone will work with it. No you cannot use it without a Note4

3) There is some conflicting info around about the GearVR innovator edition. A version for the Note4 is apparently available but Iam not certain if some are confusing it with the original GearVR. Anyway, the one just announced in March is for use with the galaxy s6 and s6 edge phones. Its 15% smaller and has a usb port for power. Check when ordering which phone it supports as I mentioned, there is some conflicting info about a note4 innovator edition existing also.

4) As far as my efforts have gone you cannot actually order one yet in UK/Europe (although I didnt try to hard). Everywhere shows the GearVR in stock 'soon!' and not much about the Innovator edition either - example - http://www.handtec.co.uk/accessories/ph ... tAodDhwAKw

so long story short,

yes they should both work with octane VR
yes you NEED a certain type of samsung galaxy phone to use one (note4/s6/s6edge)
Innovator edition is smaller and has usb power
should be able to order them in europe....soon !

hope that helps a bit,

ten

Thank you a lot for all this information!

Guess because of that phone restriction there is not much point to import.
I will have to wait around and see if there will at least be some bundles available including a phone and the HMD in the samsung store of my area.

- - -
I get that when walking around using a small device like a phone as link to the internet makes sense. But then I cannot yet imagine people to walk around outside their home with an HMD on.

I am somewhat puzzled that it is not possible to hook up every HMD directly with any workstation over WLAN.

- - -

Update / Edit:

I just read in another thread that apparently there is going to be a new version called

Gear VR2:

Where's the VR Batman Cave? It's supposed to release "this winter" according to this

Winter is coming...this April. We targeted March originally, but decided to wait until after GearVR2.

Source:
http://render.otoy.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 72#p226673

Guess I should wait for Gear VR 2 as well...

[ten]

I could be wrong but I'm reasonably certain the gear vr innovator edition is the gear vr 2

Ten

[Goldorak]

I could be wrong but I'm reasonably certain the gear vr innovator edition is the gear vr 2

Ten

No - the GearVR 2 uses the Samsung S6. I would wait for it if you can.

[ten]

Thanks for the info, goldy. Do you know if there will be a version of the VR2 that can use the galaxy note4?

ten

[Rikk The Gaijin]

No - the GearVR 2 uses the Samsung S6. I would wait for it if you can.

Agree. Don't bother with Gear VR 1, wait a few months and get Gear VR 2 on S6.