I asked Samsung about the subject and they said anything Gear VR related should be asked from Oculus.
So here I am asking if new Gear VR with USB-C will be available for Note 7 (questioning whether to upgrade to S7 or Note 7, or wait for S8; I am currently with S6).
Google Daydream will be getting hand input controller. Is it something we can expect for Gear VR this year ? (or maybe Rink?)
I know that smarphones can't handle inside out positional tracking data processing, however, either an external accessory, or built-in module into Gear VR can do that (and pass processed data to smartphone via WiFi). Should we expect anything like that in 2016 or 2017 for Gear VR ?
Also, despite what you guys think, average adult would not have time/place outside of his/her home to use Gear VR with positional tracking. Therefore external solution sold separately (something like Lighthouse or Constellation, but without PC) is the best option for Gear VR.
After owning Gear VR for quite some time, I realized that I would almost never (not until there is a particular purpose) use Gear VR with inside out positional and hand tracking in the public.
If I am on a public transit (bus/train/plane) I am limited in space around me and I have people around me. Having Gear VR on and waving hands/walking around is not safe. That being said, the best use for Gear VR when traveling is movies, Internet, seated experiences, maybe some games using gamepad/touchpad (even then, sudden turn of the head can result in hitting a passenger next to me with HMD).
That being said, the only time I would truly use Gear VR with positional and hand tracking is at home. I am certain that this is a similar situation for many, many other Gear VR owners.
So the question I am asking is why Oculus and Samsung are so dead set (to the point of obsession) on inside-out positional tracking, knowing it's not achievable in the nearest future?! Not only they openly say that, but also refuse to create an external solution with processing unit built into Gear VR and not the phone. I am not advocating to drop it - this research would allow Oculus/Samsung to lead the way yet again in the future. However, stationary outside tracking should be offered today, if they want to expand user base beyond 1M and expand beyond having Gear VR as expensive VR movie viewer.
The way I see it, external stationary positional / hand tracking a la Vive's Lighthouse is not only viable, but the only practical solution today.
Not only it would open more possibilities for deeper dive for games and experiences, it would also open doors for using Gear VR in education and other non-entertainment fields.
I think it's one of the biggest oversights on Oculus/Samsung part when it comes to mobile VR.
I see an argument about having Rift/Vive instead, but they are tethered solutions, more expensive and requiring either new PC or upgrade for existing PC. When it comes to using VR in education, it's cheaper and easier to maintain Gear VR based solution (also more practical as there are no wires, drivers, Windows 10, etc.) than anything else.
So in the next 5-10 years we could have Gear VR with stationary positional and hand tracking, but unfortunately we won't and we'll have to deal with half-assed mobile platform.
Check out NOLO, the motion tracking system suitable fro GearVR 🙂www.nolovr.com
Yes, I saw that. And it does look interesting. However, it's front-facing only for now and it has a lot of issues when displayed on a trade show floor (signal interference?).
