In recent months, I've done a fair bit of complaining about the deficiencies of mobile virtual reality headsets like the Samsung Gear VR versus higher end options, but some of those complaints were erased on Wednesday.
Samsung has finally taken the wraps off the updated Gear VR controller, and along with the new input device Oculus has added several major updates to the mobile version Oculus Home, the software that powers the Gear VR experience.
SEE ALSO:Oculus Rift's 'Robo Recall' is the game VR has been waiting forI had a chance to preview some of the new features rolling out Wednesday and the first thing you'll realize is that the opening menu has been reorganized and is now called Oculus Explore, streamlining the process of browsing for new VR apps in Oculus Home.
While looking around Oculus Explore I also noticed that the entire Home environment looked noticeably crisper in terms of resolution. Oculus' head of mobile product, Max Cohen, told me that's due to some backend code tweaks that not only improve resolution but increase power consumption efficiency, allowing users to get up to 30 percent more battery life while in Oculus Home.
Credit: OculusAnother major addition to the Oculus mobile environment is the Oculus browser, a tool that gives you a virtual keyboard and traditional browser interface, allowing you to peruse the web while in VR.
This update is huge because it will likely encourage Gear VR users to stay in Oculus Home longer rather than slipping the Gear VR headset off when looking to read something on the web or conduct something as simple as a Google search.
Credit: OculusBut my favorite part of the update is the Oculus Avatar Editor, a powerful tool that brings the same level of Avatar customization found on the Oculus Rift to Gear VR users. We're given the same Avatar Editor customization room found on the Rift (even the gleaming city outside the window is there, sans animations) allowing for a wide array of color, gender, clothing and face shape customizations.
Credit: samsung, oculusAll these software updates work seamlessly with the new Gear VR controller, taking us one tiny step closer to burring the lines between the Gear VR and the Oculus Rift experience.
Although the Gear VR's controller is arriving long after the debut of a similar mobile VR interface controller from Google's Daydream headset, the Gear VR's controller delivers a better design (love the front-facing trigger) and is fairly responsive.
Credit: OculusI put the controller to the test in VR games Drop Dead, Rangi, A Night Skyand a mobile version of the popular Oculus Rift VR gameDead and Buried. In all cases, the controller worked well, and the build quality of the device is reminiscent of the attention to detail paid to the Oculus Touch (albeit with far less functionality).
The next phase of Oculus Home on the Gear VR is not only a powerful feature update likely to help drive social VR on mobile, it's overall a more immersive experience that makes spending extended time in mobile VR a lot easier.
TopicsOculusVirtual Reality
(责任编辑：知識)
This chart shows just how high Simone Biles can jumpWho knew 'Despacito' played on 2 calculators could sound this good?Another reason why dogs are the best. Oh, and Chris EvansThe Apple event invite TOTALLY contains hidden iPhone 8 secretsYou can now play 'Solitaire' and 'TicOne thing's for sure: you're never too old to learn. 。Massachusetts woman Clare Picciuto turned 100 F
...[详细]15 GIFs that ALMOST ended in disaster
While these GIFs may keep you on the edge of your seat, find comfort in that fact that everything tu
...[详细]Samsung's new IFA tech products give you back more time for life
Cheesy. Corny. Dorky. All of these words typically describe a Samsung press conference where it anno
...[详细]Unreal images show Hurricane Irma as one of Earth's strongest storms
When its maximum sustained winds hit 185 miles per hour on Tuesday, Hurricane Irma became one of the
...[详细]Cat gets stuck in the most awkward position ever
Anyone with a cat can tell you that although their cat's claws are impressive scratching and hunting
...[详细]Google wants to teach you about the total solar eclipse in new doodle
Just like almost everyone else in the United States, Google is amped about the total solar eclipse s
...[详细]5 tragedies throughout history that Obama really should've handled better
Mashable 。Humor: original comedy every day. Or most days. We're people, just like you, and 。we're 。tryi
...[详细]The Xbox One X is now available for pre-order. Sort of. 。Microsoft is doing a special limited pre-ord
...[详细]
With the Pokémon Go fever still shaking half the world, there's bound to be plenty of trainer
...[详细]
We can hardly believe that it's been 10 years since。 Superbad 。 first graced our screens. 。SEE ALSO:Se
...[详细]Fyvush Finkel, Emmy winner for 'Picket Fences,' dies at 93
Just 23 great photos of cats standing on two legs