Skip to main content

Samsung developing a standalone VR headset that won’t need to be connected to a smartphone

By Sambit Satpathy on May 1, 2016 at 12:23 PM Email @some_bit comments Tags: Samsung News virtual-reality-stock

Samsung worked with Oculus to develop its first virtual reality headset, the Gear VR, but its next development could potentially pit the company against its partner. To use the Gear VR, it needs to be connected to a compatible Samsung smartphone. But the South Korean giant is working on a standalone VR headset that won't require it to be constantly connected to a smartphone.

At Samsung's developer conference, Injong Rhee, head of R&D, confirmed that the company was working on a standalone virtual reality headset, Variety reports. "We are working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily working with our mobile phone," Rhee said.

This headset will also boast hand and gesture tracking, as well as positional tracking, a feature currently on offer on VR headsets like the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. This feature lets users stand up and walk around as if in a virtual world.

Rhee wouldn't go into specifics, but did say that it could be a few years before we see this Samsung headset. There's also no word on if this headset will be truly wireless or be connected to a PC through cables in the way a Vive or Rift does.

ALSO READ: Minecraft makes it to virtual reality, now available for Samsung Gear VR

If Samsung does manage to create a wireless VR headset before the likes of HTC or Oculus, it will be a huge win for the South Korean company. But a standalone headset with positional tracking will pit it against the Rift, and it is unclear how this development will affect Samsung's partnership with Oculus.

Virtual reality is still at a fairly nascent stage and nearly every major company is dipping its toes in this space. Samsung is however confident about the potential, and Samsung's director of software development Andrew Dickerson was quoted as saying, "We think 2016 is shaping up to be the year of VR."

Gadgets API returns Empty Value

Previous Next
  • Sponsored LeEco expected to launch its first 8216 Made for India 8217 smartphone on May 3 Sponsored LeEco and Flipkart renew exclusive partnership ahead of launch of its next flagship phone in India Sponsored
  • Most Viral
  • Today
  • This Week
  • This Month
    • Bharti Airtel, GBI ink deal to expand Middle East network Sony Xperia C6 with 16-megapixel selfie camera spotted on benchmarking website These are the claims Uber has made against Ola in its $7.5 million lawsuit in Delhi HC NASA knows about every eclipse that will occur in the next 1,000 years Giving students laptop can enhance learning, study says

    Docoss X1, the Rs 888 3G Android smartphone, could be another Freedom 251

    Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus review: A value for money proposition

    Apple iPhone 7 Plus design schematics leaked, shows off dual-lens camera and Smart Connector

    HTC Desire 830 with full HD display and 3GB of RAM leaked: Specifications, features

    Swipe Elite Note with 4G LTE and 3GB of RAM launched for Rs 7,999: Specifications and features

    Apple iPhone SE review: Small, powerful

    Docoss X1, the Rs 888 3G Android smartphone, could be another Freedom 251

    HTC 10: Price, specifications and features

    CREO Mark 1 running on customized Fuel Android OS launched in India: Price, specifications, features

    WhatsApp turns on end-to-end encryption for its billion users
    • Trending
  • These are the claims Uber has made against Ola in its $7.5 million lawsuit in Delhi HC
  • Samsung developing a standalone VR headset that won't need to be connected to a smartphone
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 to Galaxy A7: Cashback and discounts on offer at Samsung's 'Make for India' sale
  • Lenovo Vibe P1 Android Marshmallow 6.0 update starts rolling out in India
  • Reliance Digital LYF becomes the 5th largest smartphone vendor in India within 4 months of launch: Analyst
    • Related Articles
  • Samsung's truly wireless 'Gear IconX' earbuds, next-gen Gear Fit 2 wearable surface in a massive leak
  • Samsung Galaxy C7 with full HD display, 4GB RAM, 16-megapixel camera leaked: Specifications, features
  • Xiaomi reportedly working on in-house 'Rifle' mobile processor, to take on Samsung and Qualcomm
  • Samsung rolls out Android Marshmallow update for Galaxy S5 users in India
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 6 could feature a 5.8-inch curved screen, 4,000mAh battery
  • RSS News
  • Uber brings back surge pricing in Delhi, CM Kejriwal warns of strict action
  • Cartoonist Mario Miranda honored with Google doodle on his 90th birth anniversary
  • Bharti Airtel, GBI ink deal to expand Middle East network
  • Giving students laptop can enhance learning, study says
  • These are the claims Uber has made against Ola in its $7.5 million lawsuit in Delhi HC
  • Newsletter

    Email address:


    • Source: Samsung developing a standalone VR headset that won't need to be connected to a smartphone

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Samsung is building a revolutionary ROLL-UP smartphone

    GETTY • US PATENT OFFICE Example of a flexible display, LEFT, and the illustrations filed with the Samsung patent, RIGHT Samsung has been awarded a US patent for a brand-new foldable, rollable display to use across its smartphone and tablet ranges. The South Korean technology firm recently used its flexible display technology in the award-winning Galaxy S6 Edge, which has a dual curved QHD screen. However this latest patent, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, shows the company has bolder ambitions for its curved displays. The illustrations filed with the approved patent reveal a cylindrical hub, which houses the rolled display – which unfurls like a pair of window blinds. US PATENT OFFICE The US patent contains a futuristic cylindrical smartphone with a roll-up display Users then pull a tab at the end of the multitouch display to unroll it from the hub and use the full screen real estate available on the tablet or smartphone. To achiev
    Post a Comment
    Read more

    HTC 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 / Edge vs LG G5

    In the Android world, we follow a familiar release cycle when it comes to flagship smartphones, mostly centered around the two major trade shows, MWC and IFA. This year, Samsung and LG were first out of the gate with their respective flagship offerings being showcased back during MWC 2016, and while HTC was a little late to the party, we now have all three high-end offerings to choose from. Each device brings something unique to the table to help distinguish themselves from the other, and we've covered them extensively here at Android Authority with comprehensive reviews, in-depth comparisons, and feature focus articles. Which is the best of the lot? That is what we aim to find out, as we take a closer look at the HTC 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 / Galaxy S7 Edge vs LG G5 in this unique triple-threat versus! Design In design, we start with the LG G5, given its complete departure from the norm with regards to design and build quality. The G5 now features a full-metal
    1 comment
    Read more

    The Samsung Galaxy Note7 (S820) Review

    This year has been difficult for smartphones, which is a bit of a paradox when you consider just how much better things have gotten compared to last year. With Snapdragon 820, 650, 652, and 625 we've finally moved past the shadow of the Snapdragon 810, 808, and 617/615. While there were Android devices that shipped with the Exynos 7420, they were often paired with a modem that was not necessarily the most power efficient. Despite all of this, there seems to be a general disappointment with smartphones. People are increasingly finding it hard to justify phones like the HTC 10 or Galaxy S7 with competition from OnePlus, Xiaomi, and even Apple with their iPhone SE. In this context the Galaxy Note7 brings much of the flavor of the Galaxy S7 edge, but blends it with the S-Pen of the Note line and a few new features like the iris scanner. If you were paying attention to the industry with the launch of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note5, it's very much more of the same rather than the m
    Post a Comment
    Read more