Samsung launches Milk VR multimedia service for Gear VR headset

[Shawn Knight]

Samsung’s Gear VR headset launched earlier this month but up to now, there really hasn’t been much of a reason to pluck down $199.99 for the gadget as content has been scarce at best. Sammy is now addressing that issue with the launch of Milk VR, a collection of 360-degree video content designed specifically for Gear VR users.

Inheriting the same “unique” branding as Samsung’s music and video services, Milk VR will feature both downloadable and streamable content that’s updated on a regular basis. Clips will range in length from 1-10 minutes and will be completely free of charge for Gear VR owners.

The Milk VR app is launching today as a technical preview meaning there isn’t a ton of content available right away. Early adopters will find clips ranging from sports and action to lifestyle, available in resolutions up to 4K x 2K.

Those without a Gear VR can preview some of the content (with a compatible browser) on Samsung’s Milk VR website. As of writing, there are just under a dozen 360-degree clips that you can check out online.

With Samsung’s profits slipping as a result of declining smartphone sales, the company is turning to other avenues as they look to sustain the level of success they’ve enjoyed in recent years.

Samsung’s Gear VR debuted earlier this month as a byproduct of a collaboration with Oculus VR. The wearable requires users to slot a Galaxy Note 4 smartphone into the front which serves as the display. 

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https://www.techspot.com/news/59268-samsung-launches-milk-vr-multimedia-service-gear-vr.html

 

[suzook1]

Only challenge is that if you are using a custom rom the VR wont work with the note 4

 

[RustyTech]

Samsung needs to create a version independent of a smartphone; meaning that the optics need to be built-in. I wonder what a 4k equivalent display would be when it's half an inch away from your eyes - like 800 dpi?? It probably wouldn't take that much horsepower since the optics can be circular (basically in the shape of a contact lens) and about 2 inches in diameter. Although I'm not sure what the optimal size would be for a perceived 360 degree view.

 

[TheLastPanda]

Samsung needs to create a version independent of a smartphone; meaning that the optics need to be built-in.

I think you have optics and the screen confused. The headset does come with lenses built in and the note phablet provides the display.

I wonder what a 4k equivalent display would be when it's half an inch away from your eyes - like 800 dpi?? It probably wouldn't take that much horsepower since the optics can be circular

Even though the lenses are circular and in demos you see the image not taking up the whole display, it actually is still being rendered at native or higher resolution and then gets distorted in that shape to correct for lens distortion. You can listen to some oculus devs talk about it at 7:50 (YT link) and if you start a few minutes back they have a neat bit about the overhead of stereo rendering.

I'm not sure what the optimal size would be for a perceived 360 degree view

For the 360 degree demo you do not have a 360 degee field of view with the optics at all, that is achieved by moving the image with headtracking.

 

[Kibaruk]

How about building one version for computers! yay!