Related
I understand its pretty much what you pay is what you get but I do not wish to buy an expensive Gear or Apple iWatch right now. Please recommend me a good chinese smart watch? I have gone through Amazon and Gearbest however its my first time into this and I rather buy something with recommendations from you guys.
Basically Im looking for something which is less than $40. I dont care about all the bells or whistles as long as it shows me time, shoes me text messages, has as good battery life and hopefully have face plate changes. Really dont care about making calls, or other sensors, or video or photo recording etc.
I'm in the same boat but looking to spend up to $80
I feel the same freaking way. There's so freaking many of them. I just want one that at least has a wifi chip and is water resistant but I can't find any that has both and under $100
Bump. Appreciate your help guys,
If you're willing to live a little dangerously ... the Weloop Tommy might be up your alley. It functions as it is with an older apk than the one on the play store and the firmware 3.18 seems to be stable. There is also an open source project that seems is pretty close to fruition.
relevant links -
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma...s/weloop-tommy-smartwatch-looks-best-t2864444
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma.../weloop-tommy-smartwatch-faq-updates-t2995858
https://hackaday.io/project/4510-open-source-sportsmart-watch
I'll be reviewing some new budget watches (around $50). stay tuned to the forums :good::good::good::good:
I have been looking and looking through the fabulous forums about reviews and features. I, too, am looking for a new "toy". I don't wear a watch typically so I it would probably not last, hence why I don't want to spend a lot of money. However I do really have a need to easily dismiss a ton of notifications remotely. I am hoping that I can pick up a cheap one to get my feet wet, get a little experience with what I want and need.
I REALLY like the Galaxy Gear S, with the curved display... but I do not have a Samsung phone/tablet to pair it with. I have been looking for knock off, but have not found one yet. I think something similar to the Gear S is what I am looking for. Something that has a browser, wifi, GPS for maps (I travel a lot), and of course the ability to answer/speakerphone calls and view/dismiss notifications (exchange, gmail, FB Messanger, snapchat, etc.).
I am not looking for a sport watch, but maybe something with a metal band that looks classy. I really liked the Round watches... but I think a lot of screen space is wasted. With the chinese versions, it seems the UI is built around a square display and looks goofy. The Android Wear looks great but I am not sure the capacity of its ability.
I think I would prefer a android device with a good interface. And a decent charger (magnetic/wireless)
Same here, if any has a complete mind in this can you share with us.
Like $50-80, which is the best to get?
Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.
far56 said:
Go for gear s I have one I M satisfied it can be used as stand alone device and u can have extra no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes exactly then go for LG g watch r or moto 360 or any android wear watch.
I actually just picked up the LG G Watch for $50 (refurbished) from CowBoom shipped.
http://www.cowboom.com/product/1553348/
$5 off $50
"CowBoom5"
It is an Android Wear device, waterproof, and a SD 400 which is snappy. I really liked the magnetic charger but I wish I had an AMOLED display like the Samsung Gear Live for its battery sipping and deep blacks. The LG also lacks WiFi but... I think it is a good start watch for the price. It will let me play with the notifications and see if a watch is something worth investing more money into.
I paid through Amazon which apparently has a 30-day return policy. This will at least give me time to trial it. I figured the waterproof display will at least allow me to control my phone from the pool, if nothing else. So even if I do not wear this every day, it will still have some use around the house.
This seems to be the best buy for the money compared to the other Chinese watches. There seems to be a few roms and hacks for the LG G Watch and fairly good support.
WARNING:
If you buy from CowBoom, make sure you look at what is included. Mine included the charging dock but others just include the watch and band. The G Watch has a priorietary magnetic charging dock required to charge... without it you will not be able to charge. I thought it was weird they would sell the watch without the required charging dock but make sure you pick one that includes one.
They also have other watches on there. The Samsung Gear Live (AMOLED + WiFi) was $129. You can take $10 off $100 using CowBoom10 making it $119. But that that price range, I would almost OPT for the Motorola 360 ($150 new at NewEgg) or LG G Watch R ($179 used at Cowboom = $169 with discount).
This is why the $50 LG made sense. They all run Android Wear so will function the same. I always carry a phone and this is meant to compliment it for notifications.
player911 said:
I would love the Gear S but I do not have a Samsung phone thus makes it almost completely worthless. If the Gear S had a Android Wear rom, that would be an instant buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does look pretty nice. Don't have a Samsung phone and the price is too much for me tho.
Hello,
Which Chinese smartwatches offer full voice call? Not only dial, but whole conversation via mic and speaker of smartwatch.
I see Zeaplus Watch dm360 offer this function. But what about U Watch UO, S360, Zeaplus S2 or ZenGear/Zeaplus G3 or others new?
My personal experiences with smartwatches:
Bluetooth phone companion: Moto 360, my cost $150
Looks nice. Runs android wear, works with any andriod phone (I think 4.4 and higher). With 5.1.1 update can tether to phone via wifi. Receive notifications, answer calls, but lacks speaker, so need to continue conversation on the phone. Remotely control music play on phone. Remote control of phone camera. Voice control (OK Google) to send text hands-free, or start call and search web hands-free. Available apps growing. Battery life 1 day. Can change watch face easily, lots of choices in playstore. Cannot be used independent of phone.
I returned this. Too limited for my needs.
Hybrid bluetooth companion/standalone phone: Aplus GV18, my cost $25
large, square-ish face. light-weight silicon strap. proprietary software. Can pair with phone via bluetooth to receive push notifications. Connection has been stable for me up to 10m without obstruction (android, not iOS, phone). Has speaker and mic, so can answer and carry on full conversation on watch (sound quality on both ends is good). remotely control phone music (but plays from watch speaker) or load music onto SD card (user provided, format FAT32, upto 32GB) to play music independently. remote control phone camera or use built-in 2Mp camera for photo and video (low quality). Can also play loaded videos (AVI VXR MP3 format). Also accepts SIM card for voice calls and texts, to use as standalone phone. When used as standalone, can pair with bluetooth headset. Water resistant. No wifi, no GPS. Pedometer not that accurate. has calendar and alarm but OS is proprietary, so will not sync with Google. Will not sync contacts. Battaery easily lasts 2 days with light to moderate use. Limited watch face - choice of 3. I love it!. I have a pay-as-you-go SIM card in it. When I go for a jog, I leave my phone at home and forward calls and texts to the watch. (too much hassle to transfer the SIM card from phone to watch). I pair with bluetooth headset and listen to my downloaded songs. It is my go-to smartwatch.
Stand alone watch phone: ZGPAX S82, my cost $125
large, square-ish face, rubber strap. 2G/3G calls and data, wifi, bluetooth, GPS (worked intially, now doesn't work on mine anymore). Full android 4.4. Basically, a full android smartphone in a watch size. Small size can limit apps, as apps not created for screen this small, cannot see everything on the screen. Limited watch faces. Full android OS uses alot of power. if you tightly regulate antenna use (i.e. turn off wifi, data and bluetooth when not in use) and reduce screen brightness, battery can last 1 day (i.e. 8-10 hours). Has Google Playstore. Sign into your account, and download you apps and receive your notifications that way. Or can use SWapp Link app if want bluetooth pairing with your phone, but will use lots of battery. Good visibilty in sunlight. keyboard is tiny. can use OK Google for voice control. low res camera. Can expand memory with TF card to 32 GB for music,videos. pairs easily with bluetooth headset. I have watched YouTube on it. Some people have used this as their main phone. Since I have my cell phone with me most of the time, I primarily use my GV18. This device is a fun gadget for me that will be my back-up phone.
The right smartwatch for you is the one that best suits your needs. I would love the functionality and style of the moto 360, but with the ability to also function as a standalone phone. I think the Gear S has that ability, but too big and too expensive for me. New models coming out soon. If you need a smartwatch now, try out with cheap one and decide which functions you need, then invest in the right higher-quality model.
I started a small webshop selling smartwatches about a year ago, so I buy different design smartwatches from different manufacturers, pick the best, buy those in a small bulk (sometimes fixing software issues and sometimes add proper quality straps) and resell them on the European market with proper warranty.
My point:
Even I don't know which one (of the proper ones) to choose
I'm wearing the Omate TrueSmart for over a year now because it's the best stand-alone Android smartwatch with proper robust casing and sapphire glass, but I don't like the design when I compare it to my latest lines of companion smartwatches...
I'm in the same boat. I am stuck between the ZGPAX S8 and iMacwear M7. The S8 is more popular by far, but the M7 seems to be fairly equal, but more water resistant and really doesn't seem to have anyone complaining from what I've seen so far. I'd really like to have a daily smart phone watch.
So did anyone come up with a conclusion? i gave it a good read. Even i am planning to buy one too. not looking to spend much. $70-$80 is fine by me. Can anyone give me the best options to help me chose. please.
I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof
player911 said:
I like my LG G Watch. For $45 it is probably the best the money can buy. The chinese ones are ok but they just look and feel cheap. I have 1 and I cant even get it to fully pair with 2 phones I have. Speakerphone is nice but not at the cost of not being waterproof
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG G Watch for $45. How come? i will buy from Amazon and its $96 there. :/.
And about the chinese smart watches not being water proof. yeah that sucks. Although they do advertise it as being waterproof. so isnt there any smart watch around my budget of a bit more good quality and water proof?
I just bought the last Gear VR in Portland. While I expected it to be cool, nothing could prepare me for the actual experience. It is the single most immersive experience I've ever had, as it should be, it is truly mind blowing. If anyone has any questions about it, don't hesitate to ask.
Useful info/links-
Tried and tested bluetooth game controller, flawless operation with Gear VR- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FB5RBJM
A great collection on indie games- https://vrjam.devpost.com/submissions
Unboxing video and first impressions, care of @AndyCr15- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=64510072
Video review, care of @AndyCr15- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6460134
How to view your own movies, 3D and 180 degree VR- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=64750751
To use non-Gear VR games and apps (ie. Google Cardboard)
Download Package Disabler Pro (Samsung) from the Play Store- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro
Open the three-dot menu and choose "Show System" and then find "Gear VR Service" and disable it. This will prevent the phone from detevting the headset and automatically opening the Oculus app. You can now use the non-Gear VR apps and games. Be sure to re-enable it before trying to use Gear VR apps.
I would only be interested in movies and TV shows. How does that work? I recommend you visit reddit gearvr subreddit. They have a ton of information.
Brava27 said:
I would only be interested in movies and TV shows. How does that work? I recommend you visit reddit gearvr subreddit. They have a ton of information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Movies are NUTS. It puts you into one of 5 or 6 theater settings where you legit feel like you are watching a movie at a cinema or home theater. You look around and there are seats and wall decor, it's CRAZY. There is also an option to do away with all the flash and just watch a movie which is what I prefer, and it is still amazing. That is the primary reason I bought it, for movies on the plane when I travel. Couldn't be happier so far.
The game Gunjack is seriously the most intense thing I think I've ever experienced. After about 5 minutes I am seriously THERE, and I can't begin to describe what this is like. It's breathtaking. Literally. I was legit out of breath when I took a break. And believe me, I NEEDED that break. Anybody with a modicum of imagination would get sucked into this thing and just be floored by it all. This is EASILY the best $100 I have ever spent in my entire life.
Yes specially insurgent high quality experience was awesome which available in MILK VR
Rather than make a new thread, I'll join yours, I hope you do't mind. I got mine a week back -
It really is an amazing experience. I guess what impresses me so much is how responsive it it. There's zero lag. None at all. I think this is key to the immersion, you really do feel like you're there. I watched a rapper on stage, from just at the front of the stage, for the first few seconds, I honestly expected people in the crowd around me to be looking at me, wondering what I was doing up there!
Gunjack is great, but for me a little simple. I'm looking forward to what games can be like within this thing.
Ocean Rift seems to be a favourite for showing the device off to relatives and friends over the Christmas period. I don't think anyone has failed to be blown away buy it.
The only problem I have is the lenses misting up for the first 5 minutes or so as they raise in temperature. Apparently some anti mist cleaner will help with this.
For me, I always have a top end phone, but have often wondered if I need various aspects -
High PPI count. Well yes, now I do. Even with the Note 5's high count, you can see pixels. I want higher!
Octa core CPU. Do I really need octacore in a phone?! Well yes, now I do, it keeps it lag free.
Fast charging. I used to charge overnight and not really need fast charging or wireless where I can drop the phone down and keep it topped up. Now I do. Watching an hour TV show can burn 25-30%. Being able to boost back up in a few minutes or keep it topped up through the day with wireless is really useful.
What phone model and firmware are you on? Just got my Gear VR and my phone is not compatible (N920G).
In what way isn't it compatible? I have a N920C myself.
When you connect the phone to the headset you should be prompted to install the Gear App. Mine doesn't. The "driver" for the Gear VR is bundled with the firmware. Mine is a 5.1..1 build from August N920GUBU1AOH6. Will you check your build number. It will not make a difference to me because you have a different model.
AndyCr15 said:
Rather than make a new thread, I'll join yours, I hope you do't mind. I got mine a week back -
It really is an amazing experience. I guess what impresses me so much is how responsive it it. There's zero lag. None at all. I think this is key to the immersion, you really do feel like you're there. I watched a rapper on stage, from just at the front of the stage, for the first few seconds, I honestly expected people in the crowd around me to be looking at me, wondering what I was doing up there!
Gunjack is great, but for me a little simple. I'm looking forward to what games can be like within this thing.
Ocean Rift seems to be a favourite for showing the device off to relatives and friends over the Christmas period. I don't think anyone has failed to be blown away buy it.
The only problem I have is the lenses misting up for the first 5 minutes or so as they raise in temperature. Apparently some anti mist cleaner will help with this.
For me, I always have a top end phone, but have often wondered if I need various aspects -
High PPI count. Well yes, now I do. Even with the Note 5's high count, you can see pixels. I want higher!
Octa core CPU. Do I really need octacore in a phone?! Well yes, now I do, it keeps it lag free.
Fast charging. I used to charge overnight and not really need fast charging or wireless where I can drop the phone down and keep it topped up. Now I do. Watching an hour TV show can burn 25-30%. Being able to boost back up in a few minutes or keep it topped up through the day with wireless is really useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I said the same thing to my buddy about the absolutely ZERO lag. The head tracking on this thing is phenomemal. I have been using it for the last 5 hours straight and I still can't believe what my freaking cell phone is capable of.
Agreed about the pixel density. I have a OnePlus 2 with a 1080p screen, I can't image how bad the screen door effect would be with that thing. I'm still going to buy a high end headset to use with it though so I can check out google cardboard stuff. With the Gear VR there's a really frustrating trade off- use an S6 and have a smaller screen but higher ppi, or the Note 5 with the larger screen but lower ppi. Thankfully the immersion is so effective that after a few minutes the screen door effect no longer bothers me.
Yeah Gunjack is simple, but I am an old school gamer and haven't played any current generation games, so simple works fairly well for me. I am obsessed with any media that has to do with space and space colonization, so orbiting a giant planet with a massive space station behind me while shooting down baddies is right up my alley. Ever here of Star Citizen? It looks amazing and has me wanting to buy a gaming rig and oculus headset so I can come close to living my dream lol.
Get yourself some Jaws Quick Spit. It's meant for scuba divers and supposedly does wonders for preventing fogging. I have some on order, haven't tried it yet. In the meantime, just use a little saliva. I'm an old diver so believe me when I tell you that spit is the #1 way to prevent fog. Yes, I did use my saliva in the Gear VR and it did not fog at all for the 5 hours I was using it. It did fog up near instantly before I spit in it so the spit definitely works.
pakalrtb said:
What phone model and firmware are you on? Just got my Gear VR and my phone is not compatible (N920G).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
N920A on latest. All variants are compatible so you must have something going on. Are you rooted/ROM'd? That might have something to do with it.
There's plenty discussion on reddit about incompatible firmwares.
https://m.reddit.com/r/GearVR/comments/3vlluu/gear_vr_not_working_with_note5_no_setup_wizard/
Just read about using Package Disabler to be able to use Google Cardboard games and apps with the Gear VR, and it worked beautifully. Too bad Cardboard is nowhere near as sophisticated as Gear VR. Every game or app I tried was incredibly jerky and laggy and I started to get dizzy after about two minutes. That's a testament to how amazing Gear VR is- 5 hours and no fatigue, dizziness, or headache. I had all three with Cardboard in less than five minutes. Man am I glad I bought the Note.
_MetalHead_ said:
Just read about using Package Disabler to be able to use Google Cardboard games and apps with the Gear VR, and it worked beautifully. Too bad Cardboard is nowhere near as sophisticated as Gear VR. Every game or app I tried was incredibly jerky and laggy and I started to get dizzy after about two minutes. That's a testament to how amazing Gear VR is- 5 hours and no fatigue, dizziness, or headache. I had all three with Cardboard in less than five minutes. Man am I glad I bought the Note.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct. i never felt any lag nor headache while using gear vr even after using it for countless hours...
Success! I was finally able to flash a stock ROM that is supporting the Gear VR N920GUBU1AOJ4. Man this thing is awesome. These are my initial thoughts :
- agree with other users that with these headsets even 1080p seems basic. Bring on the 16K!
- reorientation only works on the horizontal axis. I would have liked to be able to adjust the vertical axis as well so to watch a movie laying down on a bed/sofa
- hardware wise I'd like the possibility to adjust the optics distance in order to have a perfect match with your eyes.
All in all this headset surpassed my expectations and I see it a very bright future for them.
pakalrtb said:
Success! I was finally able to flash a stock ROM that is supporting the Gear VR N920GUBU1AOJ4. Man this thing is awesome. These are my initial thoughts :
- agree with other users that with these headsets even 1080p seems basic. Bring on the 16K!
- reorientation only works on the horizontal axis. I would have liked to be able to adjust the vertical axis as well so to watch a movie laying down on a bed/sofa
- hardware wise I'd like the possibility to adjust the optics distance in order to have a perfect match with your eyes.
All in all this headset surpassed my expectations and I see it a very bright future for them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, glad it was something simple. Yeah I have terrible eye sight, and one eye is far worse than the other. I'm also a stubborn bastard who refuses to wear glasses. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't individual lens adjustment but we gotta be realistic, this thing was $100 (I actually think the build quality leaves much to be desired). But that said, with the adjustment it does have I have no problems dialing in a nice, sharp image and weird enough, my bad eye can see the screen a LOT better than I expected, astigmatism notwithstanding.
I just picked one up today. Doesn't work with MOAR & skyhigh 3.0 (Sprint). Just flashed the factory OK3 firmware via odin & waiting on my phone to boot so I can get this thing working
Waiting on all these stupid ass samsung apps to finish downloading, gotta debloat this thing.....again
The Gear VR was very interesting to use, but I could not get over how pixelated it was.
ksantangelo23 said:
The Gear VR was very interesting to use, but I could not get over how pixelated it was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, that stopped bothering me in under 3 minutes. Keep it in perspective- it's $99.
_MetalHead_ said:
Nice, glad it was something simple..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple?!! It took me 40 hours, endless web searches, infinite slow downloads, a couple soft bricks and 4 different firmware before iI was able to pull it off.
Glad I did it though.
Couole more thing : the implementation of vocal commands and a headphone plug would make the Gear VR a killer.
Does the Gear VR work like 3D movies? I have a hard time seeing 3d since I'm legally blind in my left eye(I can see, just not fine detail.), but I've gotten to where I can see it some. Will this be an issue with the VR? I'm trying to decide on which one. if the watch had built in gps I would probably get it hands down, but I'm undecided now.
Yes it works the same way, it wont work for you if you are blind in one eye unfortunately.
I have the Gear S and Gear S2 the Gear S has inbuilt GPS but the Gear S2 uses you phone for GPS.
regnighc said:
Yes it works the same way, it wont work for you if you are blind in one eye unfortunately.
I have the Gear S and Gear S2 the Gear S has inbuilt GPS but the Gear S2 uses you phone for GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3D movies can come in a few different varieties. The Gear VR does in fact rely on having two eyes. But the OP could still experience part of the experience. Consider that if he is legally blind in one eye - his perception of the REGULAR real world is also through one eye. The Gear VR tries to imitate this by simulating two "eyes" - so yes if I as a normal vision person close on eye it might suck...but for somebody who is used to one eye vision it might be fine.
The 3D movies at IMAX theaters with the goggles are not for example the same technology. I'm not sure you can outright say that it won't work for him. Plus, just having a Gear VR can block out outside vision hence giving the illusion that you are in the VR environment. It might just not "pop" like it would for others.
WeatherTech said:
3D movies can come in a few different varieties. The Gear VR does in fact rely on having two eyes. But the OP could still experience part of the experience. Consider that if he is legally blind in one eye - his perception of the REGULAR real world is also through one eye. The Gear VR tries to imitate this by simulating two "eyes" - so yes if I as a normal vision person close on eye it might suck...but for somebody who is used to one eye vision it might be fine.
The 3D movies at IMAX theaters with the goggles are not for example the same technology. I'm not sure you can outright say that it won't work for him. Plus, just having a Gear VR can block out outside vision hence giving the illusion that you are in the VR environment. It might just not "pop" like it would for others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true but I don't think it would permit a depth of field effect would it?
I'm having a hard time deciding on which to get. So I'm thinking just get the watch and maybe buy the vr since it's much cheaper?
Also, to give more info, my left eye is considered a lazy eye, but it doesn't wonder around.
regnighc said:
Very true but I don't think it would permit a depth of field effect would it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm totally in agreement with you that the OP probably wouldn't get as much enjoyment out of the VR as you or I might. But I'd definitely lean towards the one eye blind thing being not as big of an issue since he's used to one eye vision in regular world.
interesting question.
From what I undestand of Oculus tech you are getting two continuous and simultaneous visual streams per eye, just one specific to each eye. Both probably at 30 or 60 fps.
The 3d movie tech varies a bit but the biggest difference I can see is the lower frame rate as the movie can still only project at a single fps (say 24 standard film, maybe 30 or 60 for digital projection - I don't know), so in the cinema the 3d viewing is (probably) at half frame rate (e.t. 15 or 30 fps) which strangely enough the human visual processing is probably very sensitive to.
Maybe OP could try it out somewhere before buying?
Get the watch, eBay it, take your $200 income and buy Gear VR for $100 (or less). Take $100 profit and give it to me.
C0derbear said:
interesting question.
From what I undestand of Oculus tech you are getting two continuous and simultaneous visual streams per eye, just one specific to each eye. Both probably at 30 or 60 fps.
The 3d movie tech varies a bit but the biggest difference I can see is the lower frame rate as the movie can still only project at a single fps (say 24 standard film, maybe 30 or 60 for digital projection - I don't know), so in the cinema the 3d viewing is (probably) at half frame rate (e.t. 15 or 30 fps) which strangely enough the human visual processing is probably very sensitive to.
Maybe OP could try it out somewhere before buying?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite the same but OP could also try out a Google Cardboard unit too - doesn't have the software enhancements obviously - but would give an idea if it would be worth it.
jagrave said:
I'm having a hard time deciding on which to get. So I'm thinking just get the watch and maybe buy the vr since it's much cheaper?
Also, to give more info, my left eye is considered a lazy eye, but it doesn't wonder around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey OP, I did a little test and just wanted to feedback to you.
I decided to use my Gear VR with one eye closed and I was very surprised and how good it still looked, I suppose the biggest thing about VR is the immersion that comes from head tracking. I really suggest that you get a Gear VR I dont think you will have a drastically diminished experience.
just get the Gear s2 sell it for profit, buy VR for 100
VR headsets use the same biological principles as 3D movies at a theater, but they are different in the tech used to achieve the 3D effect. If you can see in 3D with both of your eyes in the reall world, it will work just the same with VR headsets.
regnighc said:
Hey OP, I did a little test and just wanted to feedback to you.
I decided to use my Gear VR with one eye closed and I was very surprised and how good it still looked, I suppose the biggest thing about VR is the immersion that comes from head tracking. I really suggest that you get a Gear VR I dont think you will have a drastically diminished experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I did go with the S5 watch, but I think I might buy the VR at a later time. It sounds really interesting and my son might have some fun with it too. He's 4, so idk if there is kid friendly games or not, but I'm sure I can find something. Even if it's just something on Netflix for him.
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
And thank you everyone for replying and giving your feedback
Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Alternating exotropia
Hey OP
I have a condition called alternating exotropia, and a lazy eye. I wear contacts/glasses.
Alternating exotropia means that I can only see out of one eye at a time, but i can choos3 which eye i want to look through and change from eye to eye at my whim the optometrist at the VA said she's never seen someone with as much control over it as I do but, control or no control, i can only see out of one eye at a time.
It explains why i SUCKED at sports, and was knocked out cold by a baseball thrown at me in little league. No true depth perception. No true 3D
My point is, I have a Gear VR, and it works just fine for me, if im not wearing my glasses or contacts i have to adjust the focus when i switch from one eye to the other, but thats the only bad thing.
It is absolutely no different from how I view the real world, and once I went to a 3D movie at IMAX. It was spiderman 2 or 3. It was also the cause of a major migraine.
But the Gear VR doesnt blur on me like that movie did. It can be used easily and still produce an amazed reaction even with someone who has a glass eye.
I've read a lot of mixed info about it, including severe overheating, massive battery drain, limited functionality, etc. But those reviews were all old and for the Pixel/XL.
Has anyone here tried it out with the Axon 7 that can give their opinion on it? I've been considering it, now that Nougat is finally available, but at $113 CAD (yay taxes) that's a steep price for what appears to be a piece of cloth with bluetooth mini remote. As far as I know all the sensors and processing hardware are in the phone itself, unlike Samsung's VR headsets.
Cyrus D. said:
I've read a lot of mixed info about it, including severe overheating, massive battery drain, limited functionality, etc. But those reviews were all old and for the Pixel/XL.
Has anyone here tried it out with the Axon 7 that can give their opinion on it? I've been considering it, now that Nougat is finally available, but at $113 CAD (yay taxes) that's a steep price for what appears to be a piece of cloth with bluetooth mini remote. As far as I know all the sensors and processing hardware are in the phone itself, unlike Samsung's VR headsets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a daydream view and have been playing with it for a few weeks now. At first, it was underwhelming. A lot of the apps available are really gimicky. But, after taking the time to find apps that would suit me, I have really enjoyed it. I got the headset for 49 dollars when they went on sale recently, and I still feel like that price is a stretch. You are right, it really is just a couple of pieces of glass, cloth, and a bluetooth remote. There is a workaround, where you can use another phone as the remote and just use google cardboard for the viewing device. I did that at first, but it was difficult to use the phone as a controller, since you don't have the tactile feel of the buttons. As far as the phone goes, it gets pretty warm, Once, I made it to 53 degrees celsius. But, it didn't shut the phone down and that was a one-time thing. It hasn't been super warm since. I don't know if that helps.
BJHiltbrand said:
I have a daydream view and have been playing with it for a few weeks now. At first, it was underwhelming. A lot of the apps available are really gimicky. But, after taking the time to find apps that would suit me, I have really enjoyed it. I got the headset for 49 dollars when they went on sale recently, and I still feel like that price is a stretch. You are right, it really is just a couple of pieces of glass, cloth, and a bluetooth remote. There is a workaround, where you can use another phone as the remote and just use google cardboard for the viewing device. I did that at first, but it was difficult to use the phone as a controller, since you don't have the tactile feel of the buttons. As far as the phone goes, it gets pretty warm, Once, I made it to 53 degrees celsius. But, it didn't shut the phone down and that was a one-time thing. It hasn't been super warm since. I don't know if that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does help, thanks. But I'm wondering, how long were you typical sessions, and what were you running?
Cyrus D. said:
It does help, thanks. But I'm wondering, how long were you typical sessions, and what were you running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I usually use it for 45 minutes to an hour. I really have just been playing around with all sorts of apps. Most of those sessions were in the Netflix VR app and in a game called Archer E. Bowman. I have also used it for non-daydream apps like litchi for flying my phantom drone. Interestingly enough, the time that the phone got really hot, I had it plugged in and was using a non-daydream app (roller coaster VR).
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using XDA Free mobile app
BJHiltbrand said:
I usually use it for 45 minutes to an hour. I really have just been playing around with all sorts of apps. Most of those sessions were in the Netflix VR app and in a game called Archer E. Bowman. I have also used it for non-daydream apps like litchi for flying my phantom drone. Interestingly enough, the time that the phone got really hot, I had it plugged in and was using a non-daydream app (roller coaster VR).
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's not surprising at all that your phone was overheating considering you had it plugged in while using an app, nearly any phone would become really hot if you do that. These fast charging methods all (aside from Oppo/OnePlus's Dash Charging) do the voltage conversion in the phone, it's mind boggling how stupid that is, and yet that's how they work. Another thing that's infuriating to even think about is the internal design if you know what it is. I've seen an A7 taken apart and... it uses the BATTERY as a heatsink, yes the battery, the thing that degrades and loses maximum charge due to heat. The heat pipe is set up in a way to basically pass the SoC's heat directly to the battery.
So overall I guess what you're saying is good news, 45-60 mins typical usage and only overheating while having it plugged in is far better than all the reports I've seen about the Pixel/XL while using VR. Thanks once again.
I watched a two hour movie in two sessions, one with the phone plugged into a battery pack. It got warm, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would suggest the Full-size VR app for web browsing and viewing movies on the SD card.
The headset is definitely worth the money but the phone's power button is placed in the worst position possible - something that's true just for holding in the right hand as well!
got ours yesterday. Pretty interesting. very much in its infancy tho but you can see the potential. I agree about power button placement is a slight issue.
phone does get very warm. phone gave a warning once. I removed the case and that seemed to help. NOt really a big deal
I got the headset a couple of days ago because of the Nougat update, I've used it for playing games like need for speed VR and watching videos with YouTube VR and Skybox, also hooked it up to my PC to stream VR Games with trinus VR and such.
As someone who only had the original cardboard and then a cheap plastic headset, I'm in love with daydream, it doesn't compare at all to any full size VR like the Oculus or PlayStation VR but the quality is pretty good for a $50 device, I think it's worth it at this price.
On the performance side I was also worried because I've read the reviews and issues with the pixels but I have to say I'm amazed with the axon, it does get hot after a while but never had performance decrease, just a notification about the battery being hot, 53c (127f) was the highest I've had and that was after more than an hour of continuous VR usage. I was surprised that the phone cools down very quickly after exiting VR, ZTE has some great thermal management in this CPU, battery lasts long enough for my sessions of VR I've been getting like %25 drain for almost an hour in VR, so enough to watch a movie if at half battery most likely, but with QC 3.0 this is a none issue for me. People forget your phone is blasting away at full brightness, rendering 3D scenes with 3D positional audio while tracking every sensor and keeping an active low latency Bluetooth connection, NFC, a Cellphone connection and an Internet connection . I think it's pretty amazing.
Well there's only a single company selling the thing on Amazon which I never heard of but I said screw it and ordered it because there was only 1 white one left and it's my last day of Amazon Prime. Hopefully it doesn't stain too easily... and Xposed arrives soon because I'm not upgrading to Nougat until it does.
adampdx said:
I watched a two hour movie in two sessions, one with the phone plugged into a battery pack. It got warm, but nothing out of the ordinary. I would suggest the Full-size VR app for web browsing and viewing movies on the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say Full-size VR app, as I said I'm waiting on Xposed before upgrading to Nougat so I can't install Daydream apps yet.
BritSwedeGuy said:
The headset is definitely worth the money but the phone's power button is placed in the worst position possible - something that's true just for holding in the right hand as well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
chamilun said:
got ours yesterday. Pretty interesting. very much in its infancy tho but you can see the potential. I agree about power button placement is a slight issue.
phone does get very warm. phone gave a warning once. I removed the case and that seemed to help. NOt really a big deal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't it just be placed in upside down so the strap doesn't press the power button?
rpsgrayfox said:
I got the headset a couple of days ago because of the Nougat update, I've used it for playing games like need for speed VR and watching videos with YouTube VR and Skybox, also hooked it up to my PC to stream VR Games with trinus VR and such.
As someone who only had the original cardboard and then a cheap plastic headset, I'm in love with daydream, it doesn't compare at all to any full size VR like the Oculus or PlayStation VR but the quality is pretty good for a $50 device, I think it's worth it at this price.
On the performance side I was also worried because I've read the reviews and issues with the pixels but I have to say I'm amazed with the axon, it does get hot after a while but never had performance decrease, just a notification about the battery being hot, 53c (127f) was the highest I've had and that was after more than an hour of continuous VR usage. I was surprised that the phone cools down very quickly after exiting VR, ZTE has some great thermal management in this CPU, battery lasts long enough for my sessions of VR I've been getting like %25 drain for almost an hour in VR, so enough to watch a movie if at half battery most likely, but with QC 3.0 this is a none issue for me. People forget your phone is blasting away at full brightness, rendering 3D scenes with 3D positional audio while tracking every sensor and keeping an active low latency Bluetooth connection, NFC, a Cellphone connection and an Internet connection . I think it's pretty amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the detailed info. 53C should be perfectly fine, funny that's exactly what the first person reported as well. It's really high for a mobile device, but it shouldn't be dangerous... at least I hope the battery isn't that sensitive, because as I said they use the battery as a heatsink.
Sorry, autocorrect. Fulldive app. I even changed that twice.
Well I received mine today and there's still no sign of Nougat Xposed so I just used it without Daydream and I have to say:
Cons:
- The lenses are tiny and not adjustable, I was really hoping for better lenses since that's basically the entire cost of this thing.
- It's not exactly the most comfortable thing in the world, the strap sucks, it really needed to a top strap.
- It's designed for some sort of giant Neanderthal nose, it has so much room it could fit 2 of my noses in it.
- Putting the phone in upside doesn't always work since it can hit the volume button that way instead of power button, that and not all apps flip upside down.
- The "Snow White"/light gray looks nothing like the pictures, it's straight up grey.
Neutral:
- No app works perfectly well for it that I've seen yet, I might be forced to wait for Nougat/Daydream apps (I tried installing the apk, won't install on 6.0.1).
- The remote does nothing on 6.0.1 aside from connect.
Pros:
- The lenses are clear enough especially compared to the garbage plastic lenses others use, and it works for my eyes despite not being adjustable.
- Despite the sucky strap the fact that it's lighter than plastic models makes up a lot in the comfort department. That tiny difference in weight makes the device usable with that subpar strap.
Tl;DR - For a $100 device I expected a lot better quality, but this might be the best that can be had for the Axon 7, I guess I'm stuck waiting on Nougat Xposed until I find out just how good this thing is.
adampdx said:
Sorry, autocorrect. Fulldive app. I even changed that twice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fulldive is awkward and doesn't work for me. When you hold one position to select something, it doesn't work for whatever reason when I have the phone inserted in the DD View, it just does the loop/circle then nothing happens. If I have the phone out of headset then it works. Either way it doesn't seem like an easy to use app.
Cyrus D. said:
Tl;DR - For a $100 device I expected a lot better quality, but this might be the best that can be had for the Axon 7, I guess I'm stuck waiting on Nougat Xposed until I find out just how good this thing is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry that you've had a poor experience. I paid $50 for mine and find it comfortable, easy to wear for long periods of time, and the Daydream app performs very well. Fulldive is awkward, but once I learned how to properly use it, it made a world of difference.
Hi, I'm really happy there is a discussion to the Daydream headset. I'm also sceptical on the quality (sure is better than cardboard...), but another thing is that besides the controller, I don't understand what's the hype about it? Seems pretty average, no top strap..
I'm also looking to get some VR for the Axon, however the ones that I've seen are really not optimal - all of them press either volume or in most cases the power button. I guess that the ZTE VR won't really be produced now with the Daydream support (or available to get in another way), so are there any feasible alternatives?
Hi. Does anybody have these problems with Daydream? Initial tiles doesn't load properly and install button on VR Play Store doesn't appear...
Please everyone interested in daydream on LOS vote for this bug https://jira.lineageos.org/projects/BUGBASH/issues/BUGBASH-284?filter=allopenissues
I have one, it's alright. No deal breakers, but it's not great either.
In terms of software, The apps are just not there yet. There are a ton of video portals, unfinished game demos, and apps that we already knew from Cardboard, and honestly not much else. I hear Samsung Gear VR has a much richer set of apps, so Daydream really needs to catch up. Add to that the Lineage OS issues (mentioned above), which exclude Daydream from working properly with LOS-based ROMs., and the software situation is not great. I think we need to give it some time.
In terms of hardware, it works but is quirky. Lack of a top strap is not great, leads to most people over-tightening the rear strap. The optics are okay, not great, with a 90 degree field of view - Better than most Cardboard clones, but well below dedicated headsets, or even Samsung Gear VR. Light can leak in from the back, but you can stuff a tissue or something between the side and the face pad to compensate. It's light and fairly comfortable, though, and gets the job done.
The remote works well, and the idea of putting a trackpad in your hand that can sense both taps and clicks, plus a pointer, gives you a lot to work with. It drifts, though, which means you'll be using that recenter function a lot.
Overall, while it may sound like I really don't like it, VR is really cool, and Daydream, for $50 (on sale), is a great way to jump into it. Just bear in mind that it feels like a promising beta more than a finished product.
To answer some of the questions and concerns in this thread:
The power button on the Axon 7 isn't really an issue. No, you usually can't put the phone in upside-down - Some apps will tell you to flip it when you try, others will have glitches like InMind 2 having upside down subtitles. Instead, just pull the latching band to the left a bit as you secure the phone, and it will clear the power button no problem. I believe the latest stock firmware disregards power button long-press when in Daydream mode, too, so there's that too.
Overheating is somewhat of an issue. If you use Daydream for gaming for an hour straight, yeah the phone gets hot - 63C or so is the highest I've seen, and I use the included case which may trap in more heat too. It hasn't been a problem affecting performance, and while the battery does drain fast, it's not really draining faster than you would with a more traditional game.
I'm actually surprised at how little battery is used considering the heat it puts out.
I like it. I think it works smooth. Mostly good for watching movies or shows. Not a lot of games available.
Note: It exacerbates the Do Not Disturb issue. It, just like the schedule, can turn it on but can't turn it off. Disable the access to prevent the issue.
BJHiltbrand said:
I usually use it for 45 minutes to an hour. I really have just been playing around with all sorts of apps. Most of those sessions were in the Netflix VR app and in a game called Archer E. Bowman. I have also used it for non-daydream apps like litchi for flying my phantom drone. Interestingly enough, the time that the phone got really hot, I had it plugged in and was using a non-daydream app (roller coaster VR).
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, were you able to fly your DJI drone in VR with the google daydream? I have looked everywhere on the web for answers but couldn't find anything!
Hi there,
I just got hands on my Nokia 8 + Zeiss VR One. I havent found a better subforum then "cardboard", so forgive me if Im wrong here. :S
This is my 1st time on VR, ever and I instantly tried some playstore apps, like rollecoasters, astronaut in space, which wasnt really what I was expecting in terms of quality.
It was okay, but somehow I expected way more ?
So I kept googling and tried all those "10 best VR apps/games/videos", but only 2 apps could fully enable a really immersive feeling to me.
1.) "VR Escape" by Serkan Culfa
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sculfa.vrescapehorrorhouse&hl=de
Yes, its "autowalk", but honestly, if you have a big room and slowly start walking...while the camera moves...this is amazing already (to me) !
Even trying to dodge stuff or avoid hitting the door frames...great ! :'D And I will try his other apps as well asap.
2.) "Stalk VR" by DigiRepStudios (Matthew C Hallberg)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.DigiRep.ZombiesOfTheCorn
The idea of using the camera, to be able to hold a printed out, real item, to interact with the game, that was what I was looking for. WOW ! :laugh:
But the textures and the "in world" movement felt a bit like a quick test.
Keeping in mind that "Stalk VR" already is 1 year old, and the graphics of "VR Escape" look a bit "oldskool", I really wonder, what else, in terms of high quality VR, may I have missed out there for the "cardbaords / VR Zeiss One" ?
I wouldnt mind paying for the apps, as long as they can create a "Fantastic VR world".
Am I searching for the wrong stuff ? Is this already the best experience out there for "cardboards" / "Zeiss VR One" ?
Or are there more hidden gems, like the 2 examples above ? Like, beeing able to use your hands or, printed out items, as in "Stalk VR" ?
Dont get me wrong, I dont expect this to be like Oculus Rift, but having tested the above apps, Im full of hope already, that this is not the end for "Cardboards / Zeiss VR One" yet.
But for example, watching VR videos on the Nokia 8, like GoPro clips on youtube, including basejumps or rollercoaster videos, it all looks a bit blurry (in the distance), and there are artifacts in the front, even on 1080p. But its a decent experience.
Also I cant find other (hidden) settings to improve VR video quality. I guess this is "normal" and I got to live with it ?
I already used the Google app to "calibrate" my Zeiss VR One...well, if you could call that calibrating at all.
Id really love to hear about your 1st experience and the apps, that really created an immersive feeling for you.
Fire away and thanks in advance !
p.s.
Id also appreciate funky "Augmented Reality" Stuff for "cardboard / Zeiuss VR One", like, seeing monsters walkign around in your room.