Samsung continues to develop its Gear VR platform, and that naturally includes software. After a successful debut for the consumer version, the South Korean giant wants users to perform everyday tasks with the virtual reality headset, including web browsing. This has led to the launch of Samsung Internet, a new browser especially optimized for use with Gear VR, which includes floating tabs and multimedia support.
December is already upon us, and companies that promised to release their virtual reality products before the end of the year need to hurry. Samsung managed to keep its promise thanks to the commercial edition of its Gear VR headset, which arrived in stores on November 20. Lighter, with greater compatibility with Galaxy smartphones (four in total), and a reasonable price made the Gear VR fly off the shelves. Now, what's needed is more software. What's next for Samsung? How about a virtual web browser?
Its official name is Samsung Internet for Gear VR. What the company proposes with this browser is to access the web exploiting the full potential of the virtual headset, through floating tabs and keyboards, multimedia support with 3D 360-degree playback, and voice recognition. With the so-called "Gaze Mode" the user can select different items using only their gaze, and the software enables the import of bookmarks stored in the mobile browser (Samsung Internet for Android) on the smartphone.
Those who wish to get a copy of this browser will need to download it through the Oculus Store, but it is necessary to remember that it is a beta software, so it is very likely that several rough edges will appear along the way. The compatibility of Samsung Internet for Gear VR is not limited to the commercial version of the Gear VR with its smartphones, but also extends to the Innovator Edition of the headset, meaning that owners of a Galaxy Note 4 will be able to enjoy the program. The idea of browsing using a virtual headset feels a bit strange, since the average experience with a browser is definitively two-dimensional, but Samsung believes it has hit the nail on the head with its application, and it will be the Gear VR users who have the final say.
