Laundry list

[wizzlepig]

So, after tinkering with a Google Cardboard for a few days, I got a Gear VR.

My first hits after using it are... well, when it works, it works so well- but when it does not work... [sigh]

My Laundry list:

1. No option to "free recenter" the view. If I'd like to lie back in bed and play a game, the center of the world remains locked at a terrible viewing angle for me. Same thing goes for watching netflix.

2. game controllers seem lacking. a few hours on amazon reading reviews, and it looks like bluetooth controllers are at best a B- grade product. Buttons don't map, works with this game but not that one, etc, etc. I have a Moga Hero Power on the way, we'll see what happens.

3. no way to map a keyboard to play games. hello? minor oversight? I already own a bluetooth keyboard, not a single app on google play for faking a keyboard as a game controller. Likewise, some kind of tiny app that would just let you re-configure the inputs for the controller you have that won't quite work...

4. when you plug in to the headset, oculus auto-launches. that means that some of the stuff you downloaded in google play is just an icon on your desktop you can't access.

5. Samsung's own website is very pretty, and lets you enter all your device info, but ultimately has next to no support info for the gear vr, and guess what? after you use your serial to register your device, you can't just go look it up in your account info if you want to send an e-mail or request help (their forms require it)... it's nowhere to be found. You get to keep re-entering it all over the site. After I discovered they have no forum, I was out of there. They're clearly not interested in fast tracking fixes or support.

...now, it does work very well, and I like it, but it's not going to blow up crazy popular if they support it like last week's news.

What else- ah: I'd like to see a mod of TeamViewer for VR, so I can connect to my pc from my headset. Likewise a standard android desktop(?) navigation app.

An app that can re-map a keyboard to a controller... that can't be that hard. Let me see what the devs I work with know about programming for android.

 

[goin_nil]

So, after tinkering with a Google Cardboard for a few days, I got a Gear VR.

My first hits after using it are... well, when it works, it works so well- but when it does not work... [sigh]

My Laundry list:

1. No option to "free recenter" the view. If I'd like to lie back in bed and play a game, the center of the world remains locked at a terrible viewing angle for me. Same thing goes for watching netflix.

Netflix does have the option to recenter while lying down. Look at the ceiling and click on the void theater option.

2. game controllers seem lacking. a few hours on amazon reading reviews, and it looks like bluetooth controllers are at best a B- grade product. Buttons don't map, works with this game but not that one, etc, etc. I have a Moga Hero Power on the way, we'll see what happens.

I have the Moga Pro Power and it works well. Make sure to put it in B mode.

3. no way to map a keyboard to play games. hello? minor oversight? I already own a bluetooth keyboard, not a single app on google play for faking a keyboard as a game controller. Likewise, some kind of tiny app that would just let you re-configure the inputs for the controller you have that won't quite work...

It's the game developers that would have to add keyboard recognition. They even have to add controller recognition too. It just doesn't work out of the box when you develop a game.

But, you might be able to get a keyboard to emulate a controller's buttons. But, the majority of games/apps in VR involve physical motion on the players part so there's no need for devs to add keyboard support.

4. when you plug in to the headset, oculus auto-launches. that means that some of the stuff you downloaded in google play is just an icon on your desktop you can't access.

Get the Package Disabler app. But, don't expect a very good experience. Those apps were designed for Google Cardboard, not Gear VR. So they use the phone's accelerometer which is much inferior to the Gear VR accelerometer. There's another option too described here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/GearVR/comments/3tt4rc/psa_you_dont_need_to_use_package_disabler_to_run/

5. Samsung's own website is very pretty, and lets you enter all your device info, but ultimately has next to no support info for the gear vr, and guess what? after you use your serial to register your device, you can't just go look it up in your account info if you want to send an e-mail or request help (their forms require it)... it's nowhere to be found. You get to keep re-entering it all over the site. After I discovered they have no forum, I was out of there. They're clearly not interested in fast tracking fixes or support.

I rarely use a manufacturers own site to get help with anything. They can be like ghost towns. Sites like Android Central and the Gear VR Reddit group are your best options. Reddit has tons of people there and it's very active (new messages every hour and responses within in minutes typically). Likely you can get help there.

...now, it does work very well, and I like it, but it's not going to blow up crazy popular if they support it like last week's news.

It's early. You are an early adopter. Could it be better? Should it be better? Absolutely. I hope they do improve in this area and I agree that improvement is needed to help this go mainstream.

What else- ah: I'd like to see a mod of TeamViewer for VR, so I can connect to my pc from my headset. Likewise a standard android desktop(?) navigation app.

Lots of people want this. You are not alone.

An app that can re-map a keyboard to a controller... that can't be that hard. Let me see what the devs I work with know about programming for android.

Good luck! Hope you create this. Maybe add it to the Play Store. Have you searched the Play Store yet?

 

[athomas917]

They need to implement voice commands for a truly hands free experience. Also third party developers should make a snap on powerd fan intercooler that could replace the protection cover.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[hokie_prof]

. game controllers seem lacking. a few hours on amazon reading reviews, and it looks like bluetooth controllers are at best a B- grade product. Buttons don't map, works with this game but not that one, etc, etc. I have a Moga Hero Power on the way, we'll see what happens.

I have the Moga Hero Power. It works great for the Gear VR. I didn't use the app to Moga app to link it to the VR, though. I used a regular bluetooth search and connect on the B setting.