How to control Philips Hue with Siri, Apple HomeKit

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The 2nd generation of Philips Hue Starter Kit includes the Bridge 2.0 which is compatible with Apple Homekit. With it, you can control Philips Hue lights with Siri Voice command. If you have 1st generation of Philips Hue Bridge, don’t get disappointed. Philips Hue Bridge 2.0 alone is sold for $59.99, and you can continue to use all Philips Hue light bulbs with a new Bridge.

Add Philips Hue to Apple HomeKit

Sync HomeKit with Philips HueOnce you set up a new Bridge, go to HomeKit app on your iOS device. Tap “+” icon and/or “Add Accessory” and you will see an icon of Philips Hue. Tap it and scan or manually enter the 8-digit setup code either on a package of the Bridge or back of the device itself. HomeKit app recognizes all light bulbs with the same names as you set up in Philips Hue app. From this moment on, you can control all lights with Siri individually. However, HomeKit app doesn’t know Rooms yet, which you also created in Philips Hue app. The easiest way of setting up rooms is open the original Philips Hue apps and go to “Setting” then “HomeKit & Siri.” You will see an orange circle with an exclamation mark or number in the section of “Rooms.” It means it’s available to sync with HomeKit app. Tap a white circle and “Resync home”, and HomeKit recognizes Rooms. Now, you can control multiple lights in a room with Siri as well as an individual light.

Set up scenes

Philips Hue Scene with HomeKit & SiriYou can turn lights on and off, brighten, dim, and change colors with Siri. You can also change scenes, but you will need to extra steps to do this. If you want Siri to turn on nightlight in your bedroom, you have to create a scene. Tap scene “+” , “Where?” and select a room and go back. Tap [room] and choose a scene. You will see a list of Philips Hue’s default scenes and your original scenes if you have created ones. Say you chose Bedroom, Nightlight and entered “Bedtime” as a name of the scene. Saying “Hey Siri, set bedtime” changes lights in bedroom to nightlight. But it won’t work for other rooms. For example, “Set bedtime in Kids room” or “Set bedtime in Living room” won’t change light in these rooms unless you configure for them. It’s very bothersome because you have to create each scene in each room.

Compared with Alexa

Speaking of scenes, Alexa is much easier to set up than Siri. All you need is to enable Philips Hue Skill. After that, you can change all scenes in any room by saying “Alexa, turn on [scene name] in [room name].” Instead of this, Alexa can’t change colors of lights directly like Siri.

See Also: Alexa can directly change scenes of Philips Hue lights without IFTTT now

Conclusion

Lighting is just one of HomeKit compatible devices. If you have other smart devices in your homes like security and heating, you can add them in HomeKit app. And smart home technology has just started. More and more devices and features will be available, and they will make your life more convenient in the future.

How to install Google Play Store apps on Fire tablet

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Play Store on Fire tabletAmazon Appstore doesn’t even have Google’s apps  like Chrome, Gmail, Google Drive, and many other useful apps that are normally available on Android devices. And Amazon’s Fire tablet (7-inch, 5th generation) is originally limited to apps from Amazon Appstore. However, there is a way to install Google Play Store app on Fire tablet so you can download all Android apps. Since an operating system of Fire tablets called Fire OS is base on Android, you can do that without rooting.

First, please note that you need a Windows PC, USB cable.

Step 1: Enable ADB

  • On Fire tablet, open “Setting” > “Device Options”. Locate “Serial Number” and tap it repeatedly seven or more times until you see “Developer Options” appear just below it. Then, open “Developer Options” and tap “Enable ADB” and tap ENABLE to confirm in a popup. Now, the table is ready to install necessary applications from Windows PC. Connect Fire tablet to Windows PC with a USB cable and go to next step.

Step 2: Visit Root Junky website and download a file

  • On Windows PC, go to Root Junky website and download “Amazon-Fire-5th-Gen-Install-Play-Store.zip” file and unzip it to a folder.

Step 3: Run the script

  • Find “1-Install-Play-Store.bat” file in the unzipped folder and double-click it. Soon, you will see a popup message “Allow USB debugging?” on Fire tablet. Tap OK, and the script starts. Type 2 and press Enter to perform “Install Google Play store and remove ads from lock screen.” Wait for a few minutes to finish the installation. After finish, go back to “Setting” > “Device Options” > “Developer Options” and disable ADB debugging. Then, disconnect a USB cable and reboot Fire tablet. Done!

 

Now, A home screen of Fire tablet shows a very familiar icon of Play Store on the bottom. You can install Chrome, Google Drive, Google Maps, and more apps from there. Signing in with an existing account allows you to install paid apps, which you previously purchased, without paying twice.

Reportedly, Root Junky’s tool works for Fire OS 5.3.1 or 5.3.2, relatively new version of Fire OS. So, it doesn’t work for older Fire tablets. And it probably works for Fire HD and HDX with the same version of Fire OS. I did this on my Fire tablet 7-inch 5th gen with Fire OS 5.3.2.1, and it works perfectly. Root Junky mentions that future updates of Fire OS might be going to cause some issues.

Conclusion

Fire tablet is very cheap but very versatile now. The least expensive one is as little as $50, yet it has full access to Play Store apps. Installing Play Store doesn’t hurt Fire’s home screen which is customized by Amazon. You can easily access contents like Amazon Music, Instant Video, Kindle Books, etc. Plus, you have a virtual assistance from Alexa!

How to use Alexa on Fire Tablet, HD, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick

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Alexa on Fire TVAlexa is an artificial intelligence developed by Amazon. It’s capable of voice interaction and communication such as answering your questions, telling jokes, setting the alarm, telling news, weather, traffic, and much more. For a couple of years, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Tap have been well known for devices through which you can interact with Alexa, but after recent update of Amazon’s operation system called Fire OS, many Amazon devices have become Alexa-enabled. Now, you can use Alexa with the following devices.

  • Fire (5th generation), Fire HD (5th, 6th generation)
  • Fire TV (any generation)
  • Fire TV Stick (any generation)

Please note: although the devices above are all capable of accessing Alexa, most devices are required the update to latest version of Fire OS. I bought Fire (5th generation) at the end of 2016, and it wasn’t able to activate Alexa right out of the box. It came with Fire OS 5.1.3. I manually updated several times, 5.1.3 > 5.1.4 > 5.3.1.0 > 5.3.2.0 and now it’s Fire OS 5.3.2.1. And I can use Alexa on my tablet since Fire OS 5.3.2.0.

How to update operating system

  • On Tablet: Setting > Device Options > System Updates > Update
  • On Fire TV and Stick: Setting > System > About > Check for System Update > Install System Update

Alexa on Fire TabletHow to use Alexa on Fire tablets

To use Alexa, press and hold the Home button until you see a blue line. Then just start saying your question or command. On tablets, you don’t have to Wake Word, Alexa, because holding down home button replicates that. One of the advantages of using Alexa on Fire devices over Echo or Tap is that Alexa gives you a visual information by showing a “card” on the screen. How much info a card has depends on your questions or commands. If you have Alexa to play music, you will see names of artist, titles of song and album, and album cover. Some cards have a link to a website so that you can see more details. To make a card disappear, tap anywhere outside of the card.

How to use Alexa on Fire TV and Fire TV Stick

Alexa on Fire TV StickAny generation of Fire TV and 2nd gen of Fire TV Stick include a voice remote which has a built-in microphone. To speak to Alexa, press and hold a Voice button, and you will see “Listening…” pop up on your TV screen. Then start saying your question or command. Like tablets, Alexa shows you a card for you to see information visually. You can resume the contents by pressing the back button on the remote. 1st gen of Fire TV Stick doesn’t have a voice remote. However, you can use Alexa as long as you updated the operating system. There are two options for owners of 1st gen Stick. First, you can buy the remote alone for $30. But keep in mind that 2nd generation of the Stick, which includes a voice remote is $40, only $10 more than you pay for the remote alone. Second, you can download and install Amazon Fire TV app on Android or iOS devices

Amazon Fire TV app

amazon fire TV appAmazon Fire TV app is free and available in Play Store and Apple App Store. It’s compatible with any generations of Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The app has all buttons of the physical remote on a display of Android or iOS devices. A mic button is located on the top. Instead of just holding down, holding and sliding down the button accesses Alexa. The app has a great feature which a physical remote doesn’t have. It’s a keyboard. Tapping the icon at a right top corner opens a keyboard of your mobile device. It’s very useful for those who use 3rd party apps on Fire TV. That’s because when you voice-search some media with the remote, the results are limited to Amazon’s apps, not 3rd party apps. For example, when you try to find a movie and say to Alexa “Find movies with Michael J. Fox,” you see a list of many movies or TV shows starring Michael J. Fox. But they are all limited to Amazon videos. From the results, you can’t reach to a movie in Netflix, Hulu, or Kodi. The keyboard makes it easy to search contents in 3rd party apps.

Conclusion

This update makes Amazon Fire devices very versatile. Except for a hands-free feature and controlling a volume, Fire devices can do everything Echo can. Plus, the cards help you understand the information clearly or get more details quickly by providing pictures or links. The least expensive Fire device is $40 Fire TV Stick. The second is $50 Fire tablet (7″, 5th generation). It’s the same price of Echo Dot. These devices are way too cheap, as compared to the original Echo or other company’s virtual assistance devices. From that, you can tell that Amazon tries to get more customers rather than making money by selling Amazon brand items. They want more and more people to use Alexa. Eventually, it brings to more Amazon shoppers, Prime members, or other subscribers such as Prime Music and Kindle Unlimited.

Six Amazon Alexa Hidden Features you should know

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Make Alexa speak your line

Amazon AlexaYou can make Alexa repeat what you say. Say to Alexa, “Alexa, Simon says” and continue with a word, phrase, or sentence. Alexa will repeat whatever you say. If you have an Alexa Voice Remote, you can use this feature for fun or prank to your friends and family. The remote works for Echo or Echo Dot by connecting with them via Bluetooth. You can activate Echo or Echo Dot secretly from next room or anywhere within the range. People who don’t know about this feature will be surprised because all of sudden they see a blue LED light of Echo turn on and then Alexa speaks to them with her robotic voice. You may want to have Alexa to tell a famous quote to your kids or a joke to your friends. You can’t make her repeat an obscene language because Alexa will beep for that kind of words. But, it’s still funny, though.

Add another account

Even if you are a couple and living together, each of you has different schedules, to-do lists, or different tastes of music. You don’t need separate Alexa-enabled devices for you each. Instead, you can add another account on each device. Here is how.

  • Open Alexa app
  • Setting > Household Profile > Start
  • Sign in with another Amazon ID and password

Now, a device can handle with two separate accounts. You can switch accounts or make sure which account it is now by asking Alexa.

  • When you want to change accounts, say “Alexa, switch accounts.”
  • When you want to know which account is your device now, say “Alexa, which account is this?”

Please note that currently, each Amazon device can handle with up to two accounts.

Access Alexa app from PC

Alexa app is available in Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS devices. But you can access it from PC, too. Go to echo.amazon.com. What you will see is the same things as Alexa app for Android or iOS. However, you may glance a shopping list without scrolling down or search new Skills and read reviews easily by using a mouse and keyboard.

Have Alexa to repeat an answer

If you can’t catch what Alexa said, just ask, “Alexa, can you repeat that?” and she will speak what she just said. For this feature, you need to ask her quickly. Don’t wait for five seconds or more or she will forget.

Erase a record

To tell the truth, Alexa won’t forget what she said or your questions and commands until you erase them. All these speeches are recorded in Amazon Cloud, and you can have access to them or erase them if you want.

  • Open Alexa app
  • Menu > Settings> History
  • Tap your speech that you want to erase
  • Tap “Delete voice recordings”

History shows all records with all Alexa devices. If you are patient enough to scroll all the way down, you will see the very first speech you make to Alexa, which recorded on the day you welcomed Alexa as a new member of your family. More surprisingly, they are not only recorded in a text but also in your voice. And you can listen to them by tapping the line with a play icon.

Alexa Easter Eggs

There are numbers of hidden Ester Eggs. Alexa answers some of your questions with a sense of humor. I’m sure that you will find many for yourself by asking a lot of questions. Start with the greetings, simple questions like birthday and anything popped up in your mind. Then, share your findings in your SNS, and you will receive more Easter Eggs from your friends.

  • Alexa, nice to meet you.
  • Alexa, what’s your full name?
  • Alexa, what’s your birthday?
  • Alexa, happy birthday.
  • Alexa, can you sing?
  • Alexa, how old are you?
  • Alexa, how tall are you?
  • Alexa, do you have a boyfriend?
  • Alexa, what do you want for Christmas?
  • Alexa, do you believe in Santa?
  • Alexa, do you believe in God?
  • Alexa, what’s the meaning of life?
  • Alexa, I’m sick of my life
  • Alexa, are you happy?
  • Alexa, do aliens exist?
  • Alexa, how big is the universe?
  • Alexa, give me the value of pi
  • Alexa, up up down down left right left right
  • …….

Alexa can directly change scenes of Philips Hue lights without IFTTT now

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Philips Hue Alexa Skill You can now change scenes of Philips Hue lights with Alexa. Before, you were able to turn on and off or brighten and dim the light with Alexa. You can also change color with Siri. Or you can change the scene with Alexa though IFTTT app after you create “Recipes” for each light bulb. But now, thanks to the Skill: Hue by Philips Hue, you can directly change scenes with Alexa. Here is how it works.

Find and enable the Skill

First, open Alexa app and search “Hue” skill. Then tap “Enable Skill.” You are prompted to log in your Hue account because the Skill require a Hue account link. Enter your email address and password, and it automatically goes to Smart Home section in Alexa app. And Alexa app also automatically starts finding Smart Home Devices.

Alexa finds all your Hue devices and scenes

You can see a full list of default scenes for each room in Smart Home section of Alexa app. If you have created your original scenes, you will see them as well. Now, everything you can do with Hue app can be done by saying “Alexa, turn on [scene name] in [room].” For example, “Alexa, turn on Concentrate in Office” or “Alexa, turn on Nightlight in Bedroom.” In addition to the scenes, there is a feature called Colorloop which continues to change colors of light very smoothly. For example, “Alexa, turn on Colorloop in Living Room.”

Doesn’t work? Try this

Alexa can change scenes of Philips Hue lightsIf Alexa says, “This command does not work with device (scene) in (room).” or something similar, try this. Open Alexa app > Tap “Smart Home” > Scroll down to “Your Devices” and tap “Discover devices.” Although you see a list of all scenes and devices in the app, try to discover devices again. But while Alexa is looking devices, press the button of Philips Hue Bridge. Personally, I was told the same message over and over by Alexa and changing scenes didn’t work. But after I pressed the button while searching, it works perfectly.

Conclusion

Alexa still can’t directly change colors like Siri (like “Hey Siri, change Desk Lamp to white”.) (As of Apr, 2017, Hue skill enabled the feature of changing color of light bulbs directly.)  And with IFTTT app, you can change scenes as well, but it takes a little more time because Alexa sends your command to IFTTT and then IFTTT sends it to Philips Hue. If you are accustomed to Philips Hue app and using its default or your original scenes, Alexa with Hue skill can do everything you need. And Colorloop is a nice feature.

Please note that the Skill is only compatible with the 2nd generation of Philips Hue Bridge, which is a square shape. A circular shape of 1st gen Bridge is not supported. As an option for owners of 1st gen, you can easily upgrade to 2nd gen by swapping only Bridges. (you can continue to use existing light bulbs with a new bridge) 2nd gen Bridge is available for $59.99.

5 Best Virtual Reality Headset Review 2016

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The year 2016 is almost over. Some said that 2016 would be the year of Virtual Reality. In fact, some big name companies released their VR headsets: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Sony PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream View. It seems that the sales of this year aren’t as good as their expectations, but it’s thought to be growing towards 2020. It’s probably the right time to have an interest in VR. This post is the rerview of 5 best VR headset 2016.

HTC Vive

HTC Vive is a VR headset developed by HTC and Valve Corporation. It was released in April 2016. HTC Vive provides “Room Scale” technology. You can use your room as 3D VR space. Two laser position sensors (called Lighthouse) track location and movement of the headset and handheld controllers so you can walk around (up to 15-by-15-foot) and interact with objects in VR by using the controllers. It costs $799 and includes the sensors with mounting brackets and the controllers. With a VR-ready PC, you can start having a premium VR experience.

Oculus Rift

Oculus started developing a VR headset as a Kickstarter campaign in 2012. In March 2014, Facebook bought up Oculus for $2 billion. Then, Oculus Rift was released in March 2016. The headset has an integrated headphone that provides real-time 3D audio effects. Oculus Rift utilizes the headset’s positional tracking system called Constellation. It costs $599 and includes one Constellation sensor and one Xbox One controller. A motion controller called Oculus Touch is sold separately. Constellation system tracks the controllers in 3D space so that you can interact with objects in VR by using the controllers. Oculus Touch costs $199 and consists of a pair of controllers and one Constellation sensor. Constellation can be used with multiple sensors working together. Two sensors (one from the Rift and the other from Touch) track your position, but it’s very limited. If you want Room Scale experience, you will need at least one more sensor ($80). And keep in mind that each sensor needs to be connected to USB port of the PC.

PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR is released in October 2016. It uses a PlayStation 4 game console as a platform. A design of the headset is unique and comfortable. While almost all other VR headset is like a ski goggle, PSVR headset is like a sun visor. A band goes around your head and forehead. Integrated elastic bands make it easy to wear, and a dial on the rear of the band gives a little pressure as a final adjustment. A part that consists of a display and lenses moves horizontally, so it fits your face without pressure. It costs $399 and doesn’t include anything else but a headphone. You will need PlayStation Camera ($60) to track the headset movement. If you already have a motion controller (PlayStation Move), you should have the camera as well. And, these accessories can also be used for PSVR. Sony released a bundle called PlayStation VR Launch Bundle, which consists of the headset, a pair of Move controllers, Camera, and some demo games for $499. Currently, PSVR provides either sitting or standing VR experience, not Room Scale. And keep in mind that Move controllers are less precise than Oculus Touch or HTC Vive’s controllers.

Gear VR

In collaboration with Oculus, Samsung developed VR headset and released the first consumer edition called Gear VR last year. In August 2016, the new model was released alongside the Galaxy Note 7. Gear VR is different from three headsets above. The headset needs a smartphone placed in the headset and uses it as a display. It doesn’t need any cables to connect, and you can carry around and use it anywhere as long as you have a compatible smartphone. This type of headset is called mobile VR headset. Although there aren’t any wires or cables attached to the headset, you can’t walk around in VR world because there is no sensor to track your position. Gear VR has an integrated touchpad and buttons on its side. It also has built-in sensors, which connects to smartphones via micro USB port. The built-in sensors make more accurate and less latency for rotational tracking than generic mobile VR headsets such as Google Cardboard. As of now, compatible smartphones are Samsung Galaxy S6/Edge/+, S7/Edge, Note 5. Gear VR costs $99, but there is a promotion frequently, like buy Galaxy phone get Gear VR for free.

Daydream View

Daydream View is released in November 2016. It’s a mobile VR headset and compatible with some new smartphones with latest Android OS; Nougat. The headset is made with soft fabric. It looks very compact and stylish. Integrated NFC chip launches a Daydream platform automatically when a phone is placed in the headset. It comes with a wireless controller. To some extent, this controller can interact with VR apps and games. Daydream View costs $79. Currently, there are very limited number of apps and games in Daydream platform, and compatible smartphones are Pixel/XL and Moto Z/Force.

Conclusion

HTC Vive is the best of all. If you already have a powerful PC, $799-package is all you need to start Room Scale VR experience. On the other hand, Oculus Rift, $599-package doesn’t include motion controllers. The controllers (Oculus Touch) costs $199. Rift and Touch include one position tracking sensor each, but two sensors can’t cover enough tracking volume for Room Scale. You will need at least one more ($80) for that. The total cost exceeds HTC Vive’s, but it still doesn’t cover as much tracking volume as HTC Vive does.

One thing that Oculus is better than Vive is the controllers. Unlike Vive’s wand-shaped controllers, Oculus Touch is a very ergonomic and easy to use. You may need little or no time to get used to them. It’s worth noting that Oculus Touch was released very recently (December 2016). So next year, Oculus may be going to release a bundle package including Rift, Touch, and tracking sensors with a reasonable price. And I believe that is the way for Oculus to compete with HTC Vive.

If you have a PS4 game console, PlayStation VR would be a great option for its price. But $399 package doesn’t include any accessories. You need Camera and either a DualShock 4 or Move controller to play VR games. $499 PlayStation VR Launch Bundle includes the headset, Camera, a pair of Move controllers, and some demo games. Please note that its screen resolution is lower than Vive and Rift. And it’s not Room Scale experience. Since it uses a single tracking sensor (PS Camera) placed in front of you, tracking volume is very limited. If you turn around, Camera will lose track of the controllers.

If you don’t like to spend hundreds of dollars on a VR headset, consider a mobile VR headset. If you own Samsung Galaxy or Daydream-ready smartphones, there is no doubt that Gear VR ($99) or Daydream View ($79) are the best. These headsets provide better rotational tracking with less latency than generic mobile headsets. If you own iPhones or different phones or don’t want to spend that much, there are a variety of generic mobile headsets from $15 to $100. For generic headsets, you shouldn’t spend $100 because it’s not worth. You can get a good one for around $30-$50. Just make sure that it has basic features like focus wheel, durable, comfort, etc. And don’t forget to check if your phone is capable of play VR contents beforehand.

See also: What is the Best VR Headset for iPhones 2016?

See also: Is my phone VR compatible? Here is how to check

 

Is my phone VR compatible? Here is how to check

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360-degree videoMobile VR headsets use smartphones as a display by mounting it in front of lenses. But, you should know that not all smartphones support VR apps and 360-degree videos. A smartphone should have a Gyroscope sensor to play VR contents. It’s not much about how new a phone is. In fact, there are numbers of new phones that don’t have this sensor. Instead of looking for a spec chart of your smartphone on the internet, there is an easy way to check if your phone supports VR contents.

First, go to Youtube from your phone and search 360-degree videos. While playing videos, tilt your phone up and down, left and right. The videos should move along with a movement of your phone. For example, in a roller coaster of 360-degree video, you cannot only see where it’s going but also the views on your left and right by turning your phone left and right, look up the sky and down the ground by tilting up and down or even look behind by flipping the phone.

If videos don’t move, your phone doesn’t support VR contents, and the phone is not compatible with any VR headsets. Just in case, to make sure that what you are watching are 360-degree videos, play the videos and swipe the screen in any direction. 360-degree videos should move or spin by swiping the screen.

There are many other ways to check compatibility. Here are some of them.

  • Go to VRtest.Ninja from your phone and tap Start. It will tell you either GOOD or FAIL, and you can even see your test result details.
  • Go to https://www.freeflyvr.com/compatible/. There is a list of compatible phones. See if your phone is listed.
  • Install Sensor Box for Android app. It will detect all available sensors on your device and even show you how each one works with an animation. (Android device only)

In addition, Google Cardboard app is available for Android or iOS devices, but there are numbers of VR apps available on Microsoft Store for Windows phones. As long as it has a Gyroscope sensor you can enjoy VR contents on Windows phones, too. And, it’s not limited to smartphones. iPod touch 5th Gen and newer are VR-compatible. iPod touch 4th has the sensor, but a display (3.5″) is too small, not recommended.

Related Posts

View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer review

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A year after a release of the first View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer, Mattel released a new version of VR viewer, View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer. Mattel is an American toy manufacturing company. VR viewers from Mattel is kid-friendly. They are for age seven and up.

The new version has several improvements over the first one.

  • Latch locks securely
  • A focus wheel
  • Audio jack
  • Built-in adapter for iPhone 5/5c/5s

A latch of the first version isn’t that secure. Many users reported it popped open. The locking mechanism is dramatically improved. It just snaps close and locks securely, and push to open.

A focus wheel can make images clear. The first version didn’t even have one. Thanks to the focus wheel, you may not need eyeglasses depending on your eyesight.

An audio jack is at the bottom of the front door, and an adapter attached inside the door. Now, you can have more immersive experiences with headphones. Of course, there are always options to use Bluetooth headphones or smartphone’s speaker.

An adapter for smaller phones such as iPhone 5/5c/5s is built into the front door. The first version also has an adapter, but it was a separate piece that might be easy to lose.

Other Changes

A trigger button becomes flat. It’s like a slider rather than a trigger from the previous version. The system is the same, mechanical construction tapping a screen of the smartphone when you press down the button. The new version looks a little fatter, but overall size is almost the same.

Thing that didn’t change

It doesn’t have a head strap, either. Probably, it’s for a safety reason. Holding the viewer by hand is tiresome, but meanwhile, it prevents your kids from using the viewer for a long time.

Conclusion

View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer has made several improvements that fixed all problems from the first viewer. Price may be $10 to $20 more than the first one, but it’s worth.

Is Virtual Reality Safe for Kids?

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VR for KidsVirtual Reality is relatively new technology, and its possibilities are endless. It can be used for a variety of purposes: gaming, movies, 3D, and also educational contents. However, the most of VR headset manufacturers have set age limits. For examples, Oculus Rift and Samsungs Gear VR made a rule of 13 or older. PlayStation VR is not supposed to be used by children under 12. HTC Vive doesn’t have an exact age limit, but it does a warning against a usage by young children.

One of their concerns is eye’s health. The statistic shows that the rate of nearsightedness is increasing among young people. Smartphones and PCs are considered as a primary cause. And VR’s display is just a few inches away from your eyes. It seems much worse than smartphones or PCs. However, VR headsets provide visions that make the stimulus effectively far away. So, your eyes have to focus on distant objects in VR world. That means VR headsets may not be as much problem as smartphones or PCs. The truth is we don’t know about effects that VR headsets will make in the long term because a VR just launched recently.

Also, VR could have a bigger psychological impact on children than regular movies and games. An immersive experience sometimes has a strong effect on the developing brains of children. So, it’s crucial that parents or adults are always nearby and choose VR contents and manage a time of using the headset.

Mattel View-Master VR is a VR headset specialized for kids, for learning rather than gaming. The headset doesn’t have a head strap or even loops for that. That’s because View-Master VR is not designed for an hour of continuous use in the first place. They also created original apps. According to Mattel, their products are designed for kids 7 and up, but for 3rd party VR apps, parents have to check the guidance of each app.

As long as it’s used in the right way, VR is safe and useful for education. Parents or guardians always check if VR contents are appropriate and safe for kids, and most importantly parents should be with children while they are behind a VR headset.

View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack Review

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Mattel has made the first viewer of Virtual Reality with a Google collaboration. The first VR headset for kids is called View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer. Just like other mobile VR headsets, the viewer needs a smartphone inserted in the viewer and used it as a display. It is made for kids rather than adults, or safety rather than immersive experiences.

According to Mattel, the age range is seven years and up. The viewer is kid-friendly. You can tell that from its design. First of all, the viewer doesn’t come with a head strap. It doesn’t even have loops or holes to put it through. So, you always need to hold the viewer with your hands. You will get tired soon. But meanwhile, you don’t have to worry as much about your kids soaked in hours of VR contents. Instead of a head strap, it has a wrist strap.

Smartphones with 5 to 6-inch display fit the viewer. And an adapter is included for smaller phones, such as iPhone 5/5c/5s. Thanks to spring-loaded holders attached to a simple design of the front cover, It’s easy to insert and remove your smartphone. However, a latch to lock the front cover snaps lightly. Depending on the thickness of a smartphone or phone case, it may pop open. And there are no holes for an audio jack or power cable except for a few slits letting the sound come out.

The Starter Pack includes a Preview Reel. When you launch View-Master app and look at the reel through smartphone’s camera, you will see the 3D image pop up on the reel. It’s called Augmented Reality. Three apps support a preview reel; Wildlife, Space, and Destinations. You can see three different 3D images on each app. If you want more AR experiences, you need to buy a View-Master Experience Pack. Each pack has three reels and one pass card to unlock a full feature of the app. Although they have small games, they are for learning rather than gaming. But you can also enjoy all Google Cardboard apps and games.

The viewer has a trigger button. It works the same as a magnet of Cardboard headset. The viewer’s trigger button is entirely mechanical. When you press down the trigger, a rubber-tip end taps a display of the smartphone.

A part that you put your face against is made of rubber. It’s relatively comfortable. But it’s not that important for a VR viewer without a head strap because nothing tightens and presses against your face. You can adjust a comfortability by your hands. And this part is very narrow. Some people with eyeglasses may have a problem.

There is no focus wheel. If an image blurs, make sure a smartphone is aligned. Sometimes, it makes it clear to move a smartphone a little off to left or right. If you use Cardboard apps, don’t forget to scan QR code located inside of the viewer. If it still blurs, there is no other choice but either pushing the view against your face or move it away from your face.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Kid-Friendly
  • A trigger button

Cons

  • No focus wheel
  • No head strap
  • No holes for audio or charging cable
  • The part to put against your face is narrow
  • Latch to close the door with smartphone holder isn’t secure

Conclusion

View-Master VR Viewer is good for kids, seven years and up. Some inferior designs, including no head strap, no holes for headphones are probably intended by the manufacturer considering kids’ safety rather than impressiveness. No focus wheel and the insecure latch are disappointments. The including preview reel for AR is interesting. To be honest, it isn’t much fun. But, It gave me a feeling of a great possibility in the future. Overall, the viewer is a great item. Parents can buy it with confidence for their kids.

See also: View-Master Deluxe VR Viewer Review