Best Free Gear VR Apps 2016

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Gear VR was released not long ago, but there are already many apps available. Finding good apps by browsing from scratch can be a hassle because of battery drain and overheating problems of smartphones. If you just get Gear VR and use it for the first time, it’s better to know which apps are good to try. Here are my recommendations, best free Gear VR apps.

Ocean Rift Demo

It’s a free version of Ocean Rift, one of the greatest apps which take full advantage of VR technology. In the app, you can swim with dolphins, tropical fish, sharks, turtle, etc. A full version costs $9.99 USD.

Colosse

Colosse is a short story that takes place in a 360-degree and 3D environment. There is no dialogue, only BGM and sound effect. Colosse is not a simple 360-degree video. The story unfolds when you look at a particular area. Although the story is very short and not that interesting, you can see a potential of VR entertainments.

Sister

Sister is a short horror film. Needless to say, horror movies would be much scarier when you watch it in an immersive environment. Horror is one of the categories that is the most advantageous with VR technology. Please don’t underestimate this film because it’s short and free. It’s very scary.

Samsung VR

If you want more immersive experiences, go to Samsung VR. Samsung VR is a library of 360-degree videos. It’s like Youtube of 360-degree version. You can search, download, play and upload directly from a smartphone even when you don’t have Gear VR nearby. It’s easy to browse on a smartphone and then play through Gear VR. There are many quality contents available.

Netflix

You can watch movies on a TV in a virtual living room. It may sound nothing special. But the TV in a virtual living room is huge. Netflix app is free. If you already have a regular Netflix account, you are ready to watch their contents. They offer a free one-month trial for a new customer.

Hulu

Like Netflix, you can watch their contents in a virtual living room. Also, you can change the virtual environment to a private theater, beach, etc. Plus, they have over 25 original 360-degree videos. These videos are available to everyone. You don’t need a Hulu’s subscription to watch these videos. Hulu offers a free one-week trial for a new customer.

NextVR

NextVR provides you immersive viewing experiences by streaming recorded or live sports events, music concerts, cinematic productions, and more. Imagine that you are watching a show in a front-row seat, a succor game on the field, a boxing match from a ringside. NextVR with Gear VR makes them possible even when you are home.

Things you might want to know before a purchase of Philips Hue Motion Sensor

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Philips Hue Motion Sensor works well. It’s easy to set up with a variety of configurations. But, there are a few things I didn’t know until I actually used the sensor. And I wanted to know them beforehand.

Time Setting

Time Setting Philips Hue Motion SensorFirst, a time setting can set up different scenes or brightness for day and night. Let’s say you choose 8 am and 6 pm. The sensor trigger the light with a full brightness between 6 pm and 8 am, and with 50% (dim) brightness between 8 am and 6 pm. I wish I could set more periods, at least one more, so I can set nightlight from midnight to 7 am, which is the time people in the house are usually sleeping.

Dim by up to 50% before turning it off

When the sensor detects motion, it turns on the light. Conversely, when there is no motion for a certain amount of time, the sensor turns off automatically or does nothing. You can choose either “Turn off” or “Do nothing” and also set between 1 to 60 minutes as an interval of no-motion-detected time. When you choose “Turn off,” the light dims by up to 50% 30 seconds before the light completely turns off. (If the light was on with 75% brightness, it goes 25%. if it was 40%, it goes 1%.) This feature of dimming can’t be removed, and that may be a little problem.

Dim 30s before - Philips Hue Motion SensorSay you place the sensor in the hallway and set up “Bright” (100%) when detecting motion. And you set the timer for 2 minutes. The light turns on when you pass hallway, and a minute and a half later, dims (50%). The light stays on with 50% brightness for 30 seconds and then turns off. Next time you pass a hallway, the light works in the same way. These actions continue over and over. However if you turn on the light with the other ways like a smartphone app or Amazon Echo, the light comes on only 50%, not 100%. That’s because it’s the last state before turning off. You need an extra step to bring back to the brightness you usually use.

If you use a Dimmer Switch, Tap or widget on a smartphone, there is no problem. It doesn’t matter what color or how bright the light was. They can remember scenes. You can configure as you like.

Conclusion

After all, those problems are minor and not going to hurt a reputation of the sensor. Dimming feature is also good and useful to me. It’s better to dim than turning it off suddenly. I think all it needs is a software update to correct things mentioned above. It would make Philips Hue Motion Sensor more versatile and more useful in many places.

 

SteelSeries Stratus XL with Gear VR review

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If you play games with Gear VR, you must have a controller. Although some games are simple enough to play with a touchpad, it is annoying to keep your hand up on the side of the headset. SteelSeries Stratus XL have obtained good reviews in many places. So, I bought and used it for some games and apps. This post is a review of SteelSeries Stratus XL with Gear VR.

Recommended by Oculus

Gamepads by Steelseries (Android) are recommended by Oculus along with Samsung El-GP20 and Moga Pro. SteelSeries Stratus XL has two versions, Android+Windows and iOS. Please note that iOS version is not compatible with Samsung smartphones. Thus, it won’t work with Gear VR. Android+Windows version has orange pivots of analog sticks, and four action buttons’ letters are printed in white while iOS version has black analog sticks and four action buttons printed in colors.

Design and Layout

The gamepad feels durable, well-constructed with a matte black surface. It has an overall shape like Xbox One controller and a similar layout of PS4 controller. The only disappointment is that it doesn’t have a smartphone holder like Moga Pro.

Battery Performance

It needs two AA batteries (included). According to the company, it lasts over 4o hours. LED indicator shows how much charge remains. To save battery charge, the gamepad automatically turns off when no use. You can also turn it off manually, with a switch located on the back of the gamepad. I preferred to a built-in rechargeable battery like Moga Pro, but after I use SteelSeries Stratus XL, I realize that it’s not a big deal. Batteries last long, so you won’t feel bothersome to change them.

Customization with Software

You can customize dead zones and sensitivity on the triggers and joysticks with a free software called SteelSeries Engine 3. For that, you will need to connect the gamepad to PC with a microUSB cable. MicroUSB port is located inside a battery compartment. Please note that the port is not designed for a Wired control but only for the purpose to customization with the software.

Issues with Windows

It’s compatible with Window 7 and newer, but from reviews at Amazon, many people seem to have connectivity issues with Windows mainly Windows 10. I tested with Window 7 and 10, and it works well. If you have a problem, you may need to clear the history of all previously paired devices by holding down a pairing button for five seconds. In my experience, when I use the gamepad with the devices for the first time there was no problem. And when I change the devices from Windows to Android there was no need of clearing the history. Android remembered the gamepad and worked with no problem. But when I switch back to Windows from Android or between two Windows PCs, I needed to clear and do Bluetooth pairing again. Somehow, the gamepad has a strong bond with Android devices.

Conclusion

SteelSeries Stratus XL is well made, very comfortable in hand. Feedbacks of trigger buttons and analog sticks are good. It’s great for those who play games a lot on Android devices. There is no smartphone holder. So, if you play more regular mobile games than VR games you’d better choose the one with the holder. But for those who need gamepad as Gear VR controller, SteelSeries Stratus XL won’t let you down.

Netflix and Hulu apps for Gear VR

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Netflix and Hulu have developed apps for Gear VR. Both of them offer their contents to be watched through Samsung Gear VR headset. Movies and TV shows are played on a virtual screen in a virtual room or other surroundings. It sounds a little silly, but an advantage of this experience is that you feel watching a very large screen. A disadvantage is that there is no high-definition available. Quality is limited to standard definition (720×480.) And your eyes probably get tired faster than the real world. Both of them offer VR apps and usage without an extra charge. With a regular subscription, you can watch freely.

Difference between Netflix and Hulu

Both Netflix and Hulu have a feature that takes you to VR world and allows you to watch their contents on a virtual big screen. But, Hulu has much more features. Let’s see the difference.

First off, Netflix takes you to a living room of a wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere. There is a view of the mountains outside of a window to the left and some movie posters on the wall to the other side. Supposedly, you are sitting on a red couch. A coffee table is in front of you. A stone wall that is facing to you has a virtual 100-inch TV on which your shows are played. When shows start, the room dims. You also have an option, “Void Theater Mode” to see just a floating screen.

Hulu also has a feature of a virtual living room. There is a sofa, table, dining area, and virtual 100-inch TV. The room is surrounded by large windows. By default, a night view of an urban city is spread outside of the window. The view can be changed to different scenes like a forest, ocean, etc. You can choose a beach or movie theater as a place you watch contents. When shows start, all surroundings blur. Just like Netflix, you can void a theater mode to see a screen only.

In addition to regular contents (movies and TV shows), Hulu has over 25 exclusive 360-degree videos. These videos are available to everyone who owns Gear VR for free, meaning that you can watch them without Hulu’s subscription.

Conclusion

The idea, making a virtual room, place a big TV, and show contents, is very simple. But, An experience you can get from it is much more exciting than expected. If you already subscribe either of them, you should try now. Even if you don’t know if it’s worth, both Netflix and Hulu offer a free one week or month trial for new subscribers; you should use the offer and experience to watch movies in the world of VR.

Philips Hue Motion Sensor

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Philips Hue will have new device soon. It’s called Hue Motion Sensor. It detects your motion and turns the lights on.

Automatically on and off

Your movement triggers the lights on. And when there is no motion detected for a certain amount of time, it will turn the lights off automatically. You can add the device in Philips Hue app like other switches (Tap, Dimmer Switches). Up to 3 rooms can be added and controlled by each sensor. This setting allows you to make more varieties of setups than conventional motion sensors and lights. It’s perfect for hallway, bathroom, garage, basement or a place you need the light for a short time.

Day and Night Setting

You can set brightness and scene of the light (if you use color bulbs) when it’s triggered by the sensor. Plus, you can configure different light settings for day and night. For example, The sensor turns on an average bright light in a hallway during the day. And at night, it turns on a gentle nightlight to care for other members of your family.

Daylight Sensor

Philips Hue Motion Sensor has a built-in light sensor, so when an area is bright, it won’t turn on lights. You can adjust the sensitivity in the app. So, you will have the light only when you need it. It helps you to save energy.

Place it anywhere

It requires 2 AAA batteries (included). There is no wire. It’s so easy to set up. You can just put it on a bookshelf, mount it on a wall (screw included), or attach to a metal surface like a refrigerator with a magnet (also included). The magnet is strong enough to stick to a single screw such as a screw holding electric switch cover.

Conclusion

A variety of set-ups can be made, for not only scenes but also differently by times. I bet you can make a perfect fit to your routine. The sensor has no wire, plus included screw and magnet allow you to place the sensor in the best position. Philips Hue Motion Sensor is a great new item for your smart home products.

Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Generation

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Amazon Echo Dot is a smaller version of the original Echo. Echo Dot has the same features as Echo. It consists a built-in speaker and seven microphones. You can access to Alexa, Amazon’s Intelligent Personal Assistant by your voice. When you say “Alexa” it wakes up and then responds your command, questions, or even greetings. The 2nd generation of Echo Dot will be released on Oct 20th, 2016.

Design

  • Dimension: 1.3″ x 3.3″ x 3.3″
  • Weight: 5.7 oz
  • Color: Black, White

A sleek, small, and hockey-puck designed Echo Dot is a convenient addition to any room in your house. The 2nd gen has +/- buttons on the top, instead of the volume knob. There are two more buttons; Action and Microphone on/off switch. On the side wall, there are two ports. One is for an AC power adapter, and the other is a 3.5 mm audio output. Unlike the original Echo or most other Echo devices, the power port of Echo Dot is a Micro-USB.

What is the difference between Echo and Dot

Echo is 9.25 inch tall, and Dot is much shorter, 1.3 inches tall (2nd’s specs). Dot can perform all functions Echo can. A sound quality of Dot is inferior to Echo because of a smaller size. Thus, Dot is designed to be able to connect to other audio devices via Bluetooth or 3.5mm audio output.

What is the difference between Dot 1st and 2nd

  • Price is cheaper than 1st. A regular price of 1st is $89.99, and 2nd is $49.99.
  • 2nd Dot is available to everyone in the U.S. You can’t find 1st Dot on Amazon website. 1st was only available to Amazon Prime members, and you also need Amazon devices that can access to Alexa such as, Echo, Dot, Tap, and Amazon Fire TV. You have to have Alexa order Dots. For example, you wanted to buy 1st Dot, say “Alexa, order two Amazon Echo Dots.”
  • 2nd no longer has a volume dial. It’s controlled by simple up-and-down buttons. It gets 0.2-inch shorter and 3 oz lighter.

Features

Sound and Music

You can stream music from Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and so on. You can also listen to audiobooks, news, radio, etc.

Echo Dot has a 0.6-inch speaker inside. The sound quality is the worst among all Echo devices. And, the max volume may not be sufficient to play the music in a large room. For those problems, you can use Bluetooth or the 3.5 mm audio output to connect to external speakers. Although the sound quality is not good, it’s sufficient to listen to the news, audiobooks, or play BGMs, nature sounds, and so on.

Call and Drop In

You can make a phone call with Alexa. Say, “Alexa, call [name (in your contact list].” you can also send messages via voice or text to anyone with a supported Echo device or the Alexa App.

If you have multiple Echo devices in your home, you can use them as intercoms. Instead of raising your voice, you can use the Drop-in feature to speak through Echo devices.

Smart Home

Echo Dot works with a variety of smart home devices. You can control them with your voice. You may think that just turning on or off the light with a voice command is silly or lazy. However, you can make a group from different smart home devices and control them all together with a single voice command. For example, Say, “Alexa, it’s bed time.” and it turns off the lights and TV, locks the door, etc.

Skills

Skills expand the capabilities of Echo devices. Some skills are essential to use smart home devices with Alexa. And some skills are just for fun. New skills are being added every day. Check out from time to time, and you will discover new skills which are helpful and interesting to you.

Amazon Prime

If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can get ad-free streaming of over 2 million songs from Prime Music. You can also have access to weekly Alexa shopping deals. Alexa does a lot of things for your order. You place an order with Alexa. You can check the status of the order with Alexa. When a package has shipped or delivered, you will be notified by Alexa.

Promotion

Buy 5 Get 1 free; Buy 10 Get 2 free – Bring Alexa to every room of your home. When you buy five, you will get 1 for free. When you buy ten, you will get 2 for free. Please note that you will need to add 6 or 12 Dots to a cart and make sure to use either promotional code DOT6PACK or DOT12PACK at checkout. Usually, there is a similar promotion. Click here to see a current promotion.

Customize with Echo Dot case

There is an optional Echo Dot case to match the decor of your room. There are six different designs; Saddle Tan Leather, Merlot Leather, Midnight Leather, Indigo Fabric, Charcoal Fabric, Sandstone Fabric. Click here to see images and prices. 

Conclusion

Echo Dot is a small and compact, but its capability is enormous. It’s an excellent addition to any room in your home. Due to its small speaker, Using Echo Dot alone is not suitable for a large room. But I think it’s sufficient for a small room, bathroom, or hallway. But, remember you can connect Echo Dot to high-end speakers with Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable. Above all, Echo Dot is very reasonable. Multiple Echo devices can be used as intercoms. You may want Echo Dots in every room of your house. Click here to see the latest price.