The VR game is heating up. After the attention lavished upon the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset for the PC, quite a few companies are now trying to bring the same experience to smartphone users. Google released a lightweight cardboard headset that used only a few lenses and a smartphone to produce a VR experience, which was followed by a higher-end option from Samsung for the Note 4. Now, a new player is joining the game: Carl Zeiss.
The optical systems manufacturer has put their name to a new headset, the Zeiss VR ONE. Like the Samsung VR headset, it was designed and built in cooperation with Oculus. Unlike the Samsung model though, the headset is designed to accommodate several smartphones, with versions available for the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5.
The VR ONE works pretty simply. You install a VR app on your smartphone, then slide it into the front of the headset. The display of the phone is used with Zeiss lenses to provide images for each of your eyes, while the phone’s camera sees through the front of the headset to be used for augmented reality. The headset includes speakers to extend the experience and straps to keep the VR headset on your head.
Once everything’s in place, what can you actually do? You can watch movies on a massive virtual screen, see a performance in 360 degree 3D video, play VR games and try augmented reality. More apps are being released all the time, and with a special VR ONE media launcher, you can easily find and launch apps that are compatible with your headset.
The Carl Zeiss VR ONE is available for less than £100, and is due in stock in January 2015. For live pricing and availability information – or to place your pre-order! – visit the product page linked below for the phone of your choice:
- Zeiss VR ONE Virtual Reality Headset – iPhone 6
- Zeiss VR ONE Virtual Reality Headset – Samsung Galaxy S5
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