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Samsung's new Virtual Reality ad makes it look surprisingly simple

Technically Incorrect: The Gear VR actually looks easy to use, if you believe Samsung's simple, effective new ad for it.

Chris Matyszczyk
2 min read

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.


vrgear.jpg

And your Christmas gift dilemma is solved.

Samsung/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Wait, all I have to do is shove my phone into a pair of goggles?

This, for the uninitiated, is the impression left by a very simple new ad for Samsung's Gear VR, which was created in collaboration with Oculus.

This is a peculiarly inviting product for those who knew Google Glass was really Google Crass, but are still fascinated by the idea of wearing strange things on their heads. Because it makes them look futuristic, fascinating or furtive.

CNET reviewer Nate Ralph described it as "the best virtual reality gadget you can buy right now." But what many might not realize -- and it's something that's going to motivate them this holiday (buying) season -- is that it seems simple to use.

Samsung has done a fine job of making that come to life in an ad it released on Saturday.

This Apple-like, Apple-lite concoction shows how easy it is to put your Samsung phone into the goggles and virtually goggle away. (Only more up-to-date Samsung phones work with the device.)

It's not quite my preferred form of immersion, but I can imagine millions of concerned parents -- concerned that their kids will hate them if they buy the wrong Christmas gift, that is -- will take one look at this, see the $99.99 price and feel as if they might have bought tolerance for another few months.

The ad promises that you'll have many minutes of endless amusement, locking yourself entirely away from your surroundings.

There is, of course, something to be said for disappearing into your own entertainment world without your eyes being distracted by some curious or envious human on the subway.

Of course, you also have to prepared for that human to say that she's not envious, she just thinks you look like an asinine automaton.

But that's the price you must pay to be ahead of crowd.

I wonder when Apple will release its own virtual reality goggles. In collaboration with Tom Ford, of course.