0:00
Apple may not have shown much enthusiasm in diving into virtual reality over the past
0:05
few years, but all the signs are pointing that way. With the recent stories we've covered on our website, including Tim Cook mentioning
0:12
VR in the latest Apple earnings call, this got me thinking more about virtual reality
0:17
as I've never really given it a chance. So today I'm going to look at a $30 VR headset and see how well it works, or if it just sucks
0:26
So let's get started. This is the EliGiant 360 VR headset. It's currently $35 on Amazon.com, but I've got a $5 discount code for you if you stick
0:38
around to the end of the video. Before I talk about my experience with the EliGiant, let me quickly explain how a simple
0:44
VR headset like this works. Inside the headset are a pair of lenses that help your eyes focus on the stereoscopic image
0:51
which is being played from your phone's screen, making it clearer and more comfortable having
0:56
a screen so close to your eyes. With the apps displaying the video, then use your phone's gyroscope and accelerometer
1:03
which is usually used to figure out if you're holding your iPhone portrait or landscape
1:07
and to count how many steps you're doing, to figure out which way your head is turning
1:12
And that's what helps immerse you into the virtual world you're viewing
1:16
For $30, I wasn't expecting a lot, but it's arrived in decent packaging, with instructions
1:22
that are obviously translated to English. At least they're understandable. It fits any phone, whether it's an iPhone or Android, up to a 6-inch screen size
1:31
So iPhone 6 Pluses and Galaxy Notes will be fine. Open up the front of the visor and you'll find a spring-loaded phone holder, which isn't
1:39
rubberised or soft in any way, so I was careful placing my phone in and out
1:45
Do this without any care and you'll end up with a very scratched phone
1:48
You'll need to download some VR apps from the App Store of your choice, but there's
1:52
plenty out there thanks to the famous Google Cardboard. For this to work, the videos being played need to be stereoscopic, so the image is split
2:00
for your left eye and right eye. The wheel on top brings the lenses closer together or further apart to match the alignment
2:07
of your eyes. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with any headphones built in, so you do have to plug in a pair
2:12
of your own. When wearing the VR goggles, initially it looks and feels great
2:17
Of course, this will depend on the phone you've placed inside. The more pixels that the screen has, the better it will look and will cause less strain on
2:25
your eyes. No matter what phone you use, after a while you will start to feel your eyes strain, so
2:30
make sure to take plenty of breaks. I tried out a couple of people with this headset, most of which have never experienced VR at all
2:38
Some people loved it, looking around and taking it all in, whereas some weren't impressed
2:42
at all, complaining that the screen was fuzzy or too heavy, and just weren't feeling immersed
2:48
It's not just VR apps that these types of headsets work with, but also 3D videos
2:53
Again, these videos need to be split into two screens, and are impressive when you find
2:57
the content. There's not a ton out there, which isn't a surprise with the decline of 3D TV sets
3:04
The question is though, is this just a fad? At the moment, I only see this as a product to show off to my friends when they visit
3:11
if they haven't seen it before. I've not found myself sitting there on a regular basis and using it, and the reason is content
3:18
There's just nothing out there at the moment that's captivating enough. But, with companies like Oculus, Sony and Apple investing millions, they must see something
3:25
in it. Which, I can't just yet. I can see how this would work for gaming, but I think we're a good few years away from
3:33
that being compelling just yet. But, what do you think? Have you tried VR
3:38
What do you think Apple will do to put their stamp on virtual reality
3:41
Let me know in the comments down below. Also if you'd like to give one of these headsets a try, as I mentioned I've got a $5 coupon
3:48
code here that you can use on Amazon in the States, or if you're in the UK, I've got one
3:53
in the video description down below. If you enjoyed this video, please help me out and hit that like button, and if you haven't
4:00
already, hit the subscribe button so you don't miss a single video from CoolTuffMac
4:04
I'll see you next time
