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Samsung embraces Windows Mixed Reality with the new HMD Odyssey headset
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. unveiled a new Windows-powered virtual and augmented reality headset at a Microsoft Corp. event Tuesday that’s said to deliver the highest-resolution display to take “consumers to entirely new virtual limits.”
Called the Samsung HMD Odyssey, the headset, claimed to be the “most immersive Windows Mixed Reality headset in the market,” comes with some impressive specs. They include dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays, the same display technology used in Samsung’s phones. They deliver 1440×1600 pixels per eye for a total viewing experience of 2880×1600 pixels with a refresh rate of 90Hz and 110-degree field of view, all considered premium specs.
For the augmented reality side of the headset, the Odyssey sports two external cameras that use what Samsung describes as a “Six Degrees of Freedom” sensor that allows for intuitive and natural movements. Sound is delivered by built-in premium AKG headphones to deliver 360-degree spatial sound.
Along with a built-in microphone, the headset ships with two handheld motion controllers and like other headsets in the space is required to be tethered to a computer running Windows 10 to use.
The HMD Odyssey marks Samsung’s first entry into mixed reality with a product that is a full step up from its existing Gear VR headset. It’s also the first Samsung headset to have its own dedicated screens.
“This is an incredible product and another important step for the mixed reality journey we are on at Microsoft,” Alex Kipman, technical fellow at Microsoft, said in a statement.
Samsung isn’t the first company to announce a mixed reality headset. Acer Inc., HP Inc., Dell Inc. and Lenovo Group Ltd. already offer headsets in the category, but with Samsung’s brand recognition and marketing power, the HMD Odyssey has the potential of becoming the first big hit in the burgeoning market.
The Samsung HMD Odyssey will be available later this year in the U.S., China, Korea, Brazil and Hong Kong. Pre-orders began Tuesday, with shipping expected to begin Nov. 3. Recommended retail price for the headset is $499.
Image: Samsung
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