VR headsets of 2017 - What's the best headset?

Ars Technica illustrates upon the current state of VR headsets while trying to decide the best VR headset of early 2017.

Virtual Reality and Journalism creates “Immersive Journalism”

Media has always embraced Information Technology (IT) as it dramatically evolved over the years. From online presence to mobile apps and now to virtual reality, journalism is truly exploring the potential of technology in spreading the message in amazing and unique ways.
Previously you could only read, listen or watch news, now with virtual reality technology you can experience real life events like never before. Immersive journalism recreates real life news events in virtual reality with extreme accuracy, these VR reports, news stories and documentaries really have the potential to take journalism to the next level.
Immersive journalism is all about using virtual reality technology to create immersive content, this immersive content can be in the form of recreated news events, stories or documentaries. As this immersive content is presented to the audience in VR, it is not possible to experience immersive journalism without a mobile VR headset.  In order to experience this immersive journalism, audience should at least have a Google cardboard VR or a more enhanced VR headset like the Gear VR. Therefore in order to create audience for immersive journalism some of the leading media giants have already started awareness campaigns. The New York Times for example is giving away 300,000 free Google cardboard VR headsets to its subscribers so that they could create enough audience for their new immersive journalism section. Similarly, The Guardian recently created their first immersive project titled “6×9: A virtual experience of solitary confinement” indicating that they have also embraced the new medium of immersive journalism. With some of the top news organizations taking the lead, others around the world are likely to follow soon.

Image source: engadet.com

Samsung Gear 360 VR Camera is now available in select countries

Samsung has released its Gear 360 VR camera in South Korea and other select countries. Gear 360 is the first consumer camera developed by samsung that shoots 360 videos and photos.

Image source: petapixel.com

Compatible with Samsung Galaxy smartphone series, Gear 360 provides a very simple solution to shoot incredible 360 videos and photos for your Gear VR headset.

Image source: hiconsumption.com

Currently it is only available in South Korea at a price of 365$, it is also expected to be available in other select countries next month.

Minecraft special edition for Gear VR is now available on Oculus Store

Much awaited, Minecraft VR game is now available for Gear VR. You can buy it from Oculus Store for 6.99$. According to a latest blog post by Oculus, this VR version of Minecraft requires a game pad to better interact with the game. They have also recommended SteelSeries Stratus XL for the game. All the features of the pocket editions have been included in this VR version of Minecraft. You can choose between a theater view and a more immersive first-person view. This version of Minecraft is only released for Gear VR headsets. Minecraft VR for Oculus Rift is not released yet.

Image source: oculus.com