SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Google will reportedly release a smartphone-assisted virtual reality headset in 2016 and build virtual reality software features into Android rather than rely on an app. The device will use plastic casing, add extra sensors, and include better lenses than those distributed with Google Cardboard:
We've said a few times now that Google's virtual reality initiative is too big for the company to just be working on Google Cardboard, and now The Financial Times has published a report detailing what seems to be the next phase of Google's VR push. The report says that Google is working on "a successor to Cardboard," creating a higher-quality headset and building VR software directly into Android.
The device sounds like a Google version of Samsung's Gear VR. Like Cardboard, the headset will be powered by your existing smartphone, with a "more solid plastic casing" along with better lenses and sensors. Also like Cardboard, this won't be limited to just a handful of devices, with the report saying that the headset "will be compatible with a much broader range of Android devices than Gear VR."
Such a device sounds like it would occupy a compelling spot in the market. The Gear VR is a great device—the $100 headset is a powerful entry-level VR experience—but it only works with Samsung phones. Cardboard has much wider phone compatibility, but it comes with a huge list of compromises that lead to a subpar experience. Taking the Gear VR model and expanding it to accept most popular smartphones sounds like a solid idea.
(Score: 1) by Some call me Tim on Friday February 12 2016, @02:50AM
Just as soon as it works with my Palm Treo.
Seriously though, this seems like just an extension of the 3D TV they've been trying to shove down our throats for a while now. If it isn't a stand alone device that anyone can purchase and use without needing another specific device/OS, I really don't think it's going to take off.
Questioning science is how you do science!
(Score: 2) by caffeine on Friday February 12 2016, @07:22AM
Whilst a stand alone VR headset would be nice, to me, the main components in a VR system are already in a decent smart phone most people already own. I was happy to spend AU$39 to get something to use with my smart phone to play around with VR. There is no way I would spend 10x or more on a stand alone VR headset at this early stage.
Also, the first thing my 3yo did when wearing the headset was to run into a wall in the real world. At his age he believed that he was in a different world. Was funny to see on a cheap plastic headset, would be more worried about this on an expensive standalone unit.