Google announced a series of updates to its Cardboard project on Thursday. The internet giant entered into a deal with GoPro to roll out virtual reality videos to YouTube.
Google keeping the cost low
Google promised many improvements to its Clipboard project, which is focused toward bringing virtual reality to the masses, enabling them to watch YouTube VR videos from July onwards. The new virtual reality platform from the internet giant dubbed Jump designed its first product, which is a super-camera from GoPro called Array. The camera is capable of capturing 360-degree footage.
The new camera from GoPro links videos from 16 cameras together into one file. The recent GoPro product is a six camera spherical rig, which is scheduled to launch by the end of this year, as was announced during the Code conference. With the new technology, Google would be able to show live 3-D videos on YouTube. Initially, some top video makers will be given access to test the new technology.
Clay Bavor, Google’s VP of product management and the creator of Cardboard, talked about the camera during the company’s annual developer conference. Array-made VR videos will also run on Clipboard, the company’s low-cost VR headset, which was launched during last year’s I/O. The search engine giant is looking to capture a massive audience by charging only around $20 compared to other companies such as Facebook, Sony and HTC, which are charging hundreds of dollars for their devices.
Beyond Android users
Google is making significant changes in its VR project, which was launched last year and uses software to convert an average smartphone into a 3-D viewing device managed by a $20 cardboard frame. Bavor explained that the platform is now accessible to iOS phone owners in addition to Android users, thus widening the reach of the technology. Other than VR, a new project called Expeditions is aimed at enabling teachers to take kids around the world with the help of VR.
Bavor revealed that Google has supplied more than one million Clipboard units after launching it last year. Compatibility of VR with YouTube is an intelligent decision from the company with a slew of virtual reality headsets from others luring in users with strong and unique content. However, after the deal with Google expires, GoPro may offer its array to other tech firms such as Facebook and Microsoft, which are already working on Oculus Rift and HoloLens virtual reality headsets, respectively.
