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Samsung's Galaxy Note10 was officially announced last week, and while it's jam-packed with almost everything most people could want in a smartphone, it also dropped a few features: the headphone jack is completely gone, and the microSD card slot isn't present on the smaller model. It has also become evident over the past few days that the Note10 doesn't support any mobile VR platform, marking an end to both Gear VR and Google Daydream.
Self-contained headsets that run Google's Daydream VR platform went on sale earlier this year, and Google has continued to improve them since. Chrome for Daydream became available in July, and now the company has revealed what's next for the platform.
Hatrabbit Entertainment is a game studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company's first mobile title was Merry Snowballs, a winter-themed casual shooter for mobile, Google Cardboard, and Daydream VR. Hatrabbit just released Slightly Heroes, another simple first-person shooter exclusively for Daydream.
Back in July, a standalone version of Chrome finally became available for Daydream VR. You could visit sites or play web-based VR games without ever taking off your headset, and it was the first time standalone Daydream headsets (like the Lenovo Mirage Solo) could access websites. If you're not a fan of Chrome, there's another VR browser you can try - Firefox Reality.
Labster is a company that develops various virtual labs for schools. The idea is that students can work in simulated environments if a school's real labs are inaccessible (because of time limits, scheduling conflicts, etc), or if they don't have the required equipment. Labster has now partnered with Google to develop over 30 virtual reality labs, using the Daydream VR platform.
Chrome has been able to view web VR content for some time now, but there has always been one problem - you couldn't launch Chrome from the Daydream launcher. In other words, you had to navigate to the desired page on your phone, then put your phone in a VR headset. That's not a great experience, and it leaves out standalone Daydream headsets (like the Lenovo Mirage Solo) entirely.
Justin Roiland is the co-creator of the hit animated TV show Rick & Morty, and today his studio Squanch Games has published an exclusive Daydream title that's now available on the Play Store. It is, of course, a virtual reality game fittingly titled Dr. Splorchy Presents Space Heroes, and yes, you will need a Daydream headset and compatible phone to play.
Virtual reality technologies are at a place now where they're actually fun to use, after decades of early efforts where the big dreams of VR evangelists simply couldn't quite be realized by available hardware and software. But for as good as things are today, there's a deep well of potential for them to get much, much better. One of the keys to the next evolution of VR will be the arrival of headsets with incredibly pixel-dense displays, making it that much easier for users to suspend disbelief and feel that what they're seeing is as real as they are. And now from the looks of things, Google is preparing to share just that kind of tech with us in only a few short months.
When the Galaxy S8 was initially released, it lacked support for Google's Daydream VR platform. But at Google I/O, the company confirmed that the phone would receive an update "over the summer" that added Daydream support. Then T-Mobile said the update was coming, followed by Verizon.
WebVR is quickly gaining support across multiple browsers, including Google Chrome and Samsung's Browser. Firefox supports WebVR on mobile and the desktop, but now Mozilla's experimental 'Servo' engine will work with virtual reality content too.
Google initially spearheaded virtual reality on Android with Google Cardboard, which evolved into the more complete Daydream VR platform. Unlike Cardboard, which could start on any somewhat-recent Android or iOS device, Daydream support requires the phone manufacturer and Google to make sure everything works.
Google's Daydream View VR headset was released last year alongside the Pixel phones. One of the headset's features is the removable facepad, which you can hand wash occasionally to keep the headset clean. If something happens to the facepad, or maybe you just want a spare, Google is now selling them separately for $14.99.
As virtual reality becomes more and more mainstream, brands are slowly realizing its potential to market to consumers. LEGO is the latest company to do this, releasing Brickheadz, a VR app for Google's Daydream platform and accompanying headset, to the Play Store in 'unreleased' beta state. If you're unaware, as I was, Brickheadz is a LEGO range released earlier this year with blocky characters, using Marvel and DC super heroes.
For the uninitiated, the Home Run Derby is an annual competition for Major League Baseball players celebrating the sport's most explosive play. The MLB already publishes an official game based on the yearly contest, a full 3D affair with licensed player likenesses and $100 in-app purchases, for Android phones and tablets. But it looks like they've decided to join the early ranks of developers officially supporting the Daydream VR system.
If you've been craving a bit of culture for your VR viewing pleasure, Google has you covered. Like many other apps, Arts & Culture VR is going live to prepare for the Daydream headsets. As the name would suggest, this app is meant for those who want to view works of art from museums around the world. While I may be no art fanatic, I would definitely appreciate this.
Daydream VR was revealed alongside the Pixel phones and Google Home last month, but while those other things began to ship, news surrounding Google's latest virtual reality headset remained sparse. However, the Mountain View-based company has just pushed an update to Google VR Services, the framework needed for Daydream VR to work with the Pixel and Pixel XL.
Some Daydream View VR headsets are already shipping out, but the necessary Play Store app is missing
Well here's a bit of a buzzkill from Google. The much-ballyhooed Daydream View VR headset, set for launch later this month and currently only compatible with the Pixel and Pixel XL phones, appears to be shipping out early to at least some users. Despite the fact that the View isn't supposed to be hitting mailboxes until November 10th, Android Police reader Sean Hunter received his today. But he can't play with it yet, and neither can anyone else who's received their VR headsets early.
There's a new Harry Potter spinoff hitting movie theaters soon, in case you haven't turned on a television, surfed the web, or looked at a billboard in the last few months. And because Warner Bros. isn't interested in making a new movie without the potential for yet another billion-dollar set of sequels, they're pulling out all of the stops for the marketing for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. That includes some new Easter eggs (do wizards celebrate Easter? Maybe chocolate frogs or something) in Google Search, Maps, and the upcoming Daydream VR platform.