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Google's Daydream is over — the VR platform is dead (Update: Some services restored)
Support officially ends with Android 11
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You probably barely remember what Daydream is, or rather was, and no-one will blame you for that. Google launched its VR platform back in 2016 and even introduced its own View headset to the market, which it also updated about a year later. Apps became gradually available for the platform until many of them stopped being updated, or worse, entirely dropped support for Daydream. It was clear Google pretty much abandoned it, but it's now made it official with an announcement.
[Update: Fix rolling out] No, your TV's not misconfigured: Android TV is cutting off Chromecast text
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Android TV boxes and TVs have Chromecast functionality built-in, which is very convenient since you don't have to plug yet another device in your television to cast content from your phone. There's currently just a minor problem with the integration that might drive you to think you've somehow misconfigured your TV. For a few days, some devices have been cutting off the Chromecast text on the bottom left corner of the Daydream screensaver.
Hulu told Variety yesterday that it has dropped support for Google's Daydream VR platform. The feature was silently disabled in updates to the Android app over the last few weeks. Hulu's support page also confirms the change.
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.
The product life cycle can be harsh — smash hits fly off the shelves and rarely get discounted, but other products, though they may be decent, don't catch on and are brutally discounted in fire sales. The 3D 180VR video-capturing Lenovo Mirage Camera is one such example — originally launched for $300 in 2018, it can now be had for just $100 at Best Buy and Amazon.
Google hasn't talked about its Daydream VR platform much lately, but it still exists and works with phones like the Pixel 3. Daydream has never had extensive app support, and there's one less Google app available today. Google has quietly retired the Play Movies & TV app for Daydream.
The New York Times has had a virtual realty app for watching 360-degree video for a while now. It's made for Google Cardboard, the low-cost mobile VR headsets made from, well, cardboard. This week, the publication released a new version of the app built for Daydream, Android's current VR platform introduced in 2016.
AMD recently upgraded its GPU software for PC to Adrenalin 2019. It brings with it a lot of new perks, such as the ability to stream your SteamVR games to Daydream standalone VR headset, but you'll first have to install the Radeon ReLive for VR app, which was just added to the Play Store this morning.
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Popping your smartphone into a headset is the most basic form of virtual reality technology, but of those devices, the Google Daydream View is a high-quality option. Right now, the 2017 Daydream View is 60 percent off and the 2016 Daydream View is 62 percent off through Verizon, making it a good time to purchase either device if you've been eyeing a simple mobile VR accessory. The 2017 version comes in at $40, down from $100 at regular price, while the 2016 device is $30, down from $80.
[Deal Alert] Lenovo Mirage Solo drops to $320-330 ($70-80 off), Mirage Camera down to $250 ($50 off)
Lenovo was the first company to release a standalone Daydream headset, and we haven't heard much about the Mirage Solo (or the Mirage Camera) since it launched earlier this year. It looks like there's some excess stock floating around because prices are coming down today. You can get the headset for $70-80 off and the camera for $50 off.The Mirage Solo has an integrated 2560 x 1440 display at 5.5-inches that sits right in front of your face. The display offers a 110-degree field of view, and there are outward-facing dual cameras. Inside, there's a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It's Daydream, but you don't need to dock a phone. B&H has the headset for $329.99, and Amazon has gone a little further with $319.99. Those are both good discounts, but Oculus Go is $250.
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.
If VR interests you to any degree, then this deal is one you should pay attention to. Assuming you have a compatible phone, you can grab a charcoal 2017 Daydream View virtual reality headset for just $30, courtesy of Verizon. That's an insane $70 (70%) off.
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.
Counterfeits are a sad reality for any moderately popular company. Not only does it lose all the sales that go to fake products, it also has to tend to its reputation which might get destroyed when consumers buy a fraudulent item and blame it for a faulty build or function. Google is trying to catch fakes by launching several pages for you to report them.
There are a handful of phones that support Google Daydream, but it's still far from a universal feature on Android devices. Now, you don't even need a phone. The previously announced Lenovo Mirage Solo is available, but it's not cheap. Also in the "not cheap but available" category is the Lenovo Mirage Camera, the first camera for Google's VR180 platform.The Lenovo Mirage Solo has access to all the same Daydream content as your phone, but it's got all the necessary hardware inside to handle the VR. That includes a QHD display and a Snapdragon 835 SoC. Google also notes that it has advanced positional tracking that's more like desktop VR. Thus, you can lean, duck, and walk in VR. Although, you should probably not walk—that's dangerous in VR.Lenovo is asking $400 for the Mirage Solo, which seems like way too much money. The Oculus Go just launched at half that price. Even if the hardware is more ambitious, Daydream doesn't have the same level of software support. Google says there are about 350 games for Daydream, but Oculus claimed 1,000 the other day.The new Lenovo Mirage Camera isn't cheap, either. This device will cost you $300, but it's the first VR180 camera you can get. The photos and videos you capture with this camera work in VR and are automatically added to your Google Photos library.Both devices are available from various retailers. Here's where you can find them right now.Lenovo Mirage Solo
The Daydream View (2017) virtual reality headset was announced last October along with the Pixel 2 devices, bringing better lenses, a better fabric material, and a controller that matches its color. Ever since, it has dipped from its $99 MSRP price a few times, the last of which was a half-off at Best Buy in March. Now the offer is back, but it's not just Best Buy that is discounting it: the same $49 price is available on the Google Store and a few other retailers.