The Google View will be competing with other VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR.
By Sean Spencer | Staff Writer
It’s been the year of virtual reality headsets and Google is getting their slice of the cake. On October 4, Google announced they will bring virtual reality to smartphones with the Daydream View headset.
Google’s first attempt at virtual reality was the Google Cardboard, and it was part of a 20 percent project since Google allows employees to work on side projects along with their everyday tasks, according to TechRadar. The Daydream View headset brings you a more high-quality experience than its predecessor.
According to a Google official talking to Wired, the design of headset was focused on making it “comfortable, easy to use and stylish.” The headset is made out of the same fabric used in clothing and athletic wear to make the headset for a better fit.
The device is also 30 percent lighter than other virtual reality headsets and can fit over glasses.
The controller for the Daydream View is wireless and is fitted with sensors that react to how the user moves.
The headset will be released for $79 on Nov. 10 and is available for pre-order currently. The colors to be released with three different color schemes, slate, snow and crimson.
Just like the Google Cardboard, there is a latch at the front that opens and the phone is inserted in there,making it ready for use. Also, it will connect wirelessly to make sure the phone and headset are working together.
With this virtual reality headset, the consumer can run apps and games downloaded from the Play Store.
According to Google, by the end of 2016, there will be over 50 apps and games available. There is even the ability to walk virtually in Google street view. Some of the top apps include streaming Hulu, YouTube and Google Play Movies.
Some of the games that launched for the Google Daydream View include Need for Speed: No Limits, Wonderglade and EVE Gunjack Next.
The Daydream will be built into an Android operating system.
According to TechRadar, The Pixel and Pixel XL are recommended as the best mobile devices to use the virtual reality headset on, as they are Google’s premiere phones that were also announced along with the Daydream.
Other phones accessible to the headset include Samsung, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, LG, Xiaomi and ZTE.
According to TechRadar, the Daydream View Headset requires three pillars to be a viable virtual reality option. First, smartphones that are optimized for virtual reality, with a high quality system on a chip (SOC) to maintain 60 frames-per-second playbacks.Second, there needs to be low persistence displays to eliminate ghosting and lag. Lastly, a top-notch sensor that operate with minimal latency to boost the sense of presence.
