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HTC's head of design is joining Google Daydream
It's a game of musical chairs lately in the VR world. On the same day that Xiaomi's Hugo Barra revealed he would head Facebook's Oculus VR division, HTC VP of Design Claude Zellweger tweeted that he's moving to Google's Daydream VR project. A reliable source tells Engadget that he actually departed last July, but stayed on during a grace period, much as former CEO Peter Chou did in 2015. Zellweger not only headed up the creation of the HTC Vive, he and One & Co. partner Scott Croyle were responsible for the design of the original HTC One smartphone.
Recommended Reading: Video games and the issue of slavery
How Historical Games Integrate or Ignore Slavery Amanda Kerri, Rock Paper Shotgun Video games certainly don't claim to always offer a depiction of the "real world," but for those titles rooted in historical events, how the narrative addresses certain events is key. One of the issues those historical games have to wrestle with is how to address slavery. This piece from Rock Paper Shotgun takes a look at how games have integrated events or ignored them completely.
ASUS's ZenFone AR handles both virtual and augmented reality
While ASUS's ZenFone AR might have been leaked days early, it's nonetheless a phone that's trying to drag us into the future -- whether that's virtual reality or augmented reality. ASUS says its ZenFone AR will be compatible with both Google's Daydream VR platform as well as Google's Tango augmented-reality tech.
ASUS' ZenFone AR is ready for Google Tango and Daydream
The second Tango-ready smartphone has arrived -- kind of. It looks like ASUS is preparing to reveal the ZenFone AR during its press conference at CES on Wednesday, January 4th, but chip-maker Qualcomm published a blog post about the phone a few days early. According to Qualcomm, the ZenFone AR takes advantage of the Snapdragon 821 processor, which also powers Google's Pixel and ASUS' ZenFone 3.
Netflix heads to VR again with Google's Daydream
Last week we saw HBO and a slew of new apps land on Google's Daydream VR platform -- now, Netflix is joining the fray. The streaming company launched its Daydream app this morning, and it looks pretty similar to its existing Gear VR app. That's probably not too surprising, since both platforms are based on Android. The Daydream Netflix app places you in a virtual log cabin, where you can peruse your queue and start watching videos as you normally do.
Go full 'Westworld' with HBO Now in Google's VR headset
Just bought a Daydream View? Well you're in luck, because Google has released a flurry of new apps for its Daydream VR headset. The headline addition is arguably Gunjack 2: End of Shift. Previously announced with the working title Gunjack Next, Gunjack 2 is the spaceship battling sequel to Gunjack, one of the best-selling VR games to date. Developed by EVE Online creators CCP, the game lets players use the Daydream motion controller to shoot down aerial adversaries, promising daily procedural missions and a cinematic, cut-scene led story.
Red and 'Snow' Daydream View VR headsets ship today
In addition to HBO Now support and a ton of new games, Google is finally shipping Daydream View headsets in new colors. Customers in the US, UK and Australia can order the "Crimson" (red) and "Snow" (it depends who you ask) editions of the View from the Google Store. Those that pre-ordered their colorful headset should see their orders ship today. Neither color comes as a surprise -- they were both announced at the headset's launch -- but up until now you've only been able to pick up the View in gray. Aside from the now colorways, the headsets are identical to the version that's been on sale for some time, and appropriately come with the same $79 (£69) price tag. Daydream View is compatible with Google's Pixel and Pixel XL, and Lenovo's Moto Z and Moto Z Force.
Google launches VR tour of New York's festive store windows
You can now visit New York's elaborate department store holiday window displays without fighting a billion other tourists. Google's "Window Wonderland" app lets you visit Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's and 15 other stores. The company says it created a new technique to stitch hundreds of high-res photos into "rich, lifelike panoramas." Viewed on a Daydream or other VR headset, "you can even be surrounded by the sounds and sights of the city streets, taking in the storefront view alongside other onlookers," Google says.
Pros and cons: Our quick verdict on Google's Daydream View
If you're thinking of dipping your toes into virtual reality, your best bet is to start with an inexpensive mobile headset. And of the ones that are available (there are a lot, actually), your best bet might just be Google's new Daydream View headset. It undercuts the Samsung Gear VR on price, and is also more comfortable to wear, thanks to its cloth-covered housing. Still, you might want to wait if at all possible. Google's Daydream VR platform doesn't have many apps at the moment, but that will change. The View headset is also only compatible with Google's Pixel phones for now, but more Daydream-ready phones are on the way. Once those apps and compatible handsets arrive, though, the View will be the mobile VR headset to beat.
Moto Z phones are Daydream ready thanks to Android Nougat update
Motorola promised to upgrade its Moto Z and Moto Z Force phones to Nougat before the end of the year and today the company revealed that it's rolling out the update before the end of November. Motorola says the Android 7.0 update will being rolling out globally this week and it delivers a big feature to the phones: Daydream. That's right, with the addition of Nougat the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are ready to take advantage of Google's VR platform.
English rain inspired the Google Daydream game, 'EarthShape'
When Mike Bithell was a kid, sitting in the backseat of his parents' car as the cloudy English sky soaked the roads, he would draw lines in the window's condensation, attempting to "catch" raindrops as they slid down the pane outside. "I honestly don't know what the point was, but that little activity would keep kid-Mike occupied for hours," Bithell remembers. "When I was trying to think of accessible family game mechanics, I remembered that and imagined how much more fun my little game would be if the raindrops reacted to the lines." Fast-forward a few decades and Bithell is a successful independent developer building a launch game for Google's new mobile VR headset, Daydream. His past games include the award-winning platformer Thomas was Alone and Volume, a futuristic Robin Hood-inspired stealth title starring Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Smeagol to life in the Lord of the Rings movies. Volume: Coda just debuted on PlayStation VR -- stealth, Serkis and all.
YouTube's new VR app lands on Google Daydream first
We've known about Google's plan for a dedicated YouTube VR app since Daydream was first announced back in May. Today, the version of the video hub arrives that's optimized for virtual reality. There's a catch: It's only available on Google's Daydream platform right now. This means that you'll need a compatible phone, like the Pixel and the Daydream View headset and controller to start watching.
Google's Daydream View VR headset will get better with time
It was only a matter of time until Google moved on from Cardboard and started taking virtual reality seriously. Say hello to the Daydream View, the company's first mobile VR headset. Much like Samsung's Gear VR, it's powered by Android. But the big difference is that this $79 headset will work across a wide variety of Android phones that support Google's Daydream platform; it won't just be stuck on Samsung's hardware. It also stands out from the competition with a more comfortable design made from cloth instead of plastic. There's a lot riding on this headset and Daydream in general, but can Google really compete with VR companies that have been developing hardware for years? For the most part, it turns out it can.
The NFL's first VR series is coming to Daydream and YouTube
Virtual reality is all the rage these days and the NFL is hopping on the bandwagon. The league announced today that it's expanding its partnership with Google via a new VR series for YouTube and Daydream. Produced by NFL Films, the 9-part show will offer a look "a 360-degree perspective of life" from the point of view of players, coaches, executives, cheerleaders and fans. While the first episode is set to debut Thanksgiving Day on the league's YouTube channel, the series won't be available inside the NFL VR app for Google's Daydream platform until "later this year."
Google's Daydream View VR reaches stores November 10th
You won't have to wait much longer to see whether or not Google's Daydream View headset is a viable contender to the likes of Gear VR. Google has announced that its virtual reality wearable will reach both the Google Store and retail in five countries (the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia) on November 10th. In the US, it'll be available for $79 through Best Buy and Verizon. British buyers can track it down for £69 at Carphone Warehouse or EE, and Canadians can pick it up for $99 at Best Buy, Bell, Rogers or Telus.
Google's VR future includes a headset that tracks your eyes
Google's plans for a new headset are advancing. In July, we wrote that Google had been actively assigning individuals to work on a high-end standalone headset that doesn't require a computer or smartphone. In the three months since, people familiar with the matter have told Engadget that Google's device will integrate eye tracking and use sensors and algorithms to map out the real-world space in front of a user.
Google's Daydream View VR headset is available for pre-order
Google announced via Twitter on Thursday that its forthcoming VR rig, the Pixel-powered Daydream View is now available for pre-order. The offer currently only extends to customers in the US, the United Kingdom and Germany. The Daydream will retail for $80 and can be ordered from either Verizon or Google itself. The headset relies on the new Google Pixel phone to generate VR images so you're going to want to make sure you have one of those before plunking down your cash for this gadget. The headset is slated to ship in November.
Watch the Made by Google launch event in 15 minutes
Google unveiled its plan for consumer hardware earlier today, showing off Pixel phones, the Google Home hub, Google WiFi router, Chromecast Ultra and Daydream VR headset, plus its Assistant AI ready to tie everything together. We liveblogged every second of the full presentation, but if you're in a hurry you can catch a quick runthrough of all the announcements right here in just 15 minutes, or head straight to our hands-on impressions.
Google's Daydream View is the VR headset for the masses
It's pretty clear by now that virtual reality -- like it or not -- is probably here to stay. The tricky part is getting people to start using these requisite VR headsets on the regular, and Google's approach is equal parts simple and elegant. With a new Pixel phone (or another Daydream-compatible device) and the $80 Daydream View headset, Google might have just cooked up the most comfortable, coolest-looking VR experience out there.
'Great British Bake Off' host stars in a Daydream VR game
Plenty of people were wondering what comedian and actress Sue Perkins would get up to now that she's done hosting The Great British Bake Off, and now we finally have the answer: She's starring in a virtual reality video game for Google's Daydream platform. EarthShape is a game about the first astronaut to leave humanity's home planet on a millennia-long mission to terraform the universe. The StarSeeker, as the astronaut is called, travels the universe planting flowers and cultivating life "through a fun new gameplay mechanic."
