Taking Virtual Reality Past Cardboard: ‘Daydream’, Google's Next VR Venture To Be Launched In Coming Weeks

Yet another major leap to advance mobile Virtual Reality, Google has recently announced to launch its 'Daydream' virtual reality platform in the coming weeks. Google's latest attempt at bringing VR to mobile devices, it's going to be quite different than Google Cardboard.

"Google's Daydream will help advance mobile virtual reality," said Oren Rosenbaum, a digital media agent at United Talent Agency who spearheads its VR effort. "Mobile virtual reality is what's going to get the most people to strap things on their head." Daydream will bring more advanced VR experiences to those who can't afford a HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Here's everything you must know about Google's new VR Venture:

Which devices will support it?

During Google I/O 2016, the Daydream team stated that Samsung, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, LG, Xiaomi and ZTE will produce phones that are "Daydream Ready." In fact, the ZTE Axon 7 is the first smartphone announced to be Google Daydream compatible along with ZTE VR, reports TechRadar.

"We have a great, long standing partnership with Google and will continue to work with them on many fronts," said Samsung in an early-August statement, adding, "we will stay tuned as Google provides more information on Daydream this fall."

How well does it perform?

Performance really depends on the power of the phone that's inside. To be a viable VR option, 'Daydream' requires smartphones with a high quality system on chip (SoC), low persistence displays to eliminate ghosting and lag and finally, top-notch sensors.

Daydream's remote control, A white oblong that Bavor says feels "kind of like a pebble," allowing users to navigate the interface by using it as a laser pointer. "One of the first things we learn how to do as kids is point, right?" says Bavor. "And analog input - as opposed to buttons for doing things, buttons for aiming - it's something that everyone gets."

Price:

No price has been announced yet, but prices are not expected to be low. The Google Daydream ready phones themselves could cost upwards of $600 - $900. Google has only released a reference design for the Daydream headset, which will require Daydream-compatible hardware running on Android 7.0.

Google's Daydream was announced during the Google IO 2016 keynote and is said to be available around Autumn 2016 shortly after Android Nougat releases. "We think we've pushed Cardboard pretty far. We've explored every possible way to cut and fold cardboard," says Bavor. "But we're continuing to invest in Cardboard. We think it's such an interesting, important thing."