Posted Mon Feb 13, 2017 at 01:30 PM PST by Steven Cohen
Daydream users can now view VR content through Chrome.
Google has announced the addition of WebVR support for Chrome on the Android platform. With the update, owners of a Daydream-ready smartphone and a Daydream View headset can now experience virtual reality content directly through the Chrome browser.
In order to enjoy the full virtual reality experience through Chrome, customers simply need to browse to VR content on a Daydream-ready phone, enter VR, and then insert the smartphone into a Daydream View headset. In addition, users without a headset can also experience Chrome VR on any smartphone or desktop computer, allowing them to interact with the content through their fingers or mouse. Current VR-enabled sites and content accessible through Chrome include the interactive documentary Bear 71; Matterport's library of 300,000+ celebrity homes, museums, canyons, iconic architecture and other real places; more than two dozen VR films with Within; more than a million 3D scenes in VR with Sketchfab; and the WebVR Lab from PlayCanvas which allows users to interact with a virtual space through the Daydream controller.
The Daydream View headset is currently on sale through the Google Store for $49.The headset is available in Slate, Crimson, or Snow colors and is made with flexible and soft breathable fabrics, allowing the device to be 30% lighter than similar products while providing added comfort. To use the Daydream View, customers simply need to drop in a Daydream-ready smartphone (like the Google Pixel) and lock it into place. From there, the phone and headset connect wirelessly with an auto alignment system. In addition, the product includes a compact controller packed with sensors, letting customers interact with content through movements and gesture. And when not in use, the controller can slide right inside the headset for easy storage.
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