With Google I/O quickly approaching, we’ve been wondering how Google planned to surprise us. With Android N already alive and in preview 2, it wasn’t going to be with that, though we may still get a preview 3 next week. With the current line-up of Nexus devices still fresh enough, we aren’t expecting to see 2016 models yet either. So what could the big reveal be, if there is one? According to Peter Rojas of Gizmodo, Engadget, and various other tech venture fame, citing multiple sources, it’ll be with Android VR.
Rojas took to Twitter this morning to say that “Android VR will definitely be announced next week” and that it will be “better than Gear VR.” He also noted that this is a stand-alone device that runs off of a smartphone, like the Samsung Gear VR, so don’t expect it to be close to the Vive and Oculus experiences.
Here are the tweets:
We aren’t sure what prompted the mention from Rojas, but a redditor form yesterday did see a mention of “AndroidVR” in a list of release notes for the latest Unreal Engine preview. That could just mean that Unreal Engine is creating some sort of Android related VR product, but after the notes were called into focus, they quickly changed them, removing any mention of “AndroidVR.”
Keep in mind that this isn’t the first time we have heard about Google making a Gear VR competitor. A report back in February suggested the same, telling us to expect it later this year, along with native Android VR software built-in to Android. That report also mentioned that it might be an upgrade over Gear VR with “better sensors, lenses, and a more solid plastic casing.”
As a VR hater who has come around to appreciating the technology (Vive addict here), this is pretty exciting news if Google can do this right, build out a legitimate Gear VR competitor, and figure out how to get content creators on board. Because in the end, VR is only as good as the content available.
Ooh, Google I/O is shaping up nicely.
I’m not sure what they’ll be able to do to surpass the Gear VR without adding unreasonable cost to the device. If they are still driving the experience using the phone screen and hardware where they can go that Gear VR didn’t already? Maybe having a special camera system that connects to the phone via the USB port? Either dual cameras for depth images or a camera specially designed for object tracking for AR applications.
Doubt it will work with PC and Mobile. Meh
No content, screen door effect, narrow FOV, no thanks. I’ll be waiting for revision 3/4.
*All VR.
“He also noted that this is a stand-alone device that runs off of a smartphone, like the Samsung Gear VR”
Going by this tweet: https://twitter.com/peterrojas/status/730412680742379521?s=09
He was actually saying it doesn’t require a phone at all.
This could mean it’s like the LG “friend” where it is a stand alone unit with its own screen but it’s still wired to a phone.
Needs to be cheaper than Samsung VR and HTC Vive, especially when they do less than an XBOX1 and PS4
Oh great. Another VR standard. Isn’t that market fragmented enough with a questionable user base anyway?
No, because all the major players are at least partially inter-compatible and they all run on the same engines.
A Nexus is never “fresh” enough! They are always a day late and a dollar short, especially with a trickle of just 1-2 new models annually: Screens too large, too small, not enough storage options, undersized batteries, weak cameras. I’d buy a 6″ 6P refresh in a heartbeat if it had a 4000mAh battery and Qi.
Announced but won’t be available until this year’s nexus devices come out
HolyHell! I/O IS NEXT WEEK! WOO! . . .
Am I the only one curious about the second iteration of Glass after the Alphabet Re-org? Hopefully we can see something new with Wear and Auto as well.
would be nice. But seems to be in Google Purgatory currently. I’m waiting for Ara news
Ara is out of purgatory and in the grave I’m afraid.
thankfully. didn’t show much promise after it didn’t look like it was gonna focus on high end hardware.
LOL Google Purgatory LOL!
I am still hopeful they refresh the Nexus 7.
I want the same…I’ve been going back and forth on the Pixel C (with discount…) But I’d much rather a smaller tablet
I like the Pixel well enough in theory but I wish it was thinner/lighter for that $ and had a 128GB storage option available. Since I use a tablet as a media consumption device, I need a microSD slot. But my Tab S 10.5 is really starting to show its age as far as software and its SoC but the screen, expandable storage and formfactor remain unmatched!!
Nvidia did that and better.
More about VR?
https://media3.giphy.com/media/hKNPxrffFH0GY/giphy.gif
Lol really loved that actress. Maybe because she’s French. And very fitting gif response btw
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Pretty happy with my gear VR. With the exception of the fogging. Will Google’s support USB c or micro USB?
What Fogging Issue?
wears tight headset, phone warms up, person warms up, starts getting foggy inside the headset, fogging issue arrived