Google Daydream View

We have already talked about Google’s Daydream about few months ago. You might have waited for a long time and some of you might think ‘Already? Time flies!’ Google unveiled its new product line such as new chromecast Ultra, Google Home,which is a Smart home device and speaker, Google Wifi Routers and also Google Daydream View and pixel phone through their unveiling events in 4th October in San Francisco.

[Google’s new products / Credit: Google image]

It mostly has a neat design and it is also practical. Among these gorgeous products, we would like to examine deeply about the Daydream View, Controller and the pixel phone which is the first Daydream-ready phone.

Fabric HMD Daydream View
As we learned before, Daydream, which is Google’s VR platform, works same as Oculus home. 
You can enjoy VR through mobile. Daydream runs automatically when you put a Daydream-ready phone in the HMD made by Google. People who experienced Samsung Gear VR will easily understand. 

  [Credit: Google image]

The revealed Daydream View was almost the same with the image opened in the last I/O. However, it differs from the other HMD, which is mostly made with plastic. Google’s HMD has been covered with fabric.

[Credit: Google image]

The color is three types: Snow, Slate and Crimson. The facepad is removable to wash whenever you like. It seemed unhygienic when most of the HMD facepad wasn’t removable, however, Google helped it.

The very first Daydream-ready phone: Pixel phone
A Daydream-ready phone is needed to run the Google Daydream View and Google has announced its first Daydream-ready phone which is called Pixel phone. Pixel phone was produced by HTC but differ from the previous Nexus line, most of the design and UI was done by Google and only a small part of design and production was proceed by HTC.

[Credit: Google]

The design is modern and it is similar to the iPhone. Also, a USB type C port has been applied. This pixel phone runs on operating system named Nougat and it has the highest spec. However, it is a bad news to hear that it has only 32GB and 128GB of storage.

The color is same as the leaked image: White, Blue and Black. The price starts at $649 to $1419 depend on the type and storage. 
There will be more Daydream-ready phones coming up soon. It seems like Daydream View has more chances compared to Gear VR, which is compatible only with Galaxy series phones. 

Standard of simple, Controller
It is not perfect even if you put your Daydream-ready phone to the Google’s HMD. In Gear VR, touching the side worked as a button but the Daydream view doesn’t work in the same way. However, more simple and easy way to choose the content has been opened by a very simple controller.

[Credit: Google]

Google has cared the users by putting each app and home button in the controller so that users can go back easily to the menu or home screen. The smart sensors provide smooth tracking and movement and an adjustable volume button lets you turn up your experience. Through this you can swing a bat, steer an airship or even cast a spell with a magic wand.

Fruitful Daydream View
There are many apps and fun experiences coming to Daydream.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

You can explore new world with Google’s basic service such as Google street view, Google photo and it also provide CNN and New York times as an app so you can enjoy the news also in virtual reality.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

In Gear VR, you had to get on the internet to watch youtube videos. However, Google made youtube as a customized application so that users can access more simply and easily. Through Hulu, Jaunt and Netflix you can enjoy your personal cinema, so watch movies on a virtual big screen and experience sports and concerts like you’re actually there.

[Credit: Daydream homepage]

You can get in the game with VR as there are many games such as Wonderglade, Fantastic Beasts, and Danger Goat …etc. ready for you.

 [Credit: Daydream homepage]

Lastly, you can enjoy the exclusive demo of J.K. Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ only through Daydream. You can meet this demo magically at select stores in November.

The first start of Google Daydream View, which official release will be in November, was a cheap cardboard. The cardboard made people feel familiar with VR regardless of their type of phone. That Google is now facing the official release with its upgraded Daydream View that dreams to seize the VR platform ecosystem in November 
Which will be the last one to win the victory between Gear VR, which is only compatible with Samsung’s Galaxy phones and Daydream View, which makes phones possible to work with its HMD through Daydream-ready certification? 

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 28) Zombie 360 video

2016. 9. 28. Zombie 360 video

When the dark and somber room is filled with silence there comes a Zombie. How scary would it be? When you put VR HMD in your head you won’t be able to predict where the zombies will appear. Don’t lose your tension and pay attention.

Channel: Inner Rift

Watch on WAVRP: 

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WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 27) 360 Camera | Eiger North Face – Summit

2016. 9. 27. 360 Camera | Eiger North Face – Summit

We are in the Summit finally! Today’s video was took in Summit 3970m which is called Heckmair Route. What would it look like up in the summit of Alphs? The sound of wind seems to prove how hard the journey was. 

Channel: Mammut

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 24) Visit Hamilton Island in 360˚ Virtual Reality with Qantas

2016. 9. 24. Visit Hamilton Island in 360˚ Virtual Reality with Qantas

Did you heard of Hamilton island which might be popular for honeymoon? It is stated in Queensland Australia and it is consist of 74 island. This 360 video went all the places together. Why don’t you travel with this 360 video before you really leave to Hamilton Island. 

Channel: Qantas

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 21) 360 Camera | Eiger North Face – Death Bivouac

2016. 9. 21. 360 Camera | Eiger North Face – Death Bivouac

Today’s spot of Eiger North Face is the Death Bivouac of Heckmair Route. A popular spot for bivouacking about two thirds of the way up to the summit. Its name relates to the dramatic failed attempt of the North Face by Sedlmayr and Mehringer. If you are curious about the death Bivouac then let’s move! 

Channel: Mammut

Watch on WAVRP: 

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WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 18) The Pull (Stereoscopic 360° VR film)

2016. 9. 18. The Pull (Stereoscopic 360° VR film)

Gravity is not a very special thing to us, because it is a natural phenomenon in our daily life. However, what would it be like when gravity doesn’t work anymore. Let’s enter a world where the rules that bind us suddenly disobey. Everything around you moves strangely and the room you are staying is very colorful. This kind of awesome experience will be only possible in VR, right?

Channel:Quba Michalski

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 17) Boise State Broncos Game Day Experience - 360 Video (Extended V1)

2016. 9. 17. Boise State Broncos Game Day Experience - 360 Video (Extended V1)

Many people love Football. Today’s VR video is about Boise State Boncos Game Day. It will bring you to the outside of the stadium before the game begins and you can also support the team with the cheerleaders. The most amazing part is where the players are waiting for the game in the fitting room. Let’s get into the hot football game right now.

Channel: DTX Creative

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 15) Discover the 360° world that inspired Filled Cupcake Flavored Oreo Cookies.

2016. 9. 15. Discover the 360° world that inspired Filled Cupcake Flavored Oreo Cookies

Do you like Oreo? Here is the 360 video of Filled Cupcake Flavored Oreo. In this short 360 video, there is everything  that shows well about its flavor. Oreo fits well with milk. So all the Oreos flow along the milk and all the process is done in cupcake world. You can flow with the Oreos in this 360 video, let’s flow with them!

Channel: Oreo Cookie

Watch on WAVRP: 

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WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 7) Dew 360 Snow Experience: Backcountry Snowboarding | Mountain Dew

2016. 9. 7. Dew 360 Snow Experience: Backcountry Snowboarding | Mountain Dew

Have you ever experienced snowboard in Utah backcountry? From camping in the backcountry, moving by taking heli to snowboarding through the fluttering snow. You can wash away the hot summer with this VR video that makes you feel as if you were really experiencing snowboard. 

Channel: Mountain Dew

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 6) Survive a Bear Attack in VR! ( 360 Video )

2016. 9. 6. Survive a Bear Attack in VR! ( 360 Video )

When you hear a bear crying in a peaceful camping place, would it be real? Or just heard it wrong?

If a bear really appears in your camping place what action will you take? Let’s watch what they did inside this video that took with Nokia ozo 360 camera. 

Channel: Freakin Rad

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

Platform Trend Ⅲ: New VR platforms

The main part was content and platform from the VR industry policy which the government has announced. That means that we had quite an improvement in device or technology part but not in content and platform. So many companies actually started to make contents and platforms. Many experts are observing whether this VR market can grow up. But one more thing that we can watch is whether what kind of platform could seize the VR eco-system. More platforms of global companies have been newly released recently.

Google Daydream
We have introduced you about Google’s Daydream before. Daydream is a VR platform which Google is preparing and it will allow users to watch high-quality VR through Smartphone, HMD and controller.

<Credit: Google VR>

All Smartphones which has received Daydream ready certification are equipped with Daydream. Daydream ready is a system that provides certification to the qualified phones which is compatible with Daydream VR HMD. Google added ‘VR mode’ in their new OS called Android N and optimized other applications to VR. Through Daydream, users can use apps and contents easier because Google made Youtube, Street view, Google playstore, playmovies and Google photos into VR version. Furthermore, Google cooperate with other companies like Ubisoft or Netflix to make apps for Daydream.
Unfortunately Daydream is not available in previous smartphones that has not received Daydream ready certification.  ‘v20’ of LG electronics will mount Android 7.0N for the first time in domestic. Above this, Google will cooperate with other smartphone manufacturers which use Android OS for Daydream so you can refer this information if you were planning to buy a new smartphone.

<Credit: Google VR>

Samsung VR
The main platform of Gear VR is Oculus home. When you first use GearVR and put your smartphone in the HMD then you will hear a message saying “Please detach your smartphone and install the VR app”. At this time what you have to install is “Oculus app”. Like this, there was no platform which you can call it Samsung’s, but Samsung is preparing its own platform called ‘Samsung VR’ app. It is quite similar to Youtube and will become an open platform which users can upload a high-quality video freely.
 At first, however, Samsung will open contents by previously checking its violence or sexuality to provide a high-quality VR contents. You can use it in your smartphone through Google store but it is more efficient when you download the contents in Oculus home’s Samsung VR menu through GearVR.

<Credit: Google Image>

However, this is not the first time for Samsung to open a VR platform. In the end of 2014, when the first Gear VR was released, Samsung provide VR contents through its own VR platform called ‘milk VR’ which was expanded from Samsung’s own music streaming service ‘milk’. But it seems that it didn’t work that well. ‘Samsung VR’ which opens next month will only be available in Gear VR. Will Samsung take this strategy continuously or will they overcome this threshold.


Intel Project Alloy
The last platform that we will introduce you today is the hottest news these days. It’s Intel’s Project Alloy. Don’t you want to know what kind of platform it is which the King of computer has made?
In Intel developer Forum 2016 (IDF) which was held in Sanfrancisco on August 2016, they talked about the vision of IoT and device field and the role of Intel in expansion in Computer field. In this Forum they opened the all-in-one virtual reality solution ‘Project Alloy’.

<Credit: Intel>

Project Alloy provides a free movement as the PC is embedded in VR HMD. Project Alloy can provide mixed reality. This means that you can see your hand, friends and walls even though you are wearing a VR HMD. All this things are possible because of Intel’s technology. It doesn’t need an external sensor or camera in the place because of the real sense camera attached in HMD Project Alloy platform is predicted to be opened to the developers in 2017. So we should make our mind before it is released as we know that project Alloy will bring more surprises.

<Credit: Intel>

Today’s platforms were all about global company’s platform which has its own device and each of its strategy seem also different. There is a platform which is only available in its device but there is also a platform that is compatible with other devices. This make us think of IOS and Android which is walking a different way but competing all the time. So we can’t judge easily whether which way will go higher than others. We should watch together whether it will be a platform war or a symbiotic relationship.

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 5) Toward Ghost Mesa (Ep. 2) - 360° Webseries

2016. 9. 5. Toward Ghost Mesa (Ep. 2) - 360° Webseries

This is the second episode of the 360 webseries ‘Toward Gohst Mesa’. When the video starts you can see an dead cat which has no head and two shots in the chest. This is the seventh victim. You became the hero of this video who want to catch the one who did this. What will you find out?

Gregory Austin mcconnell:

He is a producer who make web series for VR

http://www.austinmcconnell.com

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 4) 360 view of Google Norway

2016. 9. 4. 360 view of Google Norway

The global company which has many offices in more than 40 countries started in a small dormitory room and car garage. Google which has its head office in California opened its new office in Oslo, Norway. The Country Director Jan Gronbech will introduce the office very closely. 

Channel: Teknisk Ukeblad

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

(2016. 9. 3) Explore The Solar System: 360 Degree Interactive Tour!

2016. 9. 3. Explore The Solar System: 360 Degree Interactive Tour!

Do you like science? Is it fun? How would it be if there is a way to learn science excitingly? Furthermore, if you can study with 360 videos how would it be? You can watch the solar system in three-dimensional and hear a kind explanation! Let’s go and enjoy the solar system right now!

Channel: Thought Cafe

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!

Platform Trend Ⅱ: VR contents platform

There are VR contents platform that provide not only various contents but also some solutions.
All about 360 videos: JAMONG
The beginning of Jamong is when Mr.Yoon, the representative of Jamong, learned about Oculus DK1. His initial plan was making a VR SNS based on image but he turned to VR videos. This is today’s Jamong that provide VR contents supply solution service, similar to Youtube, a video platform.

<Credit: Google Image>

VR video producers can open their channel in Jamong and if they upload their contents then users can watch it through the Jamong application. This is the way that you can use Jamong. Jamong has many advantages.
1. VR player development, CDN, Incoding, DB Administration, member management and contents sale are all available in Jamong.
2. Users can make a profit of their VR contents through contents sale, monthly fixed amount or donation not by commercial.
3. Jamong provides Android, IOS, Playstation VR, Oculus VR, Gear VR and also web platform.
4. Live VR broadcast is available.
11 channels and about 120 paid or free contents are uploaded in Jamong Android application until April 2016. Also, Jamong is selling VR contents for adults for the first time in Korea. Jamong is providing not only various solutions to the VR video producers but also many service like VR live broadcast to the users.

<Credit: Google Image>

 Furthermore, Jamong is preparing more technologies such as making the video keep playing while the user is watching a specific spot or making different story with various interactive elements like in Miyeonsi game (Girlfriend simulation game).
N-Star

<Credit: Nextcore homepage>

FX Gear and Nextcore made a VR HMD named Noon VR. FX Gear is a computer graphic company and work with Dreamworks, Bluesky, and Samsung electronics. The great advantage of FX Gear is known as graphic solution aiming Studios and IT manufacturers. Noon VR is a 3D HMD which is compatible with all kinds of smartphones. It has less sickness because of it tracks the user’s eye faster than other devices. Users can download Noon VR app for free in Google play or Apple app store. However, if you want to watch contents then you should put the activation code which is written in the manual of Noon VR HMD. Don’t forget that you can also watch your 2D videos which are saved in your smartphone through this device.

<Credit: N-Star>

FX Gear released a VR•AR platform called N-Star on May 2016. They wanted N-Star to be a VR video distribution channel like Youtube and then becoming an on•offline shopping service by making online virtual fitting shopping mall named ‘FITN shop’. Actually, N-Star is like Youtube, but the difference is that it is a VR media social platform based on real story made by each of users.
N-Star used Lee Jeein as a model who was a previous girl group member. In N-Star platform few VR videos about virtual dating, Interview and daily life of Miss Jeein is uploaded and received much attention from the people.
This seems similar to Africa TV in VR market. Can N-Star make a VR star similar to many BJ stars from Africa TV? It seems little bit hard, however, to make that kind of ecosystem because users need to know how to take 360 videos and they need to use Noon VR if they want to be a VR star. When people are more used to VR market then it could be a very attractive platform.

Others …

There are also many other platforms such as DOORIBUN which was made by Qplan, a digital marketing company, on June 2016. Dooribun produce various contents with stories or interactive contents and then they upload it on facebook, Youtube and Naver TV cast. Recently, they begin to publish a VR webtoon drama ‘Bodrwawer’ for the first time in Korea. Kukhan Seo who is the representative of the Qplan said that Dooribun will keep provide various VR video contents so that the VR content industry can grow. (Credit: Yeonhap news)
There are more platforms than Dooribun, such as VRN which deliver VR related news and WAVRP which curate VR videos. That means that many companies are concentrating on content market now. We wish VR contents of VR social channels to grow like previous SNS channels.

Watch on WAVRP: 

http://wavrp.com/

WAVRP is a curation service which introduces a selected VR video everyday!