One of the big pushes throughout last week’s Oculus Connect 4 was the emphasis, as always on creators and on developers. But that was last week, and today saw Samsung take to the stage in San Francisco, California for the Samsung Developer Conference.
It was, however, Google that revealed perhaps the biggest news coming out of the event. That the two tech titans, rivals in the battle for smartphone-based virtual reality (VR) would be uniting their products on the augmented reality (AR) stage.
Taking to that stage was Google’s Vice President of Virtual and Augmented Reality, Clay Bavor. Who confirmed to crowds during the first day’s keynote that the two companies would be bringing Google’s AR creation platform ARCore to not only the Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone but the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phablet. Both of which use the Android operating system developed by Google. Bavor also confirmed that future Samsung phones, presumably in the Galaxy line, would also be receiving ARCore support.
It’s the latest in a series of announcements in the battle of AR development which began in June this year when Google’s rival Apple first revealed its own AR developer platform called ARKit. Apple, continuing to be vocal about their support for AR over VR. ARCore being subsequently revealed in August with initial support for the Google Pixel, Pixel XL and the Samsung Galaxy S8. This move deepens that initial bond, and speaking on Twitter Bavor confirmed he was “excited” to be working with Samsung further.
Following a 2017 that has seen interest in developing apps with AR skyrocket thanks to both ARKit and ARCore, it is surely a matter of time before Apple’s next move. When we get news on any further developments with either AR platform we will of course let you know on VRFocus.
If you are in the UK and shopping around for a new mobile phone contract, or are interested in acquiring Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+, and are also interested in trying out virtual reality (VR) then BT Mobile have a new offer that might be of interest.
BT Mobile is a division of the BT Group, a company descended from British Telecom, a company that has specialised in providing telecomunnications in the UK for decades. BT Mobile have existed since 2016 and mostly uses the EE Network for its coverage.
In its latest offer, BT Mobile are offering customers a free Samsung Gear VR headset if they buy a Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ with BT Mobile. The offer is running until 2nd November and includes not only the Samsung Gear VR headset, but also the Gear VR controller, which offers improved control and interactivity on some compatible VR apps and experiences.
Four plans are available for customers who wish to get hold of the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ and the Samsung Gear VR, ranging in price from £42 (GBP) per month to £57 per month. Details are as follows:
Not to be confused with the Google Cardboard, Google announced Daydream in 2016 for their virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display Daydream View. Google Daydream is a platform for Android device owners to access VR content and with Google’s daydream controller, which has three degrees of freedom (3DoF) allowing the controller to sense when it’s going up and down, left and right, and being tilted. With a clickable touchpad, an app button and a home button – users will be able to interact with apps and experiences rather than tapping the side of the HMD. VRFocus have compiled a list of mobile phones that are compatible with Google Daydream here:
Google Pixel– Google’s first phone with Google Assistant built in. Both pixel phones have daydream pre-installed. The larger Pixel will offer a better VR experience due to its QHD display but both offer highly accurate head tracking.
– Google Pixel
– Google Pixel XL
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ – Both phones have great AMOLED screens with nearly the highest resolutions of 2,960 x 1,440 with fast processors and plenty of RAM. They also feature expandable microSD storage up to 256GB, always useful for those enormous VR video files.
– Samsung Galaxy S8
– Samsung Galaxy S8+
Moto Z motorola – The daydream app can be installed from the Google Play Store – both of these phones support Moto mods, which includes a battery addition that can allow Daydream to run for hours longer than normal.
– Moto Z
– Moto Z Force
Huawei Mate 9 Pro – With Huawei’s own HiSilicon Kirin 960 processor and 6GB of RAM there is plenty inside to power the 2560 x 1440 pixel display.
– Huawei Mate 9 Pro
– Porsche Design Mate 9
Axon 7 – ZTE with the update to Nougat – it runs the slightly older and slower Snapdragon 820 but still enough to power most VR experiences.
– ZTE Axon 7
Asus Zenfor AR – This has 8GB of RAM, Snapdragon 821 processor and a 5.7 -inch AMELOED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution and a Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU.
– ASUS Zenfor AR
LG V30 – Is LG’s first VR phone that is the latest of six AT&T 5G Evolution capable devices. More details will be announced this fall.
You might be wondering why Android’s flagships like Samsung Galaxy S7 and One Plus 3 do not support Daydream and it can be summarised by Android authority saying ‘the lack of the necessary sensors and the absence of low persistence display.’ There are more phones expected to be added to this list by the end of 2017. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai stated that Google expects 11 Daydream compatible phones by the end of 2017 at an Alphabet earnings call.
The future of mobile VR however might be changing with Google’s announcements at Google I/O 2017 – with them partnering with Qualcomm we may see that Google is prioritising their standalone headset. So you won’t need to slip a phone into the front and don’t need to plug it into a computer. Using technology from the Tango project – what Google call WorldSense positional tracking – there will be no need for any external cameras. This is enabled by using external sensors, so that all movement is accurately tracked, with six degrees of freedom (6DoF).
Watch the video below to find out more information.
Earlier this week VRFocus reported on a statement from Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, suggesting that 11 Daydream compatible smartphone handsets would be available before the year’s end. It now looks like two of those handsets are already available on the market, as Google has revealed the roll out of a compatibility update for both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.
Samsung were one of the first smartphone manufacturers to announce support for the Google Daydream platform, but have been relatively slow to integrate this into their consumer handsets. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ recently received an update which, according to Android Police, specified ‘Google Daydream Compatibility’ in US service provider T-Mobile’s patch notes.
According to Android Police, the documentation soon received an update stating that Daydream compatibility would be coming to both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ soon. However, the patch notes were updated again and removed any mention of Google Daydream.
While that uncertainty has now ended don’t expect that update to appear straight away. As is a common occurrence with big mobile updates – such as a new version of Android – users will see this rolled out slowly, depending on the mobile carrier as to when they may see it.
Adding Daydream compatibility to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ makes these two handsets the first to be compatible with both the Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream, potentially making them the first choice handsets for virtual reality (VR) aficionados. VRFocus will keep you updated with any further information regarding Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ Daydream compatibility.
Whilst the virtual reality (VR) headlines often revolve around VR on console (i.e. the activities of the PlayStation VR or the AWOL VR of the XBox One X) and VR on PC (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and to a far lesser extent OSVR) one platform that remains strong is mobile. Without question mobile VR is the most accessible platform for newcomers to try VR on, and it is a platform, with head-mounted displays (HMDs) like the Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream View which continues to be popular.
Samsung, who are celebrating this weekend after taking Intel’s crown as the world’s biggest chipmaker, have been offering a bundle deal involving the Korean firm’s Galaxy S8 smartphone. The UK arm of Samsung is offering purchasers of the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ the Gear VR complete with it’s controller for the reduced sum of £50 (GBP).
“It’s a brilliant time to explore new worlds.” Say Samsung on a promotional page for the deal. “Because now, when you buy the Galaxy S8, you can get hold of the amazing Gear VR with Controller for just £50. You can also claim an entertainment and gaming bundle from the Oculus store worth up to £39.”
The Oculus store bundle in question is one that has been in operation since the end of June but will only continue to run until 15th August 2017. However the UK residents only have until the end of the month in order to be able to claim the reduced price Gear VR which can be done when purchasing either Galaxy from the Samsung Store.
VRFocus will bring you more news regarding the Samsung Gear VR in the near future. For all the latest specifically on the Gear VR click the HMD (or any others listed for news focused on them) at the top of the website.
Google Daydream, the company’s mobile VR platform, is compatible with a number of flagship smartphones from various manufacturers. Growing to a total of 15 Daydream-compatible phones by the end of the year, we take a look at the mobile VR machines you can buy now so you can start daydreaming.
Update (10/04/17): We’ve updated to include the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL, making for a total of 15 Daydream-compatible smartphones.
You’ll of course need a VR headset and controller to go along with your new phone though, but for now there’s only a few choices on the market despite Google sharing the reference design with other OEMs, leaving you with the Google-produced Daydream View ($79) and the slightly cheaper BoboVR Z5 to choose from. There are several headsets claiming to offer Daydream support on the market, but if it lacks the required Daydream remote, you’ll be left you with little more than a fancy plastic Cardboard derivative.
Note: Google advertises the View as the only available Daydream headset at this time.
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
Pixel 2, image courtesy Venture Beat
Google’s Pixel 2 line is going toe-to-toe with Apple iPhone 8 in terms of its AR capability, but with the phone’s Snapdragon 835 chip and a whole Google VR ecosystem behind it, the Pixel 2 is shaping up to be one of the best in class smartphones capable of running both AR and VR applications. Pixel 2 is disappointingly still running with the same (or similar spec) 5 inch FHD 1920 x 1080 AMOLED at 441ppi, with its XL brother growing from last year’s 5.5 inch 1440 x 2560, 534 ppi AMOLED to its new 18:9 aspect ratio, 6 inch QHD 2880 x 1440 pOLED at 538ppi.
Google Pixel and Pixel XL
image courtesy Google
Revealed in October 2016, the Pixel and Pixel XL are Daydream’s first supported phones. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 pushing the VR experiences on both—a late 2016 refresh of the older 820—potential Daydreamers should keep an eye on the specs before making a hasty purchase. The smaller Pixel packs a 5.0 inch AMOLED display at a comparatively low resolution – 1080 x 1920 with 441 ppi pixel density. The Pixel’s bigger bother, the XL, offers what should be considered a bare standard for flagships, pushing a 5.5 inch AMOLED with 1440 x 2560 pixels and 534 ppi pixel density. Both can be purchased as unlocked phones in the US, through Verizon, or as a part of Google’s Project Fi.
Motorola Moto Z2, Z & Z Force
image courtesy Google
The Moto Z family of smartphones aren’t all alike in terms of ability, but at very least the Moto Z and slightly better-speced Moto Z Force fit into the Daydream platform, albeit on the graphical low-side with its older Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force both offer an 1440 x 2560 pixel AMOLED display with 534 ppi pixel density.
Like the iPhone, Moto Z lacks a headphone port, using the Type-C USB port for everything. With the possibility to add ‘mods’, or magnetically attachable back plates, you can even buy a 360 camera specifically for the Moto Z family of phones, which launches alongside the Moto Z2 Force. The Moto Z2 Force also has Daydream capability as well with its newer Snapdragon 835, packing a 5.5 inch QHD 1440 x 2560 pOLED display at 534 ppi.
Huawei Mate 9 Pro and Porsche Design Mate 9
image courtesy Google
Chinese manufacturer Huawei is coming up in the world with a more refined Samsung-esque design ascetic, now offering their flagship Mate 9 Pro and Porsche Design Mate 9 pushing a Hisilicon Kirin 960 built by Huawei’s subsidiary. The Mate 9 Pro isn’t officially available in North America yet, but currently looks to sell for around $700 through resellers, about the same price as it is in China. The Mate 9 Pro offers a 5.5 inch, 1440 x 2560 pixel AMOLED display with 534 ppi pixel density.
ZTE Axon 7
image courtesy Google
Chinese manufacturer ZTE offers the Axon 7 for a comparatively lower price than most flagships, starting at less than $450 for a new unlocked phone. With an older Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, the ZTE Axon 7 is another middle-end shoe-in, although it provides a 5.5 inch, 1440 x 2560 resolution AMOLED display with 538 ppi pixel density, which for the price certainly sounds attractive enough if you’re looking for the cheapest possible way to get into Daydream.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+
image courtesy Google
Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the only phones in the list to support both Daydream and Gear VR, the company’s mobile VR platform built in partnership with Oculus. Pushing the most modern specs to boot, the S8 and S8+ both pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. The S8 has a 5.8 inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2960 resolution and 570 ppi pixel density, while the S8+ has a massive 6.2 inch Super AMOLED with the same resolution but slightly lower pixel density at 529 ppi.
Samsung recently started rolling out Daydream support for both Galaxy S8 and S8+, as reported by The Android Soul.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
image courtesy Google
Slightly bigger and just as beautiful, the Note 8 packs 1.7GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 9 Octa 8895 processor, and a 6.3 inch QHD+ 2960 x 1440 Super AMOLED at 521 ppi. And yes, it even follows in the Galaxy S8’s footsteps by actually being able to fit in the latest Gear VR headset too.
LG V30
image courtesy Google
LG’s V30, launched in September 2017, comes with some pretty familiar specs, featuring a Snapdragon 835 and QHD+ 1440 x 2880 OLED at 537 ppi. Yes, that’s a curved, near bezel-less design—something other devices could learn a thing or two from.
Asus ZenFone AR
image courtesy Google
Asus ZenFone AR offers a few interesting things at its disposal besides the prospect of entering into virtual reality. Built in partnership with the team behind Google Tango, the Zenfone AR is the first phone to offer both Tango and Daydream support in a single package. Asus’ ZenFone AR boasts the less-new Snapdragon 821 chipset while packing a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution and 515 ppi pixel density.
Manufacturers HTC, Mi, and Alcatel have yet to announce Daydream compatible phones (besides the Pixel 2, which is technically manufactured by HTC). We’ll update this article as the Daydream landscape changes.
At the Google I/O conference in May, it was announced that support for Google’s Daydream virtual reality (VR) platform would be included in the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones. Though the devices shipped without that support active, recent developments suggests that support is about the be activated.
Observant reporters at Android Police spotted that communications company T-Mobile had added a mention of adding Google Daydream support to a recent changelog on the T-Mobile support page. The changelog appeared after T-Mobile pushed out an update that prevented applications from remapping the Bixby button. Other fixes were also included in the update, under the ‘Enhancements’ section:
“DIGITS update, Qualcomm update for microphone fix, Bixby enhancements, Google Daydream capability, Various system improvements.”
Reporters quickly checked their Samsung S8 phones to see if the update had indeed unlocked Daydream compatibility, but a search of the Google Play Store didn’t turn up the app. A further check involved what is referred to as ‘side-loading’ and involves finding the APK file for the application and installing it manually instead of from the App Store, this can be risky if the app is not from a trusted source.
The results of this second test resulted in a logo and splash screen showing both the Samsung and Daydream logos, but attempting to complete the set-up showed an error message saying ‘Incompatible Phone’.
The experiments done by Android Police seems to show that Google Daydream compatibility is very close to being ready. It’s unclear what else needs to be added, or if it is Google or Samsung who are needed to finish the process. Either way, Samsung S8 owners can expect to enjoy Google Daydream apps very soon.
VRFocus will bring you further news on the Google Daydream and Samsung S8 as it becomes available.
The Samsung Gear VR is one of the most popular virtual reality (VR) headsets in the world right now. Mobile VR is currently leading the market in terms of number of units sold. Samsung are interested in growing that number still further, and have announced a special offer for UK residents who might be interested in getting their hands on a Samsung Gear VR along with the recently launched Gear VR Controller.
UK consumers who buy a Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ have the opportunity to claim a Gear VR with Controller for just £50 (GBP). In addition, new Gear VR owners can claim a free videogaming or entertainment bundle from the Oculus Store which is worth up to £39.
To make the offer even more tempting, consumers who trade in their old smartphone device can receive cashback and a £50 voucher towards a new Galaxy handset. The offers can even be combined for an even bigger discount.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8 inch quad HD display, using the full-phone display that Samsung refer to as the ‘infinity display’. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with 5GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The Galaxy S8+ has similar specs, but boasts a 6.2 incha display, also using the infinity display. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is currently available from the Samsung website for £689, with the Galaxy S8+ priced at £779. The Gear VR with Controller usually retails at £119.
The Samsung Gear VR is not the only VR headset that the Galaxy S8 supports. As announced at Google I/O earlier this year, the Google Daydream is also supported by the Galaxy S8 and S8+, giving Galaxy S8 owners a choice of VR headsets.
VRFocus will bring you further news on offers and deals on VR software and equipment.
Google Daydream has many phones that are currently compatible, including the upcoming LG flagship smartphone that will be launched later in the year. Google also announced during I/O that Samsung’s latest smartphones will also be getting Daydream support.
Clay Bavor Vice President of Virtual Reality at Google announced during the presentation that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ would also be getting an update that would introduce Google Daydream support at some point during the summer. Samsung are one of the world’s most popular smartphone manufacturers, especially in the west and are the creators of one of the Google Daydream’s main competitors with the Samsung Gear VR.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8 inch quad HD display using what Samsung refer to as the infinity display. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which means a lot of virtual reality apps can be stored on the device. The S+, meanwhile, has a 6.2 inch display, also with infinity display.
The LG smartphone referred to by Bavor will probably be the LG G6, which has already launched in South Korea, and is due to launch in the US and Europe in summer. The LG G6 has a 5.7 inch display with a 18:9 aspect ratio, a resolution of 1440×2880 and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor.
Starting from summer, Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 users will be able to experience apps such as Along Together, Hungry Shark VR and Polaris on the Google Daydream.
VRFocus will continue to keep you informed on updates regarding the Google Daydream.
Google I/O has begun, the company’s annual developer conference, and amidst expectations of a new all-in-one VR headset, the company announced that Samsung’s Galaxy S8/S8 plus and LG’s next flagship phone will be officially receiving Google Daydream support.
Taking the stage at I/O, Clay Bavor, the head of Google’s VR team, announced that Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus phones will finally be receiving Daydream support via a software update this summer. This is the first mention of a specific Samsung device supporting the Daydream VR platform.
LG’s next flagship phone, a yet unrevealed model, will also be supporting Daydream at launch later this year.
When first announced at last year’s Google I/O, Daydream-compatible phones were supposed to come from several manufacturers including Samsung, HTC, LG, Mi, Huawei, ZTE, Asus, and Alcatel.
Because of the lack of onboard electronics, Daydream-compatible phones require highly-tuned inertial measurement units (IMUs) which determine head-tracking latency, not to mention the graphical guts to make the cut. Google Cardboard, the company’s wide-reaching VR initiative that supports a multitude of mid-to-low end devices, delivers a basic but serviceable mobile VR experience. Daydream however, with it’s hand controller and beefier specs, that necessarily push frame rates to 60 fps, delivers what most consider a high-quality VR experience on par with Samsung’s Gear VR mobile headset.
This story is breaking. Check back for more information soon.
