A New VR Platform
The last Android N is being released a few months from now and along with it, comes the Daydream from Google. Daydream is the latest VR (Virtual Reality) platform, which will actually be incorporated within Android. It will be present within Android and will house the VR content in it. Users can access the Google Play Store in this new version and be able to select VR ready applications.
What does Daydream Include?
While using the Daydream version, you will be in the VR mode and you can always revert to the VR capable applications in Daydream. For instance, there is Street View and YouTube as well as Google Photos and Play Movies among others. The notification display will be in the form of 3D cards, when users are within Daydream.
There are many pieces in Daydream, such as some standards for phones that are capable of playing VR content, a reference design for headsets capable of using the smartphones, a controller and apps coming from Netflix and HBO. It also includes makers of video games, namely Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, among others.
The VR Mode
There will also be a dedicated mode for VR within Android OS and smartphones having the capability to enter the VR mode will get special certification from Google. It is expected that phones from popular makers, such as Samsung and HTC, as well as Asus, Xiaomi and LG will offer capability for Daydream. The Huawei Nexus 6P is naturally the first phone to offer this capability. Many other compatible phones will be ready towards the fall of this year, according to the VR team leader, Clay Bavor from Google.
Certification for Daydream
Those phones that are capable of Daydream VR will need a certification, as they need the capacity for pumping up to the maximum during the VR mode period. The 20 ms latency required for Daydream readiness will need all the power of the CPU and the GPU of the phone, along with suitable graphics buffering features that are needed for the new VR mode. Phones working with Daydream need sensors to ensure correct head tracking and must come with a display having a fast response time along with software capable of using the capabilities, keeping latency to a minimum.
VR Headset
Google has also offered reference designs for headsets that are compatible with Daydream, as they need to have utility and must also be comfortable for wearing. However, Google will not be launching the product and is sharing its design with others. Google has also designed the controller for this headset and it is aware of the way users wave it, smoothly syncing the movement to the stuff in the VR. The controller comes with two buttons along with a touchpad surface for clicking.
Expected Takeoff
Daydream will be available to end-users only later on this year, though developers can begin to create applications that suit this environment. According to Bavor, the team has worked on several VR issues, such as rendering of digital imagery with higher frame rates and resolution, reducing latency between hand movement and image update and so on.