Whatever it started as, Google’s virtual reality viewer originally released as a “device” made out of a cardboard box has proven so successful that Google is investing even more in the platform. According to Google, they count more than half a million Cardboard viewers in use and with numbers like that, they have released a new round of updates for users, developers and makers of the device.
For users looking for a Cardboard compatible app, Google is making things a little easier with a dedicated collection page in the Google Play Store just for Cardboard apps. There are a variety out there including test drives, concerts, even games.
Developers who want to try their hand at a VR application now have access to a new set of Cardboard SDKs for Android and Unity. Google says the SDKs will speed the development process by taking over things like lens distortion correction, head tracking and side-by-side rendering. That will allow developers to focus on things like gameplay or graphics.
Google also announced the release of updated specifications for the open source Cardboard viewer. The primary addition to this update is specs for specific cutting tools that will help producers more easily do things like laser- or die-cut their viewers, even in large quantities. However, users who want a DIY solution can still use the specs for their own device.
Google indicated that next year they plan to add a calibration tool to the Cardboard SDK. This means things like the base and focal length for different viewers can be defined and apps will automatically adjust.
Anyone out there using Google Cardboard?
source: Google Developers
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