Virtual and augmented reality have already been said to revolutionise the way we will interact with digital objects that are integrated seamlessly in the real world around you. Stepping on the same path, Google has launched a new Pixel smartphones which gives you access to amazing smartphone AR and high-quality mobile VR in the same device.
The company also announced a new Google Daydream View headset, which you can pair with Pixel 2 or another Daydream-ready phone for great VR. The new Daydream View has high-performance lenses, which result in better image clarity and a wider field of view. It sports a premium two-tone fabric that makes the headset soft and light, and it comes in three new colours: Fog, Charcoal and Coral.
Last year, Google launched with 25 apps and games. Daydream now has more than 250 titles, so you’ll never run out of things to do.
Aside from taking great photos and videos, the Pixel 2 camera is factory calibrated and optimised for AR. It enables robust tracking, even in low-light conditions, and 60 frames per second rendering of AR objects. That means you’ll be able to have really engaging AR experiences.
To start, Google has put AR objects and characters at fingertips in a new experience called AR Stickers. With it, users will be able to express yourself with playful emojis and set the scene for your very own stories. Or, if you’re feeling festive, shoot a happy birthday video for your friend with lots of AR balloons. These stickers give you new ways to be creative and capture how you’re feeling, so you can share with the people in your life. It works right in the camera, and it’ll be exclusive to the Pixel.
Google will release new AR Sticker packs in the future, so keep your eyes peeled around the changing seasons, holidays and big pop culture moments. Users will be able to interact with favourite characters from “Stranger Things,” and be part of the scene as Eleven faces off against the Demogorgon. Team up with R2-D2 to save the day with the "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" pack. Hang out with your favourite NBA Stars and the cast of "Saturday Night Live."
Google will also be previewing apps and experiences built by company’s partners with ARCore, the AR software development kit (SDK) for Android. For example, with Houzz, you’ll be able to bring the showroom into your living room and see how different furniture, accent pieces and more fit into your space. Experience the real-time action of a League of Legends match through an AR map, built by Grab Games. And with LEGO, have fun building virtual models in AR with characters that come to life, without fear of stepping on that last 2x4 brick.
