14 DAY TRIAL // In July last year, we reported that Google was working on enhancing the VR experience for Chrome users and that the tech giant was planning to create a VR version of the mobile browser for Android. Google has just announced that Chrome now supports Daydream VR.
Google has brought it to its Chrome browser, announcing that “with the latest version of Chrome, we’re bringing VR to the web - making it as easy to step inside Air Force One as it is to access your favorite webpage.”
The new feature only works on Daydream-ready smartphones, including Pixel, Pixel XL, ZTE Axon 7, Moto Z and Mate 9 Pro and Asus ZenFone AR, which will be launched soon. Smartphones that support Daydream VR have high-resolution displays, powerful graphics, and sensors that track movements. They also run the new Android 7.0 Nougat.
Chome for Android and web now supports VR
Users simply need to browse to a VR experience of their choice, choose to enter VR and place the smartphone in their Daydream View headset. However, those that don’t have such a headset can view VR content on any smartphone or desktop computer and interact using the mouse or their fingers. Without using the Daydream View headset, navigation in VR content is less immersive on the desktop or mobile phone. It also resembles navigation inside Google Maps’ Street View section.
In the blog post, Google even presented a list of interactive sites that can be checked out, including an interactive documentary called Bear 71. The tech giant has announced that increasingly more websites will start supporting VR in the near future.
In the coming months, Google pledged to bring VR to everyone on any device by adding support for more headsets, including Google Cardboard.
Previously, Chrome lacked mobile browser support for WebVR, which means that the browser wasn’t able to gather any data on the phone’s position, orientation or input controller. WebVR enhances the capabilities of Google’s browser and offers a new and rich experience to users.