The confirmation comes after Re/code sparked a frenzy of reporting on the move earlier on Tuesday.
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Bavor is presumably that key deputy appointed by Pinchai, and his move into virtual reality allegedly shows that Google is taking VR seriously. It also will make Google Cardboard a bit more competitive with the more higher-end virtual reality units out there. The addition – which is just an SDK release, developers still have to code it into their VR experiences – means that the low price (and often free) option is catching up with the $600 Oculus Rift.
By utilizing Thrive Audio, which Google acquired previous year, Cardboard developers now have the tools to create more accurate audio experiences that go beyond traditional left and right channels; now developers can use top, left, right, bottom, back, and everywhere else.
However, there is the case of the cheap Cardboard headset, which Google developed, to consider.
Clay Bavor, the vice president of product at Google since 2005, has taken on the title of vice president of virtual reality, according to Bavor’s Twitter profile. Facebook has been extremely vocal about its virtual reality plans, which include a partnership with Microsoft (MSFT): The Oculus Rift will ship with an Xbox One controller, and will allow users to stream Xbox One games in VR.
GoPro and Google partnered on a new VR camera past year, and Vrse made the video that prompted Google to send Cardboard to all New York Time’s subscribers.
Another main concentration for Bavor is Magic Leap as the company poured in a whooping investment worth $542 million on it. Though Magic Leap is dedicated on augmented reality (AR), Google VR’s initiatives might overlap with its current AR concerns.
And yet, analysts predicted that it’s Google Cardboard who will stay in the lead of sales.
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Google hasn’t been completely out of the VR picture though. As a matter of fact, the year 2016 is seen as great year for Virtual Reality, claims First Post. “So it’s feasible and realistic that Google can establish itself as an important technology supplier for this emerging market”.
