Google I/O 2017: Google Releases Standalone VR Headset

Google I/O 207, this year’s edition of the annual developer’s conference arranged and managed by Google, has sprung up more than a few surprises. In its latest move aimed at taking the world of VR by storm, Google has introduced an all-new standalone VR headset, set to rival the offerings made by rivals HTC and Oculus. The operative word, in this case, is standalone, as it does not need to be paired with any external device.

Google I-O 2017
The invitation to the Google I/O 2017

The Google I/O 2017 is currently happening in Mountain View, California and has already racked up more than its fair share of eyebrows. In related news, it also announced the newest version of the Android OS, the Android O, at the same conference. The company also attempted to come up with clever and better solutions to the digital assistants as it added to their product portfolio which has also seen some new features, as mentioned here, for the Google Home speaker, besides a new job search tool. The most outstanding product launched is, however, the VR headset.

Google has collaborated with Qualcomm to develop and build on the design for the standalone headset. Expect these headsets to arrive sometime late this year.

These new standalone headsets now come equipped with the all-new WorldSense positional tracking, which is an option that will let the headset track the user’s movements in space, without the need to install any external sensors whatsoever.

In a blog post, Google explained,“These devices build on what’s already great about smartphone-based VR, and make the experience even easier and more comfortable with WorldSense.”

Lik we said, the biggest highlight of the standalone VR headsets is the fact that they do not and will not require a smartphone or PC, a characteristic very unlike most other existing headsets, such as Samsung Gear VR and Google’s own VR headset. This new Google headset will also be unlike other VR headsets including Sony’s PlayStation VR, a rather fine piece of equipment which must be connected to the PlayStation 4 to be fully functional. HTC is also a potential rival as it sells the Vive VR headset, which, however, is not a standalone device.

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