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On the Significance of Google's New Cardboard (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the recycling-a-post-title-is-good-for-the-environment dept.

On June 29, 2014, Timothy started a Slashdot post with these words: 'Last week at Google I/O, the company introduced Cardboard, its cheap-and-cheerful (it's made of cardboard, after all) approach to nearly instant VR viewing.' Several commenters noted that Viewmaster has been doing something similar for over 70 years; that you can get a slicker 3-D adapter for your smartphone from Durovis, with the Vrizzmo VR Goggles and vrAse coming soon; and that you can buy an iPhone/iPod Touch-only 3-D viewer for about $8 (at the time this was typed), which is a whole lot less than the price of most third-party Cardboard kits that are getting ready to hit the market. || The Google person behind The Cardboard is VP Clay Bavor, whose day job is overseeing Google apps. Clay says you are welcome to make your own Cardboard from scratch instead of buying one (or a kit) from someone else, and of course you can write all the software for it you like. || You may (or may not) remember that Timothy ended that June 29 post about Cardboard with a promise that before long we'd have 'a video introduction to Cardboard with Google VP Clay Bavor.' So here it is, as promised. (Alternate Video Link)

35 comments

  1. Need my glasses checked by JSurguy · · Score: 1

    I was sure that said vrArse - I was wondering about Uber realistic toileting apps.....

    1. Re: Need my glasses checked by DeanWoodyatt8223 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Not google cardboard. Occulous Thrift

    2. Re:Need my glasses checked by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

      I can't wait for the VR release of Two Girls, One Cup.

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    3. Re:Need my glasses checked by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      I'm waiting for the release of two girls, six tentacles.

      --
      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  2. How much is Google paying for these promotions? by mi · · Score: -1

    Timothy ended that June 29 post about Cardboard with a promise that before long we'd have 'a video introduction to Cardboard with Google VP Clay Bavor

    I thought, my karma entitled me to disabled advertising...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by Ultra64 · · Score: 3

      Right, cause cheap/free VR certainly isn't of interest to the slashdot crowd.

    2. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Timothy ended that June 29 post about Cardboard with a promise that before long we'd have 'a video introduction to Cardboard with Google VP Clay Bavor

      I thought, my karma entitled me to disabled advertising...

      Only some advertising.
      On another note, adblock+ didn't block this slashvertisement either.

    3. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 0

      Right, cause cheap/free VR certainly isn't of interest to the slashdot crowd.

      I'd hardly consider a device that requires use of a $300+ smartphone to be "cheap," and definitely not free.

      Still neat, though, because it shows off the depth of cool stuff you can do with cardboard these days.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    4. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by SpzToid · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Been watching the firehose submissions as a kind of hobby for the last few hours while monitoring machine processes and I can assure you, this was not part of anything submitted. Perhaps on a slow news day, but... this post just seems so lame to begin with.

      --
      You can't be ahead of the curve, if you're stuck in a loop.
    5. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look on the bright side, this article actually went to tech.slashdot instead of beta.slashdot.

    6. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by nigelo · · Score: 1

      I'd hardly consider a device that requires use of a $300+ smartphone to be "cheap," and definitely not free.

      If only you could DIY that bit, too, eh?

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      *Still* negative function...
    7. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      I'd hardly consider a device that requires use of a $300+ smartphone to be "cheap," and definitely not free.

      If only you could DIY that bit, too, eh?

      ... For less than several hundred bucks, yea.

      I mean, sure, right now you could probably get an R-pi or BeagleBone Black, a couple small, hi-res screens, an NFC shield, etc. and cobble together your own solution; but when all is said and done, would it be any cheaper than just using a Galaxy S3?

      Hey, mebbe we're onto something here...

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    8. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by mi · · Score: 1

      Right, cause cheap/free VR certainly isn't of interest to the slashdot crowd.

      Are you saying, VR pr0n is already available? Nope, not yet...

      Seriously, though, it may be "of interest", but not so much interest, that it merits a mention every two weeks. Hardly news — neither for nerds nor for others.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    9. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Ok, how about this:

      "Someone at Apple HQ sneezed."

      Better?

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    10. Re:How much is Google paying for these promotions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, cause cheap/free VR certainly isn't of interest to the slashdot crowd.

      I'd hardly consider a device that requires use of a $300+ smartphone to be "cheap," and definitely not free.

      Still neat, though, because it shows off the depth of cool stuff you can do with cardboard these days.

      I would consider it cheap because the marginal cost is cheap. For eligible users, the device is already a sunk cost.

      Consider if you were to open a mall kiosk to hawk this things come Crimmis time - would you say to passers by,
      "All you need to do is go out and get a Galaxy S4 and come on back!"? or would you say:
      "Pardon me miss, what kind of phone does your son have?"

  3. Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $378 by raymorris · · Score: 2

    Is there an aluminum version for the iPhone?

  4. Tigerblood. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Flash video? Seriously? Slashdot continues its slide into irrelevance.

    1. Re:Tigerblood. by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was wondering which video they were talking about. I guess they're being paid by Adobe.

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      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
  5. Re:Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $37 by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

    Is there an aluminum version for the iPhone?

    Don't know about the iShinies, but according to this ad, er, link, from TFS, someone will be making one for Android devices.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  6. Re:Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $37 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Who wants an ugly, brown and boxy piece of cardboard on their face? Our grey aluminum "Cardboard" has rounded corners!

  7. Re: How much is Google paying for these promotions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, let's forget that many people have already own said $300 smartphones for various reasons prior to Viewmastering...

  8. Re:Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $37 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there an aluminum version for the iPhone?

    Brushed... you forgot to brush!

  9. Oculus Thrift by gribbly · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...is what this should be called =]

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    maybe
    1. Re:Oculus Thrift by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 1

      Then perhaps I could just get one of these at the Oculus Thrift Store. Better resolution.

      http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-S...

      --
      http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  10. first p0st by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Sh0uts To the 200 running NT

  11. Re:Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $37 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is the point of owning Apple products if you can't see the face of disgust on other people?

  12. Magnet to control phone by andreas.hummelbrunne · · Score: 1

    That idea is actually pretty cool. Using the compass to control the VR-App seems like pure genius.

  13. uhh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A 3 min phone call causes hours of hyperactivity in kids. Young people using phones frequently have 5 times more brain cancer.

    If you strap it to your head for just a few hours you should get a much bigger effect.

    Occulus rift users will pwn the cardboard gamers all the time.

    You will sit there wondering wtf, or not even that.

    1. Re: uhh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bullshit. Proof?

    2. Re: uhh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolute nonsense you weirdo, I fear for your safety believing bullshit like that.

  14. Since he went to the trouble of making a shirt by Uninvited+Guest · · Score: 1

    Shouldn't the design be in side-by-side 3D format?

    --
    Sometimes I worry that I'll develop Alzheimer's disease, but no one will notice.
  15. Master trolling took place here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm in the business so i know about this shit product http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX51567

    I think they are poking fun at this companies product especially when he says "does it work with the i phone? yea you need an adapter". This is one of those not sure if trolling moments but im 90% sure they are.

  16. Hook player fook player by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously what the fuck is a hook player and why the hell would i download one just to play a video on a goddamn webpage, get to fuck

  17. Tim Cook responds by announcing iCardboard, $378 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you can check on http://www.googlecardboard.com/ i also bought google cardboard from this website ans i am happy with the deal .

  18. 1800's... by cwsumner · · Score: 1

    It's a Stereo-Opticon from the 1800's. They were extremely popular, for about a hundred years. Pretty good run for a product. The later ones were called ViewMaster.
    But these have the computing power to have movement!