Google May Be Developing Consumer Virtual Reality Hardware (roadtovr.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Google's 'Cardboard' virtual reality initiative has put low-cost smartphone VR viewers in the hands of millions, but the experience provided by these simple phone holders doesn't compare with dedicated mobile VR hardware like Samsung's Gear VR. Now it seems that Google may be ready to move from Cardboard viewers to dedicated VR hardware. Four new full-time job listings at the company's Mountain View, CA headquarters seek candidates for the company's virtual reality group who are experienced with designing and manufacturing 'high-volume' consumer electronics devices. Road to VR suggests that Google could be creating a mobile VR headset under its flagship Nexus brand. The postings come just as the company's Clay Bavor dropped other responsibilities to fully dedicate his time as Google's VP of Virtual Reality.

Comments

Yawn

[frnic]

I maybe developing digital brain replacements running windows 12... could happen, maybe...

Given google's history

[Lord Bitman]

It's more likely that they'll be developing a VR Operating system, with some "flagship" proof-of-concept hardware to create initial interest

Re:Given google's history

[chispito]

It's more likely that they'll be developing a VR Operating system, with some "flagship" proof-of-concept hardware to create initial interest

Makes more sense to me that they would be developing the phone-in-goggles like the Samsung Gear.

But then again, they might not.

[Hognoxious]

If Betteridge had a second law, it would be this.

Welcome

[wbr1]

Welcome to Google One/VR. Over here you can listen to nothing. Over there is the circle of spam. But wait, there's more, one you have a time and or monetary investment we will shit can the project like reader.

Re:Yawn

[Anonymous Coward]

So what? You don't "need" 90% of the shit you own.

May be?

[SuperKendall]

They already have Cardboard, which is VR hardware on the cheap - you can easily imagine the library that drives the display split on mobile phones could easily be updated to drive custom hardware also. Did everyone really think they would just stick with a Rube Goldberg cardboard and lens contraption?

Re:Yawn

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

People around here said that about cameras in cell phones, too.

google strays from its core competences to fail

[sittingnut]

google( and other big techs ) seems to think throwing money(= people and resources) at all kinds of frontiers ( and even non frontiers) will result in success( that will keep the company relevant) . so far it has precious little to show in way of successes.
this is predictable. there many many past cases through history where successful institutions who try do things they do not know about get into all sorts of troubles. its a mind and culture thing.

google should do what it is doing well (and perhaps expand on edge of those things) . but not go after things it know nothing about as an institution .
if individuals who make/made money from company want to do all that stuff, let them do that separately. through new startups.

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[Crowd Computing]

google( and other big techs ) seems to think throwing money(= people and resources) at all kinds of frontiers ( and even non frontiers) will result in success( that will keep the company relevant) . so far it has precious little to show in way of successes.

There was a time not too long ago when Google was merely a web-based search engine for the desktop. If Google stuck to its core competency, then there wouldn't be Android, GMail or the Chrome browser. Google would still be just a search engine.

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[bouldin]

Google developed android to protect against apple taking over the smartphone market and, while it seemed like a long shot, you see how successful that project has been.

This sounds like a defensive play against oculus. Facebook/oculus should be intimidated; google executes much better than crapware companies like fb and ms.

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[ultranova]

google( and other big techs ) seems to think throwing money(= people and resources) at all kinds of frontiers ( and even non frontiers) will result in success( that will keep the company relevant) . so far it has precious little to show in way of successes.

Very little except, you know, Google and the other big techs.

google should do what it is doing well (and perhaps expand on edge of those things) . but not go after things it know nothing about as an institution .

Going after new things is what being a tech company is all about. A large company can simply hire expertize in any desired area. What the company brings to the table is an institutionalized process of turning research into products which will fund further research, and the sheer size needed to absorb failures for the chance to invent the Next Big Thing.

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[sittingnut]

they are not doing great at "inventing the Next Big Thing" so far.
only thing all the big techs do successfully is the one that made them big in the 1st place, all other things they (except for some that were added on the edge of their main competency. such as gmail which which was part of most of all the search engines before google as well) have been failures so far.
there is some success at things they acquired fairly well developed from other startups that succeeded through community and other company(as smartphone ones) participation (eg android) .

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[sittingnut]

agree with your comment completely

Re:google strays from its core competences to fail

[Hognoxious]

I agree. As far as I can see the only thing they did well (or well enough - I think timing plays into it) was search.

Anything else has either been shit or bought in.

Re:Yawn

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

Yes, they did. Complete with tales of how no one would use them because they'd just carry their point'n'shoots around,