It’s time to dust off that virtual reality headset that you’ve hardly used since the day it arrived, because the biggest video platform on the planet now supports VR video. Google CEO Sundar Pichai today announced that YouTube has begun offering its first VR video, which can be enjoyed with Google Cardboard.
YouTube often embraces new video technologies, and already supports 360-degree video. And with virtual reality taking off — and as affordable as a Google Cardboard unit — it couldn’t be a better time to adopt VR video, too.
“Using the same tricks that we humans use to see the world, VR video gives you a sense of depth as you look around in every direction,” Google explains on the YouTube blog. “Near things look near, far things look far. So if you were excited about 360° videos, this is pretty freakin’ cool.”
Virtual reality videos are indicated by a Cardboard icon, and users can tap the settings cog, then the Cardboard button to activate it. Then you simply drop your smartphone into your VR headset and slap it on.
VR support will be available inside the YouTube app for Android first, and users can download it now from Google Play. Cardboard also supports the iPhone, but Google hasn’t confirmed when VR support will be available inside its YouTube app for iOS yet.
