Less than a year after Google unveiled Cardboard, there's a whole range of viewers and apps available to help you experience virtual reality. But until now, there was no guarantee that those solutions actually provided a good experience. Google is about to change that.
The Web giant on Thursday launched a new effort aimed at making sure Cardboard viewers work well with Cardboard apps. As part of the new Works with Cardboard program, Google has released a tool for manufacturers that automatically configures their viewer for every Cardboard app.
"The result is more awesome VR for all of us," Google Cardboard program manager Andrew Nartker wrote in a blog post.
These days, you can find Cardboard viewers made from all sorts of materials, ranging from plastic to wood and metal—even old pizza boxes. Google said the challenge is that each viewer may have slightly different optics and dimensions—and apps need this information to deliver a good experience.
So, manufacturers can now specify their viewer's parameters (things like focal length and inter-lens distance), and get a QR code to place on the device. From there, as a Cardboard user, you'll be able to scan this code using the Google Cardboard app, and the VR experience will be optimized to your viewer.
Manufacturers can also now apply for a Works With Cardboard certification badge (pictured). When you see this badge, you'll know that the viewer works well with Cardboard apps and games.
Speaking of apps, Google also has some improvements on that front. The company has expanded its Google Play collection of Cardboard apps with new categories like Music and Video, Games, and Experiences.
"Whether you're blasting asteroids, or reliving the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special, there's plenty to explore on Google Play," Nartker wrote.
The company has also issued some handy resources for VR app developers, including new design guidelines and updated Cardboard SDKs for Android and Unity. The design guidelines focus on overall usability as well as common VR pitfalls while the new SDKs bring improved head tracking and drift correction.
Finally, Google announced it has expanded the Cardboard team to help boost the VR experience. The company has acquired the Thrive Audio team from the School of Engineering in Trinity College Dublin and Tilt Brush, which makes a VR painting app. Nartker said Google plans to leverage Thrive's "ambisonic surround sound technology," to start bringing more immersive audio to VR.