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Google Cardboard Shipments Top 5M

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Google's Cardboard VR headset has topped 5 million shipments, but the company's new virtual reality chief is not stopping there.

In a Wednesday blog post, Clay Bavor said that since its debut at Google I/O 2014, Cardboard has been shipped to 5 million people, who have installed more than 25 million apps from Google Play. Google-owned YouTube has also added VR-supported videos, while Google's Cardboard Camera app has captured more than 750,000 VR images, "letting you relive your favorite moments anytime, from anywhere," Bavor said.

"With just Cardboard and the smartphone in your pocket, you can travel to faraway places and visit imagined worlds," Bavor wrote "Everyone from droid lovers and Sunday edition subscribers, to big kids and grandmas have been able to enjoy VR—often for the very first time.

In an interview with Time magazine, Bavor was coy when asked about Google's VR ambitions. Cardboard is "not the end of the line," he said. "We're working on a lot of...things."

Two recent Google job postings, for a Hardware Engineering Technical Lead Manager and a PCB Layout Engineer, initially included "virtual reality" in their descriptions. But the phrase was later replaced with "consumer hardware."

Until Google reveals its version of the Gear VR or Oculus Rift, consumers - and students - will have to make do with Cardboard. 

Google doesn't sell Cardboard directly, but you can purchase a headset from a number of third-party developers.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
  • Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

My Areas of Expertise

  • Science & Space
  • Video Streaming Services
  • Social Media
  • Cars & Auto
  • Education

The Tech I Use

  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • MacBook Air (hooked up to a 23-inch Dell monitor)
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Drive
  • Soundcore Life P3 earbuds
  • Various Amazon Echo devices

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