Google is bringing its Google Cardboard and virtual reality to the rest of the world.
The company has announced on Monday, Oct. 12, that its Cardboard VR app is now obtainable in 100 countries and 39 languages for both Android and iOS devices.
Additionally, in a bid to help more developers build virtual reality experiences, the Cardboard developer documentations are made available in 10 languages.
"With more than 15 million installs of Cardboard apps from Google Play, we're excited to bring VR to even more people around the world," the Mountain View company says in a blog post.
For those who are inclined into DIY things, they can create their very own Cardboard viewer from scratch, with open designs readily available for download.
Meanwhile, for those who have no time to make their own viewer, they may opt to select a certified viewer currently on sale, such as the Zeiss VR One GX and Mattel View-Master.
Google likewise indicates in the blog the new Cardboard software development kit (SDK) is now equipped with an improved drift control, as it did "a major overhaul of the sensor fusion algorithms," integrating the signals from the accelerometer as well as gyroscope. This will lead to a diminished drift, particularly on smartphones that house lower quality sensors.
What's more, the SDK is now compatible with the Unity programming language, permitting the application to work in tandem with Android's multi-threaded rendering system as well as Metal rendering on iOS.
It is interesting to note that users, specifically those who are geographically inclined, can now explore Google Street View in Cardboard with the use of the dedicated Street View app for Android and iOS.
"With Cardboard available in more places, we're hoping to bring the world just a little bit closer to everyone," writes Google. "Happy exploring!"
Street View in virtual reality is specifically beneficial for users who wish to get a glimpse of various places anywhere in the world that has been captured through the Street View.
This feature will also be helpful for users who wish to conduct a "test run" of going from a place to another.
This is the first time users will use a VR through the Street view app.
