Uploaded May 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
In last week's Google I/O conference, the company announced what the future will look like for the Daydream VR platform. And it looks fantastic. So fantastic that I believe Google will become the market leader in VR!
The last week has been full of exciting news for the Daydream VR platform! Of course the reason for this is the Google I/O conference that took place last week! Google took us all by surprise and showed us the future of Daydream and I couldn't be more excited!
Let's start with the biggest news first! Google introduced a new class of Daydream devices which are called Daydream Standalone Headsets and that include everything the user needs to delve into Daydream VR - no additional phone or PC needed!
Now what's most exciting about these Standalone Headsets is that that come with full positional tracking without the need to set up external sensors like you have to do with the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive. Instead, the headset comes with additional built in sensors that will track the headsets position in space, something that is called "inside-out" in the VR industry. Google calls this technology Worldsense and without a doubt Worldsense will make the Daydream experience much more immersive. The lack of positional tracking had been the big disadvantage of mobile VR as compared to tethered devices like the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or the Sony PSVR.
With the new Standalone Devices, Google also follows the platform approach in which it allows third party manufacturers to build the actual headsets and in term only provides the hardware requirements and the underlying software eco-system. Google has worked together with Qualcomm to design a Standalone headset reference model that 3rd party hardware manufacturers can use as a blue print to design their own devices.
In the same presentation Google has announced some very good news for owners of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8plus! The devices will both get an upgrade and will finally be Daydream ready! This is fantastic news for the Daydream platform as well because with just this little update there will be millions of potential new users for Daydream! Also this means that the coming Galaxy phones like the Galaxy Note 8 will also support Daydream. Good times ahead...
Next to Samsung, LG will also join the Daydream party with their upcoming flagship phone. Google did not go into detail which phone that might be, but I am speculating it will be one of the V series of devices.
That was the Daydream related news of Day 1 of the conference, but there was still Day 2! On the second day we learned more about software related news!
Here the big news is that Daydream will get a big overhaul and this Daydream 2.0 update is called Euphrates.
Euphrates is going to run on both phone vr as well as the Standalone headsets and will be powered by Android O.
With Daydream Euphrates, all of the System UI will be accessible in VR. So you won't need to go out of VR to check out a notification or to switch to another app that was running in the background. Of course this update was needed for the standalone devices anyways, but this is a welcome addition for phone VR as well.
The UI also will get an update with more curated content categories that will make it easier for you to find the apps and games that you are interested in.
And with Euphrates, Google Cast support is finally coming to the platform. From within VR you will be able to choose to which device you would like to cast your VR experience to. Finally, the picture shown on the outside screen will not be the VR double picture but a single one which will make it so much easier to follow the action. And of course for me to record all those Daydream videos for you!
On top of that, taking screenshots and short videos of what happens in VR is only a click away.
Now with all these announcements, Google has clearly positioned Daydream as one of the leading VR platforms moving forwards. Millions of devices will be Daydream ready, the standalone headsets will allow for positional tracking and with Seurat apps and games will look as good those VR experiences from systems that are hundreds of dollars more expensive than the Daydream ones.
I am personally very excited about all these developments and believe that Daydream now has what it takes to become even the market leader in the VR industry.
What is your opinion? Do you also believe that these announcements will catapult Google to the very top in VR? Please weigh in in the comment section below!
-------------------
Don't miss any great Daydream content!
Subscribe now: bit.ly/subscribe_to_daydream_district
Twitter: twitter.com/daydreamdist
Facebook: facebook.com/daydreamdist
Web: daydreamdistrict.com
In last week's Google I/O conference, the company announced what the future will look like for the Daydream VR platform. And it looks fantastic. So fantastic that I believe Google will become the market leader in VR!
The last week has been full of exciting news for the Daydream VR platform! Of course the reason for this is the Google I/O conference that took place last week! Google took us all by surprise and showed us the future of Daydream and I couldn't be more excited!
Let's start with the biggest news first! Google introduced a new class of Daydream devices which are called Daydream Standalone Headsets and that include everything the user needs to delve into Daydream VR - no additional phone or PC needed!
Now what's most exciting about these Standalone Headsets is that that come with full positional tracking without the need to set up external sensors like you have to do with the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive. Instead, the headset comes with additional built in sensors that will track the headsets position in space, something that is called "inside-out" in the VR industry. Google calls this technology Worldsense and without a doubt Worldsense will make the Daydream experience much more immersive. The lack of positional tracking had been the big disadvantage of mobile VR as compared to tethered devices like the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or the Sony PSVR.
With the new Standalone Devices, Google also follows the platform approach in which it allows third party manufacturers to build the actual headsets and in term only provides the hardware requirements and the underlying software eco-system. Google has worked together with Qualcomm to design a Standalone headset reference model that 3rd party hardware manufacturers can use as a blue print to design their own devices.
In the same presentation Google has announced some very good news for owners of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8plus! The devices will both get an upgrade and will finally be Daydream ready! This is fantastic news for the Daydream platform as well because with just this little update there will be millions of potential new users for Daydream! Also this means that the coming Galaxy phones like the Galaxy Note 8 will also support Daydream. Good times ahead...
Next to Samsung, LG will also join the Daydream party with their upcoming flagship phone. Google did not go into detail which phone that might be, but I am speculating it will be one of the V series of devices.
That was the Daydream related news of Day 1 of the conference, but there was still Day 2! On the second day we learned more about software related news!
Here the big news is that Daydream will get a big overhaul and this Daydream 2.0 update is called Euphrates.
Euphrates is going to run on both phone vr as well as the Standalone headsets and will be powered by Android O.
With Daydream Euphrates, all of the System UI will be accessible in VR. So you won't need to go out of VR to check out a notification or to switch to another app that was running in the background. Of course this update was needed for the standalone devices anyways, but this is a welcome addition for phone VR as well.
The UI also will get an update with more curated content categories that will make it easier for you to find the apps and games that you are interested in.
And with Euphrates, Google Cast support is finally coming to the platform. From within VR you will be able to choose to which device you would like to cast your VR experience to. Finally, the picture shown on the outside screen will not be the VR double picture but a single one which will make it so much easier to follow the action. And of course for me to record all those Daydream videos for you!
On top of that, taking screenshots and short videos of what happens in VR is only a click away.
Now with all these announcements, Google has clearly positioned Daydream as one of the leading VR platforms moving forwards. Millions of devices will be Daydream ready, the standalone headsets will allow for positional tracking and with Seurat apps and games will look as good those VR experiences from systems that are hundreds of dollars more expensive than the Daydream ones.
I am personally very excited about all these developments and believe that Daydream now has what it takes to become even the market leader in the VR industry.
What is your opinion? Do you also believe that these announcements will catapult Google to the very top in VR? Please weigh in in the comment section below!
-------------------
Don't miss any great Daydream content!
Subscribe now: bit.ly/subscribe_to_daydream_district
Twitter: twitter.com/daydreamdist
Facebook: facebook.com/daydreamdist
Web: daydreamdistrict.com
