Google’s first virtual reality venture began with Cardboard, a do-it-yourself VR headset that was powered by its Nexus 5 smartphone. Since then, Google’s Cardboard has become the LG VR for G3, and now, the View-Master from Mattel. The brightly-colored plastic VR headset is aimed toward kids, and comes at an incredibly reasonable price.
The old View-Masters used picture-filled disks that you flipped through using a pull down level, showing everything from Niagara Falls to photo stories based on the latest movies at the time. Now Google and Mattel are bringing that quaint, old-timey toy into the 21st century with the new View-Master VR, which is powered by the same technology as Cardboard. The new View-Master comes with a variety of cool field trips for kids, so they can go to the pyramids, visit the Eiffel tower, or gasp at the space shuttle, and much more. Google’s 360-degree photospheres give kids a real glimpse into what it’s like to be in the rain forest or in the middle of an old Mayan temple.
Just like the original version of Cardboard, an Android smartphone powers the whole experience, and many of the familiar Cardboard VR scenes are available. However, those cool, round disk photo reels are still a part of the experience. Each reel is a different photo experience that you can see by placing it on the table and looking at it through your View-Master, augmented reality-style. These so-called experience disks will be sold separately, though one will be included when you buy the View-Master.
The new View-Master will arrive in the fall of 2015 for $30, and each pack of four reels will cost $15. It’s unclear which Android phones will be compatible with the View-Master. You can sign up for updates on the View-Master website.
The OnePlus Buds Clip are a new pair of open-ear earbuds built around a simple convenience. They join Sony’s LinkBuds Clip in the growing ear-cuff category, but either OnePlus bud can go on either ear.
Sensors recognize how the earbuds are being worn and route the audio channels accordingly. There’s no label to check before putting them on, and the feature also works when only one bud is used.
We buy fitness bands and activity trackers to keep tabs on our exercise, but it is easy to forget to start tracking or switch modes when moving between different activities. For Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, that could soon become a lot less annoying, as Google is rolling out a major upgrade to automatic activity tracking that can recognize more than 100 types of exercise, up from just 10 before.
Google first showed off the improved tracking earlier this month alongside the Fitbit Edge. It is now coming to Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5, and Google claims the added context behind the system makes workout detection nearly twice as accurate while cutting missed activities by more than half. Fitbit Edge will support it too.