PSA - Google Cardboard VR headsets for £2.30 inc postage !

Emp_Fab

Deal here:  http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/google-cardboard-3d-vr-headset-2-30-dealextreme-2011258

Turns your Android phone into a VR headset !

More info here:  http://moviepilot.com/posts/2014/09/26/google-cardboard-what-this-budget-vr-headset-means-for-indie-developers-2299359?lt_source=external,manual

Axe_meister

cOOL.

Emp_Fab

I'm surprised.  Only one comment ?  Does nobody have any interest in Virtual Reality for less than four quid ?

guitarfishbay

I'm not excited about Virtual Reality yet.  I just can't see me using it.  What would you suggest would get someone like me excited about it besides the price?

strumjoughlamps

I ordered one from Tiny Deal a couple of weeks back £2.03 delivered, not arrived yet but looks interesting.

lustycourtier

guitarfishbay said:

I'm not excited about Virtual Reality yet. 

Yet? 25 years ago, evry arcade had VR machines. Or am I missing something? Is this new VR?

guitarfishbay

lustycourtier said:

guitarfishbay said:

I'm not excited about Virtual Reality yet. 

Yet? 25 years ago, evry arcade had VR machines. Or am I missing something? Is this new VR?

I was assuming this would incorporate augmented reality, at least that is what I was thinking about when I posted.  

VR like in the arcades is just 3D glasses/monitors right?

frankus

They're fucking amazing at google aren't they - selling you a royal mail parcel box priced £1.30 and posting it flattened as a large letter

who could do that for £2.30

the early prototypes were sent out ready made in boxes but like toddlers at christmas, hipsters were playing with the box rather than the contents...

dafuzz

guitarfishbay said:

lustycourtier said:

guitarfishbay said:

I'm not excited about Virtual Reality yet. 

Yet? 25 years ago, evry arcade had VR machines. Or am I missing something? Is this new VR?

I was assuming this would incorporate augmented reality, at least that is what I was thinking about when I posted.  

VR like in the arcades is just 3D glasses/monitors right?

I'm assuming AR is out because you need two cameras (like the 3DS), so this would basically just be VR like in the arcades. Some pre-rendered 3D stuff that you can 'explore' based on the accelerometers in the phone that pick up on how you turn your head.

Don't see any need to spend even £2-odd on this - just download the free app and sellotape your phone screen to the end of two toilet rolls

carlos

frankus said:

They're fucking amazing at google aren't they - selling you a royal mail parcel box priced £1.30 and posting it flattened as a large letter

Amazing, so R&D costs are nothing then? And the parcel also includes 2 magnets and 2 lenses plus assembly of the whole thing which is more complex than a box.

I have had one for a while as I work at Google. Are they worth £2.30? Yes, absolutely. The Street View and Google Earth experience on it is INCREDIBLE. Still a long way to go in terms of getting good apps for the thing. There's already a demo of a tour of Versailles in there going into each room w/ voiceover explaining. It's totally immersive with a good set of headphones. If they did it for lots of tourist destinations it'd be an incredible experience.

frankus

you'd hope the R&D costs for a set of lenses was minimal - the focal length is straighforward and you'll want plastic for lightness.

as for magnets - you'll be wanting the kind that attract ferric metals

I wouldn't be amazed to find out the whole R&D was some poor sods HR interview

Axe_meister

You'd want to overlay an image from the front facing camera so you can walk around and see where you are going

wave100

I'm led to believe you can use them in some games eg elite dangerous for a more immersive experience. Seems to require some fettling software wise, but where's the fun if it was easy? There's a commercial vr headset called the oculus rift which will probably be outrageously expensive when it's released so if you can do it for £2.30, I might give it a go!

Emp_Fab

Hell, it's worth £2.30 just for the 3D porn !

carlos

frankus said:

you'd hope the R&D costs for a set of lenses was minimal - the focal length is straighforward and you'll want plastic for lightness.

as for magnets - you'll be wanting the kind that attract ferric metals

I wouldn't be amazed to find out the whole R&D was some poor sods HR interview

It only works with its own app which produces a mirror of the screen on both sides w/ the bifocal offset. So no VR porn for now I'm afraid!

Emp_Fab

Not so.  All you need is a stereoscopic video of erm.... whatever you want, and just play it.  It's out there.  It must be.

Hootsmon

I'd have them but I'm allergic tae shite 

Emp_Fab

Noo... ye'r allergic tae the 21st century man !

Emp_Fab

Oh Fuckity arse biscuits....   After ordering two of the buggers, I've just discovered that my phone doesn't work with it.  My Moto G lacks a gyro apparently, so it can't track head movements.

I've only just started the 24mth contract too.

Feck.