Google's Virtual Reality Department: From Seventh-Grade Science Project to Real Deal Moneymaker

It's Wednesday, January 13th, and I'm Caleb Denison for Digital Trends. Much like the Apple TV was just a fun project until it became a real deal moneymaker, Google Cardboard has gone from being a seventh-grade science project to a full-blown virtual reality department complete with a newly named boss.

Google's VR ambitions are big, and YouTube is providing the content that will help make their vision a reality. 360-degree videos are the perfect medium for showcasing the capabilities of cardboard, which has been touted as a fun and innovative way to experience virtual reality. However, one of cardboard's weaknesses was its inability to sound nearly as cool as it looks.

That's about to change now with the announcement that Google is adding a spatial audio feature to Cardboard. This feature will supply sound that's as immersive as the video itself. The idea is that the sound you get from your headphones will pinpoint sounds in 360 degrees space, matching up with what you see and changing positions as you move through space. When coupled with audio companies like Sennheiser making the microphones and software that can capture 360-degree audio and process it for VR, things are starting to sound cooler all the time.

Amazon Prime: A Killer Deal for Gamers

But before we dive into the latest news from Google, let's talk about Amazon Prime. This service is already a killer deal, offering free two-day shipping, music streaming, and access to a massive library of movies and TV shows. You don't really need another reason to join, but Amazon is giving you one anyway: 20% off new video games. The discount will apply to orders during the pre-order period and continue for two weeks after the titles release.

If you have any games on pre-order now, Amazon will retroactively apply the discount, believe it or not. There are even more perks to Amazon Prime that we'll explore in a killer article listing them all out, so hit the link below to find out more.

Apple CarPlay: A Guiding Point for New Car Buyers

Finally, if you're interested in Apple's CarPlay enough to make it a guiding point in your new car buying decision, Apple has got you covered. There are now over 100 models that offer CarPlay, and Apple has created a web page to help you find the perfect car for you.

The best in-car infotainment system out there, according to this writer's opinion, is definitely Apple CarPlay. You can now see all of these models on one page, making it easy to find your dream car. Thanks Apple!

That's it for Digital Trends Daily today. We'll see you again tomorrow!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit's Wednesday January thirteenth i'm caleb denison for digital trans and much like the Apple TV was just a fun project until it became a real deal moneymaker Google cardboard has gone from seventh-grade science project to a full-blown virtual reality department complete with a newly named boss Google's VR ambitions are big with YouTube 360-degree videos providing the content and cardboard the means to enjoy it but one of cardboards weaknesses it doesn't sound nearly as cool as it looks that's about to change now with the announcement that Google is adding a spatial audio feature to cardboard which will supply sound that's as immersive as the video itself the idea is that the sound you get from your headphones will pinpoint sounds in 360 degrees space matching up with what you see and changing positions as you move through space that coupled with audio companies like Sennheiser making the microphones and software that can capture 360-degree audio and process it vr is starting to sound cooler all the time sorry had to go there amazon prime is already a killer deal between the free two-day shipping music service and massive streaming movie and TV catalog that comes with it so you don't really need another reason to join but amazon is giving one to you anyway a 20-percent discount on new video games the discount will apply to orders during the pre-order period and continue for two weeks after the titles release if you have any games on pre-order now Amazon will retro actively apply the discount believe it or not there are even more perks to amazon prime and we've got a killer article listing them all out so hit the link below to find out more finally if you're interested in Apple's car play enough to make it a guiding point in your new car buying decision Apple has a web page to help you out there are now more than 100 models that offer apples in car experience which can I just say is the best in-car infotainment system out there in my opinion and you can now see all of them on one page thanks Apple we've got the link for that just below as well as always more on these and all the day's hottest tech stories along with the best reviews on the web are at Digital Trends com that's it for dt daily today we'll see you again tomorrowit's Wednesday January thirteenth i'm caleb denison for digital trans and much like the Apple TV was just a fun project until it became a real deal moneymaker Google cardboard has gone from seventh-grade science project to a full-blown virtual reality department complete with a newly named boss Google's VR ambitions are big with YouTube 360-degree videos providing the content and cardboard the means to enjoy it but one of cardboards weaknesses it doesn't sound nearly as cool as it looks that's about to change now with the announcement that Google is adding a spatial audio feature to cardboard which will supply sound that's as immersive as the video itself the idea is that the sound you get from your headphones will pinpoint sounds in 360 degrees space matching up with what you see and changing positions as you move through space that coupled with audio companies like Sennheiser making the microphones and software that can capture 360-degree audio and process it vr is starting to sound cooler all the time sorry had to go there amazon prime is already a killer deal between the free two-day shipping music service and massive streaming movie and TV catalog that comes with it so you don't really need another reason to join but amazon is giving one to you anyway a 20-percent discount on new video games the discount will apply to orders during the pre-order period and continue for two weeks after the titles release if you have any games on pre-order now Amazon will retro actively apply the discount believe it or not there are even more perks to amazon prime and we've got a killer article listing them all out so hit the link below to find out more finally if you're interested in Apple's car play enough to make it a guiding point in your new car buying decision Apple has a web page to help you out there are now more than 100 models that offer apples in car experience which can I just say is the best in-car infotainment system out there in my opinion and you can now see all of them on one page thanks Apple we've got the link for that just below as well as always more on these and all the day's hottest tech stories along with the best reviews on the web are at Digital Trends com that's it for dt daily today we'll see you again tomorrow\n"