Turn Smartphone Into VR Camera With Google’s New App

Google on Thursday introduced Cardboard Camera app for Android that will turn your smartphone into a virtual reality (VR) camera. Users can look around to explore the image in all directions and even record sound with the photo to hear the moment as it happened.

Just as is done to take a panoramic photo, a user needs to hold the phone and move it around in a circle. Later, when the phone is placed inside a Google Cardboard viewer, users will get to experience something new: a VR photo.

“Cardboard Camera takes VR photos—moments in time you can relive in virtual reality. Hear the sounds as they happened, and look around to see the scene in every direction. VR photos are 3D, so near things look near and far things look far. Whether its a vacation getaway or a family get-together, VR photos bring you back to that moment”, the product description page on Google Play reads.

However, PCMag pointed out one major setback – the inability to share photos with another person. One cannot just take the VR photo and email it to a friend, instead the phone has to be handed over to the friend, who would be able to see the photograph after shoving the phone into Google Cardboard setup.

The app has 33 MB size and is compatible with Android version 4.4 or later. Users just need to download the app and can start capturing immediately, without having to sign-up or create an account. It is available in 17 languages.