The Google Store has added a virtual reality category and is now selling various Cardboard viewers. In the past, the Google Cardboard site only listed links to several companies selling compatible headset.
It turns out anything can be made into a Cardboard-like virtual reality viewer. Following Coca-Cola’s experiment to convert a 12-pack case of Cokes into a viewer is a similar attempt from McDonald’s. For a limited time, stores in Sweden will be selling Happy Meal boxes that can turn into a VR viewer for smartphones.
Alcatel’s upcoming Idol 4 and 4S were fully leaked by their own support site last week. Today, their full lineup of phones and tablets coming in various ranges have been revealed in a VentureBeat report ahead of MWC.
In a blog post, Clay Bavor, the recently anointed VP of Google’s new virtual reality division, announced that there are now over five million units of Cardboard and over 1000 Cardboard apps in Google Play. The numbers come as recent reports show Google getting into VR in a serious way, including possibly building their own headset.
Update: To be out of stock they appear.
Update 2: The Cardboard viewers are back in the store. I was able to get one as of 12PM PST.
As we come to the weekend before Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives, the movie tie-ins are hitting even harder. The Google Store is giving away free Star Wars-themed Cardboard viewers to anybody who wants one…