What’s changed? From a does-this-advance-the-state-of-virtual-reality perspective, not a whole heck of a lot. It’s still just a chunk of cardboard with no fancy cameras, positional trackers, or even a headstrap to keep it on.
What it does have now is a bigger, thicker cardboard frame that’s far more durable, and holds phones up to six inches in size — with way larger lenses to compensate for the bigger screen. Oh, and it’s got a button made of cardboard too. No need for finnicky magnets or a metal washer.
How the heck does a cardboard button work? It’s pretty cool: You’re actually pressing down on a cardboard flap that’s linked to a conductive pad, which makes contact with your phone’s touchscreen when you press it down. The conductive material stretches all the way to your fingertip, so you’re basically completing the circuit the same way you would if you actually touched the screen.
You can put the new Cardboard away and protect its lenses when it’s not in use. The sides that cover your face can fold away to protect one side of the lenses, and the cardboard slip cover takes care of the other.
Oh, and there’s a QR code on the bottom of this unit, too, so that virtual reality experiences built with the Cardboard SDK can automatically adjust for the new optics.
• Fits phone up to 6" screen size. Works with iPhones and Android devices.
• 3-Step Assembly. Assembled in less than 10 seconds. Just slide, flip, secure and enjoy.
• Securely packed in a protective sleeve. Easily fold to original state and slide in the protective sleeve when not in use.
• Asymmetrical biconvex lenses. 37mm in Diameter with 50mm Focal Length.
• New input method. Conductive Foam Button replaces the magnet switch of version 1. Works on both iOS and Android devices.
Version 1 and Version 2 Comparison:
Here are some thoughts:
