Google Pixel
Virtual Reality Headsets
Google's second foray into the smart phone market after the Nexus line of phones is the Pixel. The phones are available in 5" and 5.5" models, come with 32GB or 128GB of built-in storage and the latest version of Android, and are available on all three of Canada's major carriers. You may say the same things are available on the Apple iPhone. What sets the Pixel apart from other major smart phones is what extra features that are available out of the box.
Virtual reality is starting to make headway in the consumer space. Virtual reality headsets are available in either mobile or tethered models. Mobile virtual reality headsets rely on a user's cell phone to provide the VR experience. All the processing, graphics and audio is handled by the phone. Audio is provided by plugging standard headphones into the headphone jack of the phone. Motion tracking is handled by the phone’s sensors. Google’s DayDream and Samsung’s Gear VR line of virtual reality headsets are front runners in the mobile space.
The Pixel comes with the best camera on the market. The 12.3-megapixel lens can shoot video in 4K resolution and take pictures in near zero light. What good is a stellar camera if there's no room to store all those pictures and videos. You may think that 128GB or even 32GB of onboard storage may be enough. But all that storage can be eaten up quickly, especially when shooting in 4K resolution. To help you manage all this, Google is offering every Pixel owner unlimited storage of photos and video taken with the phone on their Google Drive online storage.
With tethered VR headsets, the headset is used to project the image and provide the audio. All the processing, motion tracking and graphics horsepower is handled by an external device. In the tethered space, the two big players are Oculus with their Rift headset, which requires a compatible PC for the heavy lifting, and the Sony PlayStation VR, which is specific for the PlayStation 4 gaming console.
The Google Pixel is also VR-ready for Google's DayDream virtual reality headset. Simply slide the phone into the back of the headset, put it on, and enjoy mobile virtual reality.
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