@Google's @YouTube launches 360-Degree Panoramic Videos - How Google @Android VR makes Content for VR Ambitions

The World of VR (Virtual Realty) has landed on Google.

On Friday March 13^th 2015 Google launched 360 Degree videos support on YouTube as stated in the article “YouTube to add 360-degree videos” published March 12, 2015 by Joan E. Solsman, CNET News and “You Can Now Watch and Upload 360-Degree Videos on YouTube”, published 03.13.15 by CHRISTINA BONNINGTON, Wired. 

Announced on YouTube's Blogspot blog in the article “A new way to see and share your world with 360-degree video”, published Friday March 13th 2015, Youtube Blog the feature give support for videos filmed using the following 360-Degree Panoramic cameras:

1.      Bublcam

2.      Giroptic's 360cam

3.      IC Real Tech's Allie

4.      Kodak's SP360

5.      Ricoh's Theta

Users of YouTube will be able to view these 360-Degree Panoramic Videos on the YouTube Website as well as videos embedded inside of websites by clicking and dragging the pointer around to move within the immersive environment.

Please note though, you can only pan around your point of view or perspective, as the direction of forwards of backward is dictated by the persons who originally filmed the video.

Thus, you cannot, while in the middle of a 360-Degree Panoramic video, decided to change your direction of forwards of backward motion and walk down a street that you may see in the video.

But you can still pan around your point of view or perspective and get great angles shot of your environment.

Check out this list of 360-Degree Video Playlist on YouTube to get an idea of what this developement means for YouTube Content Creators. Here is one as an example.

Be warned though; if your computer doesn’t have at least 4 GB of RAM and a Dual-Core Processor, you’ll find it very hard to pan around. From my testing thus far, these 360-Degree Panoramic video demand a lot of processor power as well as Memory to play.

Also, if you download the video, you’ll get the 360-Degree Panoramic effect, but you can’t pan around unless your video player is compatible, something YouTube will have to address.

360-Degree Panoramic Video viewing is also possible on the YouTube App for Google Android, but instead of a pointer on the screen, you can physically move the phone and accelerometer will translate your motion and change your perspective within the 360-Degree Panoramic video.

So other than cool 360-Degree Panoramic Videos, why is this such a great developement? It's because it's a herald for VR for Google Android by 2016.

Google's YouTube launches 360-Degree Panoramic Video Support - How Google Android plans to create Content for its VR Ambitions

Ok so this is another great feature really for both users, Bloggers and Website owners as well as YouTube Content Creators similar to YouTube’s support for HtLM5 as reported in my Geezam blog article entitled “YouTube switches to HTML5 with Adaptive Bitrate for better Streaming”.

If you're a YouTube Content Creator with a 360-Degree Panoramic, now is the time to start filming 360-Degree Panoramic Videos.

Especially if you're one of those persons who had chipped in on the Giroptic's 360cam Kickstarted as documented in my blog article entitled “Giroptic's 360cam coming in November 2014 - How the 360 Degree Panoramic Video, Audio and Still Images is a Revolutionary Gamechanger”.

This as Google allegedly has plans to launch a version of Google Android that support the developement of VR Headsets as noted in my blog article entitled “@google to develope Google @Android for VR - Why a VR and AR War is looming on the Horizon in 2016”.

MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2015 revealed a lot of companies pushing into the VR and AR (Augmented Reality) field, such as HTC Vive even as Oculus Rift launched a Oculus Mobile VR Jam 2015 as state in my blog article entitled “@Oculus Mobile VR Jam 2015 - How @samsung Gear VR is Gearing up for Competition in the VR and AR Space”.

Google, realizing that there is a coming trend towards VR by 2016, is trying to get YouTubers to create 360-Degree Panoramic Video content. This so that when they eventually debut Google Android VR ('cause that's what I'm calling it!), they'll already be 360-Degree Panoramic Video content for nascent purchasers of VR Headsets to enjoy!

Revenue from Advertising as well as sales of VR Headsets that they might develope might be a part of their long term strategy.

Google has already provided a 360-Degree Panoramic script in Python on GitHub that YouTube Content Developers will have to incorporate into their 360-Degree Panoramic Video in order for it to run seamlessly and without errors as noted in the article “YouTube Now Lets You View And Upload 360-Degree Videos”, published MAR 14, 2015 by Amit Chowdhry, Forbes.

YouTube might however, need to create a competition to encourage YouTube Content Developers to make 360-Degree Panoramic Video. By doing this, YouTube is ensuring that by 2016, VR and AR will not only be interesting, but will become the next must-have gadget since the smartphone or the Tablet.

Here's the Link:

YouTube App for Google Android

360-Degree Video Playlist on YouTube

A new way to see and share your world with 360-degree video

360-Degree Panoramic script in Python on GitHub