YouTube Introduces New Virtual Reality Videos VR180

Virtual reality helps creators bring their audiences to new, amazing, and even impossible-to-visit places. As a viewer, you get a whole new angle on shows sports, and concerts you care about. You can walk around the Eiffel Tower, dive to the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef, or get a new perspective by meeting people face-to-face in a way that isn’t possible with a flat view of the world.

And today, VR video is the most popular way to experience VR. 

VR180 videos focus on what’s in front of you, are high resolution, and look great on desktop and on mobile. They transition seamlessly to a VR experience when viewed with Cardboard, Daydream, and PSVR, which allow you to view the images stereoscopically in 3-D, where near things look near, and far things appear far. VR180 also supports livestreaming videos so creators and fans can be together in real time.

For creators, you’ll be able to set up and film your videos the way you normally would with any other camera. And, soon, you’ll be able to edit using familiar tools like Adobe Premiere Pro.But supporting the format is just the beginning.But we want to make cameras that are easy to work with too. The Youtube is working with several manufacturers to build cameras from the ground up for VR180. These cameras are not only great for creators looking to easily make VR content, but also anyone who wants to capture life’s highlights in VR. They will be as easy to use as point-and-shoot cameras, for around the same price. Videos and livestreams will be easy to upload to YouTube. Cameras from YI, Lenovo, and LG are on the way, and the first ones will hit shelves this winter.

Perhaps more importantly, VR180 could make it a lot easier for creators to craft high quality VR experiences.

• The limited field of view means greater pixel density. If you’re playing a video at 4K quality, for instance, all those pixels are concentrated in front of you, instead of wasted behind you.
• For the same reason, VR180 videos should take up less space/bandwidth at a given level of sharpness.
• You’ll waste a lot less time dragging your mouse around when viewing video on a desktop
• Again, depending on resolution choices, devices could require less processing power for smooth playback.
• Manufacturers can pack bigger, high quality sensors without worrying about making the camera too small and trying to hide it’s body from the video.
• You don’t have to worry as much or at all about parallax and stitching problems.
• Google appears to be emphasizing 3D for VR180 cameras, which most affordable 360-degree cameras lack. I’d argue 3D is more important for immersion than a 360-degree field of view.
• VR180 cameras could be cheaper for the same quality level.