Google's new VR headset won't need a smartphone or PC

Google’s new stand-alone VR headset won’t need a smartphone or PC

By Caleb Denison February 12, 2016

It looks like AT&T has changed its mind about pressing forward with 5G wireless service. Naturally, 5G sounds better than 4G, and, yes, the idea is it would be faster than existing wireless networks. But just last September AT&T wasn’t into talking about 5G, claiming that more work needed to be done to define what it is. Meanwhile, Verizon has been testing 5G out at its headquarters, with plans to deploy in a few U.S. cities sometime this year for further testing.

Now, apparently, AT&T is all about the 5G. The company filed a now-redacted FCC application to test the tech in Austin, TX – because Austin gets all the cool stuff like Google Fiber – so why not try 5G out there? In fact, that competition with Google is probably no accident. Google, if you recall, wants to deploy drones that could fly for 5 years straight and provide 5G cell service via millimeter wave technology. Is T-Mobile far behind, then?

Ultimately, this does mean a change is coming, but it’s probably going to be a few years out yet. Don’t count on 5G in your neighborhood until late 2017 at best, and more likely sometime in 2018.

A week ago, we reported that Google was looking to replace cardboard with a more formal VR headset, likely made of high-grade plastic and not … well, cardboard.

But, according to the Wall Street Journal, Google’s new VR system may be even more advanced than any of us had thought. The Journal says that Google may issue a stand-alone VR device that doesn’t use a smartphone like Samsung’s Gear VR, or need to be tethered to a hot-rod PC, like Occulus Rift. A fully self-contained VR device like that would need built-in motion sensors and would probably have built-in cameras as well.

But, it’s doubtful that it would be much cheaper than slapping a smart phone into a headset. At least you wouldn’t have to tie up your phone while playing around in VR land, though. At any rate, this is a story worth keeping an eye on (HAH!). It’s likely Google will come through with this device faster than we might expect.

Hey, you like Phil Collins? We were gonna make you a mix-tape, but now we don’t have to because Phil Collins is coming out of retirement and going on tour. We interviewed the iconic drummer, singer, and former Genesis front-man, and you don’t want to miss it, so go read that story, and also be sure to check out our review of the new DeadPool movie.

Ryan Reynolds and his trademark snark is a really great match for the foul-mouthed character, making it a movie our own Rick Marshall says is definitely worth catching in the theater.

That’s it for us this weekend, be sure to check in with us for some hot Valentine’s Day gift ideas and activity suggestions. Enjoy the holiday, don’t eat too much chocolate, but for Pete’s sake definitely eat some chocolate, and we’ll see you right back here on Monday.