Google, GoPro Team Up On Virtual Realty; Apple Makes Augmented Reality Acquisition

Google Inc GOOG GOOGL and GoPro Inc GPRO have teamed up to launch Virtual Reality videos on YouTube.

The new VR platform is called Jump and utilizes GoPro’s Array super-camera which captures 360 degree video using 16 individual cameras.

“Since enabling the world’s most engaging content places GoPro at the epicenter of promising new innovations like VR – and we’re already the de facto standard when it comes to immersive content capture – it only made sense that Google would tap our expertise for their new VR technology platform called Jump,” according to GoPro.

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As Re/code’s Mark Bergen wrote, Google’s rendering technology assembles the images from the Array and makes them viewable on YouTube.

“By keeping the price closer to $20 than the hundreds of dollars that Facebook, Sony and HTC will charge for their devices, Google is aiming for a large, mainstream audience,” Bergen wrote.

Beginning in July, a selection of YouTube’s top video creators will gain the first access to the camera.

Apple, Metaio?

In a separate report on Thursday evening, Apple Inc. AAPL has been rumored to acquire the German augmented-reality company Metaio.

According to TechCrunch, a legal document reveals Apple bought the company on May 21 and 22. The outlet said "a source" said Metaio clients are “flipping out” after a product unavailability message appeared on the company's website.

Apple shares are nearly flat on the day, as is Google's stock. GoPro, meanwhile, rose 6.6 percent on Thursday.

Posted In: NewsRumorsTechMark Bergenre/codeYouTube
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