This phone’s packaging doubles as a Google Cardboard VR viewer

T

Most companies encourage you to recycle the packaging their products ship in, but Alcatel has figured out a way to let its smartphone box be reused as something even cooler: a virtual reality viewer. According to VentureBeat, which reports seeing leaked information about Alcatel’s upcoming OneTouch Idol 4S smartphone, the 4S will ship in a plastic box that doubles as a Google Cardboard-compatible VR viewer. All that really means is that there are two eyepieces on the inside, a slot to hold the phone, and a single button to tap the screen — like all Cardboard models, it’s not very high-tech — but it’s a novel twist on phone packaging and a clever way to let people get started watching VR content.

The Idol 4S itself isn’t quite as special. It’s a mid-range Android phone with a Snapdragon 652 processor and a 5.5-inch screen, selling for under $400, according to VentureBeat. Still, the inclusion of a VR viewer is a neat way to set this phone apart, especially as 360-degree videos begin to be supported in more and more places. They’re now available on YouTube and Facebook, while GoogleThe New York Times, and a host of filmmakers are creating shorts for VR, too. VentureBeat says to expect the phone’s release in May.

This post first appeared on The Verge.

About the author

By Reblog

RAMONE is a composition of non-fiction short stories and introspections by Reggie Tan.

reggie tan

Howdy. I first started blogging on RAMONE.ca in 2009, with a dedicated focus on men's lifestyle and stories of inebriation. Shortly after, I was listed as a top Canadian blogger, and over the next decade, I've collaborated with hundreds of notable brands.

Then I grew up. As of late, I've graduated to writing about life experiences, well-researched opinions, and hopefully a few things you might find useful.

This is my memory vault.

reggie tan

About me-Power user of technology. Style guy. Avid gamer. Obsessed with the Cybertruck. Lyrical poet. I like my beats bottom heavy. Madaline is ∞. Only God can judge me. INTP. Birthed in the East Coast of Canada by a pair of cool Filipino parents. Cautiously ADHD. I prefer my whisky neat with a tumbler of room-temp water. Otherwise, a pint of your best draught will do.

I'm a member of the anti-social club. Happily retired from Facebook or Instagram. My verified Twitter account was recently hacked. I do use LinkedIn for business.

For Marketing Consultation: richthinking.ca
For Portfolio: rtan.ca
For HuffPost: huffpost.ca/reggie-ramone
For Legal Tech: zanneslaw.com

Get in Touch

[contact-form-7 id=”6238″ title=”Contact form 1″]

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2020 by RAMONE.CA. All Rights Reserved.