Google I/O 2017

While common sense would suggest that the visual presentation of lower-powered mobile VR headsets will always lag behind that of powerful PC-based VR, Google has a new tool that it says can deliver desktop-level graphics – and beyond – on mobile VR headsets.

​​When Google launched its Daydream View headset, the company said that many smartphone makers would create phones that support Daydream mobile VR. While that list has grown slower than we anticipated, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be joining the fold in the coming months.

Moving past smartphone-based VR, Google will soon be partnering with hardware makers to launch standalone VR headsets that have no reliance on PC, console or smartphone. One of the first devices will be an HTC-made, Vive-branded headset.

Google announced that hands-free calling is coming to Google Home, along with more entertainment options and the ability to send "visual responses" to connected devices.

​The first new product of Google I/O 2017 is Google Lens, which combines image recognition, machine learning and Google’s vast preexisting platform to help you understand your surroundings. With Google Lens, you can point your phone at an object to automatically access more information about it.