Bringing virtual reality to consumers remains a big problem. In the case of Mozilla, the company has an interesting vision in this regard. The new Firefox Reality VR browser is now accessible for Oculus Go and Google Daydream owners. This is a major development which will bring online VR content to the masses in a convenient manner.
Mozilla Makes Good on its Promise
It was a matter of time until a major company released a dedicated web browser for VR headsets. Google has hinted at doing something like, yet it seems Mozilla is beating them to the punch. More specifically, the new standalone browser is tailored specifically to virtual reality, although it can also display traditional web content without any problems. Having the best of both worlds is always a positive step in the right direction.
The Firefox Reality browser for Oculus Go and Google Daydream is a big step forward. The browser is also available for other mobile VR headsets, which is a sign of what the future may hold. Mozilla’s Sean White confirms both VR and AR need to be about experiences, rather than confusing applications. So far, it seems this new browser will check the right boxes, at east in these early stages.
For the time being, the browser app will need to be downloaded like any browser. However, users will need to visit their respective app store to go do. This means Google Play for Daydream, Viveport for HTC Vive Focus, and Oculus Store for Oculus Go users accordingly. The application is free to use and provides a VR-optimized web experience by focusing on usability and performance.
Under the hood, the Firefox Reality browser supports voice searchers, rather than using a virtual keyboard. This will be powered by Google’s native technology, albeit eventually replaced by Mozilla’s own Deep Speech technology. Further versions of the browser will see more functionality being introduced. If successful, this browser will also support both AR and mixed reality in future iterations.
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