YouTube 360-Degree Video Activated, Ripe With VR Potential

Today Google activated 360-degree video on YouTube. This system works with a number of 360-degree or otherwise bubble-lens camera video media available to consumers now, and will be coming your way via SlashGear imminently. We've got a couple on hand, that is to say, and we'll be presenting large amounts of video from events, hands-on experiences, and much more in the near future. For now you're going to want to check out some of the most basic media uploaded to YouTube by a variety of artists.

While you can view these videos with your desktop or laptop computer in a web browser, the best place to take a peek is in your YouTube app on your smartphone or tablet. Much like the awesomeness of 360-vision with Google Maps Street View, we've now got video to bring us fabulous places in virtual reality as well.

Have a peek at our Google Cardboard: Amazing places to go with Google Maps Street View feature from earlier today.

Now this feature gets motion.

Above you'll see a still video. This is a GOOD WAY to do your first 360-degree video. Motion, quick splits between video segments, and lots of blasting colors are great ways to make your audience sick.

The second video (above) is inside a hot air balloon. You'll notice the quality isn't super great. This is the quality of basically every 360-degree camera out on the market today – but they're getting better.

Google has a guide for content creators users that want to be technical about uploading video – for now you'll need to inject some code into your video files before they're uploaded.

Google suggests that an automatic process may be viable in the near future, but for now you'll have to either enable videos with an app for Mac or Windows OR use a script.

If you're watching a video on YouTube on your desktop or laptop computer, you can pan with your mouse by clicking and dragging. You can also use the pan button in the upper left-hand corner of the video, or use your WASD keys on your keyboard.

Stay tuned as SlashGear brings you 360-degree coverage of events and devices in the near future!