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VLC media player adds support for 360-degree videos

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CIOL VLC media player adds support for 360-degree videos

So after Facebook, YouTube, Google, and Gionee, VideoLAN — the makers of VLC has decided to join the bandwagon to promote VR.

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VLC media player that allows users to play video format on any platform has now added support for 360-degree videos for both Windows and MacOS.

Though the company will officially release the version 3.0 on 30th November, the company has launched a technical preview of the feature that allows its desktop app to play the newest format in videos. VideoLan partnered 360-degree camera maker Giroptic to develop newest functionalities, which include playback of 360-degree video and photos, as well as panoramic photos. It also supports the spherical display mode, which is another step toward full VR capability.

The new features can be controlled using the mouse and keyboard, and the software is open source.

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Currently, the product is under development phase, but VLC version 3.0 will soon be rolled out for Android, iOS and Xbox One as well. “Mobile versions will use the phone sensors to navigate inside the videos,” notes on the technical preview website said.

You can literally play everything. “VLC will probably support VR headsets like Vive, Daydream, Oculus or OSVR, in 2017. VLC will also get 3D audio playback, including head tracking headphones. We’ll keep you posted,” VideoLAN said.

The company also announced that it will get 360-degree audio support with a head tracking headphones for the Android version of VLC, which is expected to be publicly available in 2017.

If you want to test the feature, the preview is available here. However, be careful as technical previews are often buggy.

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