Android N: Expanded Virtual Reality (VR) Support

Android N Will Have Expanded Support for Virtual Reality

Sam Byford | April 17, 2016

Android developers will be able to tap into new virtual reality capabilities in the next major version of Android, codenamed N. As noted by Ars Technica, the second Android N Developer Preview contains references to "VR Listener" and "VR Helper" apps, as well as a permissions warning informing users that a given app "will be able to run when you are using applications in virtual reality mode."
Details of this VR mode aren't yet clear, but a February report in The Wall Street Journal said that Google was tweaking Android to work better with VR devices ahead of launching its own smartphone-compatible headset, which would follow the Cardboard initiative and may be announced at the company's annual I/O conference next month.

Source: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-n-vr-mode-687242/

<more at http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/17/11448652/android-n-vr-mode-support-apps; related articles and links: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/04/android-n-takes-baby-steps-toward-becoming-a-virtual-reality-platform/ (Android N takes baby steps toward becoming a virtual reality platform. Android N gets a "VR helper service" and a "sustained performance mode." April 15, 2016) and http://www.androidauthority.com/android-n-vr-mode-687242/ (Android N shows hints of native VR Mode. April 16, 2016)>