Mattel refreshed the View-Master for virtual reality last year with a version based on Google Cardboard, and this weekend it showed off an updated design at the New York Toy Fair.
For instance, in order to accommodate smaller phones like the iPhone 5, a plastic adaptor was included that was easy to misplace. So for the View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer 2.0, Mattel has improved the design of the smartphone mount inside to accommodate a wider range of device sizes.
The design of the original View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer also restricted access to a smartphone’s headphone jack, meaning you had to rely on speakers that were blocked and muffled by the housing. So the 2.0 model includes a headphone jack adaptor that accommodates phones with the jack on the top or bottom.
The current iteration retails for $30 (though it generally goes for much cheaper on Amazon).
New York Toy Fair just got the first look! View-Master® Viewer DLX is launching this Fall with 🔑features! #VR #AR pic.twitter.com/MSoOqScgpr
— View-Master (@ViewMaster) February 14, 2016
And the viewer’s latch has been completely redesigned, since the original had the tendency to pop open at the worst time which increased the risk of a smartphone falling out to its demise. No virtual reality experience is worth that.
Agencies/Canadajournal