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Google Chrome now lets you browse the web in virtual reality .
The functionality exists for any website you visit through the browser, but only if you’re using your mobile phone.
The new feature has been expected for some time, though it’s likely to split opinion.
Show all 11 1 /1111 hidden Google Chrome features you didn't know existed 11 hidden Google Chrome features you didn't know existed Easter Eggs There are a lot of Easter Eggs hidden in Chrome, and more and more are discovered each year. One of our favourites is the dinosaur game. The next time you fail to connect to the internet on Chrome, tap the spacebar. It’s also worth Googling “barrel roll”, “zerg rush”, “super mario bros” (and clicking the question mark graphic), “festivus”, “recursion”, “askew” and “atari breakout” (and then clicking Images).
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11 hidden Google Chrome features you didn't know existed Extra info To see cookies and permissions for every site you visit, click the View Site Information symbol on the left-hand edge of the omnibar. It will also let you quickly control things like Popup and Location settings.
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11 hidden Google Chrome features you didn't know existed Calculator When you’re online and need to do a quick sum, you don’t have to hunt down your computer calculator or whip out your phone. Just type it into the Chrome omnibar and hit Enter.
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Some webpages will undoubtedly lend themselves to the VR experience better than others.
The VR version of a page that’s heavy on text, for instance, will be neither exciting or especially easy to scan quickly.
A webpage with a 360-degree video or game, on the other hand, could be much more compelling.
A lot of people still aren't entirely comfortable with strapping a large headset to their face either, and using a VR headset for too long has been known to cause sickness .
You have to be on Chrome 61 to access the feature, but even then you also need to have one of Google’s Daydream View headsets .
“So far this allows users to view and interact with any website in VR, follow links between pages, and move between 2D and immersive viewing for sites that support WebVR,” said Chromium evangelist François Beaufort.
“Users can give this a try today by navigating to any site in Chrome and then simply putting the phone into their Daydream View headset.
“This is just the beginning for web browsing in VR so stay tuned, there’s more to come!”
Google is also set to introduce a tool that lets you permanently mute websites that automatically play videos with sound in the near future.
You can, however, try it out in Chrome Canary, an experimental and unstable version of the browser, right now.
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