Review: Cordova / Ionic VR Plugin – Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard
Introduction
The Cordova / Ionic VR plugin is a powerful tool that allows developers to incorporate 360-degree video and photo playback into their mobile applications. With native performance and support for various features, this plugin is an excellent choice for those looking to create immersive experiences for their users. However, before diving into the details, it’s essential to note that the plugin no longer supports iOS due to the deprecated UIWebView component used in the underlying native library.
Features and Performance
The plugin’s main features include:
- Native performance for streaming 360 content
- Support for Fullscreen mode and Cardboard mode for both videos and photos
- Ability to play both local files and remote resources (online)
- Support for mono or stereo format for both photos and videos
- Compatibility with Android 4.4 or greater and iOS 8.0 or greater (although iOS support has been discontinued)
The plugin’s performance is impressive, with native-level playback of 360-degree content. The Fullscreen mode and Cardboard mode provide an immersive experience, making it perfect for VR applications. The ability to play both local files and remote resources is also a significant advantage, allowing developers to integrate the plugin with various content sources.
Limitations and Drawbacks
While the plugin has many impressive features, there are some limitations and drawbacks to consider:
- Only supports smartphones, not tablets
- No longer supports iOS due to the deprecated UIWebView component
- Limited documentation and support for Cordova 7
Conclusion
The Cordova / Ionic VR plugin is an excellent choice for developers looking to create immersive 360-degree video and photo experiences for their users. With native performance, support for various features, and compatibility with Android, this plugin is a valuable addition to any Cordova-based project. However, the lack of iOS support and limited documentation may be a concern for some developers. Overall, I score this plugin 0 out of 5 stars, due to the discontinued iOS support and limited documentation.
Recommendation
For developers looking to create VR experiences, I recommend exploring alternative plugins that support iOS and have more comprehensive documentation. However, for those working on Android-based projects, the Cordova / Ionic VR plugin is a solid choice.
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Introduction to Cordova/Ionic VR Plugin - Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard
As mobile devices continue to evolve, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have become increasingly popular. Cordova and Ionic, being powerful frameworks for building mobile apps, have also evolved to support VR and AR development. The Cordova/Ionic VR plugin, Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard, is a powerful tool for creating immersive VR experiences using 360-degree photos and videos.
In this tutorial, we will cover the step-by-step process of setting up and using the Cordova/Ionic VR plugin, Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard, to create a 360-degree photo and video player using a Cardboard headset. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a basic understanding of how to use the plugin and create a functional VR application.
Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of Cordova and Ionic
- Cordova and Ionic installed on your system
- A Cardboard headset or a compatible VR device
- A computer with a stable internet connection
Setting up the Cordova/Ionic VR Plugin
- Install the Cordova/Ionic VR plugin by running the following command in your terminal:
cordova plugin add https://github.com/rajanvcordovaplayervr/cordova-plugin-vr-player - Make sure you have the Cordova CLI installed by running:
npm install -g cordova - Create a new Ionic project using the following command:
ionic start myApp -
Change into the project directory and install the required plugins by running:
cd myApp npm installCreating a 360-degree Photo and Video Player
- Create a new HTML file in the
srcdirectory of your Ionic project:ionic generate html myApp/index.html - Add the following code to the
index.htmlfile:<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no, minimal-ui"> <title>VR Photo 360 Video Player</title> <script src="cordova.js"></script> <script src="js/app.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="vr-player-container"> <div id="vr-player"></div> </div> </body> </html> - Create a new JavaScript file in the
srcdirectory of your Ionic project:ionic generate js myApp/app.js -
Add the following code to the
app.jsfile:document.addEventListener('deviceready', function() { var vrPlayer = new VRPlayer({ container: '#vr-player-container', cardBoard: true }); vrPlayer.addMedia({ src: 'path/to/your/360/photo/video.mp4', type: 'video' }); });Note: Replace
path/to/your/360/photo/video.mp4with the actual path to your 360-degree photo or video file.
Building and Running the Application
- Run the following command to build the application:
ionic build - Run the following command to run the application on your device:
ionic run - Once the application is running, open the Cardboard headset or compatible VR device and navigate to the application. You should see a 360-degree photo or video player that allows you to view and interact with the content using your VR device.
Troubleshooting and Optimization
- Make sure to optimize your 360-degree photos and videos for mobile devices by compressing them using tools like Adobe After Effects or Photoshop.
- Use the
VRPlayeroptions to customize the player's behavior, such as setting the animation duration, rotation speed, and more. - Experiment with different VR devices and environments to ensure optimal performance.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have covered the step-by-step process of setting up and using the Cordova/Ionic VR plugin, Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard, to create a 360-degree photo and video player using a Cardboard headset. With this plugin, you can create immersive VR experiences for your users and take advantage of the growing popularity of VR technology.
Here is the complete settings example for Cordova / Ionic VR Plugin - Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard:
cameraFacingMode
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="cameraFacingMode" value="front" />defaultRotateSpeed
In your ts file, add the following code:
const vrPlayer = new VWPhotoWorldPlayer();
vrPlayer.setOptions({
defaultRotateSpeed: 30
});durationBetweenSnapshots
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="durationBetweenSnapshots" value="200" />fastForwardFactor
In your ts file, add the following code:
const vrPlayer = new VWPhotoWorldPlayer();
vrPlayer.setOptions({
fastForwardFactor: 2
});isVideoPlayingOnInit
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="isVideoPlayingOnInit" value="true" />loadVideosSynchronously
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="loadVideosSynchronously" value="false" />preloadVideos
In your ts file, add the following code:
const vrPlayer = new VWPhotoWorldPlayer();
vrPlayer.setOptions({
preloadVideos: true
});saveSnapshots
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="saveSnapshots" value="false" />showThumbnail
In your ts file, add the following code:
const vrPlayer = new VWPhotoWorldPlayer();
vrPlayer.setOptions({
showThumbnail: false
});snapshotDirectory
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="snapshotDirectory" value="/path/to/snapshots" />useFrontFacingCamera
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="useFrontFacingCamera" value="true" />useRearFacingCamera
In your config.xml file, add the following line:
<plugin name="cordova-plugin-vr-photoworld" spec="latest" />
<preference name="useRearFacingCamera" value="true" />Here are the features of the Cordova/ionic VR plugin - Photo 360 Video 360 Player with Cardboard:
- Streams your 360 content with native performances.
- Supports Fullscreen mode and Cardboard mode for both videos and photos.
- Supports playing both local files and remote resources (online).
- Supports mono or stereo format for both photos and videos.
- Supports Android 4.4 or greater and iOS 8.0 or greater.
- Currently supports only smartphones, not tablets.
- Based on Google VR view native library.
These features enable the plugin to play 360 videos or panoramic photos in a Cordova-based app with native performance, making it suitable for use in smartphones with Android 4.4 or greater and iOS 8.0 or greater.
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