en announced Cardboard at its I/O conference, it seemed like a one-time party trick: You pair an Android phone with ’s cheap viewer to experience virtual reality—an accessible first taste for anyone who hasn’t been able to get their heads into prototypes like the Oculus Rift.

But has some serious ambitions for Cardboard, creating an SDK for third-party apps  promoting different versions of its build-it-yourself viewer. 

The newest Cardboard tool puts a virtual reality experience right inside of the Maps Android app. en you enter Street View, you’ll see a “look around” button on the lower-right area of the screen. Double-tap it the screen splits, with both sides tightly focused on what’s in front of you. Then move the phone to “look around” as though you were sting there. Anyone can try it out, although it’s a more immersive experience with a Cardboard viewer.

y this matters: Virtual reality is looking better all the time, with Facebook’s Oculus prototype Samsung VR showing off some impressive concepts. clearly wants to keep a h in: The company is exping the Cardboard team, promising more fun features in the future.