Google appoints former Samsung VR specialist

Google Daydream

Google has hired former Samsung virtual reality specialist Matt Apfel to work on its new Daydream VR platform.

The hire, which was reported first by Variety, follows Apfel’s departure from Samsung in March, where he worked as vice president, content and strategy focusing on its Milk VR service.

At Samsung Apfel helped to develop and distribute content experiences across the firm’s VR headsets, TVs, mobile devices, and wearable technologies, prior to which he worked as Chief Digital Officer at CORE Media Group.

He joins Google as the company prepares to launch its Daydream mobile VR platform this autumn. Daydream will encompass smartphones, a reference design for a headset and controller, and apps and was unveiled at the Google I/O developers conference in May.