YouTube on Thursday announced two new features for its android app that expands the video site to support virtual reality videos, according to Reuters.

The new YouTube app supports virtual reality video or commonly known as VR Video. According to the company, this format gives viewers more realistic 360-degree perspectives of films. Users can enjoy virtual reality video on the application by clicking VR mode and then visit Google Cardboard on their phones. Google reported that viewers can watch any video using Google Cardboard and experience what it is like being in a virtual movie theater by selecting the 'Cardboard' option from the watch page menu.

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The new features are aimed at promoting YouTube's latest subscription service called YouTube Red which was launched last week. The service gives content creators a way to earn money from their music and videos. The service also provides secondary revenue for creators in addition to what they already earn through ads.

According to Ej Ensight, makers of virtual reality contents can upload VR videos that are compatible with the Cardboard viewer directly to YouTube.

YouTube reported that there are dozens of VR videos out there, including one stemming from the 'Hunger Games' trailer and shoemaker TOMS Virtual Giving Trip. Using this new app, viewers of the TOMS video on YouTube experience a virtual reality journey to Peru to see the work its Giving Partners do and spend time with some of the children who receive the shoes.

The company announced that viewers can also see a vast library of videos with a limited virtual reality experience. The videos will reportedly resemble what a viewer would see on an IMAX theater screen.

The new YouTube app with the updated Cardboard technology is available for Android devices, but the company said that it will be also release a version for iOS user soon. The updated app is already available on Google's Play Store.

TagsYouTube, YouTube App, google cardboard