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Daily Bafflements

• Continuing its Google Glass-style experiments in making users look silly in public, the tech giant has introduced the attractively low-fi Google Cardboard, a virtual reality “viewer” you can fit over your smartphone. Google says the low price (under $20) will enable untold masses of new customers to buy the device, or build their own out of cardboard, velcro, a magnet, and a rubberband. Luckily, you have the whole weekend to get to work on yours.

• Not to be outdone in innovation, Apple has recently acquired Metaio, an augmented reality company. They’re keeping mum about their plans for the recently shuttered startup, so you’ll have to keep guessing at the difference between apps and devices that augment reality vs. those that re-create it.

• And finally, today in billionaires: Peter Bart, editorial director at Variety, weighs in on the impact of the growing billionaire class on the movie business and its particular brand of big-budget simulated reality.