Photos: Up close with the new Star Wars Google Cardboard, and its AR and VR features

2. Light side or dark side?

The Cardboard units are available for free at Verizon stores, and are compatible with most recent smartphones. You can find R2D2, BB-8, a stormtrooper, and Kylo Ren.

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepublic

3. Star Wars app

The VR experience, Jakku Spy, is a part of the new Star Wars app, which was released on December 2 and also offers animated GIFs, emoji, augmented reality, selfies, a force trainer game, and other features.

4. BB-8 has a message

BB-8 delivers a message from the Resistance to you, a spy on the planet Jakku.

Image: Lucasfilm

5. A new message

A new VR clip, or message from the Resistance, is available every few days through the release of The Force Awakens on December 18.

Image: Lucasfilm

6. Collectable images

The app gives users a collectable image after receiving the message. This one shows the Millennium Falcon.

Image: Lucasfilm

7. Bringing Star Wars into your world

The Star Wars app also has an augmented reality feature. By scanning a movie poster, the viewer can see either BB-8, a stormtrooper, or a flametrooper on her device. The characters even have some animation. It's a bit gimmicky, but still neat.

Image: Jason Hiner/TechRepublic

8. More Star Wars AR

The app also lets users download pictures of the AR characters.

Image: Erin Carson/TechRepubilc