Qualcomm has revealed its first mixed reality platform with 5G, the Snapdragon XR2 Platform, aiming to bring ubiquitous connectivity to augmented reality and virtual reality headsets and smart glasses. Debuting in reference design form today, Qualcomm's headset still isn't going to be mistaken for a sleek set of sunglasses, but the features might well make it worth it.
On November 7, 2019, Microsoft announced that HoloLens 2 was "now shipping to customers." The confusing bit here was the less-than-perfect clarity in the message and the differences between the various different sorts of "customers" about which Microsoft was speaking. The first sentence in the Microsoft news post was a bit broad, saying "Now shipping to customers, HoloLens 2 uses AI to facilitate one of the most basic human impulses: exchanging knowledge."
HoloLens 2 is now shipping, with Microsoft's second-generation augmented reality headset headed out to businesses and early-adopters after having been unveiled earlier in the year. The new headset builds on its predecessor by being lighter and more powerful, as well as adding features like hand-tracking that's capable of following each individual finger.
Oculus and Vive may be competing head to head in the VR space but, outside of those two, not much else is happening with other companies. Google has not mentioned Daydream even once at I/O last month and OEMs that have made the first batch of Windows Mixed Reality headsets have mostly fallen silent as well. Despite that, Samsung isn't yet calling it quits and suggests multiple AR and VR products are coming this year, whether you like it or not.
Computer makers, platform developers, and even Facebook have all been gushing over XR, that new term that embraces virtual, augmented, and mixed reality but many if not all of them have mostly the high-end market in mind. Considering the prohibitive cost of components, few have made their technologies and hardware easily within reach of consumers. At MWC earlier this year, Chinese startup nreal promised a ready to wear and affordable mixed reality headset and it's now making good on that promise with the nreal light.
Microsoft has revealed a new HoloLens 2 Development Edition, offering coders a swifter way to get into mixed reality app and experience creation. The package is based around HoloLens 2, the second-generation of augmented reality headset which Microsoft announced back at Mobile World Congress earlier in the year.
China-based Nreal wants to make a permanent place in everyday life for its ready-to-wear, mixed reality glasses (MR). Recent tweaks in the design and development of the AR smartglasses were revealed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
It may not have a foldable smartphone to reveal, but Microsoft will nonetheless be at MWC 2019 with some new technology to show off. The company today teased its announcement, and though the teaser it published was vague, it seems to have something to do with HoloLens. Does that mean we'll see the rumored HoloLens 2 announced in Barcelona later this month?
The HP Copper (code-name) VR headset was revealed in part this week as a topmost best-in-class device. Other companies either have their own ecosystem (Oculus or HTC Vive with Steam VR), or are part of Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform - and are relatively bland in industrial design. HP seems to want to break out of that mold, while continuing to utilized Microsoft's program in the process.
Samsung is starting the work week by announcing something of a refresh for its HMD Odyssey headset. Early on, the original HMD Odyssey took its place as one of the higher-end Windows 10 Mixed Reality headsets, and this new model - dubbed simply the HMD Odyssey+ - builds on that. A lot of things are staying the same, but there are a few improvements worth talking about.
After years of promises, hype, and even controversies, Magic Leap finally delivered at least the developer version of its much-touted mixed reality headset. But while that indeed proved that the product exists and works, it has yet to prove how much it can grow and sell. And that will require putting the Magic Leap One Creator Edition into the hands of more people, which is exactly the good news that the company announced at its first-ever “Learn, Engage. Accelerate. Program.” (L.E.A.P.) developer conference.
Acer has a new Windows Mixed Reality Headset, the Acer OJO 500, for IFA 2018, and since AR and VR are more fun in a group, it's focused on simpler sharing. The first headset to support Microsoft's Mixed Reality platform that has a detachable design, it also promises to be more flexible when it comes to users with different eyesight.