Facebook is planning to spend $10 billion this year on Facebook Reality Labs, which is primarily focusing on AR and VR content such as software and hardware products.
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Apple is known to be working on a mixed reality headset. The…
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We've been hearing about the advantages of 5G's high speed wireless data connections for years now, but if you have a 5G capable phone, you probably rarely see significant speed boosts and you may not even know why you would want higher bandwidth. Now AT&T has some new use-case scenarios that will give you a better idea of what 5G will be useful for in the future.
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Facebook will let you manage the ads you see. Hence, it is including controls to hide specific ads or hide ads from an advertiser completely.
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It is also tipped that the Apple AR headset will be “significantly lighter” than many VR devices on the market.
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Apple is reportedly working on a Mixed Reality headset that could come with some impressive hardware and capabilities such as 15 camera modules, advanced eye-tracking technology, and micro-LED displays with an eye-popping 8K resolution. TF International Securities Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted that despite the aforementioned hardware, the Apple headset could weigh under 200 grams. Now, another research note by Kuo that was accessed by Macrumors and 9to5Mac mentions that the upcoming Mixed Reality headset by Apple could tip the scale at less than 150 grams.
For comparison, the iPhone 12 weighs 164 grams. However, if you compare it against another well-known Mixed Reality headset that is already in the market, the featherweight nature of Apple’s upcoming device becomes apparent. Take for example the Microsoft HoloLens 2 Mixed Reality headset, which tips the scales at 566 grams. Moving over to the world of virtual reality headsets, the Oculus Quest 2 weighs 503 grams.
Apple is reportedly going with lenses made of plastic, instead of glass, to shed weight
To shed weight, Apple is reportedly going with hybrid ultra-short focal length Fresnel lenses that are not only thinner and lighter, but also offer a wider field of view. Additionally, the lenses will be made of plastic, instead of glass, to further cut down on the bulk. And to achieve the light transmission coefficient of glass, Apple will apply a layer of customized material on the lenses.
Apple is reportedly sourcing these lenses from Young Optics and Genius Electronic Optical. However, a majority of lenses will be provided by long-time supplier Largan. Each headset is said to employ as many as six Fresnel lenses, with three lenses stacked on top of each other for each eye. Apple’s Mixed Reality headset will reportedly be priced somewhere around $1,000, much lower than the competition. The company also has AR glasses in the pipeline that will likely debut in 2025, as per Kuo.
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Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset has been doing the rounds for a while now. The device was earlier tipped to pack over a dozen camera modules backed by advanced eye-tracking technology. Now, we have the exact number. The upcoming Apple mixed reality headset could feature a total of 15 optical camera modules. More features of the device have been tipped in the latest report.
According to MacRumors, which cites analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, eight of the 15 camera modules will be used for see-through augmented reality experiences. Further, six of them will be used for “innovative biometrics,” and one camera module will be used for environmental detection. It is said that Largan will supply majority of the 15 camera lenses.
As per the report, the upcoming Apple mixed reality headset is touted to be “portable” but not “mobile” like an iPhone. It will come with independent computing power and storage. The current prototypes weigh in at 200 to 300 grams. However, the final product could weigh less than 200 grams if Apple is “able to solve technical problems.”
Moreover, it is tipped that the Apple mixed reality headset will be “significantly lighter” than many VR devices on the market. It is said to provide an “immersive experience that is significantly better than existing VR products.” The device will feature high-end micro-OLED displays, and it could cost around $1,000, which is surprising since previous reports have tipped that the headset would cost around $3,000.
The rumored Apple mixed reality headset is said to come equipped with 8K displays. Previous reports have said that the device will offer advanced eye-tracking technology. If it comes with an 8K panel, it would have the most pixel-dense screen on a commercially available consumer device that falls under the wearable segment.
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Over the past couple of years, we’ve come across multiple reports and rumors about Apple’s Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) headsets as well as glasses. However, it appears that the company is also at work on a rather ambitious Mixed Reality (MR) headset that comes with an impressive hardware portfolio and might go against Microsoft’s $3,500 HoloLens 2.
Over a dozen cameras backed by advanced eye-tracking technology
As per an exhaustive report by The Information, Apple is working on a Mixed Reality headset that will come equipped with over a dozen cameras for head and hand-movement tracking, as well as capturing the real world in its view. In comparison, the Microsoft HoloLens features a total of seven cameras – four visible light-sensing cameras, a pair of infrared (IR) cameras, and a 1-megapixel ToF depth sensor.
Another impressive aspect of Apple’s rumored Mixed Reality headset is that it might come equipped with 8K displays. Microsoft’s offering, on the other hand, is fitted with a 2K panel. The report cites a source ‘with direct knowledge of the device’ and adds that the headset will offer advanced eye-tracking technology.
Apple's mixed reality headset could offer the highest resolution display out there
Now, an 8K panel would be the most pixel-dense screen on a commercially available consumer device that falls under the wearable segment. However, Apple reportedly has a solution at its disposal to ensure that driving such a high-resolution display doesn’t end up hogging all the system resources.
“Apple has for years worked on technology that uses eye tracking to fully render only parts of the display where the user is looking. That would let the headset show lower-quality graphics in the user’s peripheral vision and reduce the device’s computing needs,” adds the report.
Apple's MR headset won't come cheap and might be priced around $3,000
Coming to the pricing part, Apple has reportedly discussed offering its Mixed Reality headset for around $3,000, which is $500 lower than what Microsoft asks for its own headset. Coming to the design aspect, a rough sketch based on a prototype created by The Information shows a curved display surrounded by a mesh fabric and a swappable headband that appears to take some inspiration from the design of Apple Watch straps.
As for the target audience, Apple reportedly aims for its Mixed Reality headset to help boost productivity via remote collaboration, assist in learning new skills via interactive methods, and aid with design visualization via 3D tools among others. Needless to say, all of it sounds like a device geared towards enterprise customers, just like the Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset.
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Facebook has today announced that it is bringing Messenger to its Oculus line of VR headsets. For now, it appears that the Facebook-owned messaging service will only be accessible on the Quest and its Quest 2 successor, and not the older offerings such as Quest Go, Rift, and Rift S.
The older Oculus Go, Rift, and Rift S VR headsets have been left out
And just in case you’re wondering, you can rely on voice-to-text or bank on some pre-written conversation templates, if the idea of typing a message using the controllers sounds horrifying. Also, the person you are chatting with – while the Quest headset is mounted on your brian box – doesn’t need to wear a VR headset. Just saying!
The arrival of Messenger on the Oculus VR platform is more of a minor convenience than a necessity. It will come in handy if you want to send a quick invite to your friend to join you in a VR game. Or, you just seek to respond to a few Messenger texts in a jiffy without having to take your VR headset off. But that’s from a user’s perspective.
From Facebook’s viewpoint, the more services it can integrate and interlink, the merrier. Remember the grand Instagram-Facebook-WhatsApp interoperability plans? Well, the Oculus VR platform now appears to be a part of it as well.
Signing in and out of Messenger on the VR headset will be easy if you share it with others
However, Facebook assures that chatting with friends over Messenger via a compatible Quest VR headset won’t impact the existing Oculus privacy settings. Plus, Facebook is leaving the Oculus Chats service untouched, so you can still make use of your Oculus username for communicating with your friends in the VR world.
Furthermore, if you share with your Oculus Quest or Quest 2 with a family member and worry about your privacy, you can easily sign out of Messenger on the headset. Just don’t forget it though, because the next time you want to engage in a VR-fueled Messenger conversation, you’ll have to re-enter it if you previously signed out of the instant messaging service.
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There have been rumors in the past that Apple is working on its own AR/VR headset. In 2020, Apple acquired the VR startup Spaces as well as NextVR. Hence, it is pretty much confirmed that Apple is indeed working on VR devices. Now, the rumor is doing rounds again, thanks to a report from Bloomberg, which says that the device could launch as soon as 2022. It is said to be a standalone device that operates through batteries, much like the Oculus Quest 2.
The Bloomberg report cites people who know about the development. The Apple VR device will “display an all-encompassing 3-D digital environment for gaming, watching video and communicating.” That said, AR functionality and the ability to overlay images and information over a view of the real world is tipped to be limited. The Apple device will go up against Facebook’s Oculus, Sony’s PlayStation VR, and headsets from HTC.
Much more expensive than its competition
The report goes on to say that the upcoming Apple VR headset has hit several development hurdles, and the company has “conservative” sales expectations. “The plans suggest that Apple’s first headset will be far more expensive than those from rivals, which cost about $300 to $900,” says the report. It goes on to estimate that Apple could sell just over 180,000 units of the device from their retail store. And, that would be on par with other pricey Apple products, including the $5,999 Mac Pro.
More powerful processors than the latest M1 for MacBooks
As for the specifications, Apple is said to be planning on putting a much higher resolution display in the headset than those in current VR offerings. Plus, it aims to include advanced chips more powerful than the latest M1 processors. The Apple VR headset could also have a fan. The presence of fan and powerful processors is said to have resulted in a large and heavy device initially. Hence, the company has reportedly brought the headset closer to the face.
Apple AR Glasses are also in development but they aren't launching anytime soon
On the other hand, Apple AR Glasses (codenamed N421) are also in early development stage. However, they are “several years away.” Current prototypes of the device are tipped to resemble high-priced sunglasses with thick frames that house the battery and chips.
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Apple has been overly optimistic about the future of augmented reality (AR) and its promising applications, but the company is yet to reveal much about its AR hardware plans. However, we’ve long been hearing rumors of an Apple AR glass project and even a headset that could debut within the next few years. Now, a new report by Digitimes claims that Apple is now entering “the second phase of its AR glasses prototype development.”
Don't get your hopes high for a 2021 debut
Right now, details are slim about Apple’s upcoming wearable AR hardware and the features it will bring to the table. However, entering the second phase of prototype development is a sign that Apple’s AR glasses are not too far away, provided things go according to plan and the company doesn’t pull the plugs on its AR glasses project. However, some reports suggest that Apple could make an announcement in 2021, while the market release would happen in 2022.
“Following the second phase, the report claims that the glasses will go through a third phase of development a few months later. Upon completion of the prototype design, the wearable device is expected to go through a 6-9 month period for engineering verification,” reports Macrumors which accessed the full Digitimes story.
I can’t believe I’m going against Kuo on this one… but I believe he’s wrong.
— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) May 15, 2020
Apple Glasses are aimed for March-June 2021.
Also.
I’ve seen them.
They’re sleek as hell.
Will be showing you soonhttps://t.co/0GaOYDA5N8
Tipster Jon Prosser has claimed in the past that the Apple Glasses will debut in the first half of 2021. But given the prototype testing progress and the need for an even longer engineering verification stage that could last up to 9 months, that seems to be implausible. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, on the other hand, has predicted that the Apple Glasses will arrive next year.
The person wearing Apple’s AR glasses would reportedly be able to control them via Siri. Additionally, information such as messages and maps will appear as an overlay before the user’s eyes. Older reports suggest that Apple Glasses will rely on gaze tracking to offer a video AR experience. And to tackle the issue of privacy, Apple will reportedly project an iPad or iPhone’s screen on the display of its upcoming wearable device. Or at least that’s what patents filed by Apple appear to suggest.
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A new research note from well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shares some light about what we may get from Apple in 2021. And we’re not just talking about the iPhone 13, new iPads or Macs, but new products altogether, as it seems that the long-awaited AirTags may finally be ready to launch in 2021, as well as a new AR device.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple could have everything ready to launch its new AirTags in 2021. These new devices are expected to work as Tile’s Bluetooth tracker devices, and they would help us find our keys, wallets, backpacks, and more. These trackers would also notify users on their Apple devices when one of their items goes out of range. Now, these new Apple AirTags are also expected to be managed through a future Items tag in the Find My app, which will also help you find your items in case you have misplaced your stuff.
Apple seems to be also working on a new augmented reality device. The rumors mention a new AR headset or glasses, but Mr. Kuo didn’t expand on the subject. However, he did mention Apple’s plans to release new AirPods, which could arrive in two different sizes. He also believes that we will get new Apple Silicon Macs and the first iPads with mini-LED displays.
Rumors of a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini-LED displays have been coming for quite a while now, and some even believed that Apple could’ve even managed to launch them late in 2020. Still, the ongoing pandemic has seriously affected the company’s possible launch dates.
Whatever the case, we are also expecting a new 14-inch MacBook Pro and a 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh, both of which would arrive with mini-LED displays in 2021. Ming-Chi Kuo also believes that we may see a new MacBook Air with Apple Silicon and a mini-LED display in 2022, with other products like a 24-inch iMac and a smaller Mac Pro-like desktop in a not so distant future.
Source MacRumors
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OPPO held its INNO Day 2020 event themed “Leap into the Future” in Shenzhen today. It announced a new concept phone, the OPPO X 2021 rollable, OPPO AR Glass 2021, and OPPO CybeReal AR application. The company announced a new ‘3+N+X’ strategy where “3” refers to three underlying technologies, namely hardware, software, and services technologies. The ‘N’ represents a number of OPPO’s essential capabilities, including AI, security and privacy, multimedia, and interconnectivity. Lastly, “X”, refers to the leading-edge and differentiated technologies and strategic resources such as the flash charge technology.
The OPPO X 2021 rollable concept handset features a flexible display and structural stacking, bringing users more natural interactive experience. It comes with OPPO’s three proprietary technologies, including the Roll Motor powertrain, 2-in-1 Plate, and self-developed Warp Track high-strength screen laminate. The handset sports a 6.7-inch display that can be transformed into a 7.4-inch display.
On the other hand, Oppo AR Glasses 2021 adopt a new split design, which makes it compact and light-weight. For reference, it is nearly 75% lighter than its predecessor. The device is built with the Birdbath optical solution, enhancing the immersive experience. It features diverse sensors, including a stereo fisheye camera, one ToF sensor, and one RGB camera. They can not only support a number of natural interactions, including interactions via smartphone, gesture-based interactions, and spatial localization, but also complete the three-dimensional spatial localization calculation within milliseconds.
Plus, there’s CybeReal AR application that is powered by real-time, spatial calculation technology enables high-precision localization and scene recognition, and is supported by OPPO’s three core technologies. These include reconstructing the world to the centimeters, real-time high-precision localization, and OPPO Cloud,
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