Meta teases major UI overhaul for Quest

Meta is planning a major overhaul of the user interface for its Quest mixed reality headsets, according to the company's CTO Andrew "Boz" Bosworth.

In a recent Instagram AMA, Bosworth teased several new UI features aimed at improving personalisation and multitasking on the Quest platform.

One of the key upgrades Bosworth highlighted is the ability to pin windows to your physical position or anchor them in real-world space. This would allow users to walk around their...

14 March 2024 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

IFOW: Automation impacts workers’ quality of life

A recent study conducted by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) sheds light on the profound impact of automation technologies on the quality of life of workers.

The study, conducted as part of the Pissarides Review, delved into the effects of exposure to new workplace technologies on the wellbeing of nearly 5,000 UK workers. For the first time, the research utilised the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L, a widely-accepted measure of health-related quality of life and...

13 March 2024 | AI

Meta and LG to forge ‘AI-XR alliance’

Executives from Meta and LG are set to convene in South Korea on Wednesday to discuss a groundbreaking "AI-XR alliance," as revealed by industry insiders. The meeting aims to solidify plans for collaborative ventures, notably the development of the Meta Quest Pro 2, a next-generation premium productivity XR headset.

According to insights from the Korea Economic Daily, Meta intends to leverage LG's expertise in crafting the Meta Quest Pro 2, positioning it as a rival to Apple's...

27 February 2024 | Applications

Samsung creates ‘Immersive Team’ for XR headset development

Samsung has created an internal "Immersive Team" dedicated to developing the company's first extended reality (XR) headset, according to a report from Korean outlet Hankyung.

The team, which operates under Samsung's Mobile Experience (MX) division, recently grew from a small group to over 100 people as Samsung aims to accelerate development and launch the headset this year.

The hurried pace comes in response to the launch of Apple's Vision Pro headset last month, which...

15 February 2024 | Applications

Nokia boosts IoT capabilities for the industrial edge

Nokia has announced the addition of five new third-party IoT applications for its MX Industrial Edge platform, enhancing industrial IoT capabilities in areas like asset tracking, positioning, indoor navigation, and worker safety. 

The new applications leverage the low latency, resilient connectivity, and embedded intelligence of the MX Industrial Edge to enable more efficient industrial operations. By deploying these applications at the edge of the network near industrial assets...

9 February 2024 | Applications

Nokia drives IoT transformation of European logistics

Nokia has announced the expansion of its Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) private wireless (PW) solution into several European countries, aiming to drive the IoT transformation of the logistics industry.

DAC PW Compact aims to provide reliable, secure connectivity for devices, machines, and sensors within micro fulfilment centres, warehouses, and other small-medium business sites. 

With the rise of e-commerce and on-demand delivery, logistics operators face mounting...

6 February 2024 | Connectivity

Apple’s Vision Pro will launch with over 600 apps built for it

Apple has revealed its upcoming Vision Pro headset will launch today with over 600 apps and games designed to utilise its capabilities. 

Vision Pro features an "infinite canvas" allowing apps to scale beyond the boundaries of a traditional display. It also introduces a 3D user interface navigated with the eyes, hands, and voice.

Spatial experiences can transform any room into a personal theatre, unlock new collaboration methods, and transport users to gaming...

2 February 2024 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Storyblok: ‘App absence’ to hamper Vision Pro’s appeal

The launch of Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset could be hampered by the lack of apps from major platforms.

CMS specialist Storyblok has released a survey of 500 consumers revealing that 81 percent are worried about the absence of key apps impacting the device's promised "transformative content experiences." Over half said they were "very concerned."

Netflix is the latest provider to confirm that it won’t be launching a Vision Pro app alongside Google not...

30 January 2024 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

NTT DOCOMO uses AI to generate metaverse NPCs

NTT DOCOMO has developed a new generative AI system that can automatically create non-player characters (NPCs) for metaverse environments using just text descriptions. 

The technology is believed to be the first of its kind that can generate fully-formed NPCs including appearances, behaviours, and roles in around 20 minutes without needing programming expertise.

DOCOMO's system integrates three different generative AI models: one for behaviour logic, one for animations,...

17 January 2024 | AI

Huawei forecasts growth in digital energy and smart car solutions

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is targeting growth in 2024 for its newer business areas including digital energy and smart vehicle solutions, according to rotating chairman Hu Houkun. 

In an end-of-year memo, Hu said the company expects to surpass 700 billion yuan ($103 billion) in sales for 2023. While its core ICT infrastructure business "will remain robust," greater momentum is building behind the firm’s digital energy and smart vehicle solutions.

"The...

3 January 2024 | Applications