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

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

Qualcomm sets launch window for its next-gen XR chip

Qualcomm has revealed its plans to launch its next-generation chip for XR (Extended Reality) devices in Q1 2024.

The revelation came from Qualcomm's GM & VP of XR, Hugo Swart, during an interview with Korean news outlet ETNews.

Qualcomm’s next-generation XR chip is expected to power upcoming mixed-reality devices, including Samsung's first mixed-reality headset.

This announcement follows Samsung's recent revelation during the Galaxy S23 smartphone launch...

1 November 2023 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Oculus founder says the Apple headset ‘is so good’

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey has offered nothing but praise for Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset.

In a tweet, Luckey simply said: “The Apple headset is so good”

https://twitter.com/PalmerLuckey/status/1657828947877560323

Luckey did not expand further on what makes the Apple headset so good but said there’s high confidence within the company for its launch.

The comment is a stark contrast with earlier reports that a number of Apple employees...

15 May 2023 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Apple’s mixed-reality headset will use magnetic batteries

Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset will feature a unique magnetic port for attaching a battery pack.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the external battery pack will have a proprietary connector on one end that attaches to the headset itself. The magnetic connector will be round-tipped and will lock into the port by the user turning it.

Each battery pack will offer just two hours of battery life. The magnetic connection will enable users to quickly and securely...

24 April 2023 | Applications

Apple open-source code references ‘realityOS’

A reference to realityOS has been spotted in Apple’s open-source code.

RealityOS is the operating system that Apple is widely expected to use on its upcoming mixed-reality headset. However, it may end up being named xrOS (a reference to “extended reality”) when it reaches consumers’ faces.

This week, Apple posted various bits of code on GitHub with numerous references to realityOS:

https://twitter.com/aaronp613/status/1636096450097721344

Apple’s...

16 March 2023 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Apple’s AR/VR headset plan causes internal divisions

Internal divisions are reportedly arising at Apple over its much-anticipated AR/VR headset.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams are said to be pushing to launch the headset as soon as possible, even if its design isn’t optimal.

Designers at Apple are said to have disagreed with their leadership and want to wait until it's feasible to launch a product that is lighter and less expensive. Current price estimates for the headset are between $2,000 and...

13 March 2023 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Apple’s AR glasses may not debut until 2026

A leading analyst has claimed that Apple’s first augmented reality (AR) glasses may have slipped two years to 2026.

“We now expect the AR Glass to be postponed to 2025-2026, due to design issues,” wrote Haitong International Tech Research’s Jeff Pu in an email to MarketWatch.

Just five months ago, Pu said that Apple’s AR glasses could be announced in 2024.

Back in 2013, Google Glass showed the world an exciting vision for a ubiquitous future of...

8 November 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Meta looks set to release four VR headsets by 2024

Meta looks set to release four VR headsets over the next couple of years as it continues to push its vision for the metaverse.

According to a roadmap obtained by The Information, Meta will release a variety of headsets spanning various price points.

The long-rumoured ‘Project Cambria’ high-end VR and mixed reality headset is expected to release around September this year. Cambria was originally set to release last year but was delayed due to the pandemic and supply...

3 May 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Analyst claims Apple’s mixed reality headset is delayed

The much-anticipated mixed reality headset from Apple is to be delayed, according to a leading analyst.

Apple is rarely first to any new technology but will bide its time, watch the early mistakes of rivals, and then launch a product that’s often a lot more polished. Many are, rightly or wrongly, of the opinion that most new technologies aren’t truly ready for mainstream adoption until Apple throws its $2.7 trillion weight behind it.

While AR/VR headsets like those...

13 April 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables