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

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

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

Qualcomm unveils Samsung’s XR headset chipset 

Qualcomm has unveiled the powerful Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset that is destined for Samsung's upcoming extended reality (XR) headset.

“Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 unlocks 4.3K resolution which will take XR productivity and entertainment to the next level by bringing spectacularly clear visuals to use cases such as room-scale screens, life-size overlays and virtual desktops,” said Hugo Swart, VP and GM of XR at Qualcomm.

“We are advancing our commitment to power the...

5 January 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

Microsoft hasn’t forgotten about HoloLens

As the mixed-reality arena heats up following Apple’s reveal of the Vision Pro, Microsoft is keen to show it hasn’t forgotten about HoloLens.

In recent months, there have been mixed reports about Microsoft's mixed reality business. Initially, there were concerns when Congress halted a $22 million Pentagon contract for custom HoloLens headsets, which was followed by layoffs and the closure of the AltspaceVR social platform.

However, Microsoft recently reaffirmed its...

16 June 2023 | Enterprise

Mark Gurman: Don’t expect a cheaper Vision Pro for several years

Apple's new Vision Pro mixed-reality headset has garnered positive attention, but its steep price has raised concerns about its potential sales.

Revealed at WWDC 2023, the Vision Pro marks Apple's entry into a new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015. Priced at $3,500, the headset is more than three times the cost of Meta's Quest Pro, which retails for $999.

While Meta offers a more affordable option with the Quest 3 headset priced at $499, Apple is reportedly...

12 June 2023 | Applications

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