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

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

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

GlobalData: The metaverse faces an uphill challenge

The metaverse – a virtual realm promising shared experiences and real-time interactions within simulated scenarios – is encountering obstacles on its path to widespread adoption, according to a report by GlobalData.

GlobalData’s latest study, titled “Metaverse – Thematic Intelligence,” sheds light on the challenges hindering the metaverse’s growth.

Chief among these challenges are limited knowledge of the theme, underwhelmed consumers, project delays by...

2 November 2023 | Metaverse

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

China wants metaverse users to have traceable IDs

In a bold move that has ignited discussions around the globe, China is considering the expansion of its real-world social credit system into the realm of virtual online worlds and metaverses.

The controversial proposal, titled "Digital Identity System," has been crafted by the state-owned telecom giant China Mobile and reviewed by experts—raising concerns among digital privacy advocates.

Under the proposed system, each individual using a virtual online platform or...

22 August 2023 | Metaverse