Tag: virtual reality

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Apple’s long-rumoured AR/VR headset could be getting closer to release

It looks like there’s a possibility that Apple’s often-rumoured augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) headset could finally be getting closer to release following years of development.

According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple recently demoed the headset for its board of directors. This is typically a strong indicator that a project is approaching its public release. Past rumours have hinted at a 2023 release for the headset.

Gurman’s report goes on to say that work on the AR/VR headset has ramped up over the last few months and that Apple is creating AR versions of several core iPhone apps for use with the device. The tech giant also plans to release original apps that will allow the wearer to stream “immersive content” and hold “virtual meetings.”

Backing up past rumours, the first-gen version of the headset is expected to be sizable and expensive. Earlier rumours point to the headset featuring dual 4K screens, several 3D sensors and a $3,000 USD price tag (roughly $3,736 CAD). Some reports also indicate the AR headset will feature a version of Apple’s M1 chip.

There’s a possibility that Apple could show off an early version of the AR/VR headset at its upcoming WWDC keynote on June 6th, with the device not going on sale until some time in 2023. The tech giant adopted a similar strategy with the reveal of its original HomePod, so this wouldn’t be entirely unprecedented.

Source: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

Apple team reportedly struggles with AR headset development

New information has surfaced regarding Apple’s long-rumoured VR/AR headset.

The details come from The Information reporter Wayne Ma’s report detailing technical challenges the tech giant has experienced while developing the headset.

The report says that Apple’s team working on the project has struggled to get assistance from the other parts of the company. Further, it says that since mid-2017, this team has worked out Apple’s Cupertino headquarters and buildings in Sunnyvale, California, in order to help “preserve the group’s invisibility to the rest of Apple.”

Additionally, at one point the team was reportedly looking into swappable batteries for the headset to extend battery life, but then the idea was ditched because of complexities involved. However, now the headset offers that can last “several hours,” similar to Apple’s other products.

The Information’s full article offers more insight into the complications Apple’s VR/AR team has faced during the device’s development.

Apple’s AR headset will reportedly utilize an M1-based chip, similar to its iPad Pro and M1 Mac. Apple’s VR/AR headset is rumoured to launch in 2023, according to previous reports.

Source: MacRumors, The Information

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Mobile Syrup

Meta announces new Project Cambria VR headset has a focus on work

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has officially revealed new details regarding its upcoming virtual reality (VR) headset. The company is tentatively calling the headset Project Cambria and is positioning it to focus on work-related use cases.

During Meta’s latest earnings call, Zuckerberg touched on Project Cambria. However, in a Facebook post, the CEO went into more detail on what’s in store for the headset.

“Later this year we’ll release a higher-end headset [than the Oculus Quest 2], codenamed Project Cambria, which will be more focused on work use cases and eventually replacing your laptop or work setup,” said Zuckerberg during the call.

Zuckerberg described the Cambria as a “premium device” and claims it features “improved ergonomics and full-colour passthrough mixed reality.” Meta also appears to be developing new features for the headset, including eye tracking and face tracking. Zuckerberg claims that your avatar can “make eye contact and facial expressions” when using Project Cambria.

Recently uncovered Renders of Project Cambria courtesy of tipster Brad Lynch reveal that Meta’s upcoming headset features a more minimalist design aesthetic. When compared it to Meta’s Oculus Quest 2, Cambria looks more lightweight, and the head strap running across the middle of the headset appears to be removed. Finally, Meta may also be leaning towards a darker colour pallet with the overall design.

Project Cambria will likely be a cornerstone of Meta’s metaverse ambitions. While Zuckerberg refrains from revealing more details, he assures eager VR users that the company will reveal more information about the headset “in the months ahead.” An exact release window for Project Cambria remains unknown.

Image credit: @SadlyItsBradley

Via: IGN

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Mobile Syrup

Here’s how to watch Meta’s Quest Gaming showcase where Quest 2’s successor *might* be revealed

Meta might be readying up for the release of its rumoured Quest 2 Pro virtual reality headset, and it may come as soon as next week.

The Quest 2, arguably the company’s best VR headset, might be getting a Pro upgrade, according to reliable Meta Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Since the upcoming rumoured release will be a ‘Pro’ model, Meta is expected to make substantial improvements to the Quest 2. According to Kuo, the next iteration of the Quest 2 Pro will feature two new 2.38-inch mini-LED displays with a 2160×2160 resolution — an upgrade from the Quest 2’s 1832×1920 LCD display. For reference, Sony’s PSVR 2 features a 2000×2040 OLED display.

Additionally, the new headset is expected to feature a new 2P Pankcake lens design in contrast to the Quest 2’s 1P Fresnel design — allowing Meta to reduce the overall profile and weight of the headset while not having to compromise on display quality.

The rumoured headset’s pricing remains unclear, though it will most likely be more expansive than the Quest 2’s $459 starting price.

However, these are just leaks are just rumours, and we recommend that you take them with a grain of salt. That being said, Meta’s Quest Gaming Showcase is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20th — next week. While the event traditionally focuses on game announcements, gameplay teasers and updates on titles, it would be fitting if Meta unveils the Quest 2’s successor during the keynote.

You can check out the event for yourself on Wednesday, April 20th on the company’s Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Horizon Venues at 10am PT/1pm ET.

Last year’s event brought updates to several games Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Pistol Whip and Resident Evil 4 VR. As for this year, Among US has confirmed that it will be a part of the showcase. Additionally, at Meta’s October Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is coming to the Oculus Quest 2.

While we haven’t heard more about the VR adaptation of undoubtedly one of the most popular titles ever, the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase is a good opportunity for the release of the title.

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Mobile Syrup

Sony’s upcoming PS VR2 will be slimmer and lighter than its predecessor

Sony confirmed earlier this year at CES 2022 that its upcoming virtual reality headset is called the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2).

Now, the Tokyo, Japan-based company has unveiled the new headset’s design and offered a look at its PS VR2 Sense controllers.

Shared by the senior vice president of platform experience Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation’s blog post outlines how Sony has intentionally designed the headset and its controllers to look similar, with both sharing an “orb” aesthetic. According to Nishino, “The circular orb shape represents the 360-degree view that players feel when they enter the virtual reality world, so this shape captures it nicely.”

While not much was revealed about the upcoming headset’s tech specifications, the blog post does mention PlayStation VR2’s new lens adjustment dials, an overall slimmer and lighter design, a built-in motor for headset feedback, along with an updated design to promote ventilation and airflow.

Nishino also mentions that the PS VR2 will offer a single cord setup, making it easy to get the headset up and running.

From what we already know, the headset will feature an OLED display with a 2000 x 2040 pixel resolution per eye, a 90Hz to 120Hz refresh rate and a field-of-view of roughly 110 degrees.

Sony didn’t share when the new VR headset will hit the market or how much it will cost, though previous rumours have indicated PSVR2 will launch in 2022.

Image credit: PlayStation

Source: PlayStation

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Mobile Syrup

Walmart is calling dibs on the virtual shopping experience, files trademarks

Looking to get a headstart towards the future of shopping, Walmart has filed for seven trademarks that indicate that the retail giant wants to make the leap into its own metaverse and establish NFTs and crypto, as first reported by CNBC.

The trademarks, which were filed earlier in December 2021 suggest that Walmart also wants to make and sell virtual goods along with its own NFTs and a digital currency. The application reads, “Financial services, namely, providing a digital currency and a digital token of value for use by members on an online community via a global computer network.”

Trademark applications also encompass the scope of Walmart offering “physical fitness training services” and “classes in the field of health and nutrition,” which likely suggests that Walmart intends to offer AR/VR fitness sessions in its metaverse.

This comes soon after an old 2017 Walmart AR/VR shopping experience video resurfaced and went viral. 

Further, according to Bloomberg, Walmart has also filed for trademarks for the terms “Verse to Home,” “Verse to Curb,” and “Verse to Store,” indicating that the company is calling dibs on a virtual shopping experience.

Walmart’s patents are listed under “Walmart Connect,” and can be found here. 

It’s worth noting that these are just trademarks that haven’t yet materialized, and it’s currently unclear what Walmart is officially working on behind the scenes. If such a virtual shopping experience came to life in the near future, we can expect it to first be released in the United States, and then likely eventually in Canada.

Source: CNBC

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Apple’s long-rumoured VR/AR headset might not launch until 2023

It looks like Apple’s often-rumoured augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) headset will miss its previously rumoured 2022 release date, according to reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

While Apple initially planned to reveal the headset during its WWDC keynote presentation, “development challenges related to overheating, cameras and software have made it harder to stay on track,” says Bloomberg. This delay has likely pushed the mixed reality headset’s reveal back to 2023, which is well out of the initial 2021 window the tech giant reportedly aimed to show off the device in.

Apple’s AR/VR headset is expected to be a high-end device with dual 4K displays, several 3D sensors for inside-out tracking and a roughly $3,000 USD (about $3,763 CAD) price tag. According to this latest report, the headset will also feature two processors, including one as powerful as Apple’s current M1 Pro MacBook Pro chip. In early December, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published a similar report stating that tech giant’s headset will include a chip that features M1 architecture.

Bloomberg says that Apple is still working on a pair of augmented reality glasses but that the wearble’s release has been pushed back to “later this decade.”

Though much of the initial hype surrounding AR and VR has died down, it will be interesting to see if Apple’s take on a headset can build on established technologies in a meaningful way. That said, with a price approaching the range of $4,000 in Canada, the headset’s audience will likely be limited.

Source: Bloomberg 

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Mobile Syrup

Apple reportedly isn’t interested in the metaverse

At least one tech giant isn’t on board with the concept of the metaverse.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and his Power On newsletter, Apple is against the concept of creating an all-virtual metaverse world for its long-rumoured augmented reality headset.

Gurman’s sources claim that the idea is “off-limits” and that the focus of the device is on communication, content viewing and gaming. Rumours surrounding the AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality) headset indicate that its display features a resolution of 8K per eye, several tracking cameras and a roughly $3,000 USD price tag (about $3,882 CAD).

Further, leaks suggest that the headset will feature more than a dozen cameras for tracking hand movements.

If these rumours are accurate, this could differentiate Apple’s headset significantly from Facebook’s Meta’s, with Facebook’s strategy focusing heavily on the concept of creating a Ready Play One-like virtual world. Some rumours point to Apple revealing its mixed reality headset in 2022.

In his Power On newsletter, Gurman also offered more information regarding Apple’s rumoured 2022 iPhone SE refresh. He says that the entry-level smartphone will maintain an iPhone 8-like design, but that it will feature 5G and the iPhone 13’s processor.

Image credit: Meta

Source: Bloomberg (Power On)

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Mobile Syrup

Viral Walmart metaverse video was made in 2017 to ‘impress influencers’

A recent video uploaded to Twitter titled ‘This is how Walmart envisions Shopping in the #Metaverse,’ has been spreading like wildfire. It’s hit nine million views, over 30,000 retweets, and supposedly shows the future of grocery shopping in the metaverse, as Walmart sees it playing out.

If it already wasn’t evident from looking at the graphics in the VR experience — we hate to burst your bubble but that video isn’t new and might have been resurfaced in a bid to boost metaverse stocks or crypto assets, some of which survive nearly solely on hype.

The video isn’t connected to Facebook’s vision of the metaverse and, it isn’t even made by Walmart. It was created for the retailer by a program management and design strategy digital agency called Mutual Mobile (MM).

Back in 2017, Walmart wanted “to impress influencers at SXSW (South by Southwest Festival),” and get an edge over the competition by showing off a virtual shopping experience, reads MM’s blog post from almost five years ago. While Walmart’s aim to “impress influencers” might not have worked out back in 2017, the video resurfacing now, in an atmosphere where the Metaverse idea has freshly been reincarnated surely can, and that is evident from the engagement on the Tweeted video.

Five years ago, Walmart had the initial idea ready but needed someone with the technical skills to design the VR experience and lead the way.

MM took it up from there and designed a dystopian grocery store, complete with soft chatter but no other shoppers, a Walmart associate that just wouldn’t leave you alone and constantly shifting walls and surroundings that would nauseate you in real-time.

In short, it’s a video that’ll make you wonder whether we need such technology in the future. Aren’t current online shopping apps enough? If you’re short on time, would you rather pick up your phone, tap on the Walmart app, select what you need and pay for it or would you ready up your VR headset, load up the ‘Walmart grocery store,’ walk around and browse the shelves full of digital food and commodities? While the latter definitely has a niche for it, I don’t see it being the main arm going forward. That doesn’t mean that said VR/AR grocery experiences cant exist and wouldn’t have any use.

It’ll be fun to ‘visit’ Walmart while not having to leave your house, but I just don’t see that being the primary way people shop, not at least in the near future, and rather a niche experience for certain occasions.

It’s kind of similar to the digital experience from Inabuggy released earlier last year that allowed shoppers to virtually roam Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market and beat the pandemic blues.

Image credit: Mutual Mobile

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Mobile Syrup

Concept renders give us a glimpse of what Apple’s rumoured mixed-reality headset might look like

Ian Zelbo, an illustrator who visualizes concept gadgets and turns them into renders, has released detailed images of what Apple’s often-rumoured mixed reality headset might look like.

Conceptualized with information obtained through this report from The Information, the renders give us a look at what the mixed reality headset might look like when released.

A quick look at the renders reveals that the headset takes some of its design elements from Apple’s AirPods Max, including the blue headband and the seamless, soft-cornered display, along with an Apple Watch band-like clasp lock button.

From what we know so far based on information obtained by credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the headset will weigh roughly 300-400g, with a “significantly lighter” 2nd-gen version featuring better battery life and a faster chip releasing later in 2024. Kuo also states that the headset will feature four 3D sensors for hand-motion tracking instead of traditional physical controllers.

Further, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the headset will be revealed in 2022 during WWDC, with a release in 2023.

Apple’s AR headset will cost in the range of $3,000 USD (roughly $3,883 CAD).

Image credit: Renders by Ian

Source: Renders by Ian Via: 9to5Mac