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Topic: augmented reality

Xreal is raising fresh funding for AR glasses at a valuation that tops $1 bn (AFP) News 

Chinese AR Glasses Manufacturer Secures $60 Million Funding to Challenge Apple, Meta, and Google

Adriana Marais

Xreal, the manufacturer of augmented reality glasses, is seeking new funding with a valuation exceeding $1 billion, as stated by CEO Chi Xu. The objective is to stay ahead of upcoming devices from Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., and Google, as per Xu. The Chinese startup will raise $60 million in the round, bringing its total to over $300 million, Chi said in an interview. That latest money comes from a key supply chain partner he declined to identify. “This will help us scale our production capacity and research and…

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Developed by telecoms giant AT&T, they mostly look like classic football helmets: hard shell exterior, grilled face mask, and the bison mascot logo on the side. (AFP) News 

Innovative Helmet Offers Hope to Deaf Football Players

Febin Mathew

AFP spoke with Coach Chuck Goldstein, who frequently finds himself leaping on the sidelines of the field, attempting unsuccessfully to capture the attention of his players. This is due to the fact that nearly all members of the Gallaudet University American football team in Washington are either deaf or hard of hearing. Goldstein emphasizes the importance of eye contact, stating that if players are not looking at the coaching staff, they will not receive the necessary instructions. That’s what makes the helmet Goldstein is holding revolutionary: it’s equipped with an…

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Apple Vision Pro is the company’s first-ever spatial computer but isn’t available to the public yet. (Bloomberg) News 

Comparing Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3: A Look at the Mixed Reality Contest Between Two Tech Giants

Jim Hendler, , ,

Apple and Meta, two major tech giants, have both ventured into the realm of mixed reality. While Meta Platforms has already established itself in this field with its Metaverse and Meta Quest products, Apple has now joined the fray. During the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 on June 5, Apple unveiled its inaugural mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Despite their shared goal of enhancing mixed reality experiences, these headsets cater to distinct user demographics. Apple Vision Pro Developed by Apple’s Vision Products Group (VPG), a unit led…

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A man holds up a tablet showing a digitally overlayed virtual reconstruction of the ancient Parthenon temple, at the Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (AP) News 

Exploring the Past: A Look at How Technology Can Recreate Ancient Greek Sites

Nitin Misra

One of the world’s most contentious debates on cultural heritage will be resolved before the eyes of tourists visiting the Acropolis this holiday season. All they need is a smartphone. Visitors can now pinch and zoom around the ancient Greek site with a digital overlay that shows how it once looked. It contains a collection of marble sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago and are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has demanded their return. For now, an app backed…

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Snapchat will be closing its augmented reality for enterprise services for businesses. (Pixabay) News 

Snap Closes AR Division Established in 2020

Nitin Misra,

Snap Inc. has decided to shut down a division that was dedicated to developing augmented reality services for businesses, marking the end of its most recent endeavor to expand beyond its reliance on advertising. The ARES unit, short for augmented reality for business services, was just announced in March. The idea was to let retailers adapt Snap’s AR technology to their own websites. But the company eventually realized the cost and complexity of the project were too great, according to a memo from CEO Evan Spiegel, reviewed by Bloomberg and…

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Apple Vision Pro, which is only available to developers right now, could be launched to the public in the future. (REUTERS) News 

Gurman Gives Glimpse of Apple’s Post-2023 iPhone Plans

Adriana Marais, ,

Following the recent release of the iPhone 15, Apple has shifted its focus towards the future. During the Wonderlust event, the tech giant unveiled four new iPhone models – the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. These devices come equipped with exciting features like Dynamic Island, a USB Type-C port, an action button, and more. Additionally, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2. Looking ahead, Apple has plans for numerous upcoming devices beyond 2023, as revealed by Bloomberg’s…

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Apple's mixed-reality headset is one of the riskiest move by Tim Cook. (Bloomberg) News 

Prepare for Tim Cook’s Most Daring Action at Apple

Adriana Marais, ,

Despite not being the original creator of the smartphone, home computer, MP3 player, or tablet, Steve Jobs managed to revolutionize these technologies and make them highly desirable to the public. This accomplishment propelled Apple Inc. to its current status as a colossal company worth $2.7 trillion. One criticism of his successor as CEO, meanwhile, is that he has yet to come up with a bold new idea of his own. Tim Cook, a stalwart supply chain expert, has instead built on these existing successes. Even the Apple Watch, which appeared…

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FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (REUTERS) News 

Potential Obstacles for Microsoft’s $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision

Adriana Marais, ,

Following the rejection of a comparable request by a federal judge, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sought the intervention of an appeals court to temporarily halt Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of video game producer Activision Blizzard. Regulatory authorities react to the trade in different parts of the world. WHAT IS THE ACTIVISION AGREEMENT? In January of last year, Microsoft announced Activision’s bid to increase its firepower in the booming video game market, take the lead from Tencent and Sony, and lay the groundwork for its investments in metaverse and…

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It'll reportedly only be sold in major US market Apple Stores to start with. Gadgets 

Apple to Offer Vision Pro Headset Through Appointment-Only Sales

Adriana Marais, , ,

According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple intends to introduce its Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,500, in a phased manner, beginning in the US with scheduled demonstrations in specific Apple Store locations. This gradual approach aligns with the specialized and intricate characteristics of the mixed reality headset, mirroring Apple’s initial strategy with the launch of the Watch in 2015. Apple is pushing for meetings to try to buy the Vision Pro, just as it did with the Apple Watch, according to people familiar with the matter. It also asks potential…

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It’s also canceling ‘NBA All-World’ and ‘Marvel: World of Heroes.’ Gaming 

Niantic to Cut 230 Jobs as ‘Pokémon Go’ Developer Downsizes

Adriana Marais, , , ,

Niantic is set to join the growing number of companies downsizing their workforce. Following the leak of an internal memo to Kotaku, the studio has released an official “organizational update” revealing plans to lay off 230 employees. Furthermore, Niantic will be closing its Los Angeles studio and discontinuing two licensed games, namely NBA All-World and Marvel: World of Heroes. However, fans can take solace in the fact that Pokémon Go, the company’s main product, will continue to thrive. “I’ve made the decision to narrow our focus on mobile gaming investments…

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Google was reportedly working on its own augmented reality solution in the form of an AR headset, code-named ‘Project Iris.’ However, the search giant appears to have abandoned its glasses-like AR project. News 

Google Reportedly Shifts Focus Away From AR Glasses, Focuses on Software

Adriana Marais, ,

According to Insider, Google has apparently decided to abandon its AR project, known as ‘Project Iris,’ which involved developing an AR headset similar to glasses. This follows the entry of competitors such as Meta’s new range of Quest headphones and Apple’s recently announced Vision Pro hybrid headphones. According to an insider, Google has “killed” its AR glass project, internally codenamed Iris. This development comes after several layoffs, with Google’s head of augmented and virtual reality Clay Bavor leaving the company, according to “three people familiar with the matter.” Now the…

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The company has chosen to focus on AR software instead. News 

Google Abandons Plans for Developing Augmented Reality Glasses

Adriana Marais,

Google has reportedly ended its project called “Iris” that aimed to create augmented reality glasses. The company had been working on the development of these glasses for a number of years, but decided to shelve the project due to recent layoffs and restructuring. The departure of Clay Bavor, Google’s former chief of augmented and virtual reality, also played a role in the decision, as he left to start a new venture with Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor. Additionally, Google’s constantly changing strategy for the Iris glasses caused frustration among team members.…

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The company could sell the band as an optional accessory. Gadgets 

Apple’s Vision Pro Headset May Not Include Top Strap in Packaging

Adriana Marais, , ,

In early June, Devindra Hardawar, the Senior Editor of ReturnByte, previewed the Vision Pro and noticed an additional velcro strap on the prototype unit that was not shown in any of Apple’s promotional material. A company representative informed him that the device would accommodate more straps if required. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple created the strap that goes over the user’s head after some employees complained that the Vision Pro felt “too heavy” after a few hours of use. In a move reminiscent of the company’s decision to sell…

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It is likely that Apple aims to make 'spatial computing' the next big thing after the iPhone, and to achieve that, it needs to ensure that competitors, including Meta, are kept at bay. News 

Apple’s Purchase of Mira AR Company Paves the Way for a ‘Spatial’ Reality Revolution

Adriana Marais, ,

Mira, a startup that focuses on creating augmented reality (AR) headsets, has been acquired by Apple. The company produces headsets for various organizations, including the US military. Interestingly, this acquisition announcement follows Apple’s recent launch of the Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,499, which signifies the company’s foray into the AR-mixed reality market. Speaking to The Verge, Apple said, “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we don’t usually discuss our purpose or our plans.” Therefore, it is currently not clear what Apple intends to achieve with…

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Los Angeles-based startup Mira also has contracts with the US military. News 

Apple Acquires AR Firm Responsible for Nintendo’s ‘Mario Kart’ Attraction

Adriana Marais, , , , ,

According to reports, Apple has acquired Mira, a startup specializing in AR technology. Mira, based in Los Angeles, is known for creating AR headsets for Super Nintendo World’s Mario Kart ride and has secured contracts with the US Air Force and Navy. In 2017, ReturnByte tested the Mira Prism, the company’s AR headset designed for smartphones. Apple recently unveiled its highly anticipated AR headset, the Vision Pro, during its WWDC 2023 keynote on Monday. The Verge reports that the acquisition was confirmed on the private Instagram account of Mira CEO…

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Apple WWDC 2023 is set to showcase an array of exciting new hardware. (Representative image) (Bloomberg) Gadgets 

Apple WWDC Glimpse: Mixed Reality Headset and 15-inch MacBook Air

Adriana Marais,

The upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023 by Apple is generating a lot of buzz as it is expected to unveil not just software updates but also a range of thrilling new hardware. Although the event has typically centered on software releases, this year’s iteration is anticipated to be remarkable with numerous potential hardware announcements. One of the most anticipated reveals is Apple’s first foray into augmented and virtual reality with the ‘Reality Pro’ AR/VR virtual reality headset. Powered by the new xrOS operating system, this headset is expected to…

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Expect to learn more details about the Quest 3, the company's next VR and MR headset. News 

The Meta Connect 2023 event will take place on September 27

Jim Hendler, , , , ,

Alongside the official reveal of Quest 3, Meta has announced the release date for this year’s Connect. The event, which focuses on Meta’s development in the spaces of augmented and virtual reality, will take place on September 27-28, according to its website. Connect will take place a little earlier than usual this year. The 2022 edition was held in October. More information about Connect 2023 will be released soon, but one thing is for sure: we will know more about Quest 3 in late September. Meta’s next virtual reality headset…

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Meanwhile, Snapchat has said it now has over 200 million monthly active 'Snapchatters' in India, one of the company's leading global growth markets. News 

Snapchat’s new AR filter that lets users paint their nails

Febin Mathew, , ,

Snapchat’s parent company, Snapchat, has announced a new AR filter that lets users virtually paint their nails. The company launched its new AR nail segmentation technology in collaboration with US drugstore and nail salon OPI, adding an AR filter with a few OPI colors as part of the collaboration, according to Snapchat. Users will find a new filter in the Snapchat Lens Carousel section that uses augmented reality to apply different colors and other 2D patterns to users’ nails. This lens features the first Snap AR technology called Nails Segmentation,…

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Apple appears to have registered its 'xrOS' wordmark. xrOS is likely to be the interface running on Apple's mixed reality headset. News 

Apple registers ‘xrOS’ trademark before revealing AR/MR headset: what it means

Adriana Marais, , , ,

Over the past few years, rumors about Apple’s mixed reality headset have been increasing – and now, with WWDC 2023 just around the corner, Apple appears to have registered its “xrOS” trademark. xrOS is likely the interface that runs on Apple’s mixed reality headsets. According to 9to5Mac, Apple filed for a trademark of the same name after registering the trademark earlier this year. Apple, known for its discretion, applied for the word mark through a shell company based in New Zealand. In fact, Apple used the same company to register…

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Flipkart logo. (HT Tech) News 

Flipkart acquires Bengaluru based AR company Scapic

Nitin Misra, , ,

The Flipkart group announced on Tuesday the acquisition of the augmented reality company Scapic. The e-commerce company said the acquisition will help improve its shopping experience capabilities. Scapic describes itself as a code-free platform for brands and e-commerce to create a shopping experience in AR, VR and 3D. The company was founded in 2017 by Sai Krishna V K and Ajay P V and is based in Bengaluru. The company was recently named the winner of the National Startup Awards 2020, in the Industry 4.0 – AR category. Through the…

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