Back from Italy and though slightly worn out, I’m brimming with joy. I trust your Valentine’s Day was just as delightful and that you’re in good spirits. One of my reasons to celebrate? My recent article on Android XR’s new camera frame permission has been spotlighted by major mags like Road To VR, Upload VR, and Android Authority! A taste of fame indeed 😜. Let’s dive into the hottest XR news of the week!
Big News of the Week
Ray-Ban’s Meta Hype: 2 Million Sold!
Francesco Milleri, CEO of EssilorLuxottica, sang the praises of Ray-Ban Meta glasses during their Q4 2024 earnings call. With sales hitting the 2 million mark, user engagement is strong, marking a successful outing. As a result, Luxottica plans to up their game, targeting over 10 million units by 2026.
This success has stirred quite the buzz around smartglasses. At CES, startups were unveiling their AI-backed smartglasses, plus whispers of giants like Apple and Samsung venturing into this territory. Yet, caution is essential amidst the hype. Ray-Ban’s triumph is largely thanks to its branding and the massive distribution network of EssilorLuxottica. Replicating this success might be challenging for others. Despite planned increases, the production numbers pale in comparison to smartphone sales.
Other Headlines
Meta’s Humanoid Robot Ambitions
Bloomberg reports Meta is tapping into humanoid robots via their Reality Labs division, the same team behind XR headsets. Their expertise from AR and VR headsets is invaluable for robot training. However, Meta’s focus isn’t on manufacturing the robots but rather on providing essential AI systems and software for others to build upon.
Apple and the Boost to Vision Pro
Apple plans to infuse their Vision Pro headset with Apple Intelligence, as Bloomberg has leaked. This entails not only software updates but perhaps a partnership with Tencent or Bytedance for AI integration in China. This move aligns with competition from Google’s Gemini and highlights an ongoing arms race among tech titans.
Mentra’s AugmentOS: A Boon for Smartglasses Devs
Mentra introduces AugmentOS, a development platform for smartglasses apps. By partnering with Vuzix, apps using the AugmentOS SDK can run across multiple devices. While the Ray-Ban Meta is hinted at, officially supported devices don’t yet list it. It’s a promising step towards unifying a fragmented ecosystem.
Noteworthy Mentions
PSVR 2’s Holiday Surge
An enticing price drop has seen PSVR 2 sales skyrocket for the holidays, albeit still trailing behind the Quest. Sony might benefit from making this cut permanent!
Anduril Takes the IVAS Helm
Palmer Luckey’s Anduril assumes control of the IVAS project from Microsoft, with bold claims of superior head-mounted displays. High expectations are set!
Wonderland Cloud’s XR Hosting Solution
Create Worlds rolls out Wonderland Cloud, streamlining WebXR application hosting with tailored services for multiplayer experiences.
Tech Showdown: RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090
YouTubers pit NVIDIA’s new RTX 5090 against the 4090, revealing the superior performance of the latest model.
Celebrating VR Communities Over 50
An insightful piece highlights the significant VR demographic of adults over 50. Their favorite apps? Fitness and social connections.
Live NBA at Your Fingertips!
The NBA app for Apple Vision Pro now features Tabletop, a 3D mini-game view. It’s an innovative, albeit niche, way to catch the action!
Quest Store’s Mega Sale
Check out deals on popular titles like Among Us VR and Ultrawings 2, on sale through February 23rd.
PSVR 2’s Milestone in Hand-Tracking Games
With hand-tracking now supported, Waltz Of The Wizard showcases the technology, benefiting from the PS5’s processing prowess.
Content Updates and News
- Skydance’s Behemoth game receives a substantial update with over 700 fixes.
- Alien Rogue Incursion has launched but is plagued by lighting issues.
- Into The Radius 2 will hit Early Access on Quest in mid-2025.
In Closing
I’ll leave you with some heartwarming acknowledgment. Instead of donations for my blog, consider aiding Ukraine via the Red Cross. A heartfelt thanks to my Patreon supporters, too. Until next time, stay immersed in the world of XR and gaming!
