Month: November 2020

One of China’s largest smartphone makers, Oppo, just took the wraps off its new design for augmented reality smartglasses called AR Glass 2021. The reveal was part of the company’s annual Oppo Inno Day, where various forward-looking tech initiatives are put on display. But unlike what they showed off last year, this year’s AR product looks a lot more like something ready for the mainstream market. • Don’t Miss: Hands-On with the Nreal Light, Smartphone-Powered Augmented Reality Immersion While the west’s AR is still mostly focused on high-end headsets and smartphone screens, China is still… more

The true crime genre has long been popular on television and more recently on podcasts with shows like Serial. Now, one developer is further banking on the fascination with true crime by bringing the experience to augmented reality via the CrimeDoor app. • Don’t Miss: Oscars Fashion History Lives via New LA Times Mobile AR Experience The app, which was launched as an iOS-only app this month (Android version coming later) literally gives you an AR door into historic crime scenes as detailed by major reports throughout history. Although the app is free, you’ll need to access in-app purchases… more

Last year this guy made his own smartwatch from scratch, so in 2020, naturally, he decided to give making smartglasses a try. And it worked! Nashville, Tennessee-based electrical engineer Sam March is the kind of DIY guy we love. He realized he had a problem he wanted to solve and came up with his own tech-enabled solution. The problem? Walking navigation assistance without staring down at his smartphone like millions of other mobile zombie-like pedestrians stumbling around the planet. Don’t Miss: Hands-On with North’s New Focals Smartglasses & Flagship Store in New York City But rather… more

What was edge automobile technology just a few years ago is now clearly mainstream, as Cadillac just demonstrated via its new 2021 Escalade. The latest version of the popular SUV comes equipped with standard augmented reality navigation that brings the same kind of directional overlays we’re used to on Google Maps’ Street View to your dashboard. • Don’t Miss: Augmented Reality in Cars — the Companies & Tech Driving Us into the Future Those directions come with audio navigation prompts, just in case you are truly among the navigationally-challenged drivers out there. The best part is that… more

What does it mean when a software company obsessively focused on innovating the way we use our mobile devices to see and communicate with the world adds virtual voice agents? Possibly e-commerce magic, with a powerful layer of augmented reality. That’s what may be in the offing with the recent acquisition of Israel-based Voca.ai by Snap, the company behind Snapchat. • Don’t Miss: Snapchat Extends 3D Camera Effects from Spectacles 3 to iPhone’s TrueDepth Camera The deal was first reported by Israeli tech news site CalCalist, which claims the price was $70 million, however, neither party… more