Month: January 2021

The latest whispers about Apple’s plans to launch its long-awaited (yet still unconfirmed) augmented reality device hits several familiar notes, but lands on a different refrain. Earlier this month, a generally-reliable analyst has predicted that an AR device from Apple would launch later this year, buoyed by reports from supply chain sources that the company’s rumored smartglasses prototype is entering the second phase of production. Now, rumors of a hybrid AR/VR headset, previously thought to be scrapped in favor of smartglasses with less-immersive capabilities, have emerged from yet… more

The world of politics can sometimes get a little toxic, but with the new administration, there’s already a bit of whimsy creeping back into the online meme space. The latest comes courtesy of a new unofficial Snapchat filter that takes an inauguration meme and lets you bring it into your own space via Snapchat Lens filter. • Don’t Miss: Next Reality’s 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 Of all the political memes to surface during Wednesday’s inauguration, one of the most shared was former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders freezing while huddled in a chair during the… more

The United States is poised to begin a new political era this week, but due to recent events in Washington, D.C., as well as the ongoing pandemic, the traditional inauguration crowds are absent. Nevertheless, thanks to the power of Snapchat, you can be there, virtually. • Don’t Miss: Next Reality’s 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 A new Lens released by President-elect Joe Biden’s team allows you to put yourself on the steps of the Capitol Building in celebration of the new U.S. president’s entry into office. In addition to framing you in a winter cap and showering you with… more

While most established media brands are satisfied with copying Pokémon GO to jump into augmented reality gaming, at least one property is taking a slightly different approach. Launched this week, Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up is a mobile game fitting into the life simulation genre that appoints players as partners in the titular characters’ handyman startup, Spick & Spanners. Players coordinate various jobs, assigning available required contraptions and gadgets to complete the time-gated tasks. Don’t Miss: AR Snapshots: Anime Makeovers, Mandalorian Helmets, Twerking Muppets, & More The… more

In the three years since Snapchat launched Lens Studio, developers and artists have created more than 1.5 million AR camera effects with the desktop tool. Beginning this week, AR Snap Shots will feature five augmented reality filters that showcase the innovative, trendy, or just plain cool AR experiences available on the Snapchat app. • Don’t Miss: Next Reality’s 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 This week, we’ll revisit one of the more popular Lenses from Snapchat, put on a tribute to one of 2020’s hit streaming shows, dance with one of Jim Henson’s most beloved creations… more

Over the past two product cycles, Apple has been rumored to be preparing to reveal its Apple AirTags tracking devices that can help iPhone owners find their possessions with augmented reality. Now, it’s 2021, and AppleTags are nowhere to be found. But Samsung has leapfrogged Apple with its own take on the product category. Don’t Miss: Here Are All the Things in You Can Do in Augmented Reality with the Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+ During its Unpacked 2021 event on Thursday, where the star of the show was the new Galaxy S21 lineup of smartphones, Samsung also unveiled the new Galaxy SmartTags and… more

The focus on augmented reality over at Apple is, so far, restricted to the iPhone and the iPad. But if some of the most reliable analysts in the business are to be believed, we’ll probably see some kind of AR or VR wearable from the company later this year. But what will that look like? Well, designer Dominik Hofacker has a few ideas, and they’re so good they’re worth examining. • Don’t Miss: Next Reality’s 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 Hofacker, who recently completed an internship at Facebook Reality Labs in Seattle, put together a concept video presentation that starts… more

Unity often reminds us that the majority of AR apps and experiences are built with the Unity 3D engine, and now the Unity MARS service, which facilitates easy AR creation for seasoned coders and newcomers. In its quest to make augmented reality development easier, Unity has launched the Unity MARS Companion app in beta via TestFlight for iOS and through Google Play’s native beta program for Android. Don’t Miss: Unity Previews Project MARS Mobile App, Extends AR Foundation to HoloLens & Magic Leap, Intros XR Interaction Toolkit With the Unity MARS Companion app, developers can create and… more

I must admit, upon learning that the NFL was broadcasting the contest between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears on CBS, Amazon Prime Video, and Nickelodeon, the latter was the only option I wanted, purely for the novelty of the experience. Fans with a similar mindset, or the younger viewers that the NFL targeted with the broadcast, had their curiosity rewarded with some broadcast AR hijinks. • Don’t Miss: The Weather Channel Takes Broadcast AR to Next Level with Wildfires Report Throughout the live broadcast, CBS Sports projected augmented reality effects onto the field of play and… more

Roughly a year and a half after unveiling the HoloLens-like ThinkReality A6, Lenovo is back with its take on enterprise-grade smartglasses, and the results look impressive. Then again, looks can be deceiving. On Sunday, a day ahead of the opening of the virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Lenovo took the wraps off of the ThinkReality A3, a sleek pair of smartglasses designed for office and field roles in enterprises and scheduled to begin shipping by mid-2021 to select markets worldwide for an undisclosed price. Don’t Miss: Hands-On: Hands-On with Lenovo’s ThinkReality A6, a… more