Month: May 2021

For most mainstream users, LiDAR sensors for precision depth sensing remain the exclusive domain of Apple iPhones and iPads, but Google is helping Android device makers close the depth gap on the software side via its ARCore toolkit. After introducing new AR features for Search and Maps and previewing the mind-blowing Project Starline 3D video conferencing concept during its I/O keynote presentation on Tuesday, Google unceremoniously announced ARCore 1.24, which brings two new AR capabilities, Raw Depth API and Recording and Playback API, with the former enabling more realistic AR experiences… more

During the Tuesday launch of Google I/O, the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, pulled off a Steve Jobsian “one more thing” move near the end of his keynote address that was simply stunning. It’s called Project Starline, and it’s a (for now) internal project working to make remote video meetings a lot more immersive. • Don’t Miss: Google Adds Sports Athletes to AR Search, Includes Virtual Street Signs in Live View AR in Google Maps The system uses high-resolution cameras, custom-built depth sensors, and what Google describes as a “breakthrough light field display” to deliver what appear to be 3D… more

Facebook Reality Labs just experienced its first major executive exit since the pandemic began. Hugo Barra has announced that he’s stepping down from his position as vice president of VR at Facebook. Barra’s move comes as a bit of a surprise as Facebook and its Oculus brand have been on a bit of a winning streak with the success of the Oculus Quest 2 (which features passthrough augmented reality features) and increased consumer interest in VR during pandemic lockdowns in 2020. • Don’t Miss: Facebook Searching for More Troops to Work at Oculus on AR Product Design & Marketing Previously… more

Sure, Microsoft has mostly marketed its HoloLens headsets towards enterprises and developers, but we learned this week that, like every other tech giant, the company is working on a consumer-grade AR wearable. Speaking of consumer smartglasses, Apple made another strategic investment this week that has implications for Apple’s AR future. While Apple is putting the pieces in place for its future AR products, Niantic is making the next steps towards the future of AR apps, advancing its AR cloud platform into private beta with a new name. For AR and TV, the future may be closer than we expected… more

Since its launch two years ago, the HoloLens 2 has been the best AR headset available, and nothing has come close to touching it since. So, at first blush, new features arriving for the device via an update to the Windows Holographic operating system might seem a bit…tame. Don’t Miss: 10 Remote Collaboration Apps for HoloLens, Magic Leap, & Mobile That Can Substitute for in-Person Meetings The top change arriving via version 21H1 is the transition to the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as the default browser. Yawn? Not so fast. This means better support for WebXR experiences, which is… more

The story of the HoloLens has been a mix of work and play. But while many developers have devoted time to creating gaming and entertainment apps for the HoloLens 1, with the HoloLens 2, Microsoft has been encouraging everyone to focus more on the enterprise side of things. But there’s apparently still hope for those looking to harness the powers of the HoloLens for mainstream consumer uses, as HoloLens co-creator Alex Kipman has just commented on the development of a consumer version. • Don’t Miss: Microsoft Mixed Reality Developer Shows Off the Full Power of Hand Tracking & Occlusion via… more

In recent years, the tech innovation space has been dominated by the US and Asia, with Europe weighing in, but still being mostly lauded for its art history and architecture. Now, Europhiles with a tech bent can enjoy a unique touch of the future while delving into Europe’s past thanks to a new exhibition that uses augmented reality and the Microsoft HoloLens as the key to unlocking an immersive trip to the past. • Don’t Miss: Japan-Based Developer Unleashes Giant AR Gundam Robot on the Public via HoloLens 2 The M Leuven museum has launched “Between Heaven and Earth – Experience The Last… more

Niantic first unveiled its AR cloud back in 2018, using it to enhance the immersive capabilities of its gaming portfolio. Now, the company is expanding access to the system, allowing third-party developers to take advantage of next-generation augmented reality features for their mobile apps. Don’t Miss: Pokémon GO Developer Niantic Scores $245 Million in Funding to Fast-Track Real World Platform The platform, which was previously known as the “Niantic Real World Platform,” is also getting a new name: Lightship. Niantic opened up the refreshed developer kit as a private beta this week. At… more

Angry Birds, one of the first franchises to find success in mobile gaming, continues to shoot its shot at new life in augmented reality gaming. After adapting its slingshot gameplay for Magic Leap with Angry Birds FPS: First Person Slingshot and mobile with Isle of Pigs, Rovio Entertainment has pushed its furious feathered friends into the tower defense genre altogether for a web-based AR mini-game. Don’t Miss: Hands-On: Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs Reinvents the Franchise for Mobile, but Smartglasses Are Its Destiny Launching as a promotional tie-in with Burger King UK, the web-based… more

Apple has a sterling reputation when it comes to managing its supply chain; it’s where CEO Tim Cook proved his mettle to succeed Steve Jobs. Now, the company has made a strategic investment with a supplier that will be crucial to its future plans for AR wearables. While Apple gets its ducks in a row for its debut AR wearable, startup Campfire has benefited from the design expertise of a long-time Apple collaborator. We recently spoke with Campfire CEO Jay Wright about its relationship with famed design studio Frog and its plans for its enterprise-grade AR headset. On the content side of the… more