Microsoft believes its Mesh platform can help developers build immersive AR apps more easily. We spoke with a member of the Microsoft team to learn more about the platform. Meanwhile, one of the companies appearing on stage during Microsoft’s AR event where Mesh was unveiled, Niantic, unveiled plans for its next big mobile AR game with a familiar partner. Finally, we explore two devices, a prototype from electronics maker Ricoh and a device partnered with Snap that is available now, that provide different means for interacting with 3D content. Microsoft Mixed Reality Director Greg Sullivan… more
When Microsoft unveiled Mesh a couple of weeks ago, the move revealed a major part of Microsoft’s next steps toward dominating the augmented reality space, particularly with regard to enterprise customers. But aside from the general details contained in the announcement, what really got some insiders excited was the demo video (see below) accompanying the launch of Mesh. It looked like something out of Iron Man’s holographic lab, but backed by very real sensor and display technology. • Don’t Miss: Microsoft Unveils Mesh Platform for Collaborative HoloLens Apps, Previews Pokemon GO Proof of… more
If you have Snap Spectacles 3, the dual camera-equipped sunglasses capable of capturing 3D photos and video, by now you’ve likely jazzed up the videos you’ve captured on the wearable with Lenses via Snapchat. You’ve probably also realized that the available AR effects are relatively limited compared to Snapchat’s vast library of Lenses. Don’t Miss: How to Add Snapchat AR Effects to Your Spectacles 3 Videos But did you know that you can also add effects from Lenses created and published from Lens Studio as well? Maybe, maybe not, because it isn’t exactly an obvious process. We’re here to… more
With non-fungible tokens (NFTs), particularly those that are 3D in nature, holographic displays are becoming more indispensable for those looking to show off their valuable works of art. Now, Japanese electronics maker Ricoh, a name typically associated with printers and copiers, is looking to join the likes of Looking Glass and Sony in offering hands-free 3D displays. Don’t Miss: Hands-On with the Looking Glass Pro, An Easy Alternative to AR for Interacting With Virtual Content The company recently unveiled a prototype display dubbed Warpe which is capable of displaying holograms viewable… more
Two of the three entities behind Pokemon GO, the reigning champion in mobile augmented reality gaming, are joining forces again to see if lightning can strike more than once. This week, AR developer Niantic and gaming giant Nintendo announced a partnership that will see a series of mobile games built on the Niantic Real World Platform with Nintendo’s stable of characters, starting with the popular Pikmin franchise. Don’t Miss: Microsoft Unveils Mesh Platform for Collaborative HoloLens Apps, Previews Pokemon GO Proof of Concept “As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural… more
Outside of plastic surgery disasters or costumes, augmented reality is the closest we can get to morphing our likenesses into those of animals. We’ve previously shared an anthropomorphic AR Lens that turns you into a horse. This week, we have two more examples of animal transformation AR effects, one that serves as a callback to recent viral sensation, and another that comes to use courtesy of music marketing efforts. Elsewhere, creators and developers have come up with some fun AR experiences that leverage AR gadgets to project letters and emojis into our environment. And, speaking of… more
Snapchat may trail Facebook and Instagram in terms of daily active users, but a new partnership with Samsung may get those innovative AR Lenses onto the mobile devices of a lot more users. Non-fungible tokens, perhaps the hottest segment of the blockchain tech industry at the moment, has always appeared destined to be on a collision course with augmented reality. Over the past week, we saw several examples of how these technologies can work together with NFTs from gaming brand Atari, to hip-hop legend MF Doom. Meanwhile, Facebook Reality Labs took a brief pause from its research and… more
Snapchat may trail Facebook and Instagram in terms of daily active users, but a new partnership with Samsung may get those innovative AR Lenses onto the mobile devices of a lot more users. Non-fungible tokens, perhaps the hottest segment of the blockchain tech industry at the moment, has always appeared destined to be on a collision course with augmented reality. Over the past week, we saw several examples of how these technologies can work together with NFTs from gaming brand Atari, to hip-hop legend MF Doom. Meanwhile, Facebook Reality Labs took a brief pause from its research and… more
The NFT space is moving so fast that if you’re not already engaged, you’ve probably already missed several history-making events. One of those events happened this week with the sale of Mars House, a virtual home that sold for over $500,000, which is more than many real-world homes that you can actually live in. • Don’t Miss: Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold The creator of Mars House is Canadian artist Krista Kim, who began building the virtual construct back in 2020, when most of the world was forced to… more
During this week’s unveiling of the new Samsung A Series of smartphones, much of the focus was on the high-end features at a more affordable price as the South Korean tech giant looks to regain its status as the world’s top smartphone maker versus Apple’s iPhone. But buried in the range of features mentioned in the new Samsung A Series was a surprising and very big feature addition: native Snapchat augmented reality lenses. • Don’t Miss: This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain The line-up, which includes the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and… more