There’s a bit of a lull in the XR world right now, but April Fool’s Day definitely stirred things up this week! Plus, there are some intriguing updates you shouldn’t miss. Stick with me as we dive into this week’s highlights in XR.
Top News This Week
Meta’s New Smartglasses Might Set You Back Up to $1400
Bloomberg has offered a glimpse into what Meta might have in store with its new smartglasses set to launch this year. Let me tell you, it’s not quite what I anticipated. These glasses, working under the codename Hypernova, are described as bulkier Ray-Ban Meta lookalikes. They come with a single display for one eye, which won’t obstruct your vision since you have to glance down to see any info. You can navigate them through either capacitive temples or an accompanying neural wristband. There’s even a camera upgrade akin to the 2021 iPhone 13. A future version featuring dual displays is rumored for a 2027 release, aligning with Meta’s expected trajectory in smart eyewear.
Here’s the kicker, though: these glasses will brandish the Meta name rather than Ray-Ban. Considering the appeal of Ray-Ban’s stylish reputation, this choice is puzzling. It undercuts two key factors behind the Ray-Ban Meta’s success—the recognizable branding and Essilor Luxottica’s distribution reach. And about pricing? Brace yourself, as these will reportedly be priced between $1000 and $1400. Ouch. For devices primarily designed for notifications and snapping quick photos and videos, this price tag feels hefty unless they bore an Apple logo, of course.
So, who might jump at the chance to buy these? Devotees of Meta and hardcore tech enthusiasts, sure. Developers might want to tinker with them, seeking that early access advantage. But wait, it’s not as open as it sounds. The report suggests that Meta will control the app ecosystem on these glasses, as with Ray-Ban Meta, leaving developers little room to maneuver.
In conclusion, let’s hope this report isn’t entirely accurate. Otherwise, finding a target audience for Hypernova might become quite the conundrum. For now, fans of photo and video functions have Ray-Ban Meta, experimental developers have alternatives like Brillant Labs, and notification-seekers have smartwatches—all potentially costing less combined than one Hypernova device.
For more on this, check out these reports:
Other Notable News
April Fool’s Day in the XR World Was a Blast
Usually, it’s just a few fellow jesters and me making the XR space livelier on April Fool’s, but this year the community went all out! Among the gems, I "launched" Decagear, and Sebastian Ang (MRTV) jokingly announced he’d become Pimax’s new CEO. Meanwhile, Ndreams unveiled ‘Synapse 2’ for Google Cardboard, and Voodoo DE teased a futuristic device. Beyond XR, the tech world was filled with humor—Razer’s "Skibidi" headset, translating languages between adults and Gen Z, was a highlight. Perfect for anyone wandering into Gorilla Tag’s chaos!
Dive into my top April Fool’s picks:
New US Tariffs and Headset Prices: A Cloudy Outlook
As the stock markets fumbled this week, largely due to new US tariffs, we all felt the impact. Although it’s unclear if these tariffs are here to stay, if they do, it might spell price hikes for electronic gadgets, XR headsets included. For companies sourcing components from Asia, costs might swell, leading to higher consumer prices. Picture the Quest 3S at $500 post-current stock. Given XR headsets aren’t essential yet, such increases could stifle sales just as XR struggles to cement its place for a mainstream audience, delaying the sector’s momentum further.
Keep an eye on this developing story with:
Bits and Bytes Worth Sharing
Apple introduced some tantalizing features in its latest VisionOS 2.4 for Vision Pro, and rumors about the Quest market’s mixed signals are stirring the pot. Plus, the buzz around Nintendo Switch 2 and PSVR 2’s eye-tracking potential on PC is growing. Delve into the latest demos from the Quest dev community—each more innovative than the last. Finally, emerging developments in thin haptic skins offer exciting potential, though they remain far from market-ready.
- Apple VisionOS 2.4 Updates
- Quest Market Updates
- Nintendo Labo and Switch 2
- PSVR 2 Eye-Tracking on PC
- Quest Camera Innovations
- Haptic Skin Developments
In Other News…
A unique controller collaboration, Sandbox VR’s monster ticket sales, Mocopi Pro’s positive GDC review, and Virtual Desktop’s new feature for Mac users are all making waves. Plus, celebrate 9 years of VIVE with HTC!
- ACE and SIG SAUER Partnership
- Sandbox VR’s Success
- Mocopi Pro Review
- Virtual Desktop for Mac
- Kids and Motion Sickness Study
- HTC VIVE’s Anniversary
Partner Spotlight: Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service
I connected with a startup offering an on-demand QA service for XR applications, called Mixed Reality Tech. If you need experienced testing across various headsets, reach out to them. Learn more here.
A Little Humor from the XR World
Enjoy a few laughs with tidbits like solving motion sickness with a 96° FOV, imagining humans programmed by an LLM, and how to identify a Terminator among us.
Contributing to a Cause
I won’t ask for blog donations today. Instead, please consider supporting the Red Cross in aiding those affected by the Ukraine conflict. Here’s a special shoutout to all my wonderful Patreon supporters, who keep this journey possible. Your generosity is heartwarming, and I’m deeply grateful.
You can contribute to the Red Cross here.
(Header image courtesy of Razer)
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