Hello from the beautiful landscapes of Finland! As I type this, I’m journeying across Finland, exploring the vibrant cities of Helsinki and the enchanting Lapland. It’s been quite a delightful experience, filled with unique encounters like meeting Santa Claus, getting up close with reindeers, and indulging in some authentic Finnish cuisine. Soon, I’ll be off to MatchXR, one of the top XR events in Northern Europe, and I’ll be sure to share my experiences with you all. But before we dive into this week’s industry happenings, I want to take a moment to remember Daniel Dyboski-Bryant, who recently passed away. I had the privilege of meeting Daniel on various occasions, both in person at events like AWE US and virtually through ENGAGE. He was a genuinely warm-hearted individual and a true visionary in using VR for educational purposes. Daniel’s passion and kindness have left a significant impact on many, and he will be dearly missed. Farewell, Daniel; your legacy will continue through all of us who knew you.
Top News of the Week
Meta Opens Applications for Project Aria Research Kits
A while back, Meta introduced Project Aria, a pair of experimental glasses aimed at paving the way for future Augmented Reality eyewear. Although these early versions lacked a display, they were equipped with a host of sensors—cameras and microphones, primarily. Initially, these glasses were exclusive to Meta employees and partners for research purposes, gathering behavioral data to train AI/ML systems for AR glasses development. However, the landscape has shifted. This week, Meta unveiled the Project Aria Research Kit, now opening the doors for universities and corporations to apply for these devkits through a specific webpage. If selected, these institutions won’t just receive the glasses but a complete development environment, including an app, SDK, and cloud services. This could mean groundbreaking strides in AR research and Meta has already showcased several inspiring case studies, from universities such as the University of Bristol and Carnegie Mellon. If your research center is eligible, this is an opportunity worth considering.
More info
Other Relevant News
A New Wave of Smartglasses Is Coming from China (and Beyond)
It’s been a whirlwind week for smart glasses enthusiasts. Riding on the success wave of the Ray-Ban Meta, there’s been a surge in announcements from Chinese tech giants about new AI-driven smart glasses. 36kr reports that Xiaomi might be working on a model comparable to Ray-Ban Meta, continuing their trend of innovation in smart eyewear. This collaboration involves Goertek, known for its extensive work in XR manufacturing, including Quest headsets. We’re expecting more details around Q2 2025, possibly aligning with the Mi Fan Festival. Meanwhile, Baidu released the Xiaodu AI Glasses, packed with advanced features like a 16MP camera and AI-driven functions, with a market entry anticipated for early 2025. Additionally, Rokid’s smart glasses, created with BOLON—a Chinese fashion brand—boast capabilities such as making payments via QR codes with Alipay integration. Intriguingly, Amazon is also in the mix, reportedly developing smart glasses under the codename "Amelia" to aid its delivery drivers. It’s thrilling to see such dynamic developments in this tech segment!
More info: Xiaomi glasses, Baidu glasses, Rokid glasses — Reddit post and comments, Rokid glasses — Wechat post in Chinese, Amazon glasses
Meta For Education Launched in Beta
After months of anticipation, Meta has finally rolled out the Meta For Education Beta program for its Quest headsets, targeting university settings. This initiative aims to provide educators with tailored educational tools and content, coupled with device management solutions for classrooms and training environments. Notably, universities like Arizona State University and Imperial College London are already part of this pilot. Meta is leveraging feedback from these institutions to refine their program and is even launching "metaversities" in partnership with VictoryXR to bring immersive education to Europe. This move highlights Meta’s commitment to harnessing VR in education, potentially fostering early adoption among students.
More info: Upload VR, Official article, Meta creating metaversities
Meta Teases Orion Operating System
Meta recently teased the Orion glasses UI, showcasing a variety of interfaces in a new video. This suggests that the UI is still in development, with Meta exploring different designs. As AR represents a novel user interaction paradigm, some experimentation is expected. Alex Coulombe, a developer, confirmed having tested some interfaces depicted in the video during Meta Connect.
More info
News Worth a Mention
bHaptics Revamps its Lineup of Devices
bHaptics, renowned for its haptic vests in XR, has announced new updates to its product line:
- The TactSuit Pro is the new top-tier torso vest, retailing for $499.
- TactSuit Air offers a more affordable option at $249 with fewer haptic motors.
- TactSleeve, their revamped arm haptic device, now costs $199.
Preorders are open until November 26, and these devices are compatible with numerous VR titles on the Quest, PSVR2, and SteamVR platforms.
More info: New bHaptics devices, Launch trailer of the new bHaptics devices
Horizon Worlds Is Getting Its Currency
Meta has begun rolling out Meta Credits—Horizon Worlds’ native currency—in selected regions, paving the way for a dynamic in-world economy. This shift promises to enhance the platform’s social ecosystem by enabling users to purchase digital creations.
More info
Ekto VR Announces Its First Batch of Shoes
After years in development, Ekto VR is launching its first series of virtual reality walking shoes, Genesis, to a select group of 10 early adopters. These cutting-edge shoes are priced between $2000-$3000 and are slated for delivery in March 2025.
More info
MeRCURY Diving Mask Is Now on IndieGoGo
The MeRCURY XR headset, designed for underwater VR experiences, is now seeking support on IndieGoGo. Offering a novel way to experience VR, it’s likely aimed at professional settings, given its starting price of €1250.
More info: MeRCURY on IndieGoGo, MeRCURY trailer
Apple Releases Two New Immersive Videos
Apple unveiled two immersive video releases:
- A video for The Weeknd’s song "Open Hearts" in an immersive format.
- A new entry in the ‘Concert For One’ series, starring Raye.
More info: The Weeknd, Raye
Some Info About Content
- "Ember Souls," a VR hack-and-slash title inspired by Prince of Persia, is set for release on Quest on November 21st, priced at $25 with presale discounts.
- "Gadgeteer," a Rube Goldberg sandbox game, now supports mixed reality on Quest 3.
- Beat Saber’s "Monstercat Mixtape 2" has finally dropped.
- Doborog’s arena battler sequel, "Clone Drone in the Hyperdome," launches at $20 on Quest.
- Resolution Games announced "Gears & Goo," a tower defense game for Vision Pro, arriving next year.
- "Spatial Ops," a mixed reality shooter, is now available for $20.
- "Little Cities: Diorama," a Vision Pro game, hits Apple Arcade on December 5.
- "Exercise Your Demons," a mixed reality fitness game, releases December 12 at $20.
- "Last Stand," a PvP mixed reality shooter, is in early access on Quest.
- "Starship Troopers: Continuum," a sci-fi VR co-op shooter, costs €18 on Quest.
- "Boxing Underdog," evolved from VRSO: Bare Knuckle Fighting, debuts on Quest.
More info: Ember Souls, Gadgeteer, Beat Saber, Clone Drone in the Hyperdome, Gears & Goo, Spatial Ops, Little Cities, Exercise Your Demons, Last Stand, Starship Troopers: Continuum, Boxing Underdog, XR News Bits, XR News Roundup
Some Reviews About Content
- Square Enix’s Triangle Strategy works well in XR, though it feels similar to flatscreen options.
- DIG VR shines with a vibrant presentation and British humor, but has a few campaign and interaction hiccups.
- EXOcars balances realism with fun, delivering an enjoyable VR racing experience.
More info: Triangle Strategy, DIG VR, EXOcars
Other News
- Sony stops offering the adapter for PSVR on PS5.
- Pico unveils an intriguing update for its OS.
- Apple’s Final Cut Pro now supports editing of Spatial Videos.
- A Wired article reveals Meta Horizon Worlds’ growing young user base.
- Quixel megascans assets are freely available on FAB, thanks to Ivan Aguilar for the tip.
- Vive’s Ultimate Tracker now supports third-party headsets.
- Niantic announces its Spatial Platform, aiming to advance spatial intelligence interactions (exact details remain a bit vague).
Learn more
News from Partners (and Friends)
The XR Design Challenge is an exciting new hackathon in the XR sphere. Hosted by Immersive Insiders and partners like Met and ShapesXR, this global event from December 2 to January 13 offers a $10,000 prize pool for top XR design concepts. Participation is free, so don’t hesitate to enter!
More info
Story
Explore Story on Vision Pro, a platform for creating spatial content with an immersive interface, supporting various media formats. Get started on your creative journey today!
Learn more about Story / 1, Learn more about Story / 2
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Some XR Fun
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Donate for Good
This week, instead of asking for donations to my blog, I urge you to consider aiding those impacted by the ongoing war. Please contribute to the Red Cross to help with the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. I’ll include the link below.
Let me take a moment to express heartfelt gratitude to all my Patreon donors whose support keeps me going:
[List of Donors]
Thank you all, and here’s where you can donate:
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Meta)
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