The article discusses the risks and importance of live demos during tech product launches, highlighting how failures can demonstrate authenticity and build excitement, using examples from past and present tech events like Google I/O, Apple, and Meta Connect. It emphasizes that while failures can be embarrassing, they also reinforce the reality of the product, contrasting successful demos like Steve Jobs' FaceTime with less successful attempts by Zuckerberg.
Meta is expected to launch new smart glasses at Meta Connect, including a 3.0 version of Ray-Ban AI glasses and a new line of AR glasses with a display, potentially in partnership with Prada, featuring luxury design and advanced technology, possibly including a smartwatch integration.
Meta unveiled several new hardware and software updates at its annual Connect conference. The Meta Quest 3 VR headset features improved passthrough tech, higher resolution displays, and better graphics, retailing for $500. Meta also introduced Xbox Cloud Gaming and Emu, a foundational model for image generation. The company launched Ray-Ban smart glasses with camera capabilities and the ability to livestream. Additionally, Meta showcased its AI-powered bots and announced partnerships with celebrities and influencers for AI character creation.
The Meta Connect 2023 VR showcase event can be watched live on Facebook or through Meta's Horizon Worlds app with a Quest VR headset. The event will feature the keynote address on September 27, where the release date and hardware specs of the upcoming Quest 3 headset are expected to be announced. The Quest 3 will cost $500 and offer full-color passthrough, redesigned controllers, improved comfort, and compatibility with previous Quest models. New exclusive games and cross-platform titles will also be revealed, while competition in the VR market heats up with Apple's Vision Pro headset set to release shortly after the Quest 3, but at a higher price point.
Leaks ahead of Meta Connect suggest that the Meta Quest 3 VR headset will be released on October 10, with pricing for the 128GB model at $499 and the 512GB model at $649. Meta has also reduced the prices for the base 128GB model in certain regions. Spec leaks indicate that the Quest 3 will have 8GB of RAM, disappointing some who were expecting 12GB. Other confirmed specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, LCD display with 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 3 hours of battery life.
Meta's avatars in the Quest Home now have legs in the latest beta version of the Quest software, although they are not visible in first-person view. The legs are not yet available in the VR version of Horizon Worlds, and Meta has not updated its software development kit for avatars to include legs. More information may be revealed at Meta Connect next month, including details about the Quest 3.
Meta has announced the date for its Meta Connect event on September 27, 2023, where the highly anticipated Quest 3 VR headset is expected to be launched. The event will showcase Meta's advancements in AI, VR, and AR, with a focus on bridging the gap between virtual reality and augmented reality. The Quest 3 is expected to feature improved mixed reality capabilities, sharper visuals, a higher-resolution display, and a faster processor for enhanced gaming experiences. The event can be watched online at metaconnect.com, on Facebook, or in VR using the Quest 2 or Quest Pro in Horizon Worlds.
