Xreal has launched the Xreal One and Xreal One Pro, virtual display glasses with built-in 3DoF tracking and a wider field of view, eliminating the need for an external adapter. Powered by the custom X1 chip, these glasses offer a 50° to 57° diagonal field of view, surpassing previous models and competitors like HoloLens 2. The glasses also feature upgraded Bose audio and electrochromic dimming. Available for preorder, the Xreal One is priced at $500 and the Pro at $600, with shipping expected in December 2023 and early 2025, respectively.
Amazon is offering a significant Black Friday deal on the new Meta Quest 3S VR headset, priced at $299. The bundle includes the game Batman: Arkham Shadow, a three-month Meta Quest+ trial, and a $75 Amazon digital credit, totaling nearly $150 in extra benefits. The Quest 3S features a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset, 8GB RAM, and full-color passthrough capabilities, making it an excellent entry-level VR option. This deal has made the Quest 3S a top-seller in the VR category on Amazon.
The article discusses how playing PowerWash Simulator can provide a sense of calm and order in a chaotic world, offering a therapeutic escape through its simple, satisfying gameplay.
Companies and developers in the XR space pulled off some elaborate April Fool's Day pranks, including Nintendo and IGN teasing a fake 'Virtual Boy Pro' MR headset, Walkabout Mini Golf joking about adding legs to the game, Virtual Desktop developer Guy Godin announcing a move to Meta Reality Labs with sarcastic promises of slower updates, Pillow app teasing a 'toilet mod', and MINTROCKET announcing a fake DLC for its indie adventure RPG with a VR love simulator.
Qualcomm has unveiled a new VR and AR chip, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform, which is set to be used by Google and Samsung to enhance their immersive technology offerings. This move positions them to better compete with Apple and Meta in the VR and AR headset market. Despite a challenging 2023 for the industry, IDC predicts a recovery in AR/VR headset shipments in 2024, driven by new products from Meta and Apple. Meanwhile, Qualcomm's stock has seen a slight decline but overall growth over the past year.
"Elvis Evolution" is a new immersive concert experience that will bring Elvis Presley back to the stage as a hologram. The show, which debuts in London and will travel to Las Vegas, Tokyo, and Berlin, uses AI and holographic projection to create a life-size digital Elvis. Alongside the concert, there will be an Elvis-themed bar and restaurant with live music. This initiative follows the trend of resurrecting music icons digitally, as seen with Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson holograms. Elvis fans can look forward to experiencing the King of Rock 'n' Roll in a modern format when tickets go on sale in June.
Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, a premium variant of the XR2 Gen 2, featuring higher CPU and GPU clock speeds and support for higher resolution displays and more cameras. This new chip is not a successor but a more advanced option for high-end VR headsets, including an upcoming Samsung headset. Despite speculation about a new XR3 line, Qualcomm has no immediate plans for it, focusing instead on the XR2+ Gen 2's enhanced capabilities for tetherless headsets. The XR2+ Gen 2 will be used in various upcoming devices, with Samsung's Google-powered headset expected to launch in late 2024.
Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chipset, designed to deliver higher-resolution visuals for virtual reality, competing with Apple's Vision Pro. The new chipset supports 4.3K resolution at 90fps per eye and integrates 12 cameras for advanced tracking capabilities. It boasts a 15% increase in GPU and 20% increase in CPU frequencies over its predecessor. Qualcomm is collaborating with multiple hardware makers, including HTC, and leveraging its partnerships with Samsung and Google, though release details remain unclear. The tech community anticipates further announcements at the upcoming Samsung Unpacked event.
Meta has slashed the price of its Meta Quest 2 VR headset by 50%, offering the 128 GB version for $250 and the 256 GB version for $300, with refurbished models available at a further discount. However, the company has also removed the ability to stream directly to Chromecast devices, now requiring users to cast to a phone or computer first. This change affects all Quest headsets and comes as the company faces competition from upcoming products like Apple's Vision Pro. Despite this, Meta's Quest 2 remains a more affordable entry point into VR, especially compared to its own Quest 3 and other competitors like Sony's PSVR2.
Meta Platforms, Inc has permanently reduced the price of its Quest 2 virtual reality headset following the launch of Quest 3. The 128GB model is now $249, and the 256GB model is $299, with various accessories also seeing price reductions. This move aims to make VR more accessible and boost sales, especially after the reluctance of customers to try on headsets in stores due to hygiene concerns during the pandemic. Despite a previous price increase in July 2022, the recent drop aligns with the Quest 3's release and Meta's strategy to expand its VR user base.
Meta has reduced the price of its popular Quest 2 VR headset to $250 for the 128GB model and $300 for the 256GB model, with even lower prices for refurbished units. This price cut follows the release of the Quest 3, which offers higher resolution and more graphical power but at a significantly higher price point. The Quest 2's price reduction makes it more accessible for those interested in VR, and Meta has also discounted various Quest 2 accessories.
The year 2023 in tech was dominated by the AI revolution, with companies racing to integrate AI into their products following the success of ChatGPT. Smartphones saw incremental improvements with a focus on AI features and longer support lifespans. The computing industry faced a sales slump but was invigorated by new AI capabilities and Apple's M3 chips. In TVs, Samsung overtook LG in the OLED market, while audio saw a shift with solid-state earbuds and a dip in Sony's dominance. Cameras were heavily influenced by AI, with advancements in autofocus and image processing. Fitness tech saw a potential peak in smartwatches and a rise in smart rings. VR made strides with the Meta Quest 3 and the anticipation of Apple's Vision Pro. The entertainment industry grappled with streaming service changes, strikes, and a mix of box office successes and failures. Overall, 2023 was a year of AI integration and anticipation for future tech developments.
