Next Reality Features
News: Back Away from the Burger! Microsoft Combats Overeating with AR Patent
Ben & Jerry's addicts rejoice: Microsoft just won a patent for AR glasses that could help to combat overeating. Physical restraint is still needed to keep me away from that ice-creamy goodness, but a little virtual voice saying 'DON'T DO IT' could definitely help when the cravings come.
Market Reality: Facebook Debuts Shared AR for Video Chat, Magic Leap Teams with AMD, & Lego Takes AR to the Theme Park
It's (virtual) developer conference season, and this week was Facebook's turn with F8 Refresh. Like Google and Snap, Facebook had some new AR capabilities to show off.
News: Google Pulls Off a Virtual Double Axel with Winter Olympics AR Stickers Pack
The cup of augmented reality options for Winter Olympics fandom runneth over, with Google pouring a pack of AR Stickers into the mix.
News: Spatial Audio Update in Clubhouse Is Another Piece of the AR Virtual Meetings Puzzle Coming Together, Here's How
In our review of Amazon's non-augmented reality Echo Frames smartglasses, we made the case for audio virtual assistants being the linchpin for AR wearables.
News: Apple Planning In-Person AR Wearable Device Launch In Coming Months, Report Says
The Apple rumor drumbeat is getting louder: a wearable augmented reality device is almost certainly coming, very soon.
News: Apple Has Secured Micro OLED Supply Partner for Future AR Devices, Says Report
Like the layers of an onion, 2021 continues to peel back new hints of Apple's kinda-secretive augmented reality device development.
Market Reality: Snapchat Expands Ad Offerings, Magic Leap Takes Flight with Content, & Microsoft Readies New HoloLens
At present, consumer-facing augmented reality is a mobile world, and Snapchat is making money on it through advertising partnerships.
Apple AR: Chase After & Scare Pigeons with New Upcoming Mobile Game
I'm going to be honest with you. I hate pigeons. They're always in the way and I don't think they're afraid of anything because if they don't want to move, they're not moving no matter who comes their way. So a new game made with Apple's ARKit called "Pigeon Panic" sounds right up my alley.
News: Images Surface of the New Google Glass
A new model of Google Glass has appeared on the FCC website, along with a handful of high-res pictures.
News: Apple Reveals Dates for Online-Only WWDC Event
Even as the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, the tech industry continues to chug along, with some looking for ways to present new products, and in some cases continue major conferences that reveal the latest in augmented reality developments.
News: Facebook Develops AI That Can Copy Typefaces & Edit Text in AR
For awhile now, Google has offered the ability to translate text through smartphone cameras via Google Translate and Google Lens, with Apple bringing similar technology to iPhones via Live Text.
News: Welcome to NextReality
The reality of tomorrow will not be static. We're here to bring you a daily look into the cutting edge innovations poised to merge the impossible worlds of our imagination with real life. We're NextReality.
News: Snap Scores Big in Battle for Augmented Reality Platform Talent, Pulls Two Executives from Rival Facebook
The battle for augmented reality and social media supremacy starts with the people working behind the scenes, and this week Snap pulled off a telling win that could indicate a shift in the AR space.
News: Snap Team Member Reveals Early Prototype of AR Spectacles, Plus Here's Another Way to Get Your Own Pair
When Snap CEO Evan Spiegel pulled off the surprise debut of the augmented reality version of Spectacles last week, it was one of the biggest moments in the company's history.
News: Magic Leap Launches Video Interview Series & Unpacks More Technical Sessions from L.E.A.P. Con
On Wednesday, in addition to uploading another batch of videos from its L.E.A.P. conference to its YouTube channel, Magic Leap also launched a new video series for developers called Spacebar.
News: Apple AR/VR Headset Will Sport 8K Displays & LiDAR with Q1 2022 Arrival Timeframe, Report Says
Rumors around Apple's not-so-secret development of an AR/VR headset have been prevalent throughout the young year, but the latest round of reports move speculation of the device into a clearer view.
Market Reality: Verizon Buys Jaunt, Zuckerberg Faces Off with Musk for BCI Tech, & Magic Leap Assists with 5G Revolution
Augmented reality plays a key role in the evolution of adjacent technologies, such as 5G connectivity and brain-control interfaces (BCI), and the business news of the week serves up proof points for both examples.
Brief Reality: Meta, Penrose Named Technology Pioneers for Work with Augmented Reality
While two augmented reality companies were recently recognized for their innovative technologies, other companies have turned to augmented reality to innovate in their respective fields. Over the past week, use cases have ranged from selling snacks and video games to raising awareness for public health issues.
News: Next Reality Is Giving Away Free Tickets to AWE
You already know that the best place to learn about the cutting edge of augmented reality is Next Reality, but the best event to meet the people and companies pushing the space forward is the annual Augmented Reality Expo (AWE), and we're giving away free tickets!
News: Snapchat Unveils Updated Spectacles with Improved Audio, New Colors & Faster Data Transfer
Despite the fact that Snap Inc.'s Spectacles weren't the hit some were expecting, the company is nevertheless taking another swing at it by releasing an updated version.
News: Daily Show Highlights Public Perception of Glass Explorers
They say that behind every joke is a half-truth. If that adage itself contains a grain of verity, the Daily Show's satirical Glass piece should raise a few eyebrows amongst the Glass Explorer community.
News: Snap Could Be Including Augmented Reality Features in New Spectacles
According to a source at TechCrunch, a new version of Snap's 'Spectacles' could include augmented reality.
News: Snap CFO Resigns After Just Seven Months on the Job
In the business world, it's sometimes said that "where there's smoke, there's fire." At Snapchat parent company Snap, Inc., it appears the equivalent of smoke is executive turnover.
Apple AR: Get Real-Time Fitness Stats & Path Recommendations While You Run
When people work out, they want to get the absolute most out of their routine. Going on a run is great exercise, but finding an optimal route that works best for you can be difficult. Luckily, Apple's ARKit has the capability to make it much easier to get the most out of your workout.
Market Reality: Snap Attracts AR Storytellers, Samsung AR Dreams Revealed & Qualcomm + Nreal Unveil New AR Hardware
The Lens Studio creators have published more than 1.5 million AR effects to Snapchat. One of them is Audrey Spencer, who shared her story with us and provided her insights into Lens Studio as a storytelling device. Meanwhile, Snap has added new capabilities to the platform to stoke more creativity from its creators.
News: ASUS Rumored to Turn AR & VR Departments into Independent Startup
ASUS is gearing up to move its augmented and virtual reality departments into an independent startup named Glamorfy, according to a recent report from tech news site Fudzilla.
News: Facebook Reality Labs VP Hugo Barra Abruptly Heads for the Exit
Facebook Reality Labs just experienced its first major executive exit since the pandemic began. Hugo Barra has announced that he's stepping down from his position as vice president of VR at Facebook.
Market Reality: Google Goes Holographic, Snap AR Smartglasses Launch, Facebook Exec Departs, Epic Games vs. Nreal Pt. 2
Google and Snap held their annual conferences this week, and both companies managed to upstage their new AR software features with fantastic new AR hardware.
News: Facebook Cancels Annual F8 Developer Conference Due to Coronavirus Concerns
Facebook has announced the cancelation of its annual F8 developer conference, citing concerns around the developing coronavirus health crisis.
News: Next Reality's 2020 Holiday Gift Guide: Augmented Reality Hardware, Gaming, Wearables & More
We're still awaiting the arrival of consumer-grade AR smartglasses from the likes of Apple and Facebook. But that doesn't mean there aren't AR products out there to try this holiday season.
News: Apple Rumor Mill Cranks Back Up with Reports of Next iPhones Using New Camera Sensors for AR
While the betting lines on iPhones with depth-sensing, rear-facing cameras in 2019 have already been established, a new report adds some certainty to the notion that the iPhone will get new AR superpowers later this year.
News: Nokia & Xiaomi Agree to Explore AR Collaborations in New Partnership
A new cross-licensing patent deal signed by Nokia and Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi will bring increased collaboration between the two companies. One area of focus in which both Nokia and Xiaomi have already agreed to work together is augmented reality.
News: Apple iOS 13 Code Indicates Possible Testing of AR Headset, Report Says
Apple's annual iPhone launch is set for Sept. 10 and iOS 13 is expected to be released soon thereafter, but it appears that the likelihood of a "one more thing" reveal just got a big boost.
Apple AR: VR Developer Captures Movements of Artist & Projects Mimicking Digital Avatar
A new demo has given a hint about what's going to be possible in the world of mixed reality, thanks to Apple's ARKit.
News: Pinterest Is Comparing Their Lens Update to Cher's 'Clueless' Closet
We are totally buggin' about Pinterest's update to their Lens. I know, I had to.
Market Reality: Microsoft Reveals More Mesh Details, Nintendo Taps Niantic for AR Games & Ricoh Prepares 3D Display
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.
Market Reality: Facebook Execs on AR Future, Amazon AR Beauty Salons, Samsung AR Launch & the Best Snapchat AR Lenses
As a company, Facebook is not shy about talking up its AR smartglasses plans. The latest missive comes from two executives in charge of developing AR software and hardware.
Exclusive: Meta Company Patent Lawsuit Update, Court Denies Startup's Request for More Time
In the latest update to the ongoing Meta Company patent infringement case, the court has responded to a request from the defendants, and the answer isn't good news.
News: The IRS Is Finally Getting into the Augmented Reality Game and Wants Your Help
The US Department of Treasury isn't generally known for being on the very edge of technology innovations (see the current hubbub around crypto), instead usually waiting until certain tools have been battle-tested in the mainstream or enterprise sector.
News: We Went to the Google Glass Film Festival—Don't Expect Glass-Made Movies Anytime Soon
It was a chilly but otherwise beautiful night at YouTube Spaces LA—food trucks, ping pong, a photo booth, and the chance to view film school projects created completely with Glass. About a year ago, the Glass Creative Partnership was formed to explore how Glass could be used in filmmaking, with partnerships spanning from the American Film Institute to CalArts and UCLA. On July 16, 2014, the products of that partnership were screened under the Southern California night sky. Three films were sh...