The XR Weekly Recap (Nov 19, 2024): Meta Unveils Project Aria Research Kits, Surge of Chinese Smartglasses, and More!

Greetings from Finland! As I travel around this beautiful country, from the buzzing city of Helsinki all the way to the serene Lapland, I’m enjoying the unique experiences this place offers. Meeting Santa Claus, petting reindeer, and indulging in Finland’s traditional dishes have been some of the highlights. I’m also excited to attend MatchXR soon, a prominent event in the XR scene in Nordic Europe. I look forward to sharing my experiences there with you all.

Before diving into this week’s news, I’d like to dedicate this edition of my newsletter to Daniel Dyboski-Bryant, who sadly passed away recently. I had the privilege of meeting Daniel several times, both in person at events like AWE US, and virtually on platforms like ENGAGE. His kindness and passion for using VR to benefit humanity, particularly in education, left a mark on everyone. His legacy will certainly continue. Farewell, Daniel.

Top News This Week

Meta Opens Applications for Project Aria Research Kits

Remember when Meta announced Project Aria a few years back? It was an ambitious project aimed at paving the way for future Augmented Reality glasses. While these glasses lack a display, they make up for it with a slew of sensors, including cameras and microphones. The idea was to gather data from the real-world perspectives of Meta employees and close partners. This week, however, Project Aria takes a new turn. Meta is now inviting research centers, whether they’re affiliated with universities or corporations, to apply for a Project Aria devkit. Along with the glasses, selected applicants will receive a full development suite, including the companion app, SDK, and cloud services. These services go beyond simple data storage, offering features like environmental reconstruction from point clouds and facial and license plate obscuring in videos. This initiative opens new doors for groundbreaking AR research. Meta has shared case studies from reputable institutions like the University of Bristol and Carnegie Mellon University to inspire potential applicants. If you’re in the research sector, this is certainly an opportunity to consider.

Other Important News

A Wave of Smartglasses from China and Beyond

The smartglasses market is buzzing with activity this week. The popularity of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses has led to a surge of new entrants, including three AI-powered offerings from China. According to a report from China’s 36kr, Xiaomi is said to be developing a competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses. Given Xiaomi’s history with smartglasses, this development isn’t entirely unexpected. Partnering with Goertek, known for manufacturing items like the Quest headsets in China, Xiaomi might launch these new glasses by Q2 2025. Then there’s Baidu, who unveiled its Xiaodu AI Glasses last week. Weighing in at just 45 grams and sporting a 16MP camera alongside a four-microphone array, these glasses are slated for release in early 2025. Lastly, Rokid revealed its new glasses featuring Snapdragon AR1, with collaborations with the fashion brand BOLON. Meanwhile, Amazon is reportedly working on smartglasses named "Amelia," based on the Echo Frames but designed for their drivers to enhance delivery logistics. The smartglasses sector is certainly heating up.

Meta For Education Launches in Beta

Meta’s educational initiative for Quest headsets, dubbed Meta For Education, is now in its Beta phase. This program aims to simplify the management of Quest devices in educational settings and is already being tested by several well-known universities. Feedback from these institutions is helping shape the program, with a full launch expected this winter. Furthermore, Meta, in partnership with VictoryXR, is developing digital twin campuses, or "metaversities," in Europe, offering students and educators a chance to engage in immersive learning environments that replicate their actual campuses.

Meta Teases Orion Operating System

Meta recently released a video showcasing potential UI designs for its Orion glasses. The footage suggests that Meta is experimenting with various interface options, acknowledging the unique interaction paradigm required for AR glasses compared to current VR or MR systems. Developer Alex Coulombe has confirmed some of these designs align with what he’s personally tested at Meta Connect.

Noteworthy Mentions

bHaptics Refreshes Its Device Lineup

Korean company bHaptics is introducing its new range of haptic products. Among them is the TactSuit Pro, a high-end vest priced at $499, and the more budget-friendly TactSuit Air for $249. There’s also a new TactSleeve for $199. These devices are compatible with numerous VR titles across several platforms.

Horizon Worlds Introduces Its Currency

Horizon Worlds is now testing its new currency, Meta Credits, enabling users to purchase digital goods within the platform. This monetization step is crucial for building an economy within Horizon Worlds.

Ekto VR Announces First Batch of Shoes

Ekto VR is gearing up to release its first batch of virtual reality shoes, providing an innovative way to walk within VR environments. These Genesis shoes are priced between $2000 and $3000 and are aimed at early adopters.

MeRCURY Diving Mask on IndieGoGo

The underwater XR headset, MeRCURY, is now available on IndieGoGo. Designed for unique VR experiences underwater, it starts at €1250 and is targeted mainly towards businesses.

Apple’s New Immersive Videos

Apple has released two new immersive videos, including a music video from The Weeknd and part of its unique ‘Concert For One’ series.

Content Highlights

Here’s a quick look at some upcoming and recent releases in the VR and mixed reality gaming world:

• Ember Souls will arrive on Quest by November 21st.

• The Gadgeteer update finally brings mixed reality to its gameplay on Quest 3 and Quest 3S.

• Beat Saber has a new DLC, featuring the Monstercat Mixtape 2.

• Clone Drone in the Hyperdome comes as a sequel to the popular gameplay arena title, launching at $20.

• Resolution Games is introducing a new tower defense game for Vision Pro, called Gears & Goo, set to release next year.

Quick Tidbits

Sony has discontinued the PSVR adapter for the PS5, Pico’s OS gets an update, and Apple’s Final Cut Pro now includes editing capabilities for Spatial Videos.

A deep dive from Wired highlights Meta Horizon Worlds being populated increasingly by children. There’s also an influx of free Quixel megascans on FAB, and Vive’s Ultimate Tracker now supports third-party headsets.

New XR Design Challenge

A new XR hackathon by Immersive Insiders in collaboration with ShapesXR and IDO is offering a $10,000 prize pool. This Global XR Design Challenge runs from December 2 to January 13 and is free to enter.

Let’s also talk about Story, an app letting creators design spatial content for Vision Pro with a variety of media. Available now, it’s worth checking out for those looking to innovate in spatial content.

Lastly, if you’re looking to spotlight your XR product, this blog is a great platform. Check out the advertising opportunities available to get your product noticed.

Wrap-Up and Giving Back

Instead of asking for support for the blog this week, I’d like to encourage donations to the Red Cross to aid those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. A big thank you to all my Patreon supporters who make this newsletter possible.

Feel free to check out the Red Cross website if you’d like to contribute.

(Header image by Meta)