A quick shoutout from Cupertino! Yeah, the place where Apple does its thing. Anyway, I’m stuck here for a week of back-to-back meetings before jetting off to Berlin. Playing the mentor at XRCC sounds cool, right? Honestly, after last week’s AWE chaos (I was wandering around like a Resident Evil extra, thanks to some nasty bug), I’m ready for a smooth ride here. Seriously, I could use some positive vibes. If you send them my way, I promise to dish out some spicy XR news for you!
Top News of the Week
Image by Meta
So, Meta and Oakley Might Drop Their Glasses This Friday?
A while back, whispers floated about Meta teaming up with Oakley for some sporty glasses with a camera smack dab in the middle. Fast forward to now, this mysterious “oakleymeta” pops up on socials, teasing us with a trippy video. Seriously, no other deets, just a “June 20” launch tease. I was betting we’d see this at Meta Connect. But hey, June’s not a bad time either, right? People are snapping up sunnies for summer. Plus, avoiding a dual launch with Meta’s own tech is smart. I’m buzzing to see what these specs are all about!
Snappy Snippets: Snap Says New Specs by 2026
Evan Spiegel at AWE – yeah, it’s all about Snap cooking up some fresh Spectacles for 2026. He promises a sleeker, lighter, and more capable version. They’re ditching the “Spectacles” label for just “Specs.” No tech specs yet, though (sorry, couldn’t resist). But they’ll sync up with current Snapchat lenses, so there’s that. If Snap beats the others to the punch, this could be the AR scoot forward we’ve all been waiting for.
Qualcomm’s New Toy: Meet the AR1+ Chip
Picture this: I was there, eyes wide, watching Qualcomm unveil the AR1+ chip at AWE. This beast slashes power use by 7% and even trims glasses temple height by 20%! The kicker? Local AI models with up to a billion parameters. Translation: privacy bliss. Your data stays put, safe from those snoopy data collectors. Sure, it’s not running gargantuan models, but it handles smaller tasks like a pro. They showcased a virtual assistant rocking on-device AI, and yes, I was geekily impressed.
Google’s XR Secrets: Moohan, Beam, and Others
Google’s I/O left us with XR tidbits: Samsung’s expected to announce Project Moohan soon. Meanwhile, HP’s gearing up to launch a pricey teleconference gadget using Google Beam tech by year’s end—though shelling out $25K doesn’t even cover the Google Beam license. And, XREAL’s Project Aura glasses are boasting a whopping 70° field of view, matching Meta’s offerings. Near year-end, we’ll finally get to poke around in Android XR’s dev tools. Can’t wait!
Quick Bits: Apple’s Latest
Did you catch my bit on Apple’s WWDC updates? Well, there’s more: Widgets that stick to walls, VisionOS games labeling PSVR 2 controller requirements, and immersive video editing tools from Adobe. Plus, iPad games are heading to Vision Pro with memory boosts. Gaming should get juicy soon!
News on the Horizon
Rediscovering WMR with SteamVR
Matthieu Bucchianeri—aka “mbucchia”—is on a mission to breathe life back into WMR headsets with a new SteamVR driver. Dubbed “Oasis,” it’s his brainchild, born without open-source for NDA reasons. This guy’s a legend, and seriously, he deserves a standing ovation for this move.
Meta Headset Tidbits Leak
Data miners are at it again, unearthing juicy details about Meta’s new headset (codename Puffin or Loma). Automatic IPD, face unlock, and MicroOLED panels? Yes please. Fingers crossed these features make the cut.
Palmer Luckey Teases Eagle Eye Headset
Palmer Luckey—metaVR warrior—talked about his Eagle Eye project at AWE. It’s military-focused, so price is no object if it saves lives. Expect it to dent your pocket more than $10K, boasting specs higher than Apple Vision Pro. Yeah, you read that right.
OpenXR’s Spatial Future
Khronos Group’s proposed spatial computing features could redefine XR standards. Imagine cross-platform AR and MR on the fly. That’s the dream, people.
AWE Adventures Continue
Even after AWE wrapped, product write-ups are rolling out. I’ve got hands-on stories and a cool tech roundup. Hit up the articles if you’re curious!
What’s New in Content
Check out Ndreams’ upcoming game "Reach," more deets on "RoboQuest VR" and "Thief VR." Plus, "What Comes After" serves post-apocalyptic vibes, and VR MMORPG "Ilysia" goes free-to-play this summer. Dive into the slew of promising game updates!
Content Reviews
"Zombie Army VR" got meh reviews—fun zombie action but can get repetitive. "Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between" is a charm, though could use more VR flair. "What The Car" brings fun to your living room in mixed reality. And, "Jigsaw Night" nails family game nights!
Hey, life’s a whirlwind, but amidst it all, donating to those in need can light up the world. Supporting humanitarian efforts for Ukraine with the Red Cross helps. Dive into the articles, check out those fun tidbits, and spread the good vibes. Til next time!