After a whirlwind trip to Italy, I’m back, feeling a bit jet-lagged but utterly delighted. I trust your Valentine’s Day was filled with love and laughter. My own happiness has been fueled by an unexpected highlight: my piece on Android XR’s camera permissions grabbed some attention and got mentions in big names like Road To VR, Upload VR, and Android Authority! A few moments in the spotlight can really lift the spirits. Now, let’s dive into what’s making waves in the world of XR this week!
Top News of the Week
Ray-Ban Meta Hits Milestone Sales
In an exciting development, Francesco Milleri, the head of EssilorLuxottica, lauded the tremendous success of the Ray-Ban Meta spectacles during their Q4 2024 earnings call. Selling two million units already, the glasses are proving to be quite popular—a sentiment I’ve heard echoed in supply chain whispers. Such robust sales and customer loyalty mark this as a hit product.
Luxottica plans to escalate production to over ten million units annually by 2026, buoyed by this success. This Ray-Ban Meta triumph is sparking buzz in the smartglasses world—at CES, AI-powered glasses were everywhere, and rumors swirl about major brands like Apple and Samsung working on their own. Yet, caution is advised. Remember, Ray-Ban Meta’s success owes much to Ray-Ban’s legendary branding and Luxottica’s vast network, making it uncertain whether other tech heavyweights can mirror this success.
With production goals set at ten million annually, it’s worth noting that while impressive, these numbers barely graze smartphone figures, indicating a slow climb in adoption. Let’s see if they can sustain this upward trend in the coming months.
Other Relevant Developments
Meta’s Leap into Humanoid Robotics
Bloomberg reports Meta is stepping into robotics through its Reality Labs, the brain behind their XR headsets. They’re focusing on humanoid robots capable of household chores, utilizing data from their XR devices to enhance these bots. Interestingly, Meta isn’t diving deep into hardware production—likely a lesson learned from XR—with aspirations pinned on crafting AI systems, sensors, and software for others to build on.
While I find this move intriguing, it seems counterintuitive given Meta’s current XR hurdles and significant financial losses each quarter. Launching another costly endeavor in such uncharted territory seems risky to me.
Apple’s Big Plans for Vision Pro
Apple aims to enrich their Vision Pro headset by integrating Apple Intelligence, as reported by Bloomberg. Expected in an upcoming software update, this feature rollout could hit beta for developers anytime now. Another buzzworthy tidbit: Apple is reportedly scouting partners like Tencent in China to enhance AI capabilities. Blending Apple Intelligence with their devices aligns well with rumors of an M5 chipset-powered Vision Pro model.
Competition is fierce, and with Google’s XR strides, Apple’s move to infuse its devices with cutting-edge intelligence seems strategic to maintain its competitive edge.
AugmentOS: A Game Changer for Smartglasses Development
Mentra’s new AugmentOS app is setting out to revolutionize app development for smartglasses. By allowing a single app to function across multiple glasses models using their SDK, including Vuzix models and others, this initiative promises to untangle the fragmented smartglasses ecosystem.
It’s an ambitious project that could encourage more developers to innovate for smartglasses. Whether it catches on widely is still uncertain, but it’s a notable step towards streamlining development in this burgeoning sector.
Brief News Mentions
PSVR 2’s Festive Sales Success
Sony’s PSVR 2 saw an impressive sales boost from a price drop during the 2024 holiday season, with sales soaring compared to the previous year. While it’s not yet on par with Quest’s figures, the numbers are an encouraging sign that could prompt a permanent price reduction strategy.
Anduril’s Takeover of the IVAS Project
Palmer Luckey’s Anduril takes over Microsoft’s IVAS military headset project, offering hope for better alignment with soldiers’ needs. This aligns with Luckey’s bold claims of being a top-tier head-mounted-display designer. Expectations set, he now faces the challenge of delivering a superior product.
Wonderland Cloud: Hosting for WebXR Apps
Create Worlds introduces Wonderland Cloud, offering specialized hosting for WebXR applications complete with multiplayer and spatial voice chat services—a promising tool for developers in the WebXR space.
Tech Showdown: RTX 5090 vs. RTX 4090
A couple of YouTube channels put NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 against its predecessor, the RTX 4090, in VR tests. As expected, the 5090 came out on top, showcasing advancements over the older model.
Exploring VR Communities for Seniors
An insightful article by Bobby Carlton sheds light on VR communities for older adults. While younger generations often claim the spotlight, it reminds us of the diverse and vibrant groups of older VR users enjoying fitness and social applications.
Unique Experiences and Updates
From viewing NBA games in an all-new tabletop format on Apple Vision Pro to catching big sales in the Quest Store on popular games, the XR landscape is buzzing with exciting updates and innovations. Meanwhile, PSVR 2 welcomes its first hand-tracked game, showcasing the impressive capacity and performance of the PS5.
Content News Worth Highlighting
Behemoth’s Massive Patch
Skydance rolled out a significant update to Behemoth, addressing a slew of bugs and enhancing gameplay.
Into The Radius 2 Comes to Quest
Excitement builds as Into The Radius 2 gears up for its Quest launch in Early Access next year, priced at $39.99.
Ready At Dawn’s Lost VR Treasure
It’s a loss for the VR world that Ready At Dawn’s promising new game never saw the light of day, shut down by Meta before its completion. Known for iconic titles like Lone Echo, their sudden closure hints at unrealized potential and strategic financial decisions from Meta.
Exciting VR Game News
Many titles are marking their arrival across various platforms—From clay animation wonders to horror staples like Five Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic, new games are making their presence felt on the VR stage. With updates from tactical shooters to puzzle adventures, there’s plenty for VR enthusiasts to look forward to.
In conclusion, the XR landscape is witnessing remarkable growth and innovation, both in hardware advancements and software experiences. The promise and potential of AI-infused technologies, coupled with vibrant community ecosystems, hint at an exciting future. As these narratives unfold, they promise to redefine how we interact with the digital world, promising both challenges and groundbreaking opportunities.
