Market Reality: Air Force Gets Immersive, Crypto's AR Future, Inside Amazon's Echo Frames, & Metaverse Goes Mainstream
The march to the mainstreaming of augmented reality can sometimes seem slow, but this week things picked up in earnest.
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How To: These Ergonomic Earbuds Will Fit Your Ears Comfortably for Truly Immersive Listening
Having earbuds that don't work for you is kind of like having shoes that don't fit. They're never where they're supposed to be, and every second you're using them, you're acutely aware of how much they aren't working for you. And if they fall off, you'll probably step on them. ComfoBuds Pro True Wireless Headphones are the right fit, the right sound, and the right choice if you want to listen to music instead of being distracted by the place your music is supposed to come from.
News: Niantic Opens Private Beta for AR Cloud Platform Now Called Lightship
Niantic first unveiled its AR cloud back in 2018, using it to enhance the immersive capabilities of its gaming portfolio.
News: AT&T and NBA Launch Mobile AR Experience via Chicago Bulls App
The Chicago Bulls may not be very relevant in the current NBA standings, but they do lead the league in one other area.
News: Campfire AR Headset Emerges from Stealth to Offer 3D Collaborations for Enterprise & Design Teams
The augmented reality space is no longer about if but when every company and creator will use some kind of immersive device and software to produce and distribute 3D content.
News: Netflix Fantasy Franchise 'The Witcher' Opens Early Access to AR Game Called Monster Slayer
Having found success in video games and a hugely popular Netflix series, The Witcher franchise is now on the hunt for the coin Pokémon GO has earned in location-based augented reality mobile games.
News: Apple Hides Augmented Reality Surprise in Invite for Next Big Event
Apple's augmented reality teases just keep on coming from the halls of its Cupertino labs. The latest comes in the form of an invitation to Apple's next public-facing event.
News: Magic Leap Founder Launches the Company He 'Really' Wanted to Start, a Film & Music Studio with Virtual Artists
The company augmented reality that Rony Abovitz was trying to build at Magic Leap apparently wasn't working out the way he hoped it would. That company, built on dreams, music, and future-looking entertainment, rather than truly new technology, came with a $2,300 price tag for a device using dynamics most mainstream consumers have never even tried.
How To: Upgrade Your Audio with This Powerful Bluetooth Speaker, Now on Sale for Less Than $50
Still listening to music and podcasts on your laptop or phone speakers? Mute that right now and switch to a powerful speaker that sounds incredible — which also happens to be on sale for less than fifty bucks. Right now, you can get the Motorola Sonic Sub 530 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for just $49.95 — that's a 16% discount off the regular price of $59.
News: Apple AR Smartglasses Concept Shows the Virtual Desktop of the Future
The focus on augmented reality over at Apple is, so far, restricted to the iPhone and the iPad. But if some of the most reliable analysts in the business are to be believed, we'll probably see some kind of AR or VR wearable from the company later this year.
How To: Apple Saves Your Siri & Dictation History — Here's the Easy Way to Delete It
Apple has an excellent reputation for its privacy and security policies. That said, it isn't a perfect reputation. Take Siri, for example. The helpful iOS assistant isn't just communicating with you — Apple saves and listens to a history of your Siri interactions. If you don't want Apple storing your Siri history forever, there's something you can do about it.
How To: Build Games for Under $40 with This Developer's Bundle
With over 164 million adults in America playing video games — there are only 209 million adults in the country — this industry is one of the hottest around. Game developers and designers are always in need.
How To: Become an In-Demand Web Developer with This 11-Course Bundle
The web development landscape has changed dramatically over the past ten years. Both aspiring and seasoned developers now need to know a wide range of programming languages and platforms to create truly pro-level sites from scratch, and continuing education is vital if you want to stay ahead of the curve and be competitive in this increasingly popular and lucrative field.
How To: Grab This Pro Gaming Headset for a Steal — Superior Sound, Universal Compatibility & Detachable Microphone by HCG1
Gaming immerses you in environments. To get the most out of the gaming experience, you want the most immersive experience possible. That starts with great audio.
News: LiDAR vs. 3D ToF Sensors — How Apple Is Making AR Better for Smartphones
Apple has implemented a new sensor on the rear camera of its fourth-generation iPad Pro, and it's pretty exciting. It's called the LiDAR Scanner, a scanning "light-detection and ranging" sensor, and you may very well be acquainted with it if you follow any driverless car news. Will we also get it on the upcoming iPhone 12 Pro?
How To: Test Your Social Distancing Skills from Home with This AR App for Android & iOS
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus has practically guaranteed that the virus, along with the phrases "social distancing" and "flattening the curve," will rank among the top search terms of 2020. USA Today combined the phrases in its latest augmented reality experience, which quizzes your knowledge in the best practices of social distancing.
Market Reality: Apple Sets Stage for AR Smartglasses, Spatial Adds Funding, & Pinterest Enters AR Makeup Game
We may or may not see Apple's long-awaited take on AR smartglasses this year, but the company is more than getting its practice swings in with its current wearables business, which hit record revenue in 2019 according to financial results released this week.
How To: Trouble Staying Focused at the Gym? Here Are 4 Ways Your Phone Can Help You Get Locked In
New year, new me. You finally committed to working on the best physical you by going to the gym multiple days a week. Except about an hour in, you start getting really tired of it all. Before you run to the exit, pick up your phone.
Hands-On: Spotify Premium on Magic Leap One Is Futuristic, But Not Quite the iPod of AR
Back when I worked in the music industry, I never imagined there would be a day that I'd be able to sit in a room surrounded by virtual album covers while listening to beats, but that day is really here.
Market Reality: HoloLens 2 Arrives, Valve Reportedly Assists Apple with AR Device, & Niantic Prepares AR Cloud Launch
While the long-awaited HoloLens 2 officially arrived this week, details leaked about another, arguably longer-awaited AR headset, the fabled wearable from Apple, and a previously undisclosed partner assisting the Cupertino-based company with the hardware.
Market Reality: Apple Leaves Clue to AR Headset, Magic Leap Digs for Dinosaurs, & Lenovo Lures Marvel to Mirage
As excitement looms for Apple's annual parade of pomp and circumstance for its latest lineup of iPhones, some hidden hints in an internal build of iOS 13 has Apple enthusiasts salivating for what Cupertino is testing in the AR wearables realm.
News: AT&T TV New Beta Streaming App for Magic Leap One Delivers Live Sports, News, HBO, TV & Movies via Video On Demand
The streaming content vision from Magic Leap recently underwent a quiet but major update, courtesy of AT&T.
Market Reality: Snoop & Mark Ronson Hit AR, DreamWorld & Mad Gaze Launch Wearables, & Google Tests Mobile Hand Tracking
Before smartglasses makers can dream of taking smartglasses to mainstream consumers, they must first determine the right mix of form, function, and price that will drive customers to buy into what they're hoping to sell.
Market Reality: HoloLens 2 Lands at FCC, Samsung Adds Depth Cam to Galaxy Note 10+, & the Magic Leap Apps You Can't Miss
Developers and enterprise customers chomping at the bit to get their hands on HoloLens 2 may not have to wait much longer, as Microsoft passed one of the remaining hurdles needed to release their new tech into the wild.
Market Reality: Magic Leap App Makes Waves, Norm Glasses Push Smartglass Future, & Facebook's Mind-Powered Controllers
When it comes to the business of augmented reality, companies that aren't already introducing new products or apps are focused on producing the AR technology of the future. But in the realm of real products and apps, Magic Leap continues to show off what its headset can do, this time via a new app that transports users to the ocean's depths.
Market Reality: Apple Unveils New ARKit & Dev Tools, Unreal Engine Comes to HoloLens 2, & North Expands Focals Pop-Ups
While Apple's smartglasses development reportedly moves forward behind-the-scenes, the company continues to build on its AR software foundation in its mobile ecosystem with further iterations to its ARKit platform and the introduction of new AR development tools.
News: Apple Augmented Reality Smartglasses Concept Tests Futuristic Fashion Approach
Whenever a new, category-defining Apple product is in the works, we usually get a series of creative concept designs to accompany the rumors swirling around the prospective launch.
News: AT&T Begins Selling Magic Leap One Nationwide Online, Debuts Commercial Promoting DirecTV Now
The era of AT&T and Magic Leap has quietly entered a new phase that ramps up the mainstreaming of the cutting edge augmented reality device.
Market Reality: Meta's Legal Woes Continue, Snapchat Beefs Up AR in Its App, & AT&T Expands Magic Leap Retail Rollout
To borrow from the canon of Game of Thrones, what is dead may never die. And while the Meta Company that we knew this time last year is no more, the patent infringement lawsuit filed against the company lives on.
Market Reality: A Hidden ODG & Magic Leap Connection, Epic Games Launches Fund, & Investors Back Mojo Vision & Scope AR
While Magic Leap turned heads at the Game Developers Conference with AR experiences at the Unity and Unreal Engine booths, news broke that the company was the winning bidder for ODG's patents.
Market Reality: Microsoft's Next HoloLens Close to Arriving, Apple Prepares for Big AR Marketing Push
The hype around augmented reality has risen to a fever pitch over the past two years, and if this week's selection of business news stories are any indication, the din is about to get down right deafening.
Market Reality: Magic Leap Dominated Investment & Innovation in 2018, While New York Times Maintains Its AR Media Lead
The augmented reality industry has a bright future built on innovation and growth, but that doesn't mean we can't look back at the close of the year to see what the industry has accomplished from a business perspective.
Market Reality: Magic Leap Prescription Lenses Arrive, Niantic Challenges Devs with Real World, & Blippar Goes Under
Mixed reviews of Magic Leap One aside, it would be hard to deny that Magic Leap has had a big year. And the AR unicorn isn't coasting to the finish line, with a number of new apps dropping and prescription frames finally arriving to bring relief to those who wear eyeglasses.
Market Reality: Magic Leap Demotes Execs, Artie Makes AR Smarter, & Walmart Adds AR to Its Shopping Cart
Signaling a new direction forward for the company, Magic Leap shook up its executive suite by re-assigning to top leaders to new advisory roles. Meanwhile, a new startup backed by Hollywood executives, tech venture firms, and notable angel investors plans to bring new life to AR for marketing entertainment properties.
How To: Everyone Should Buy a Gaming Phone — Not Just Fortnite Junkies
Last year, Razer kicked off a new trend by building a smartphone from the ground up with mobile gamers in mind. At the time, many thought the Razer Phone solved a problem that no one really had — but a year later, we're starting to see that gaming phones are perfect for more than just Fortnite players.
News: Amazon Sumerian & 8th Wall Weave Web AR Experience for 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Movie
Sony Pictures has tapped the powers of augmented reality as provided by startup 8th Wall & the Amazon Sumerian development platform to help it promote the latest motion picture manifestation of Spider-Man.
News: Former Googlers Raise $8 Million Funding to Reinvent Remote Collaboration Through Magic Leap & HoloLens
Last week, Twilio showed off how avatar-based chat communications will work on the Magic Leap One, and now a new startup has unveiled yet another way that augmented reality telepresence and remote collaboration can take place on the device.
News: ESPN, Fox Sports, & NBA's Clippers & Mavericks Draw Up Augmented Reality Plays to Win Over Fans
Augmented reality is becoming a slam dunk for sports entertainment, as leagues, their teams, and their broadcast partners have been quick to adopt AR.
Hands-On: Hands-On with Magic Leap & Weta Workshop's Dr. Grordbort's Invaders
Over the last few years, the only thing teased by Magic Leap more than the Magic Leap One itself has been the company's flagship gaming title Dr. Grordbort's Invaders. The game, developed by New Zealand studio Weta Workshop, finally got its debut last week during the L.E.A.P. conference in Los Angeles.
How To: The Best Socialization Apps on Your Phone for 18-Month-Olds
Your childhood "social networking" may have been to go outdoors to the neighbor's — and outdoors is a great place for kids to be. But these days, the terms educational, digital media, entertainment, and toddlers don't have to be mutually exclusive. Like most things in life, it's about balance, and these apps can aid your child with social-emotional development when not playing with friends.