Back in Italy and feeling a bit weary but undeniably happy, I hope you’re all doing well and had a delightful Valentine’s Day with those who matter most to you. On my end, I’m riding high on a wave of excitement. My piece on Android XR and the permissions needed for camera frames has been highlighted in major outlets such as Road To VR, Upload VR, and Android Authority! It’s nice to enjoy a moment in the spotlight every now and then. 😊 With that cheerful note, let’s dive into the week’s most notable XR updates!
### Top news of the week
#### Ray-Ban Meta has become a significant hit, selling 2 million units
In the recent earnings call for Q4 2024, EssilorLuxottica’s CEO, Francesco Milleri, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which have been flying off the shelves with sales hitting the 2 million mark. This aligns with whispers I’d heard down the grapevine from industry contacts. What’s even more impressive is the high user retention they are witnessing—a true hallmark of a successful product.
With such positive traction, Luxottica plans to ramp up production significantly, targeting over 10 million units by the end of 2026. The buzz surrounding the Ray-Ban Meta has undoubtedly lit a fire under the smartglasses hype train, with numerous startups showcasing AI-enhanced smartglasses and major players like Apple and Samsung rumored to be concocting their own. Yet, one should tread carefully amid the buzz. The lion’s share of Ray-Ban Meta’s success can be attributed to the strong brand presence and wide-reaching distribution network of Ray-Ban and EssilorLuxottica rather than Meta alone—an advantage other tech giants might find hard to replicate.
When you crunch the numbers, you realize Luxottica’s ambitious plans to manufacture 10 million units yearly still pale in comparison to smartphone production volumes. This denotes a gradual uptake in these devices. Here’s hoping they capture the market’s fancy, but the jury’s still out as the months roll on.
### Other significant insights
#### Meta’s foray into humanoid robots
Buzz from Bloomberg hints that Meta’s Reality Labs division, the same group that works on XR headsets, is dabbling in the development of humanoid robots. These robots are being designed to assimilate everyday household tasks, leveraging data from AR and VR headsets and the Project Aria glasses for training.
Interestingly, Meta doesn’t plan to produce these robots itself—it seems dabbling in hardware has highlighted its challenges. Instead, the strategy involves crafting foundational elements like AI systems and sensors that other companies can adopt for their robotic ventures.
I must admit, I’m a tad bewildered by this supposed pivot. With Meta’s current struggles in XR and its recurring financial losses, venturing into yet another expensive tech frontier might seem a bit of a head-scratcher.
#### Apple set to integrate Apple Intelligence into the Vision Pro
Word on the street is Apple is poised to introduce Apple Intelligence to its Vision Pro headset along with features for guest users and a spatial content app, and we might see these rolled out by April. These additions, part of a software update, could hit beta for developers imminently. Furthermore, Apple’s on the lookout for partners in China—Tencent and Bytedance are contenders—to infuse AI into their devices. This Intelligence integration syncs well with rumors of an upgraded Vision Pro fired up by an M5 chip.
Apple embedding its Intelligence into Vision Pro is a game-changer, positioning it to better challenge Google’s Android XR operating system, which touts integration with Gemini as a key feature. It’s fascinating to watch giants like Meta, Apple, and Google race to outpace each other with technological enhancements.
#### AugmentOS aims to simplify smartglasses application development
Mentra has just unleashed AugmentOS, an innovative smartphone app designed as a one-stop platform to simplify smartglasses app development. By creating a singular application through the AugmentOS SDK, developers can now ensure its compatibility across numerous smartglasses models. Currently partnered with Vuzix, applications running on AugmentOS are compatible with the Vuzix Z100, Even Realities G1, and Mentra Mach1. There’s been some buzz about compatibility with Ray-Ban Meta, although the official site doesn’t list it among supported devices, raising a few eyebrows.
In my view, AugmentOS addresses a pivotal issue. Despite the buzz surrounding smart glasses, confusion still lingers over app development compatibility and fragmentation within the ecosystem. AugmentOS represents a promising leap towards creating cross-compatible solutions. While widespread adoption remains to be seen, this endeavor is definitely charting the right course.
#### News worth a mention
– PSVR 2’s holiday sales saw a huge spike courtesy of a significant price drop. The headset sold five times more than in 2023, which is quite something. However, keeping prices low might be a winning strategy for Sony in the long run.
– Anduril Technologies is now heading the IVAS project, a venture previously managed by Microsoft. Palmer Luckey’s new direction and unwavering confidence in his design prowess have set the bar high, so time will tell if he delivers on his ambitious promises.
– Wonderland Cloud, launched by Create Worlds, is tailor-made for WebXR apps hosting and offers a suite of services including specialized multiplayer support—an exciting development for WebXR creators.
– As for hardware showdowns, YouTubers have been dissecting the performance of the RTX 5090 against the RTX 4090 in VR settings, and unsurprisingly, the 5090 shines.
– Equally fascinating is an article by Bobby Carlton highlighting the expansive VR community of users over 50, a reminder that this technology engages users spanning multiple generations.
– The NBA’s Apple Vision Pro app now includes a diorama-style Tabletop feature that offers a cool, miniature 3D game experience—certainly worth checking out.
#### Content highlights and updates
– Among the releases, a refreshing claymation adventure, The Midnight Walk, is scheduled for PSVR 2 and PC VR headsets at $40. Meanwhile, VR aficionados can look forward to significant updates across several titles including a big 2.0 update for Onward, the release of Selina: Mind at Large on Quest, and plenty more exciting releases across platforms.
– A discussion this week about Ready At Dawn’s shelved VR project bemoans the end of what could have been a major milestone in VR gaming—if only financial constraints hadn’t nipped it in the bud.
#### Some reviews worth a glance
In the midst of all this, simple yet delightful experiences like Stupid Cars infuse humor into gaming, and TouchDesk stands out as an excellently developed app for the Apple Vision Pro where you can sketch with finger interactions—versatile and fun in any spatial setup.
### Other notable tidbits
– From John Carmack pushing for community ports of Doom and Quake to headway with VR mods and quirky product reveals, the world of XR never sleeps. There’s even an innovative faceplate by Dbrand for the Apple Vision Pro that sets it apart.
– Crytek and Unity have unfortunately announced layoffs; a stark reminder of the industry’s ongoing fluctuations.
### Heartfelt thanks and a call for generosity
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(Header image by Meta)
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