Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)

Sightful has opened the purchase of its Spacetop AR laptop to all interested buyers after a limited access launch in 2023. This Snapdragon-powered laptop provides access to popular work apps such as Microsoft Office through a 100" virtual desktop.

At the start of sales in the USA, Apple finally confirmed the full specifications of the Vision Pro. The iPhone manufacturer still had a few surprises in store, such as the option for memory upgrades or the details of the built-in processor.

TCL claims to have practically soaked up the industry recognition and accolades as a result of its CES 2024 exhibition. The OEM showcased a wide variety of products that have subsequently been showered in awards, not the least of which are its new flagship 115-in mini-LED TV. TCL's latest AR glasses, NXTPAPER tablets and other displays have also attracted potentially meaningful appreciation during the Las Vegas event.

The Apple Vision Pro is set to debut on February 2. Weeks before the official launch, the Cupertino giant silently cut a portion of the mixed reality headset's introductory video that showcased the Open Sky Environment feature. Apple has also removed the references to this feature from the official website.

BOE's latest Las Vegas outing demonstrates its latest cutting-edge display prototypes, and is also the first to draw attention to the brands under which it will be selling such products in markets such as the United States. For example, its line of foldable OLED products - such as the new ambi-sliding flexible display - will be handled by f-OLED, whereas others such as the curved 27-inch 4K Mini LED monitor is part of the OEM's α-MLED division.

The launch of the Apple Vision Pro is imminent and Apple’s hype machine is getting into full swing. Unlike many previous Apple product launches, the Vision Pro is no “sure thing” as it enters a segment that, despite potential, has never really taken off with consumers. And that’s before we get to its $3,500 starting price.

Vuzix has debuted the ultralight Z100 smart glasses for enterprise customers. These are designed for corporate developers to create custom applications for their businesses to optimize staff workflow with information, AI-assistance, work progress, and more.

Shiftall has announced three virtual reality products at CES 2024 - the MeganeX superlight, a 5.2K OLED VR headset, the HaritoraX Wireless R 6-point body tracker, and the mutalk 2 soundproof communications mask that prevents voice leakage.

The Asus AirVision M1 may sound like a competitor to the Apple Vision Pro, but it’s not a mixed-reality device. Instead, it’s a wearable display that equips FHD Micro OLED display tech and requires a connected computer or phone. With a proper connection, this high-tech eyewear can generate multiple virtual screens, allowing users to do many things in a limited space.

With its long-range, high-payload design, DJI's latest drone is definitely not intended for normal recreational use. The global version of the FlyCart 30 (or FC30) is rated to fly for nearly 10 miles while "intelligently" carrying nearly 70 pounds (lb) in either Cargo or Winch mode. DJI also asserts that it can do so at high altitudes in extreme conditions, and can be monitored and controlled easily.

Doublepoint has debuted the free Wow Mouse software for Wear OS smartwatches. This app enables touch-free control of computers, tablets, AR/VR/XR headsets, and smart homes through hand gestures and motions.

XREAL asserts that it is ready for Apple's Vision Pro with the Air 2 Ultra, which upgrade to tracking in six degree of freedom (6DoF) and a field of view (FOV) that might beat that of its Cupertino-born rival. The glasses also boast high-refresh-rate displays from Sony in a titanium-enhanced form-factor that the OEM touts as both style- and development-friendly.

Apple revealed the Vision Pro in June of last year, and now, it is finally ready to put the mixed reality headset on sale. The Cupertino giant has announced that it will start taking pre-orders from January 19, with shipments planned to begin from February 02. Initially, it will only be available in the US with a starting price tag of $3,499.

Sony has revealed an XR head-mounted display with controllers for “spatial content creation” at CES 2024. It is currently in the preview phase, so it doesn’t have a formal name like the Apple Vision Pro. But Sony confirmed that the PSVR2-like XR headset will be available later in 2024.

Apple's first virtual reality headset will be shipping soon, at least in the US. Apple has now confirmed details of the launch, including the storage and headband variants, the prices for dioptric correction lenses and the features that will be available at launch.

ONECOME has debuted the 6-pad FINTIN V1 handheld keyboard. This innovative Bluetooth device allows users to type blind through the use of easy-to-memorize sets of keypads that correspond to the regular QWERTY layout. This compact keyboard enables rapid text entry while wearing AR/VR/XR headsets.

XREAL (formerly Nreal) has declared itself "the largest player in the augmented reality (AR) industry", having captured just over half of that market according to its latest sales report. The brand also claims to have shipped over 300,000 units of its Air-brand glasses to date, a new generation of which might be unveiled during CES 2024.

The leading processor manufacturer for smartphones unveiled the Snapdragon XR2+ chip, which will be utilised in mixed and virtual reality headsets produced by Google and Samsung.

Elvis is returning to the stage thanks to Layered Reality's technological magic combining AI, AR, ML, holographic projection, and more. The first 3D concert is planned for November 2024 in Central London.

Meta has announced a price reduction for its VR headset and is also offering various accessories at a discount. This makes Meta's reasonable starting prices in the world of VR even more affordable.

The AerAware wearable heads-up display system from AerSale has been approved for use on Boeing 737NG jets by the FAA. A multispectral camera generates an enhanced view through clouds and darkness. This mixed reality headset allows pilots to fly and land with greater confidence and safety in poor conditions.

The 2027 Apple Vision Pro headset is expected to introduce cutting-edge RGB OLEDoS displays for enhanced brightness and color reproduction, according to Omdia, revolutionizing augmented and virtual reality experiences. Analysts, including Ming-Chi Kuo, anticipate no hardware updates until the launch in 2027.

New design patents from Hong Kong offer a sneak peek into Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset's accessories, emphasising a sleek protective cover and a removable battery unit. With 70 additional patents secured, Apple highlights the soft-touch woven fabric cover, providing aesthetic appeal and comprehensive protection. The battery unit features a removable cable for enhanced flexibility and convenience, reflecting Apple's commitment to user-friendly design.

Sony has submitted patents for two types of foot controllers. The aim is to deliver an immersive experience to the players who have limited space to move.

Windows is discontinuing Windows Mixed Reality, which means that numerous headsets will potentially become electronic waste in the long term. The discontinuation is also likely to have a profound impact on Microsoft's VR strategy and the platform's chances of success.

The Qoocam 3 Ultra is a "cutting-edge" new dual-lens action camera rated for super-high recording in 3D. Kandao's upcoming lifestyle vlogging device is also backed to take high-quality, instantly-shareable panoramic photos. It will debut during the OEM's CES 2024 showcase ahead of its 2024 release.

BMW enthusiasts can register for the BMW M Drift + M Mixed Reality driving experience. Drivers race and drift inside virtual reality race circuits while driving BMW M4 Competition Coupés in the real-world.

The third generation of Amazon Echo Frames has been launched in the USA, but reviews from individual media sites have been restrained. The appearance of the Echo Frames is good, but the functionality is inadequate.

Samsung is said to have brought forward the launch of its own Galaxy Glass AR glasses and, in doing so, it may well have a headstart over Apple and its Apple Vision Pro. The product could also certainly be viewed as a shared project.

Meta is launching a prerelease version of Ray-Ban smart glasses with AI capabilities for select users in the USA. Using the glasses' camera system, Meta's AI can evaluate what you see and hear and give commentary.

A US Patent Application detailing a potential Google Glass successor with smart home controls has been published. The AR wearable has an integrated sensor for object recognition, allowing you to interact with smart home devices with hand gestures. Examples include playing music from a speaker or adjusting a thermostat.

Looking Glass has just launched a KickStarter campaign for its smallest holographic display yet, the Looking Glass Go, featuring a 6-inch screen and a compact folding design. Customers can use the company’s Luma AI tool can turn 2D images into 3D ones and view them as a slideshow. The Liteforms app also creates ChatGPT-powered 3D characters that you can talk to.

The Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2 are receiving build 60.0. The new software brings several improvements to the VR headsets, including a new Layout app, Bluetooth bug fixes, and higher clock speeds for the Quest Pro. However, the company also plans to discontinue one feature.

Varjo has released the XR-4 mixed reality headsets with 4K displays for each eye that produce a combined 28 million pixel display resolution. This exceeds the resolution of all consumer VR/XR headsets on the market today including the upcoming Apple Vision Pro. Three models are available – the XR-4, XR-4 Focal Edition, and XR-4 Secure Edition.

From now on, KISS will perform as virtual avatars created by Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic, enabling them to continue performing and connecting with fans around the world long after their traditional stage shows have ended.

The Dream Glass Lead SE is a new pair of AR glasses designed to allow users to enjoy media content on the go without being disturbed. Financing is to be provided by a crowdfunding campaign.

Valve has brought an official Steam Link app to Meta Quest headsets. Available on the Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro, Steam Link appears to have replaced existing solutions like Air Link and Virtual Desktop.

HTC has announced that its new own-brand accessory augments the UX of its VIVE headsets as never before with new technology that confers true "self-tracking" on the user. Accordingly, their avatar's movements in games or apps are backed to become more realistic and convincing with an Ultimate Tracker - or more, as they come in multipacks as well as individually.

A Chinese media outlet report says only 400,000 Apple Vision Pro units will be available at launch. That figure will gradually increase to 1 million throughout 2024.

Get US$225 off the HTC Vive Pro 2 VR headset during this weekend’s cyber sales. The Vive Pro 2 is one of the top models for delivering an immersive virtual experience and compatible with all major VR games and applications. Build content in 3D today using Unreal Engine, AutoCAD VRED, and more.

Virtual reality is set to become even more immersive thanks to a new VR glove from Fluid Reality. This rival to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta smart glove utilizes groundbreaking technology that promises to not only make the device more compact, simpler to operate, and more effective, but also significantly more affordable. The glove is expected to have applications beyond gaming, including medicine and robotics.

Vrgineers has introduced the XTAL 3 CAVU mixed reality headset for pilot training. By utilizing an AMD Xilinx FGPA in coordination with a Nvidia Quadro RTX A6000, super low-latency and fast image updates are achieved.

Virtual reality could be redefined by targeted lucid dreaming. Scientists are developing a new wearable device, similar to VR glasses, that aims to induce lucid dreams. This technology could have a wide range of applications, from completely transformed gaming to innovative therapies for mental illness.

Using devices like Apple's Vision Pro, the tech giant aims to provide its customers with a more personalized, interactive and informative shopping and support experience. Recently obtained patents reveal Apple's plans to broaden its utilization of augmented reality.

Vuzix touts its new smart glasses as so well-designed they can be worn while working out or training. They are based on the OEM's Ultralite platform for a head-worn, hands-free connection to a smartphone or smartwatch. The new S-variants are also backed to eliminate some typical on-the-go augmented reality (AR) issues that might persist with other glasses.

Zappar has released the Zapbox mixed reality headset for Android and Apple smartphones. The cheaper Zapbox can playback Apple Vision spatial videos and includes Bluetooth controllers to interact with and build content.

Ocutrx has announced the OcuLenz AR/XR headset targeted to macular degeneration sufferers. The headset will actively remap live images of the world around the areas of vision loss allowing users to see a complete image of the world.

Even though its successor came out a month ago, the Meta Quest 2 remains a good alternative for people who aren't interested in mixed reality. On Amazon US, it's currently off by US$50, making the 128 GB model US$249, while the 256 GB SKU will set users back US$299.

STELLAR Knee gives orthopedic surgeons the superhero ability to see hidden bones and soft tissue with their mixed reality headsets. The software captures 3D patient position in real-time while displaying information on the underlying hard and soft tissue holographically.

In a recent report by MacRumors, the publication claims to have obtained informating regarding the 2nd-generation Apple Vision Pro. The expected changes seem to be minor, as the future version is stated to bear significant resemblance to the 1st generation.