Tag: ar

Snap OS 2.0 is a small step towards AR glasses you might actually wear

image via theverge.com
image via theverge.com

Last September, Snap revealed its fifth-generation Spectacles, upgraded AR glasses with a twist: they were only ever released to developers. One year later, we still haven’t seen even a glimpse of the consumer-ready version of those glasses, which the company still says is coming in 2026, but Snap is ready to show off Snap OS 2.0, a software update to those developer Spectacles that signals its plans for mainstream AR.

https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/777810/snap-os-2-spectacles-software-browser-spotlight-gallery

End of an Era: Adobe Pulls the Plug on Aero as AR Industry Reality Bites – XR Today

image via xrtoday.com
image via xrtoday.com

Adobe’s Aero discontinuation isn’t just about one company’s strategic shift—it’s a reality check for an industry still searching for its mainstream moment. While mixed reality continues evolving, this development reminds us that even tech giants can misjudge market timing and demand.

https://www.xrtoday.com/augmented-reality/end-of-an-era-adobe-pulls-the-plug-on-aero-as-ar-industry-reality-bites/

Meta’s Smart Glasses With Built-In Display May Launch Next Month

image via pcmag.com
image via pcmag.com

Meta's display-equipped smart glasses may launch next month and cost less than previous estimates, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The wearable, codenamed Hypernova, has been rumored for some time. It is expected to be a high-end version of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, with a small display at the bottom of the right lens. The display will only be visible to the wearer, and it can be controlled using a wrist accessory called Ceres—something Meta first teased in 2022.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/metas-smart-glasses-with-built-in-display-may-launch-next-month

Meta conducts layoffs in Oculus Studios, impacting VR exercise app Supernatural

image via techcrunch.com
image via techcrunch.com

Meta laid off employees on Thursday in its Reality Labs division, which encompasses various virtual and augmented reality projects. The cuts impact employees within Oculus Studios, which develops apps and games for Meta’s Quest headsets. Reality Labs has been a massive cost for Meta, losing almost $5 billion in the last quarter of 2024 while generating about $1 billion in sales. Meta has reported billions of dollars in operating losses on Reality Labs each year since rebranding from Facebook and emphasizing its commitment to the “metaverse.”

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/24/meta-conducts-layoffs-in-oculus-studios-impacting-vr-exercise-app-supernatural/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Meta Quest Didn’t Save VR Market, But Glasses May Take Over

image via gizmodo.com
image via gizmodo.com

VR headsets are out, and AR glasses are in. Research from analysis firm Counterpoint shows that the global VR shipments trended down through 2024 despite proliferation cheap headsets like the Meta Quest 3s. Worse, VR sales numbers may not improve any time soon. The next step for these companies are glasses—with or without augmented reality capabilities. Big tech now needs to convince consumers thin glasses filled to the brim with AI are better than shoving a heavy piece of plastic on their noggins.

https://gizmodo.com/the-vr-hype-cycle-is-over-and-just-in-time-for-the-ar-hype-cycle-to-begin-2000578035