Qualcomm's new AR2 Gen 1 chip allows for slim AR glasses

Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm has developed a new chip that should make it easier to make lightweight augmented reality glasses. The Snapdragon AR2 Gen 1 processor features a multi-chip design that's said to deliver 2.5 times the AI performance of Qualcomm's XR2-based reference design while using half the power. This should allow the eyewear to intelligently detect objects in a room while keeping a slim and light form factor for hours of use.

Click to read more ...

Leaked concept videos show Samsung's AR plans

Samsung's plans for augmented reality space are revealed in a couple of leaked videos on Twitter. WalkingCat, a known leaker of Samsung and Microsoft products, released two videos over the weekend. One is showing the "Glasses Lite," and another on "AR Glasses."

As 9to5Google points out, the videos look like internal concept videos rather than upcoming products. Don't expect these to magically appear on shelves soon.

Click to read more ...

Report claims Facebook partners with Ray-Ban to develop smart glasses

Engadget

Where its competition has failed, Facebook is trying its luck. The social media company has reportedly partnered with Luxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, to help with the development of its augmented reality glasses.  CNBC reported that the smart specs have been in development for years over at the Facebook Reality Labs in Redmond, Washington. But project Orion, as it's called, has faced a bunch of roadblocks. One of the problems is fitting the hardware into a device consumers would want to wear. And that is where Luxottica can help them.

Just like other AR glasses, these glasses will serve as an alternative to constantly checking on your mobile phone. It shows information like notifications and text messages on a small display in the lens. It could work with the voice assistant Facebook is developing. And it might be safe to assume Facebook would integrate some key features to access its site easily through these glasses. The earliest these glasses could hit consumers would be 2023. As for whether you would want one is an entirely different discussion altogether.

Source: Gizmodo

Intel shuts down its smart glasses initiative

You may or may not have heard of Intel’s smart glasses project but what you need to know about it now is that it won’t be around anymore. The company is shutting down its New Devices Group and will stop development of the Vaunt. This closure might also result in “some layoffs” from the team which reportedly has around 200 people. It wasn’t clear what how Intel intended to bring the augmented reality glasses to the market but sources claim Intel wanted to partner with a company with retail expertise to get this off the ground. As Vaunt lead Jerry Bautista told The Verge, the company was “working with key ecosystem hardware providers—whether they’re frames or lenses and things like that. Because we believe there’s a whole channel to people who wear glasses that’s already there.” But it might be the company wasn’t able to find a suitable partner for this, thus resulting in the closure.

Here is Intel’s statement on the matter: “Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight [the codename for Vaunt] project is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses. We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don’t support further investment.”