Randy Wilkins’ Post

So Facebook is splitting Meta Reality Labs into a VR (Metaverse) division and an AR (Wearables) division. Honestly I'm kind of surprised they didn't already have that. They are vastly differeing UI/UX and content needs. Still what does that mean for MR? That curious halfway point between AR and VR that we're half-assing in either one before it takes its full place alongside both in a few decades? ---- RoadToVR: "Meta Restructures Reality Labs to Better Focus on Ray-Ban Smartglasses and Other Wearables" (Scott Hayden) (Jun 19, 2024) "Reality Labs, Meta’s XR division formed in 2020, is now being reorganized into two distinct groups, ‘Wearables’ and ‘Metaverse’, which reportedly comes along a “relatively small” number of layoffs. As reported by The Verge’s Alex Heath, Meta CTO and head of Reality Labs Andrew ‘Boz’ Bosworth announced the reorg in an internal memo to employees, stating that all teams in Reality Labs are being merged into either a central ‘Metaverse’ organization, responsible for Quest, and a new ‘Wearables’ organization to dedicated to other hardware, including its Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses. In the memo, which is available via Heath’s Command Line newsletter, Bosworth says the company’s smartglasses were “a much bigger success than we expected,” spurring the XR division to put more focus on the product. “We have the leading AI device on the market right now, and we are doubling down on finding a strong product market fit for wearable Meta AI, building a business around it, and expanding the audience,” Bosworth’s memo reads. “Our north star to overlay digital content seamlessly onto the physical world remains the same, but the steps on that path just got a lot more exciting.” Notably, Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses don’t include displays of any type, AR or otherwise, instead offering input through voice assistant and touch on the glasses’ struts for things like taking pictures, videos, and listening to music. In late 2023, Meta also added AI-powered object recognition. As for its Quest-related efforts, Bosworth says the company is still “deeply committed to investing in Horizon as the core foundation of our social, spatial Horizon OS, and high-quality experiences for both mixed reality and mobile.” “The org chart doesn’t primarily determine whether we succeed or fail, our execution does,” Bosworth said in the memo. “But by setting it up this way I hope we reduce overhead and allow people across teams to come together and execute with a more unified view of who our customers are and how we can best serve them.” Meta declined to comment on the exact number of Reality Labs layoffs, however Heath maintains “it’s a relatively small number and focused on teams in Reality Labs where leadership roles are now redundant thanks to this new structure.” RoadToVR: https://lnkd.in/gAkh8vGd #facebook #meta #oculus #xr #vr #ar #mr #spatialcomputing

The topic is already a few days old but I still think it's worth sharing. VR and the metaverse are not dead. Adoption is taking longer. The use cases for collaboration, entertainment and education remain promising. A few days ago, Meta announced that they are opening up their operating system for VR glasses to third-party manufacturers. A smart move. Lenovo and ASUS have already announced hardware. The advantage for consumers is that they can choose their hardware and still use a wide range of apps. Apple, on the other hand, will probably only offer OS and hardware from a single source. https://lnkd.in/eUpErXPy

#Meta is introducing a new hardware ecosystem powered by #Meta_Horizon_OS, a #mixed_reality operating system that is at the heart of #Meta_Quest headsets. Meta Horizon OS represents a decade of Meta's innovation, combining essential technologies for mixed reality with a focus on social interaction. This OS has evolved from mobile-first principles of the Android Open Source Project into a comprehensive mixed reality system, incorporating advanced features like inside-out tracking, self-tracked controllers, and hand, eye, face, and body tracking. It also integrates technologies for merging digital and physical realities, including Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial Anchors. For developers and creators, Meta Horizon OS offers a platform to build mixed reality experiences, benefiting from built-in content discovery and monetization tools such as the Meta Quest Store, soon to be renamed the Meta Horizon Store. The OS also emphasizes a social layer, allowing users to maintain their identities, avatars, and social connections across virtual spaces on mixed reality, mobile, and desktop platforms. The companion mobile app for Meta Quest will be rebranded as the Meta Horizon app, further integrating the ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dXJbVn68

#Meta is introducing a new hardware ecosystem powered by #Meta_Horizon_OS, a #mixed_reality operating system that is at the heart of #Meta_Quest headsets. Meta Horizon OS represents a decade of Meta's innovation, combining essential technologies for mixed reality with a focus on social interaction. This OS has evolved from mobile-first principles of the Android Open Source Project into a comprehensive mixed reality system, incorporating advanced features like inside-out tracking, self-tracked controllers, and hand, eye, face, and body tracking. It also integrates technologies for merging digital and physical realities, including Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial Anchors. For developers and creators, Meta Horizon OS offers a platform to build mixed reality experiences, benefiting from built-in content discovery and monetization tools such as the Meta Quest Store, soon to be renamed the Meta Horizon Store. The OS also emphasizes a social layer, allowing users to maintain their identities, avatars, and social connections across virtual spaces on mixed reality, mobile, and desktop platforms. The companion mobile app for Meta Quest will be rebranded as the Meta Horizon app, further integrating the ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dXJbVn68

THE METAVERSE GAINS MOMENTUM AGAIN Tech Edition: Meta revives interest in the metaverse, announcing plans to open-source its VR operating system and expand its ecosystem with new partnerships. Recently, discussions about the metaverse seemed to fade, but Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has reignited interest with a significant announcement on Instagram. This news could notably enhance the development of top virtual reality (VR) headsets and accelerate metaverse activities. Meta plans to open-source its VR operating system The headline news is Meta's decision to open-source the mixed-reality operating system, initially developed for the Quest 3 and earlier Quest VR headsets. This move aims to broaden the ecosystem by welcoming new partners to utilise this technology. Horizon OS, crafted from the Android Open Source Project, will now be available for other manufacturers. This open-source version, optimised for extended reality (XR), offers an opportunity for a variety of hardware producers to integrate this advanced operating system into their devices. New partnerships and opportunities Meta's announcement was brief on specifics, yet it revealed exciting partnerships. According to Meta's blog, Asus ROG is developing a performance gaming headset, Lenovo is set to introduce a productivity-focused headset, and a collaboration with Microsoft will produce a limited-edition Quest inspired by Xbox. Zuckerberg hinted that other companies could create devices tailored for specific applications such as productivity, fitness, media viewing, or 2D gaming on expansive virtual screens. A VR headset dedicated to simulations could particularly benefit from early access to Horizon OS. Updates and expansions in the Horizon Store In conjunction with these technological advances, Meta is also revamping its Quest app store, soon to be renamed the Horizon Store. This update will allow users of Meta Horizon OS to access a broader range of compatible applications and content, signalling a significant expansion of available offerings. Beyond the existing array of Meta Quest games, apps, and content, the Horizon Store will include Xbox Cloud Gaming and Steam games. Furthermore, Meta's App Lab will undergo enhancements to increase the visibility of games and apps still in the early stages of development. Zuckerberg emphasised Meta's interest in incorporating Google's Play Store within the Horizon OS ecosystem for the Quest platform, facilitating the use of some Android apps through sideloading on devices like the Quest 3, Quest 2, and Quest Pro. However, access to Google Play Services remains a limitation, necessitating the inclusion of the Play Store. https://lnkd.in/gPqnnAeg #metaverse #ai #ar #fashion #investment #web3

"Meta wasn’t first to market with mixed reality, given hardware from Varjo and others, but it introduced the element of affordability." https://lnkd.in/gt937uTQ

Meta’s latest revelations in VR/MR are shaking up the tech world—here’s what every developer and creative needs to know! 🛩 Meta is on a mission to forge an inclusive and expansive ecosystem, paving the way to becoming the next #computing platform. The dynamic partnership between Meta and third-party hardware giants for #Quest devices signals a seismic shift, granting consumers unprecedented choices and developers an expansive canvas to innovate on. With industry titans like Lenovo leveraging their expertise from co-designing #Oculus Rift,   along with trusted allies like Xbox Game Studios Publishing and Qualcomm, Meta’s vision for the metaverse gains formidable support. 🤝Creators can take advantage of all these technologies using custom frameworks and tooling for crafting #immersive mixed reality experiences.  You can dive into communities, expand your reach, and charge your business growth with built-in content discovery and monetization platforms. Meta is also removing the barriers by bridging the Meta Horizon Store and App Lab, empowering any developer meeting basic requirements to launch software on the platform. 👉Developers can reach their audience effortlessly and swiftly unleash your creations on the platform. Last, Meta is developing a new spatial app framework to empower mobile developers in crafting mixed reality experiences. 🤝Creators, leverage familiar tools to seamlessly transition your mobile apps to Meta Horizon OS or birth entirely novel mixed reality gems.  By embracing diversity in hardware options, Meta cultivates an environment where innovation thrives, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or preferences, can fully participate and contribute to the ever-evolving revolution of the Metaverse. We can’t wait to co-create this visionary ecosystem with you!💫 #VirtualReality #Meta #Metaverse #MixedReality #technology https://lnkd.in/dQAWeDus

A new device ecosystem will run on #Meta #HorizonOS, the mixed reality OS that powers Meta Quest headsets. Meta Horizon OS blends mixed reality technologies with social presence-focused features. Meta spent a decade developing Horizon OS, a next-generation computing platform. Meta pioneered standalone headsets with inside-out-tracking and self-tracked controls. Meta pioneered hand, eye, face, and body tracking enabling natural engagement and social presence. For mixed reality, Meta developed high-resolution Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial Anchors. This long-term investment in the mobile-first Android Open Source Project has generated a comprehensive mixed reality operating system used by millions. https://lnkd.in/e2vJ4d_G

"Meta wasn’t first to market with mixed reality, given hardware from Varjo and others, but it introduced the element of affordability." https://lnkd.in/gt937uTQ

More proof that Meta is not giving up on the #metaverse. Meta announced that Horizon OS will be open source, which will allow several different developers to create their own #inmeta experiences. This type of direction is something that the development community has been eagerly waiting for. Here are some interesting highlights: - Hardware manufacturers can focus on hardware: With the OS open source, hardware manufacturers can focus on building hardware and not worry about the operating system, which can help reduce costs significantly. - Cross-platform support: An open-source OS can ensure cross-platform support for key features such as avatars, facial tracking, deep linking between applications and app discovery. - More innovation: With more people contributing to the OS, there can be more innovation in the XR industry. - Lower barriers: Open source can lower the barriers to wider adoption of immersive technology. - Competition: More competition can mean more candidates for the list of the best VR headsets and more interest in the XR industry as a whole. - More devices: Any hardware firm that wants to build a device using Horizon OS will now help increase Horizon's social network reach. - Lower cost: With more competition, VR headsets can cost a lot less. - Wider scale interoperability: Open source can make the immersive world a real reality for more people at a much faster rate than what we have seen previously. - More developers: With the OS open source, several different developers can create their own in-meta experiences. - Android equivalent: Meta's Horizon OS is equivalent to Android, which can promote VR devices like how Android promoted smartphones. https://lnkd.in/gKBiHzix