Latest news with #augmentedreality
Finextra
4 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Alipay embeds payments into AR glasses
Alipay has integrated QR code payments into augmented reality glasses from Chinese outfit Rockid to enable users to pay for products instore by looking at the label. 2 Over 250,000 units of Rokid Glasses have already been ordered, integrated with Alipay's digital payment technology for AR glasses. After linking their Alipay accounts to the Rockid app, users enable voice verification to initiate and confirm the purchases after scanning the merchant's Alipay QR code. Alipay says transactions complete in seconds vs. 20-30 seconds for phone-based QR payments. 'Equipping Rokid Glasses with payment capabilities brings users a smoother and more intuitive experience, while also ushering the AI glasses industry into the era of payment," says Zhu Mingming, founder and CEO of Rokid. "Behind this innovation is close collaboration with Alipay on both payment and risk technologies. Looking ahead, we will continue to explore new experiences together.' He believes that in the coming years, the technology could enable people to complete transactions simply by looking at or gesturing toward a product, and support interactive product discovery — letting users access real-time information, virtual try-ons, or personalized recommendations to create an immersive shopping experience.
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron Interior Layout & Technology
Interior What is it like on the inside? If we say it's the usual Audi fare in here, that's not to diminish the impact of slipping into Darth Vader's bijou living room. It's all high-def screens and black gloss in here, and it can be a bit overwhelming at first. Doesn't quite feel as roomy inside as it looks like it's going to be, a sort of reverse TARDIS. What are all those screens about? Audi calls the dashboard a 'digital stage', and it does look like something that would form the backdrop to a pop starlet skipping about onstage at the O2. Advertisement - Page continues below You've got an 11.9in digital dashboard display rammed with information, a 14.5in touchscreen infotainment that bestrides the front of the car like a particularly obnoxious behemoth, and then an optional 10.9in passenger display that you can download a variety of apps for (but also allows control over the satnav and, frightfully, the audio). What it doesn't do is allow the passenger to control their aircon temperature and seat heating, that remains resolutely at the bottom corner of the ginormo screen that curves towards the driver. Is there any fun tech onboard? Depends on how excited you might be about your front passenger downloading a karaoke app to the optional third screen. The augmented reality head-up display is actually quite fun – Audi has developed a colour set-up that works with where your eyes will be focused to make it look like the virtual images are floating up to 200 metres away. Think large pulsating arrows signalling your next turn, large pulsating red lines that warn you're too close to the car in front, and speed limit reminders that sit on the road before bouncing up to sit on the side of the info display. A bit frenetic, perhaps. Advertisement - Page continues below Is it practical? Given that its main selling point is that it's the coupe version of a more practical family electric SUV, you'd be forgiven for imagining that it's a bit of a squeeze onboard. But Audi says that it has put a bit of effort into trying to ensure the Q6 Sportback e-tron remains roomy and useful. That effort hasn't extended to meaningful headroom in the back of the car, which is obviously compromised by the gracefully curving roof, but no one ever bought a coupe-SUV because they liked their rear passengers. Legroom is decent enough, and the middle seat is useful for occasional use despite the slight raise in the floor. You've got a 511-litre boot out back that expands to 1,373 litres of space with all the rear seats tipped down, and a 64-litre frunk under the bonnet to stash your cables and things. Audi says it's only lost 15 litres of boot space from Q6 to Q6 Sportback, but that's nonsense because it only measures to the window line. If you need to ram things in then obviously the SUV model is the better one to have.
Economy ME
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economy ME
Saudi Arabia's entertainment market to reach $6.1 billion by 2033: Report
Saudi Arabia's entertainment and amusement market is expected to reach $6.10 billion by 2033, up from $2.46 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 10.61 percent from 2025 to 2033, a new report found. The market is mostly being driven by the growing technical innovations, particularly in virtual reality and augmented reality, which have completely changed how consumers enjoy entertainment. Technological revolution fuels growth in leisure and entertainment The Saudi Arabia Entertainment and Amusement Market Size and Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033 also revealed that the leisure and entertainment sector in the Kingdom is thriving due to a variety of interconnected reasons. This sector has been heavily influenced by technological revolutions. The high application of virtual reality, augmented reality and high-definition monitors has enabled people to experience entertainment in ways not previously imagined. Besides enhancing quality materials, such technologies have created the demand for immersive experiences, reaching more people. In addition, customers' increased disposable income has greatly contributed to the growth of the industry. Individuals are keen on investing in entertainment alternatives that promise unique and memorable experiences. This has led businesses in the entertainment sector to continuously come up with innovative concepts and offering broad spectrums of services like live events, theme parks and streaming platforms. In addition, the Saudi Arabian market is expected to be fueled by the increasing use of the internet and smartphones, which have generated new media and platforms for entertainment. Key factors driving entertainment market's surge Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector is being driven by a variety of key factors. Facilities are evolving rapidly due to large-scale construction and investment activities across the Kingdom. To establish an ultra-luxury tourism and entertainment hub, the development environment includes several mega-projects, including the Red Sea Project that spans 28,000 square kilometers and includes an archipelago of over 90 islands. Examples such as NEOM, a $500 billion investment to develop a future city with entertainment districts, indicate the scale of infrastructure investment in the Kingdom. With over 60 percent of the population below the age of 34, Saudi Arabia's predominantly young demographic makeup is the prime force behind the leisure and amusement industry in the country. Saudi consumers spend 6.2 percent of their income on leisure and entertainment activities, higher than the average U.K. household expenditure of 4.2 percent, which suggests that the young population has a significant appetite for culture, sports and entertainment. Finally, a number of important projects under Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from reliance on oil, demonstrate the Saudi government's commitment to growing the entertainment industry. The lifting of the 35-year cinema ban in December 2017 was a historic ruling that created previously unheard-of chances for regional and foreign businesses to contribute to the growth of the domestic entertainment sector. In order to facilitate and regulate entertainment activities across the Kingdom, the government has established specialized organizations such as the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). Read: Oman unveils 2025 tourism plan to boost recreational offerings, elevate non-oil sector growth Challenges emerge amid booming growth The entertainment industry in Saudi Arabia faces several regulatory and administrative challenges, such as intricate licensing procedures, protracted approval periods and content limitations that necessitate cautious handling. While businesses must adhere to stringent local restrictions regarding public gatherings, entertainment content and safety requirements, the requirement for government permissions for new initiatives and events might cause delays. Both domestic and foreign businesses wishing to enter the market face obstacles due to these regulatory complications and a lack of transparent, efficient processes. Saudi Arabia's entertainment and amusement market also faces difficulties due to its reliance on tourism. Geopolitical unrest, impediments to international travel, or unfavorable opinions about safety can all impact tourism, which can affect amusement and entertainment industry profits. The demand for theme parks, resorts and events is also impacted by shifting worldwide travel preferences. The report notes that the industry must broaden its clientele for amusement and entertainment attractions to secure long-term success by fostering robust domestic demand in addition to foreign travel.
Globe and Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Why Snap Stock Was a Winner on Wednesday
Social media company Snap (NYSE: SNAP) saw its share price creep higher on Hump Day, thanks mainly to the announcement of a new product. The company will face some stiff competition, however, so the market's bullishness was guarded; the stock only rose by 1.2% on the news. That was good enough to beat the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), though, as that indicator fell by 0.3% on the day. Seeing the launch of a new product Toward the end of Tuesday's trading session, Snap announced that it is launching a new line of tech-enhanced eyeglasses called Specs. In the announcement, made at this year's annual Augmented World Expo, the company said the rollout would occur next year. It did not get more specific. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » It did promise several attractive features of the upcoming augmented reality (AR) products, including artificial intelligence (AI) assistance, social connectivity, and a virtual workstation in case users feel like being productive and not playful. In its official press release touting the eyewear, Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, "We believe the time is right for a revolution in computing that naturally integrates our digital experiences with the physical world." "We couldn't be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences," he added. Specs is the continuation of the company's digitally enhanced glasses product line, Spectacles. It introduced the first Spectacles in 2016. A Meta challenge There's a big mountain to climb here, though, and that belongs to Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Nearly two years ago, Snap's social media rival introduced its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, with the product earning generally positive reviews, especially for its feature set. Snap will have to keep on its toes to carve out meaningful share in this still-limited market. Should you invest $1,000 in Snap right now? Before you buy stock in Snap, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Snap wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $649,102!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $882,344!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is996% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to174%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025
Phone Arena
11-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Qualcom demos new processor for AI-powered smart glasses
If AI-driven augmented reality smart glasses replace smartphones eventually, as many expect, Qualcomm would expect to be negatively impacted. Sales of its smartphone chips would be reduced and in theory, Qualcomm's stock price would follow. However, there is something that the San Diego-based fabless chip designer is doing that will not only reduce the negative effect of slower phone sales but should lead to rapidly growing sales of processors for a hot new product. At the Augmented World Expo trade show, Qualcomm demonstrated its new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor powering a pair of AR smart glasses. The processor allows AI to run on the glasses without requiring an internet connection or having the glasses sync with a phone. For example, Ziad Asghar, a Qualcomm Senior Vice President, used the smart glasses to speak with an AI-powered digital assistant powered by the new Qualcomm chips. The Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 is 26% smaller than the previous generation. The new chip will deliver enhanced image quality, size, power improvement and the ability to run Small Language Models. Qualcomm introduces the new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor for smart glasses. | KImage credit-Qualcomm The digital assistant was connected to the glasses on-device, not through the cloud or a nearby phone. As the Qualcomm executive wrote in a blog post, "No phone. No cloud. Just the processor powering the glasses themselves." Qualcomm hopes that the smaller, energy-efficient chips help take smart glasses from their current role as an accessory for the smartphone to a starring position as a smartphone replacement that can do it all as the wearable device becomes more mainstream. Currently, Qualcomm chips are used on Meta's Ray-Ban glasses. Other headsets and glasses that rely on Qualcomm components include Lenovo Group Ltd.'s A3, Sony Corp.'s Spacial HMD, Microsoft Corp.'s HoloLens 2, and the Vive Flow from HTC. One issue that AI-driven AR smart glasses face is how manufacturers can feed such a power-hungry device while keeping them lightweight and small enough for users to wear on their faces for hours at a time. If these glasses are expected to eventually replace smartphones, this is a hurdle that the product is going to have to overcome. Qualcomm's new processor helps smart glasses take a big step in the right obviously believes in the future of smart glasses. The company is positioning itself accordingly by developing new processors for the smart glasses industry hoping to be as dominant in that market as it is in designing and selling chips for smartphones.
