Latest news with #mixedReality
GSM Arena
11-06-2025
- GSM Arena
Samsung showcases a VR headset screen with 20,000 nits brightness along with other display tech
As Samsung is preparing to launch its first mixed-reality headset, dubbed Project Moohan, the Korean tech giant showcased a cutting-edge OLEDoS panel for such headsets, capable of reaching 20,000 nits of brightness. OLEDoS panels are the same as standard OLED screens, but instead of using a glass or plastic substrate for the backplane, they use silicon, which allows higher brightness, resolution and pixel density. It's mostly used on small screens, and Samsung paired it with a Micro Lens Array to enhance brightness and viewing angles further. However, we don't know if Samsung will use that 1.3-inch panel for its XR headset, but it might end up using its flagship OLEDoS panel with 5,000 ppi and 15,000 nits peak brightness, and 120Hz variable refresh rate. It was showcased last month. During the Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2025 in the US, the company revealed several other cutting-edge displays - White OLEDoS panel, two QD-OLED gaming monitors, a Flexible Gaming OLED, a 12.4-inch rollable and foldable panel, a multi-foldable OLED and a micro-LED stretchable display. Source
CNET
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Meow Wolf's Weird Physical Universe Is Planning to Extend Into Augmented Reality
I've spent years exploring immersive physical and digital spaces and dreaming of how they can overlap. A new partnership is finally making my dream come true. Immersive installation creator Meow Wolf and Pokemon Go creator Niantic Spatial will join forces to expand and extend existing Meow Wolf spaces into a mixed reality game. It will live on your phone, activate and change your physical experience in immersive exhibits, and could even follow you home. The partnership is starting this year with a closed beta test of the world-mapped AR overlays in Meow Wolf's Denver space, Convergence Station. The location-based technology is also designed to bleed outside the physical exhibit and appear on phones. It may even show up on future AR glasses, starting with plans for 2026. "The belief here is that the Meow Wolf universe really could extend both physically and digitally across the entire globe," Vince Kadlubek, Meow Wolf co-founder and chief vision officer told me. Our exclusive conversation included Meow Wolf CTO John Lee and the heads of Niantic Spatial's team. I'm imagining some sort of bizarre Pokemon Go-like series of interdimensional quests that start in the exhibits and continue when you're home, and that's not far off from what's being planned. The partnership could make Meow Wolf's sensory-overload experiences feel even more fascinating, but it also indicates where other immersive physical spaces and theme parks could be heading soon. Meow Wolf dabbled in VR a few years ago, recreating one of its Denver installations in Walkabout Mini Golf. The new partnership with Ninatic aims to directly layer virtual elements into physical exhibits via your phone. Mighty Coconut Physical spaces get augmented reality layers Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe-based collective, has already created five different immersive interactive installations around the US and has plans for two more in the next several years. It's a company I became recently obsessed with because it's already been heavily dabbling in the physical-digital, real-virtual blend. All their experiences are created to feel like they're tapping into interdimensional portals, while their actual exhibits are made out of largely physical materials by hundreds of artists. Now Playing: Meow Wolf and Interactive Experiences - Tech Therapy 06:55 Extending into virtual and augmented reality is a goal Meow Wolf has had for years. The company made a virtual version of its Denver exhibit inside a VR mini golf game in 2023, and played around with AR in its apps back in 2019. The folks from Niantic and Meow Wolf told me that the current move is different. It's actually aiming to layer the real-world exhibits with AR that'll be mapped onto the physical spaces, using visual positioning tools Niantic Spatial started building in games like Pokemon Go. And it's going to work with physical things in the exhibits. "We've been doing a lot of work with what we call mechanical connectivity, so that things that you do in the app can affect the actual physical exhibition via local state changes or big takeovers, and vice versa," Meow Wolf CTO Lee said. When I spoke to Meow Wolf earlier this year, I learned that that the planned New York installation will explore mixed reality in all new ways. This looks like a big part of those plans. "We are in a unique position -- because we have these indoor environments, we are able to build this show system infrastructure that is quite sophisticated," said Kadlubek. Peridot, a mixed-reality pet made by Niantic Spatial, shows some hints of where Meow Wolf's collaboration could be heading. Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET A field test for the overlap of real and AR The closed beta test later this year will change the way entering and moving through Meow Wolf's Denver location will feel. It'll start with an AR mission outside involving an outdoor portal, leading to quests inside the Meow Wolf space. Maps with portal locations could start appearing in Meow Wolf's app with AR quests. Meow Wolf and Niantic Spatial "What you did outside of the exhibition matters now to what you're doing inside of the exhibition, and the quest continues as you find additional clues and solve additional puzzles inside the exhibition, " explained Kadlubek. "You then have a reward of the exhibition itself physically responding to you completing that quest, being able to recognize who you are and what you've done, and responding with light and sound projection specifically for you. After you leave the exhibition more AR points on a map show up. The proof of concept stops there, but you can start to understand how important that piece is to scaling to other cities, and then eventually scaling globally." After the beta, a public version of the overlaid AR experience could arrive at either Meow Wolf's Denver or upcoming LA locations, according to Kadlubek. Balancing virtual distractions with real experiences The blending of the virtual and the physical is a difficult territory, one promised by AR companies for years. Companies like Niantic Spatial and Snap have built tools and apps that add AR onto physical landmarks or scans of real-world mapped areas. Niantic Spatial used to have a number of AR-enabled games, but sold off most of its gaming properties to Scopely and is now focused on spatial technologies with real-world mapping. Recent projects like Peridot, a whimsical augmented reality pet that looks like it's running around your home, show off how some of the technology could work. The Meow Wolf partnership sounds almost like Pokemon Go, but it'll work both at exhibits and away from them. Kadlubek suggests that the ideal mix is about 20% AR at physical locations and 80% real, and 80% AR when using the app anywhere else. "It's been a long time coming to get the technology to a place where the experience is realistic enough and feels precise enough. And you know, our huge focus is on this idea of connecting bits to atoms, really bringing immersive digital content onto the canvas of the 3D world," said Thomas Gewecke, Niantic Spatial's president and COO. "We think the time has come for this sort of capability." Kadlubek and Lee acknowledge that they don't want these new AR experiences to overwhelm or distract from the physical installations themselves, which are already a celebration of sensory overload. But the AR and mapping additions to Meow Wolf's app could help add quests and deeper layers of substory. Tapping into one of Meow Wolf's terminals at its Las Vegas exhibit. Little RFID cards serve as souvenirs and a sort of interactive game layer. Future layers of augmented-reality interaction with the physical space could do even more. Scott Stein/CNET Where will the real and virtual overlaps blend and bleed here and everywhere else? Meow Wolf's exhibits already have layers of games and secrets, triggered by in-world interactive objects like phones, or by tapping NFC-triggered cards to terminals. Universal's Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World have quests and challenges that get triggered by bands and wands that tap or wave in certain places at the right time. Watch this: What I Unlocked in Epic Universe With Nintendo Power-Up Bands and Harry Potter Wands 08:00 These extra pieces all need to lean on more evolved phone apps, a thing that not everyone visiting a theme park or an art exhibit wants to start pulling out of their pockets. With Disney and Universal, phone apps have become overloaded. Meow Wolf's evolving phone app, which I tried in the Santa Fe and Denver exhibits this spring, is more mysterious -- and it's already overlapping with the physical places. Turning on a "psychic sensor" lets the app scan for Bluetooth beacons in the rooms you walk through. After your visit, you can open it up and see secrets you've unlocked: artifacts you may have missed, videos, bits of lore. Meow Wolf's Kadlubek and Lee say the Niantic Spatial tech infusions will keep evolving that app's creative overlaps in new ways, and add an ARG-like series of game quests that will keep following you. They could even be used, potentially, to connect to pop-up experiences, other partner art exhibits or to trigger or organize performances. The ideas remind me of the potential I saw when Niantic first announced its Lightship world-mapped developer platform years ago, and a collaboration with immersive theater company Punchdrunk that was canceled before anything was created. I've seen promises of these types of overlaps and connections come and go. Are they actually starting to happen? This time, however, the overlays could be coming in all sorts of ways. Meow Wolf's exhibits are going to be built for this tech integration going forward, said Lee. Existing exhibits are being retro-fitted and enhanced -- with the exception of the original, less tech-infused House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe. I already got lost in Meow Wolf's mazes of dripping art, losing myself in other worlds. The collective's weird merchandise sits on my shelves, like escaped pieces of my journey. But maybe I'll be living in Meow Wolf's world all the time in the future. Is that where all our theme parks are heading, too?
TechCrunch
09-06-2025
- TechCrunch
From spatial widgets to realistic Personas: All the visionOS updates Apple announced at WWDC
Apple's updates to visionOS 26, the operating system powering its mixed reality headset, build on last year's Apple Vision Pro spatial computer that blends digital content with the physical world. At WWDC, Apple announced a range of updates for both consumer and enterprise customers, from new spatial widgets and content to more realistic Personas and more. Personalized spatial widgets All widgets — including Calendar, shown here — are customizable, with a variety of options for frame width, color, and depth. Image Credits:Apple Apple's widgets offer personalized and useful information at a glance. With visionOS 26, they become spatial, integrating into your space. You can customize the widgets to the size, color, and depth you like, and place them where you want. New widgets include a clock that you can decorate, weather that adapts to the weather outside near you, music for quick access to tunes, and photos that can transform into a panorama or a 'window to another space.' Adding depth to 2D images Image Credits:Apple An update to the visionOS Photos app uses a new AI algorithm that leverages computational depth to create multiple perspectives for your 2D photos, bringing images to life. Apple says it will feel like you can 'lean right into them and look around.' Spatial browsing on Safari can also make web browsing a more immersive experience. With certain supported articles, spatial browsing can hide distractions and reveal inline photos that 'come alive as you scroll.' Developers can also add spatial browsing to their own apps. Talking heads With VisionOS 26, Personas are transformed to feel more natural and familiar. Image Credits:Apple Apple released Personas, an AI avatar to represent you on video calls, on the Vision Pro as a beta feature last year. With visionOS 26, Apple says Personas 'more realistically represent you.' The new Personas take advantage of 'volumetric rendering and machine learning technology' to enhance everything from how you look in full side profile view to delivering more accurate-looking hair, eyelashes, and complexion. Personas are all created on-device in a 'matter of seconds,' Apple says. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Immerse together Image Credits:Apple VisionOS 26 lets you and another headset-wearing friend watch a movie or play a spatial game together. This capability is also being marketed for enterprise clients, allowing users to collaborate. For example, 3D design software company Dassault Systèmes is leveraging the ability with its 3DLive app to visualize 3D designs in person and with remote colleagues. Logitech Muse is a spatial accessory that will enable precise input and new ways to interact with collaboration apps like Spatial Analogue. Image Credits:Apple VisionOS 26 also lets organizations easily share a common pool of devices among team members, and even securely saves your eye and hand data, vision prescription, and accessibility settings to your iPhone so users can quickly use a shared team device or a friend's Vision Pro as a guest user. Apple said it would add more APIs so enterprises can create apps designed for visionOS. There's a new 'for your eyes only' mode that ensures only those who have been given access can see any confidential materials. Finally, Apple announced Logitech Muse built for Vision Pro, a spatial accessory built for the headset that lets you draw and collaborate in 3D with precision. More Apple Intelligence features are coming to the Apple Vision Pro. VisionOS 26 supports new languages like French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish, along with support for English in Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, and the U.K. Users can also now 'look to scroll' using just their eyes to explore apps and websites. They can also now unlock their iPhone while wearing the Apple Vision Pro, even when wearing the headset, and visionOS supports relaying calls from iPhone so you can accept a call from the Apple Vision Pro.
Geeky Gadgets
09-06-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
BREAKING: LAST MINUTE WWDC Leaks Before Apple's Keynote!
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is one of the most highly anticipated events in the tech calendar. This annual gathering serves as a platform for Apple to unveil its latest advancements in hardware, software, and services. With rumors and leaks circulating widely, the event promises to deliver exciting updates that could shape the future of Apple's ecosystem. Below is a detailed exploration of the most significant announcements expected at WWDC in a new video from Max Tech. Watch this video on YouTube. Mixed-Reality Headset: A Leap into AR/VR One of the most talked-about potential announcements is Apple's rumored mixed-reality headset. This device is expected to combine augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), offering users an immersive experience that could redefine how digital content is consumed. From gaming to productivity tools, the headset is rumored to feature innovative technologies such as advanced spatial audio, eye-tracking, and seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem. If introduced, this headset could position Apple as a leader in the AR/VR space, offering a glimpse into the future of interactive technology. Apple Silicon: The Next Generation Apple's custom silicon chips have already transformed the performance and efficiency of its devices. At WWDC, the much-anticipated M3 chip could make its debut. This next-generation processor is expected to deliver: Faster processing speeds for demanding tasks. Improved energy efficiency for longer battery life. Enhanced capabilities for MacBooks and iPads. For developers and users alike, the M3 chip could mean smoother workflows, more powerful applications, and a significant leap in device performance. Major Software Updates Across Platforms WWDC is synonymous with software innovation, and this year is no exception. Apple is expected to announce updates across its entire suite of operating systems, each designed to enhance user experience and functionality: iOS 17: Anticipated features include enhanced customization , improved notifications , and stronger privacy tools to give users more control over their data. Anticipated features include , , and to give users more control over their data. macOS: Updates may focus on performance improvements and deeper iCloud integration , streamlining workflows for professionals and casual users alike. Updates may focus on and deeper , streamlining workflows for professionals and casual users alike. watchOS: New health tracking tools and expanded app functionality could make the Apple Watch an even more indispensable device for wellness and productivity. New health tracking tools and expanded app functionality could make the Apple Watch an even more indispensable device for wellness and productivity. tvOS: Smarter Siri integration and improved content discovery features are expected to enhance the entertainment experience. These updates aim to create a more cohesive and intuitive ecosystem across Apple's devices. Developer Tools: Empowering Innovation WWDC is a pivotal event for developers, offering insights into Apple's latest tools and frameworks. This year, updates to Xcode and other development platforms are expected to simplify app creation while using Apple's advanced hardware. Developers may gain access to: New frameworks for AR/VR , allowing the creation of immersive applications. , allowing the creation of immersive applications. Enhanced tools for machine learning and gaming , pushing the boundaries of what apps can achieve. and , pushing the boundaries of what apps can achieve. Streamlined processes for integrating apps across Apple's ecosystem. These advancements could empower developers to innovate more efficiently and deliver innovative experiences to users. Siri and AI: Smarter and More Intuitive Artificial intelligence remains a key focus for Apple, and significant updates to Siri are rumored to be on the horizon. Enhancements may include: Improved natural language processing for more conversational interactions. for more conversational interactions. Better contextual understanding , allowing Siri to provide more relevant responses. , allowing Siri to provide more relevant responses. Expanded functionality for managing tasks, controlling smart home devices, and retrieving information. These updates could make Siri a more capable and intuitive assistant, further integrating AI into everyday life. Privacy and Security: Strengthening Trust Apple's commitment to privacy and security is a cornerstone of its brand identity. At WWDC, announcements are expected to reinforce this focus, with potential updates including: Enhanced app tracking transparency , giving users more control over how their data is used. , giving users more control over how their data is used. Stronger encryption for iCloud data to protect sensitive information. for iCloud data to protect sensitive information. New tools are designed to provide greater control over personal data. These measures aim to solidify Apple's reputation as a leader in user privacy and security. Health and Fitness: Expanding Capabilities The Apple Watch continues to set the standard for wearable health technology. This year, rumors suggest that new features could include: Sensors for monitoring mental health and stress levels . and . Enhanced fitness tracking capabilities to provide deeper insights into physical activity. These advancements could make the Apple Watch an even more essential tool for personal wellness, appealing to both fitness enthusiasts and those seeking to improve their overall health. Apple's Strategic Vision Beyond product announcements, WWDC offers a glimpse into Apple's broader strategic priorities. This year, the company is expected to emphasize: Sustainability initiatives include reducing carbon emissions and utilizing recycled materials in products. include reducing carbon emissions and utilizing recycled materials in products. Accessibility improvements , making sure that Apple's technology is usable by everyone, regardless of ability. , making sure that Apple's technology is usable by everyone, regardless of ability. Continued investments in AR/VR, AI, and custom silicon highlight Apple's commitment to innovation. These initiatives reflect Apple's dedication to shaping the future of technology while staying true to its core values. Here are additional guides from our expansive article library that you may find useful on Mixed-reality headset (AR/VR technologies). Source & Image Credit: Max Tech Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Building A New Type Of Content For Next Gen Consumers
Mixed reality on your smartphone: the next frontier for marketers? Augmented reality technologies in the consumer market are flying under the radar – it is almost a decade, for example, since the launch of AR gaming experience Pokemon Go. Nevertheless, the march of AR on the mobile phone is ongoing – a survey just published by Thrive found 35% of American consumers have now used mobile AR; almost one in two use the technology frequently. Thrive's research suggests that gaming remains the consumer market in which AR is getting the most reaction – the impact of the Pokemon Go phenomenon is clearly still being felt. But usage in other categories, from shopping to social interaction, is also continuing to increase. Advertising and marketing campaigns represent another key use case for this technology, as illustrated by the Series A funding round announced today by San Francisco-based Flam. It has raised $14 million, taking its total funding over the past four years to $22 million. Shourya Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Flam, talks in terms of 'mixed reality', which he sees as a natural extension of the way in which content has changed over time. 'Over the years, we've made transition from text to images to video in order to keep customers interested,' Agarwal says. 'But consumers now want more – particularly younger consumers; they want content that feels and looks more exciting and engaging.' Big brands appear to agree. One recent report found that global brands spent $5.5 billion on augmented reality marketing last year, and estimated that this figure will more than double to $11.8 billion by 2028. 'AR advertising provides an opportunity for customers to experience products and services before making a purchase', researchers pointed out. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder The challenge for brands is how to distribute that content. Consumers can't be expected to browse traditional media while wearing headsets in case they want to access new types of content – let alone to wander the streets equipped with such devices. In this context, Agarwal says the best way to think about Flam is as a mixed reality publishing infrastructure – a platform that provides a means for brands and organisations to launch a more immersive type of marketing or customer experience from conventional touchpoints. Those could include anything from an ad in a newspaper to a billboard in the street or from product packaging to digital content. Consumers access these immersive experiences by using their smartphone camera to open a QR code or a link. That unlocks a richer piece of marketing, viewed through the phone, that incorporates the original content but adds 3D images and pictures and enables the viewer to interact with it – zooming in and out, say, or deciding what details they want to look at. Flam founder Shourya Agarwal Founded in 2021, Flam has already signed up customers including Google, Samsung and Emirates to run campaigns using its technology; last year, it even worked with Kamala Harris's Presidential bid team. Agarwal says more than 100 global brands have now used Flam – and that their campaigns have reached more than 580 million users. 'Before YouTube it was technically difficult to host and share videos online; it was complex, expensive and out of reach for most creators,' he adds. 'YouTube changed that with a simple, scalable platform, and we're doing the same for mixed reality.' Today's funding round is led by RTP Global, with participation from Dovetail and other existing investors. 'The time for mixed reality is now,' insists Nishit Garg, partner at RTP, while Amal Parikh, managing director of Dovetail, tips Flam to 'redefine how brands connect with consumers'. That remains to be seen – this is an evolving marketplace. At one end, for example, the social media giant Snap continues to experiment with AR functionality for advertisers and brands. At the other, businesses such as 8th Wall, are competing directly with Flam; it also offers an AR platform that allows brands to distribute AR experiences via mobile devices – in its case through a browser. Nevertheless, as providers make it easier for big brands to get more engaging content our there, the future for AR and mixed reality marketing looks bright. Above all, the returns on investment look compelling. AR Insider estimates that in 2022, buyers spent $58 billion on physical goods having been influenced by AR - and that this will increase to an enormous $255 billion by 2027.
