hololens
Latest
Microsoft's mixed reality HoloLens 2 headset is official
We knew it was coming, but now it's official. Microsoft has unveiled HoloLens 2, a next-generation "mixed reality" headset that the company hopes will change "the way work gets done." Microsoft says it will be more immersive and comfortable than the original, and provide "industry-leading value out of the box." HoloLens 2 has more than double the field of view of its predecessor (Microsoft didn't give an exact figure) while maintaining the same 47 pixels per degree of sight. The company says the change is equivalent to jumping from a 720p television to a 2K set for each eye. The headset will track your retinas to know exactly where you're looking, too, and support Windows Hello authentication out of the box.
We're live from Microsoft's press event at MWC 2019!
Microsoft may have surprised us when it sent out invites for an MWC event in mid-January, but now it's time to find out what the company wants to discuss. Based on the invitation, we know that HoloLens creator and Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman will be part of the festivities, as will CEO Satya Nadella and CVP Julie White. Nothing is set in stone, but Kipman's participation seems to indicate some HoloLens news is on the agenda -- perhaps even the official reveal of the HoloLens 2 or some Windows Mixed Reality news. No matter what Microsoft has to show us, we're on the ground in Barcelona, ready to bring you all of the news as it's announced. Keep your browser locked here when the event kicks off at 12PM ET/6PM CET.
Watch Microsoft's HoloLens 2 event at 12PM ET!
After weeks of anticipation, and a pretty direct tease, Microsoft's MWC event is going down today at 12PM ET/6PM CET. We'll be there to bring you all of the news as it happens in liveblog form, but the company will also have a livestream if you'd like to follow along directly. When the time comes, head over to the event page to follow the live feed from Barcelona. We're expecting to see the official unveiling of HoloLens 2 and probably more, so be sure to join us later today for all of the festivities in Spain.
Microsoft workers demand end to HoloLens contract with US Army
You can add Microsoft to the growing list of companies whose staff are objecting to the use of their technology for some military purposes. A group of Microsoft workers has published an open letter to CEO Satya Nadella and legal chief Brad Smith asking them to end a $479 million HoloLens contract with the US Army. They contended that Microsoft is effectively developing weapons by helping the Army create a platform that helps its soldiers train and fight using augmented reality. It not only helps kill people, but turns war "into a simulated 'video game'" that disconnects infantry from the "grim stakes" of combat, the workers argued.
Tune in to our Microsoft MWC liveblog Sunday at 12PM ET!
MWC doesn't officially begin until Monday, but a few companies are revealing the goods this weekend ahead of the show. Microsoft is one of those, and we'll be there on Sunday (February 24th) to bring you all the news as it's announced in liveblog form. Tune into our live coverage right here at 12PM ET/6PM CET as we find out what CEO Satya Nadella and HoloLens creator and Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman have to discuss here in Barcelona. We could see the official introduction of HoloLens 2, or perhaps some Windows Mixed Reality news. But no matter what's on tap, we'll have the details from Spain as they're unveiled on stage. If you want to watch live, head over to Microsoft's event page for the livestream when the time comes.
What to expect at MWC 2019
There's always plenty of news from MWC, and it's either entirely expected or word gets out early. This year is shaping up to be slightly different, though, as companies are preparing their version of the future of smartphones. From foldable designs to 5G and more, this year's Mobile World Congress won't only be jam-packed with news, but it should also be exciting once again.
Microsoft brings some of its Hololens smarts to Android
Hololens 2 may be right around the corner, but before then Microsoft is giving Android users a spin on its Mixed Reality platform. The company is launching its Remote Assist app on Android and Product Visualize 365 on iOS as previews this April, according to The Verge. Instead of a Hololens headset, the two apps harness smartphone AR for workplace troubleshooting and sales respectively. Alas, that means they're not aimed at the general public.
Microsoft posts HoloLens 2 teaser ahead of February 24th launch
You've had to wait a long, long time for news about HoloLens 2, but it's finally right around the bend. Device creator Alex Kipman has posted a teaser for the mixed reality headset that confirms its premiere just before Mobile World Congress on February 24th. The clip itself is cryptic, with vague allusions to processors and possibly carbon fiber (which could help reduce the weight). Not that you'd need to read the tea leaves to have an idea of what to expect -- there have already been a few clues.
Microsoft's Build developer conference starts May 6th
Early May is going to be particularly busy in the tech world. Microsoft has announced that the 2019 edition of its Build developer conference will take place in Seattle between May 6th and May 8th. In other words, it starts just one day before Google I/O -- you're going to get a lot of news in a very short space of time.
HoloLens co-creator leaves Apple after three years of AR projects
Avi Bar-Zeev, perhaps best known as a co-creator of Microsoft's HoloLens, has departed Apple in what may prove a setback for Apple's augmented reality ambitions. Before he left his role last month, Bar-Zeev had reportedly been working on the company's long-rumored, high-resolution AR/VR headset, which could arrive as early as next year.
Microsoft might surprise us with HoloLens 2 next month
Microsoft has hinted it could reveal the long-awaited HoloLens 2 next month. It sent out invites to a press event taking place on February 24th, which CEO Satya Nadella, CVP Julia White and technical fellow Alex Kipman will host. Given the names involved, it seems Microsoft has something significant up its sleeve. Kipman is the creator of HoloLens, so his presence suggests Microsoft will have at least some news on the latest version of its mixed reality headset.
Apple hires former Tesla and Microsoft senior designer
Apple has hired Andrew Kim, formerly of Tesla and Microsoft, to bolster its design team. Kim captured the attention of many in 2011 with a custom iOS device stand and again in 2012 when, as a fan, he shared his vision for an overhaul of Microsoft's branding and design language. He then joined Microsoft and helped design the Windows 10 UI along with HoloLens and Xbox One S, he writes on his LinkedIn profile, before moving to Tesla.
US Army to use Microsoft’s Hololens for combat missions
Microsoft's Hololens has already been used by a number of armies for training, but it's about to go to another level. The US Army has awarded Microsoft a $480 million contract to supply the headset for live combat missions as well as training, according to Bloomberg. The aim, according to a government description, is to "increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy."
AR technology helps the blind navigate by making objects 'talk'
If you're blind, finding your way through a new area can sometimes be challenging. In the future, though, you might just need to wear a headset. Caltech researchers have developed a Cognitive Augmented Reality Assistant (CARA) that uses Microsoft's HoloLens to make objects "talk" to you. CARA uses computer vision to identify objects in a given space and say their names -- thanks to spatialized sound, you'll know if there's a chair in front of you or a door to your right. The closer you are, the higher the pitch of an object's voice.
Spatial's collaborative AR platform is basically FaceTime in 3D
One of the many potential use cases for augmented reality headsets like Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens is collaboration in the workplace. Instead of using something like Skype or Slack to have your remote meetings, you could strap on a headset and chat with co-workers in a "face-to-face" setting. One company exploring this idea is Spatial, which created an office collaboration platform that not only lets you chat with colleagues but also manipulate virtual objects in 3D space.
HoloLens will help a children's hospital perform critical surgeries
A UK children's hospital plans to use Microsoft's HoloLens and Surface Hub during critical operations like heart surgery, Microsoft announced. Alder Hey hospital will employ the Surface Hub to let medical personnel collaborate and share images, while the HoloLens will be used directly in operating theaters. "Imaging a patient's heart from the inside and from the outside is absolutely essential," said Alder Hey cardiac surgeon Rafael Guerrero. "Microsoft HoloLens and mixed reality will, in the future, enable me to have a patient's scans in front of me while I'm doing the operation."
Magic Leap’s lackluster AR demo proves hardware is still hard
Magic Leap announced last week that its mixed reality glasses -- which have been shrouded in mystery and hype for almost four years -- will be available later this summer. What should've been exciting news unfortunately fell flat. In a developer chat on Twitch that same day, the company showed off a less-than-impressive prerecorded demo of a small rock golem throwing some rubble around. Compared to earlier videos of a crashing whale in the middle of a gym and a floating solar system, this just came off as disappointing. Was this all there was?
Mixed reality art is lost in the madness of Times Square
I stood under the blistering hot sun as my phone grew warmer by the second. It was so hot I could barely hold onto it. Unfortunately, my phone was crucial to the Times Square art installation I was there to cover. Unmoored is a mixed-reality and augmented reality experience by artist Mel Chin, powered by Microsoft. It reimagines New York as a city lost to climate change and is overlaid on a massive 24-foot sculpture in real life. The MR part of it uses HoloLenses, and is only available until July 13, but the rest of the exhibit will remain open to the public through September 5th.
Microsoft's HoloLens 2 will use Qualcomm's new XR1 VR chip
Update: HoloLens 2 launched at Mobile World Congress 2019 with the Snapdragon 850 instead of the XR1. The original post follows. There's been a lot of speculation lately about the next generation of Microsoft's augmented reality headset. Everyone is talking about when HoloLens 2 will arrive, how much it will cost, and what exactly will be lurking inside. And we might just have some answers, thanks to a source familiar with the matter.
Microsoft will reportedly announce HoloLens 2 this year
It's been over three years since Microsoft unveiled HoloLens, its ambitious foray into the world of augmented reality goggles. Since then, the company has opened up its Mixed Reality platform to other manufacturers, which led to some intriguing VR headsets in 2017. Now, it's time for a true HoloLens successor. According to The Verge, we might finally see a HoloLens 2 by the end of the year. The news follows a report from Thurrott.com, which claimed the new headset, codenamed "Sydney," could be released in the first quarter of 2019.
