hololens2
Latest
Dispatches from MWC: Six things that don't fold
Did you hear? They're making foldable phones now! Yes, it's the unavoidable bendy trend of the show for sure, but there's plenty more going on here in Barcelona, and we've summed it all up here to provide some respite from our foldable future.
Microsoft HoloLens 2 hands-on: A giant leap closer to mixed reality
Microsoft has made mixed reality less awkward. That was the major takeaway from my time with HoloLens 2, its new $3,500 headset aimed not at you (or me), but at businesses. It's not only because the headset is so much more comfortable, (though that can take a lot of the credit). Microsoft has also doubled the mixed reality field of view, making the holographic overlay less like a floating reticle and more like a (virtual) display that's useful.
Epic Games' Unreal Engine will support HoloLens
You can't call HoloLens 2 a gaming platform, but Microsoft is at least laying the groundwork. Epic Games has announced that it's adding HoloLens support to Unreal Engine 4, the technology that powers a wide range of games and 3D productivity apps. It's "up and running" now, Epic's Tim Sweeney said, and should be available to all developers in May. You're not about to play an augmented-reality version of Fortnite. It should allow for "photorealistic" 3D in AR apps, though, and it's really just the start of Epic's plans.
Mozilla's mixed reality Firefox browser is coming to HoloLens 2
If you want to surf the web with Microsoft's HoloLens 2, you'll be guaranteed to have a browser optimized for the immersive format -- Mozilla is partnering with Microsoft to make Firefox Reality available for the next-gen headset. While it's unclear exactly how much this will vary from the existing browser (above), the developer hopes to learn more about bringing augmented-reality material to the web. It'll build on work for existing mixed reality headsets like Magic Leap and run on Mozilla's next-generation Servo platform.
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 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 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.
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.
