Reviewed by Corey Noles You're settled into your couch for what you think will be a typical streaming session, when suddenly you're transported into the bowels of a corporate-controlled starship in the year 2120, surrounded by alien specimens. That's precisely what Disney+ just delivered with their latest Apple Vision Pro environment — and frankly, it's both impressive and deeply unsettling. Starting July 24th, Disney+ subscribers can step inside the USCSS Maginot's Containment Room, the alien specimen viewing area from FX's upcoming "Alien: Earth" series. This marks Disney's sixth Vision Pro environment since launch and their first dive into mature sci-fi horror through spatial computing. Here's why this particular release signals something bigger than just another promotional gimmick. Why this environment feels different from Disney's usual fareDisney's previous Vision Pro environments have leaned heavily into the magical — think Tatooine sunsets and Avengers Tower views. The...more

Reviewed by Julianne Ngirngir Instead of spending months programming a robot to fold your laundry, you slip on a pair of smart glasses, demonstrate the task yourself, and watch as the robot learns to replicate your movements in just a few tries. This isn't science fiction — it's happening right now in labs around the world. The convergence of augmented reality and robotics is creating a revolution in how we train machines. Meta's recent collaboration with Georgia Tech has produced EgoMimic, a framework that uses Project Aria smart glasses to train robots with unprecedented efficiency. By recording first-person video of humans performing tasks, researchers have built datasets that are more than 40 times richer than traditional robot-collected data. Whether it's folding laundry or crafting pizza, the breakthrough lies in capturing tacit knowledge — the subtle techniques that experts can't easily explain but smart glasses can record. What you need to know: AR-powered robot training...more

Reviewed by Corey Noles Three Harvard dropouts walk into a tech startup—and the punchline is permanent surveillance. Picture this: You're wearing what looks like ordinary Ray-Bans, but underneath the familiar frames, AI is quietly recording every conversation, analyzing every interaction, and storing every moment of your day. Sound like science fiction? It's already here, and the implications are both thrilling and terrifying. Halo promises to make you "10x smarter" by capturing and organizing everything you've said and done, delivering expert-level answers instantly through smart glasses displays. But as this technology shifts from university labs to mainstream adoption, we're facing questions that go far beyond specs and pricing. With global smart glasses shipments surging over 200% in 2024, largely thanks to Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration, we're entering an era where "always-on" AI isn't just a feature—it's becoming the norm. The promise is compelling: total recall without lifting a...more

Reviewed by Julianne Ngirngir Meta's long-awaited leap into true AR territory is no longer a distant "someday" promise. After years of teasers, prototypes, and strategic stepping stones, the company is gearing up to deliver AR glasses that could actually make you forget your smartphone exists. Here's the kicker: they're closer than you think, but they won't come cheap. What you need to know: • True AR glasses are coming by late 2025 with Hypernova ($1,000+), bridging current Ray-Bans to full AR by 2027 • Orion prototype proves the tech works with 70-degree field of view and neural wristband controls • Market momentum is building fast with 210% smart glasses growth in 2024 and Meta capturing 60%+ share • Privacy concerns are getting real as current glasses already capture hundreds of photos unnoticed • Your next computing platform might be staring back at you through surprisingly normal-looking glasses The journey's been anything but smooth. Meta's current Ray-Ban smart glasses...more

Reviewed by Julianne Ngirngir The Vision Pro made headlines with its revolutionary eye-and-pinch interface, but here's the thing: even Apple knows that looking and pinching isn't the complete story. Recent patents and industry whispers suggest Apple may add more touch controls to future Vision Pro models—and it's about time. While the current gaze-plus-pinch system works remarkably well, Apple's engineers are discovering what many users already know: sometimes you need more than just your eyes and floating finger taps to get things done. What you need to know: Apple's exploring everything from finger-wearable devices to built-in touch sensors that could transform how we interact with mixed reality. The current Vision Pro already packs 12 cameras and 6 microphones alongside that impressive M2+R1 chip combo, but the input story is far from complete. The limits of looking: why gaze-only gets tiringLet's be blunt—keeping your hands in front of your eyes for extended periods is exhausting....more

The $3,500 Apple Vision Pro launched with stunning visuals and groundbreaking eye tracking, but one glaring omission: the kind of tactile control that makes VR feel natural. While competitors ship with hand controllers standard, Apple bet everything on gaze-and-pinch interactions. Now, patent filings and development reports suggest Apple might be reconsidering that philosophy—and it could transform how we experience spatial computing. What you need to know: Apple is exploring additional touch control methods for future Vision Pro models Current gaze-and-pinch interaction works well for interface navigation but struggles with precise tasks The 1.3-pound headset already supports PlayStation and Xbox controllers, but lacks VR-optimized 6DOF controls Patent applications reveal Apple's interest in enhanced facial interfaces and force-sensitive input systems What's wrong with looking and pinching? Here's the thing: Apple's current interaction model is elegant in theory but frustrating...more

Reviewed by Corey Noles The sixth developer beta of visionOS 26 has arrived, and the big news isn't just about bug fixes—it's about PlayStation VR2 Sense controller support hitting Apple's mixed-reality headset. After months of hand-gesture-only interactions, this feels like Apple finally admitting that sometimes you just need real buttons. The beta was released on August 5, continuing Apple's aggressive push toward making the Vision Pro a more versatile spatial computing platform. But here's the thing: is this the update that transforms your $3,500 headset into something you'll actually reach for daily? Why PlayStation controllers change everything for Vision Pro gamingSony's DualSense controllers represent more than just gaming convenience—they signal Apple's recognition that gesture fatigue is a real barrier to Vision Pro adoption. VisionOS 26 adds "breakthrough" support for gamepads, meaning you'll see the controller in your hands even when fully immersed in virtual scenes. This...more

Reviewed by Corey Noles So, you strap on your Apple Vision Pro, and for the first time since launch, there's actually something new to watch that didn't exist yesterday. Sound familiar? If you've been holding onto that $3,499 headset wondering when Apple would deliver on its content promises, the wait might finally be over. Apple's latest immersive video releases mark a turning point for the platform, with Submerged becoming the first scripted film captured in Apple Immersive Video. The growing catalog now includes everything from Metallica concerts to NBA All-Star coverage, suggesting Apple is finally serious about feeding its premium spatial computing device the content it needs to justify its existence. What makes Apple Immersive Video actually different this time?Let's break down what Apple has been building while everyone complained about the lack of Netflix and YouTube apps. Apple Immersive Video delivers 180-degree stereoscopic video at 90 frames per second with approximately...more

Reviewed by Julianne Ngirngir The Apple Vision Pro launched with fanfare, premium materials, and a jaw-dropping $3,500 price tag that sent even the most devoted Apple fans scrolling past. But here's the kicker: reports suggest Apple's sequel headset could arrive as early as late 2025, targeting not just better specs but something more revolutionary—actual mainstream appeal. After shipping just 400,000 units in 2024 and watching customers return their headsets for weight complaints, Apple clearly had to rethink their entire approach to spatial computing. Those disappointing sales figures weren't just numbers—they forced Apple's engineering teams to tackle the fundamental barriers preventing Vision Pro from becoming the breakthrough we all hoped for. The supply chain whispers emerging from Cupertino paint a picture of targeted solutions addressing the three biggest pain points that kept the original from succeeding. What's actually changing under the hood?Apple's engineering response...more

Reviewed by Julianne Ngirngir The Vision Pro already knows where you're looking, how you move your hands, and what's in your room. Now Apple's exploring technology to read your lips—even when you're not speaking out loud. Here's what that means for the future of mixed reality interaction and why your silent thoughts might not stay silent much longer. Having tested the Vision Pro's eye-tracking precision over six months, I can confirm the device captures gaze patterns at millisecond resolution with unsettling accuracy. The addition of lip-reading capabilities would fundamentally transform this data collection from comprehensive to nearly omniscient. We're not just talking about another input method—this represents a leap toward computers that can decode unspoken words, potentially capturing the silent mental verbalization that occurs when you read to yourself or think through problems. What you need to know: Silent speech recognition technology can decode unspoken words from lip...more

You've probably seen the flashy consumer launches—Quest 3, Vision Pro, the usual suspects. But while everyone's been watching the retail games, Meta's Reality Labs has been quietly cooking up prototypes that make today's headsets look like flip phones. We're talking about tech that solves problems you didn't even know existed yet. What you need to know: • Meta's showing off two breakthrough prototypes that tackle resolution and focus issues plaguing current headsets • The Butterscotch Varifocal achieves near-retinal 56 pixels per degree—more than double what Quest Pro delivers • Their Flamera prototype completely reimagines passthrough with zero reprojection artifacts • These aren't product announcements, but they're roadmap reveals for the "second half of the decade" The kicker? Meta claims this tech offers "crisp, clear visuals that rival what you can see with the naked eye." That's not marketing speak—that's a technical benchmark the industry's been chasing for years. The vision...more

Apple's spatial computing journey hit a five-month milestone today, and while The Verge calls the first Vision Pro "a really, really, really big screen" that wasn't exactly "a groundbreaking, market-moving hit," the rumor mill is buzzing with news that could change everything. The latest reports suggest Apple isn't retreating from mixed reality—they're doubling down with meaningful hardware improvements that directly address the two pain points preventing broader adoption: processing limitations affecting the crucial passthrough experience and comfort issues that turn extended use into an endurance test. The complaints from early adopters centered around specific hardware limitations that Apple can actually address through iteration: the three-year-old M2 processor struggling with real-time video processing and a strap design that makes the 1.3-pound headset feel like wearing an anvil. Now we're getting our first concrete look at Apple's response. Finally, the M4 upgrade we've been...more

Disney+ just rolled out something pretty spectacular for Apple Vision Pro users: an immersive environment tied to the upcoming "Alien: Earth" series. This isn't just another 3D movie or fancy background — we're talking about a full-blown spatial experience that transforms your living room into something straight out of the Alien universe. With the series premiering August 13, this environment gives fans a taste of what's coming while showcasing just how far Disney+ has pushed the boundaries of mixed reality entertainment. What you need to know: Disney+ launches new "Alien: Earth" immersive environment featuring interactive elements from the series' 2120 corporate-controlled setting The environment represents Disney's first mature-rated spatial experience, testing whether horror and sci-fi benefit from immersive presentation Built using the same Universal Scene Description (USD) format that enables real-time lighting adaptation to your physical space This marks Disney's sixth Vision...more

The buzz around Apple's extended reality ambitions has reached fever pitch. After months of typical Apple secrecy, we're finally getting concrete glimpses into what Apple has been cooking up beyond the Vision Pro—and these leaks suggest something bigger than incremental updates. Let's break down what multiple supply chain reports and patent filings reveal about the company's surprisingly ambitious XR roadmap. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo just dropped a bombshell roadmap showing Apple has at least seven XR projects in development through 2028. Meanwhile, the current Vision Pro is already seeing mass production plans for an M5 refresh by late 2025. For a company that typically keeps product plans locked down tighter than Fort Knox, this unprecedented visibility into Apple's roadmap signals they're making some serious long-term bets on spatial computing's future. What makes these leaks particularly telling is how they reveal Apple's shift from cautious experimentation to committed platform...more

When Vivo revealed its new mixed reality headset — simply named Vivo Vision — it didn't just debut a new device. It kicked open the door to a market that, until now, has been heavily dominated by two tech giants: Apple and Meta. The Vision clearly draws inspiration from Apple's Vision Pro (very clear, in fact) — right down to its sleek ski-goggle silhouette and gesture-based interface — but it's more than just a copycat play.As someone who has followed the evolution of AR and VR for years, I can say with confidence that this is a pivotal moment. A third major player entering the MR space signals that things are heating up — and that's just what the industry needs. Competition is good. It drives innovation, lowers costs, and ultimately gives consumers more choice. But for Apple and Meta? It means there's another serious contender to worry about — one with strong momentum in Asia's smartphone market and a reputation for making capable hardware at disruptive price points. Let's break...more

Although the enterprise use cases for the Microsoft HoloLens 2 continue to impress, the arts community just can't stay away from the best augmented reality headset on the market. The latest example comes from a new exhibit that highlights one of Earth's most powerful but vulnerable sea creatures: orca whales. • Don't Miss: Microsoft's HoloLens Morphs Paris Museum Model of Mont-Saint-Michel into Masterpiece of AR The exhibit, which is called "Critical Distance," is being hosted by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Vision3The team behind the new immersive experience includes Hollywood veteran studio Vision3 along with support directly from Microsoft. Using the Unity development platform, the team managed to create an AR experience that puts you within a virtual sea as near life-sized orcas realistically swim around you. Vision3But unlike other AR experiences, which are generally passive, the HoloLens 2 and its hand tracking features allow you to...more

As NASA nears the launch of another mission to the Moon in 2024, and a subsequent mission to Mars in the 2030s, augmented reality is increasingly being woven into the normal space operations to test various capabilities. The latest example comes via the current International Space Station (ISS) crew, several of whom are using the Microsoft HoloLens to carry out vital procedures. • Don't Miss: Microsoft's Live HoloLens 2 Apollo 11 Demo Didn't Take Flight, but You Can See It Thanks to Unreal Engine's Video Currently, crew members are engaged in the T2 Augmented Reality (T2AR) project, which uses custom AR software to allow the team to maintain and service the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT). The COLBERT is one of the onboard exercise mechanisms the astronauts use to maintain their muscle and bone health during weeks and weeks of extended time in an environment with no gravity. NASAIncluded in the project are NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, Japan...more

Even with unlimited resources and a serious case of wanderlust, it's unlikely that you or I will be able to see all of the most famous structures in the world in person. That being the case, Google can now bring those landmarks to you in augmented reality. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Here's How Augmented Reality in Google Search WorksGoogle's Arts & Culture team has added 3D virtual tours of 19 iconic landmarks to its Search product, including locations like Tokyo Tower, Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella basilicas in Florence, and the Union Buildings in South Africa. The 3D models are built using 3D data from Google Earth and displayed via ModelViewer, Google's protocol for handling 3D and AR content on the web. Tokyo Tower Santa Croce Basilica Union Buildings "Not only will you be able to navigate smoothly to each stop of the tour but objects along the way can also be viewed in AR," wrote Florent Robineau and Joe Shepherd, tech lead and associate product manager, respectively, at Google...more

It's always fun to get an unexpected glimpse of the future, especially when that peek is so close you can actually feel the excitement of the new emerging dynamic. Such is the case thanks to a new Oculus Quest 2 commercial designed to promote a new aspect of the VR dance game Beat Saber. • Don't Miss: Facebook's Oculus Quest Turned into Augmented Reality Guitar Hero Experience via This Developer App The video is designed to promote the new Beat Saber music pack for the game from popular singer Billie Eilish. OculusHowever, what the highly choreographed video also does is deliver a tantalizing look at what group gaming using the Oculus Quest's passthrough augmented reality feature could look like in the very near future. Imagine a passthrough-enabled multiplayer game on the Quest which allows you to see and interact with other Quest-wearing players and you begin to get a sense of what such a situation might look like—it would look a lot like this video. OculusFacebook opened developer...more

Old school media stalwart The New York Timeslaunched its augmented reality news content in 2018 with a feature on the athletes of the Winter Olympics. However, after a solid year of AR reporting, the Times all but abandoned its AR news coverage via its mobile app, instead opting to publish AR content via the Spark AR platform from Facebook. Don't Miss: Google Adds More Olympic Athletes to Its Roster of Augmented Reality Search ContentNow, the publication's AR journey has come full-circle with a pair of AR camera effects visualizing the physics behind two of the sports of the Summer Games. First, the Gymnastics in Tokyo experience explores how US gymnast Sunisa Lee performs on the uneven bars. Next, the Hurdling in Tokyo experience examines how American track and field star Dalilah Muhammad is able to run the 400-meter hurdles. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Each effect begins with a text intro before anchoring the AR experience in your physical environment....more

After facing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympic Games are underway in Tokyo, but a surge in cases worldwide has taken the spectator out of these spectator sports. However, thanks to AR content in Google Search, fans can get closer to select athletes than they would have if they had a ticket to the events. Don't Miss: Google Adds Pac-Man, Hello Kitty & More Japanese Anime & Video Game Characters to AR SearchDuring the keynote presentation for its I/O developer conference in May, Google unveiled sports athletes as the latest content type available in Google Search, with Olympic athletes Megan Rapinoe, Simone Biles, and Naomi Osaka (who had the privilege of lighting the lantern during the opening ceremonies) among the first available. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Now, a search for "Olympics" via the Google mobile app uncovers not only the aforementioned trio but also six more Olympic athletes. The new AR athletes include freestyle swimmer Caleb...more

After a postponement of the Summer Olympics for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokyo is set to host the games this summer, despite a surge in cases in the city. Nonetheless, the games seem set to go on, and USA Today has published two AR experiences highlighting two new sports, skateboarding and sports climbing, making their Olympics debut. Don't Miss: USA Today Teams Up with 8th Wall to Launch AR Basketball Game for March MadnessThe AR experiences feature American professional skateboarder Tom Schaar and Team USA climber Kyra Condie, with a 3D scan of each athlete anchored in the camera view along with video clips and AR simulations of their signature moves. USA Today USA Today Both experiences include narration from their respective athletes as well as USA Today sports reporter Tom Schad and interactive hotspots with more information and content. The AR experiences are available now via the USA Today app for iOS and Android on devices compatible with ARKit and ARCore. In 2018,...more

With the release of Object Capture this fall, Apple is giving everyone with a Mac and a camera the means to create their own 3D objects. But what about volumetric video, which currently requires multi-camera rigs like those at Microsoft's Mixed Reality Capture studios? One developer is shooting its shot at giving iPhone users similar powers. Don't Miss: Snap Releases Lens Studio 4.0 with 3D Body Mesh & More, Upgrades Scan as Fashion AssistantOn Wednesday, 3D capture startup Volograms released the public beta of its Volu app for iOS. The app enables users to create rudimentary volumetric videos (which the company also calls volograms) and then view them in augmented reality and record the footage. If you have an iPhone XR or recent model, you can install the beta of Volu through the TestFlight app. An Android version is in the works, with a waiting list available for those who submit their email address. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Capturing a vologram (a...more

Unlike VR, when you're talking about augmented reality, describing what an experience is like can be incredibly difficult — primarily because the experiences are even more contextual than relatively static virtual worlds that don't involve real-world settings. In AR, everything is about how "you" see things interacting with your real environment. Such is the case with what I'm calling the most important demonstration of Magic Leap technology to date in the form of an AI assistant called Mica. The experience was previewed on stage during Wednesday's keynote event at the L.E.A.P. conference in Los Angeles by Magic Leap's John Monos, vice president of human-centered AR and dDNA, and Andrew Rabinovich, the company's head of AI. Don't Miss: Everything Magic Leap Revealed During Its First Annual L.E.A.P. Conference Keynote EventTogether, the team described a world in which a Magic Leap user will be able to interact with intelligent assistants in the form of fully realized augmented reality...more

Unlike the realm of virtual reality, augmented reality is less about losing yourself in some fantasy environment, and more about getting things done in the real world. So while we've seen some great games that capture the imagination on devices like the Magic Leap One and the HoloLens, when it comes to real-world usage, the biggest developments coming for AR apps that are the more practical ones. Fittingly, we now have two apps available on the devices mentioned above that cater directly to the notion of using AR to work rather than play. In this case, that work involves communication. Don't Miss: Magic Leap Roars into the Auto World via Kia Stinger App from RelayCarsMagic Leap's Avatar Chat, teased during the L.E.A.P. convention, and released a couple of weeks ago in partnership with Twilio, allows any two Magic Leap One users to communicate in real time from remote locations using simplified avatars. On the other hand, New York-based startup Spatial just launched its remote...more

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Google has packed new functionality into Google Meet to compete with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other video conferencing platforms. After adding background blurring and virtual backgrounds to match Zoom's capabilities, Google Meet now has a unique differentiator in the form of augmented reality effects. Don't Miss: Snap Releases Lens Studio 4.0 with 3D Body Mesh & More, Upgrades Scan as Fashion AssistantThe AR filters, which are available now for the mobile app on iOS and Android (except for Google Workspace accounts), run the gamut from cartoon character masks of cats, dogs, dragons, robots, and the like that completely obscure the users face and mimic facial movements, to effects that anchor 3D content to the subject's mug. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Google Meet's new AR filters are more or less the same as the effects available on Google Duo, lending credence to previous reports that Google plans to fold Duo...more

The Chromecast TV streaming lineup from Google is one of the more popular products in the category, primarily due to its low price tag and broad app support. With more than 430,000 reviews on the App Store, Chromecast has even found fans of those in the Apple ecosystem. The latest edition in the lineup, Chromecast with Google TV, elevates the platform from a casting dongle to a full-fledged smart TV device and Apple TV alternative. Although Chromecast's obvious strength is in streaming video, its Ambient Mode is one of its low-key great side benefits. Ambient Mode (formerly known as Backdrop) is essentially a screensaver, serving up images from your Google Photos or curated art from Google Arts and Culture on your TV when it is idle. If you opt for the Art Gallery option, you can also view fine art and street art in your physical space via augmented reality. Here's how to do it... Don't Miss: Google Arts & Culture Offers 'Pocket Gallery' Augmented Reality Museum Featuring Picasso,...more

With fears over the COVID-19 pandemic subsiding, live concerts are returning. And Doritos wants to send music fans to a few of them via an augmented reality promotion. Dubbed "Mark Your Play," the campaign is centered on scannable posters, denoted by a Doritos chip displayed as a play button, found in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Brighton, Cardiff, and Southampton in the UK. Don't Miss: 8th Wall's Web AR Brings Album Art of Pink Floyd to LifeScanning the QR code opens the Doritos Make Your Play website. The AR experience begins with participants anchoring the virtual tortilla chip in the user's physical surroundings via their smartphone camera. Doing so opens a virtual portal filled with 3D and music content. PepsiCo PepsiCo After viewing the experience, users can then enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets. The snack brand will give out 250 pairs of tickets per day to the Strawberries and Creem Festival, which will feature artists like...more

It's all fun and games until the technology is actually put into use and you realize augmented reality is now part of Death Star. That's what some AR insiders may be thinking once they get a look at the latest modified HoloLens 2 images released by the US Army. • Don't Miss: Hands-On with the HoloLens 2, the New Best Augmented Reality Experience You Can Get The newest images come from a battery of tests being conducted by the US Army Futures Command and Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). Looking at some of these new images, the modded HoloLens 2 gives soldiers a bit of a Star Wars Stormtrooper look, which will be exciting for some, assuming you're not on the wrong end of the AR lens during battle. It's one thing to see a single soldier wearing the device, but being presented with an entire team of AR helmet-equipped flying soldiers begins to look a lot like science fiction. US Army"The Army is investing in resources to broaden the emerging capabilities of...more

The startup JigSpace, which was among the first apps to support ARKit and LiDAR for iPhone augmented reality apps, has capitalized on its early mover status by innovating within the space. On Wednesday, JigSpace closed a $4.7 million Series A round of funding, led by Rampersand with Investible, Vulpes, and Roger Allen AM participating as well. Don't Miss: The 50 Best Augmented Reality Apps for iPhone, iPad & Android Devices"Creating and sharing knowledge in 3D should be simple, useful, and delightful. We're on a mission to unlock the utility of augmented reality at massive scale and bring interactive 3D experiences into everyday life," said Zac Duff, co-founder and CEO at JigSpace, in a statement. "This round of funding will help us continue to deliver on our vision of Jigs everywhere and accessible to everyone. The opportunity for 3D knowledge is big—in the future, you'll be able to look at every object as a Jig." JigSpace/YouTubeCompared to the camera effects from Snapchat and...more

Yo dawg, Snap heard you using Snapchat augmented reality Lenses in your messages, so it's putting its AR Lenses in other messaging apps. On Wednesday, Rakuten Viber flipped the switch on an update that brings Snapchat's popular AR Lenses to many users of its Viber messaging and voice communications app. Don't Miss: Snap Releases Lens Studio 4.0 with 3D Body Mesh & More, Upgrades Scan as Fashion AssistantViber users will now have access to 30 Lenses at launch for augmented video messaging and photos created in the app, but the selection will expand over time, with Rakuten Viber planning to add 50 to 70 Lenses per month, resulting in up to 300 Lenses by the end of the year. Viber will also offer Lenses sponsored by other brands, with the World Wildlife Fund, FC Barcelona, and the World Health Organization among the early adopters. Viber/YouTubeViber/YouTube"We're excited to bring the Snap camera to Viber users," said Djamel Agaoua, CEO of Rakuten Viber. "Through this partnership, we...more

The Paris-based technology conference Viva Technology, which hosted the likes of Apple's Tim Cook and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, is now over. But there are still a few more treats to discover from the annual gathering. Namely, from new Magic Leap CEO Peggy Johnson. • Don't Miss: 'The Matrix' Movie Effects Pioneer & Former Magic Leap Exec Reveals 'Tragic Story' of Startup's Recent Struggles Unlike Cook and Zuckerberg, who both appeared at last week's tech conference via remote video, Johnson instead decided to appear in person. Although we're not aware of Johnson's specifics around the decision to appear in person, it's a move we're likely to see more of in the coming weeks now that France has modified its entry rules for U.S. citizens to allow non-quarantined travel for vaccinated visitors. The fireside chat with Johnson, hosted by Publicis Groupe chairman Maurice Lévy, occurred just a few hours prior to Cook's, but we're only now getting a sample of what the new leader of Magic Leap...more

Now that Snapchat has extended its virtual try-on powers from the face and feet to the wrist, Samsung is leveraging the new capability, along with an interactive twist, to sell its smartwatches. Samsung Electronics UK partnered with Snapchat to run a virtual try-on for Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 using the app's wrist-tracking technology to project the product onto consumers' wrists. Don't Miss: Snap Releases Lens Studio 4.0 with 3D Body Mesh & More, Upgrades Scan as Fashion AssistantAfter scanning the Snapcode or selecting the Samsung icon from the Lens Carousel, users can scroll through several watch face and wrist strap options and then anchor the virtual watch to their wrists in the rear-facing camera view. SnapSnapSnapBut that's not all. Users can swipe the virtual watch to interact with a simulation of the messaging app, which also includes the user's Bitmoji. In addition, a "Shop" button links users to Samsung's webstore, where they can purchase the watch or other Samsung...more

With the tagline "More Than Meets the Eye," the Transformers franchise was pretty much preordained to have its own augmented reality game, and AR gaming pioneer Niantic has stepped up to fulfill that destiny. Niantic will now join forces with toymakers Hasbro and Tomy and development studio Very Very Games to build Transformers: Heavy Metal on its Lightship AR cloud platform. Don't Miss: Niantic Bringing Buddy Interactions to AR+ Mode in Pokémon GO, Shared Experiences with Other Trainers to FollowBased on images of gameplay provided by Niantic, Transformers: Heavy Metal follows the formula of location-based mobile AR centered on exploring real-world locations, collecting virtual characters and resources, and taking part in turn-based battles. The game is slated for a soft launch "soon" with a global launch before the end of the year. The game already has a website where interested players can sign-up for updates. NianticNiantic"In thinking about franchises that would be incredible to...more

Magic Leap has had a rough couple of years, highlighted by high-profile executive departures, lawsuits, troublesome patent shuffles, and massive layoffs. Despite this, things seem to have calmed down at the augmented reality startup under Peggy Johnson, but there are still questions as to how things went awry under the old regime. • Don't Miss: Magic Leap Experiencing Yet Another Major Executive Shake-Up, Report Says Most former Magic Leap staff have remained tight-lipped, but now one major former executive is finally shedding some light on the situation. Magic Leap's former senior vice president of creative strategy, John Gaeta, the man behind some of the iconic effects in the original The Matrix movie series, exited the company back in 2019. Since then, Gaeta has been mostly off the radar, other than his contributions to the upcoming The Matrix 4 movie coming later this year. However, this week Gaeta took a break from his other work to talk about his career and its intersection with...more

Mobile augmented reality for iOS typically comes through apps via ARKit, but Apple is borrowing a few pages from Google's playbook and bringing AR directly to iOS 15. During the keynote presentation at the WWDC 2021, Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering for Apple, unveiled Live Text, a new camera mode coming to iOS 15 that delivers much of the same functionality that Google Lens offers for Android smartphones and Google Photos. Don't Miss: Apple's AR Spaces in Updated Clips App Uses iPhone & iPad LiDAR to Give You New AR Video PowersLive Text will enable iPhone users to point their capture photos and interact with text. In addition to copying text, users can search based on selected text or call a phone number recognized within the image. The same functionality will be available via the Photos app on iOS and macOS Monterey. Live Text also replicates Google Lens's ability to recognize pet breeds, plants, products, art, and landmarks....more

This week, Apple unveiled its own version of Google Lens in the form of Live Text. In response, Google just hit back with a new feature for its visual search tool called Places, a new search category that can recognize landmarks and return information on them within the camera view, which Apple touted as a capability of Live Text during its WWDC keynote. Don't Miss: Nintendo Crafts AR Experience via Google Lens for Pokémon Sword & Shield Game PackagingPlaces for Google Lens, which is available now worldwide, uses image recognition and Google Earth's 3D map assets to identify locations. Once you activate the Places filter, Google Lens identifies the landmark and a hotspot appears over the subject in the camera view. In order to retrieve relevant information from Google Search about the landmark, you can simply tap the hotspot. GoogleGoogle"Google Lens is now used over three billion times per month by people around the world," wrote Lou Wang, group product manager for Google Lens and...more

Just when everything seemed settled over at Magic Leap, it turns out that the internal tumult is still in play. Now, just as newly minted CEO Peggy Johnson has managed to fully position herself publicly as the new leader of the struggling augmented reality startup, more executive departures have begun. • Don't Miss: Magic Leap Made Me Cry, Probably for the Last Time. Here's Why That's the Good News Magic Leap's chief operating officer Henk Vlietstra, chief patent officer David Lundmark, and chief technology officer Paul Greco are all exiting the company according to a report from Business Insider. The report, which is behind a paywall surfaced by The Verge, also noted that Magic Leap's former marketing chief, Daniel Diez, is returning to the company. According to Diez's LinkedIn profile, he exited the company sometime in 2020. Magic Leap's latest executive shuffle comes as Johnson and the former CEO, Rony Abovitz, are both publicly promising the release of a new Magic Leap headset...more

Like its predecessors WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel's latest series for Disney Plus, Loki, has its own augmented reality experience. However, while the former titles did not debut their AR content until just ahead of their respective season finales, the latter arrives just in time for the debut of the God of Mischief's time-traveling exploits. Don't Miss: The Best Marvel Movie Scenes Featuring Augmented Reality Concepts That We Might Use in the Near FutureFor Loki, Disney Plus has opted to publish its AR experience as a Sponsored Lens on Snapchat. The experience includes a virtual background influenced by the show's premise, a golden clock with multiple hands rotating because multiverse. Tapping the screen adjusts the virtual lighting of the scene. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The highlight, though, occurs in the foreground, where you'll find your name overlaid on the camera view with the show's typeface of the letters randomly...more

When we got our first look at US Army soldiers testing Microsoft's modified HoloLens 2 last year, it still looked very much like the commercial edition, with some additional sensors attached. Today, the prototype Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), produced under an initial $480 million contract, looks much more like battle-ready technology, with a much larger visor and sensors bundled in a rugged-looking, beige enclosure. Don't Miss: US Military Shows Off Modified HoloLens 2 Augmented Reality SystemNow that the US Army has extended a five-year, $21 billion contract (with a possible five-year extension) to Microsoft to produce approximately 120,000 military-grade HoloLens 2, Microsoft has revealed some additional details from behind the scenes. The IVAS prototype is the product of two years of close collaboration between vendor and customer, where Microsoft team members participated in several week-long boot camps and the Army was exposed to Microsoft's "user-centric" design...more

After tapping Nvidia for its first AR headset, Magic Leap is calling in reinforcement for its future enterprise-focused efforts. On Wednesday, Magic Leap disclosed a partnership with chipmaker AMD to produce a "semi-custom" system on a chip (SOC) that will handle computing, graphics, and machine learning, particularly computer vision and spatial computing, for its AR headsets. Don't Miss: 10 Remote Collaboration Apps for HoloLens, Magic Leap, & Mobile That Can Substitute for in-Person MeetingsIn its partnership with AMD, Magic Leap is aiming for top performance to run advanced AR content for enterprise businesses while attaining greater power efficiency. "We have a shared vision with Magic Leap to shape the future of computing and transform the way enterprises worldwide work and interact with each other and their customers," said Jack Huynh, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD's Semi-Custom business unit, in a statement. "We started this journey together several years...more

Few brands have been more enthusiastic about augmented reality than Lego, which has now expanded its AR experiences from toys to theme parks. The brand recently opened a new attraction, dubbed Mythica: World of Mythical Creature, at Legoland Windsor in the UK. Don't Miss: Hands-On with the Lego Snapchat Augmented Reality Experience That Lets You Build With Friends RemotelyVisitors who download and install the Legoland Windsor Resort app can scan four codes located adjacent to the statues of Chimera, Alicorn, Hydra, and Sky Lion. Upon scanning, the app opens virtual portals, where visitors can photograph the AR creatures, collect digital cards, and view the backstory of each creature. Lego In addition, the app, which is available for iOS and Android, facilitates a separate set of AR experiences at the park or at home. Users can open virtual portals to Magical Forest, Hidden Valley, Raging Seas, and Mount Lava, where they can find hidden items, acquire creature cards, and learn more...more

For most mainstream users, LiDAR sensors for precision depth sensing remain the exclusive domain of Apple iPhones and iPads, but Google is helping Android device makers close the depth gap on the software side via its ARCore toolkit. After introducing new AR features for Search and Maps and previewing the mind-blowing Project Starline 3D video conferencing concept during its I/O keynote presentation on Tuesday, Google unceremoniously announced ARCore 1.24, which brings two new AR capabilities, Raw Depth API and Recording and Playback API, with the former enabling more realistic AR experiences and more accurate occlusion in the absence of LiDAR. Don't Miss: Google Adding Stereo Depth Support for Dual Cameras to ARCore Starting with Pixel 4 & 4XLThe Raw Depth API builds on the existing Depth API by capturing additional depth data so that apps can render realistic AR experiences via a standard smartphone camera. However, Android devices with time-of-flight sensors for depth measurement...more

Since bringing augmented reality features to Search and Maps, Google has made them arguably the most useful augmented reality products in its portfolio. On Tuesday, at Google I/O, Google unveiled some of its new AR capabilities for the pair of mobile apps. Don't Miss: Google Offers Virtual Photo Booth Web App Ahead of Socially Distanced I/O ConferenceIn Google Search, you can now view AR animations of athletes like soccer hero Megan Rapinoe, tennis star Naomi Osaka, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Searching for these athletes now via the Google app for iOS and Android (or via Chrome for Android) will allow you to see them perform their famous feats in your personal space. Google/YouTubeGoogle/YouTubeGoogle/YouTubeMeanwhile, Live View, the walking navigation mode for Google Maps, will gain some helpful enhancements for iOS and Android over the coming months. Perhaps the most exciting of these improvements is the expansion of Live View from a walking navigation tool to an AR x-ray...more

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is showing signs of winding down, nevertheless, Google will still hold its annual I/O developer conference as a virtual affair, with keynotes and sessions available as live streams and on-demand videos starting Tuesday, May 18 and concluding on Thursday, May 20. As a consolation prize, Google has a web-based AR treat for attendees and observers to bring a taste of the conference into their own home offices. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Here's How Augmented Reality in Google Search WorksThe Google I/O Photo Booth is a web app that is available for desktop and mobile browsers and adds animated brand mascots and Easter eggs from across Google's ecosystem, including the Android's Bugdroid, Chrome's Offline Dino, Flutter's Dash, and Firebase's Sparky, to your camera view. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality After adding your virtual friends, you can then take a photo and add more props, including Google products, fashion accessories, snacks,...more

Since its launch two years ago, the HoloLens 2 has been the best AR headset available, and nothing has come close to touching it since. So, at first blush, new features arriving for the device via an update to the Windows Holographic operating system might seem a bit...tame. Don't Miss: 10 Remote Collaboration Apps for HoloLens, Magic Leap, & Mobile That Can Substitute for in-Person MeetingsThe top change arriving via version 21H1 is the transition to the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as the default browser. Yawn? Not so fast. This means better support for WebXR experiences, which is quickly gaining steam as a delivery method for platform-agnostic AR content. This also means support for web apps, such as the Microsoft Office web app. How about swipe to type? Yeah, you probably have this on your iPhone or Android device already, but, considering that hand gestures are the prime input method for HoloLens, this is kind of a big deal. We also can't forget that Microsoft has positioned...more

Angry Birds, one of the first franchises to find success in mobile gaming, continues to shoot its shot at new life in augmented reality gaming. After adapting its slingshot gameplay for Magic Leap with Angry Birds FPS: First Person Slingshot and mobile with Isle of Pigs, Rovio Entertainment has pushed its furious feathered friends into the tower defense genre altogether for a web-based AR mini-game. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs Reinvents the Franchise for Mobile, but Smartglasses Are Its DestinyLaunching as a promotional tie-in with Burger King, the web-based edition of Angry Birds challenges players to defend a virtual nest of eggs from attacking hordes of Hatchlings (who are cannibals, I guess) by tapping their touchscreen and placing self-firing turrets in their physical space. Rovio Rovio If you fail to keep the Hatchlings from stealing your eggs, you can activate a power-up, which is triggered by switching to the front-facing camera and opening your mouth,...more

One of the oldest electronic musical instruments is the theremin, a synthesizer that generates sound based on hand gestures, as featured in the classic "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys. Now, indie developer Lucas Rizzotto has taken the concept of the theremin and translated it to an augmented reality synthesizer app for HoloLens 2 that can turn people into musical instruments. Don't Miss: Control a Synthesizer with the HoloLens to Make Music in Mixed RealityYes, technically, people are already musical instruments, or at least those gifted with singing talent or possessing the ability to clap on beat, but bear with us here. After teasing his project on Twitter (which we, in turn, shared last week), Rizzotto has unveiled more details on his project in a (lengthy and dramatic) video on his YouTube channel. The app works via granular synthesis, or the deconstruction a music sample where the fragments can be manipulated to create new sounds. In his initial iteration, Rizzotto created a...more

The Chicago Bulls may not be very relevant in the current NBA standings, but they do lead the league in one other area. With an assist from Nexus Studios, AT&T has debuted StatsZone, an augmented reality experience that presents game statistics in an immersive format, in the Chicago Bulls app. Don't Miss: NBA AR App Launches on Android & Adds Portals to PlayoffsLeveraging ARKit from Apple and ARCore from Google for horizontal plane detection, StatZone anchors a tabletop-sized virtual basketball court with customizable dashboards, shot charts, and animations that help visualize the numbers behind the game. AT&T/YouTubeWhile fans can review game stats over the past five years, the real treat comes during live games, where StatZone presents stats in real-time and celebratory animations. Potential future features include connecting StatZone to their fantasy basketball teams. "With the United Center not currently hosting fans, we've been focused on building at-home experiences around...more

Having found success in video games and a hugely popular Netflix series, The Witcher franchise is now on the hunt for the coin Pokémon GO has earned in location-based augented reality mobile games. Developer Spokko, a subsidiary of CD Projekt Red (the developer behind the console/PC games), has opened up registration for early access to the global "soft launch" of the Android version of The Witcher: Monster Slayer. Don't Miss: Niantic Previews the Future of AR Gaming with Codename: Urban Legends DemoAt the end of April, Spokko will draw names from registrants to receive early access to the app. Players interested in joining the hunt early can register at the game's website. Spokko/YouTubeSpokko/YouTubeCurrently, availability for the iOS version is limited to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, and Russia via the App Store (no word on a wider rollout). A support page also lists early access for the Android version for New Zealand and Australia, but the Play Store link comes...more

Disney Plus shows WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier are both streaming hits, but the two series could not be more different in terms of giving fans a taste of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the two titles do have another thing in common: Marvel Studios delivered an AR experience for each of them just ahead of their finale episodes. Don't Miss: Marvel Expands Roster of Avengers Playmoji for Pixel Playground Ahead of 'Avengers: Endgame'While WandaVision's AR experience arrived via Facebook Messenger, Falcon and the Winter Soldier's AR content is locked away in the Disney Insider app for iOS. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The experience starts with the Shield Challenge, a mini-game that replicates (spoiler alert) Sam Wilson's training sequence with Captain America's shield in the penultimate episode of the series. In order to play, you'll need a fairly wide open space, which you'll scan with your iPhone camera. Pro tip: scan as much of the...more

After integrating Snapchat into its latest Galaxy A Series smartphones, Samsung is trying out a new AR camera app for its army of mobile devices. The company recently released a beta version of AR Canvas, an experimental app for its Galaxy smartphones that gives users the ability to create semi-persistent AR scenes with a variety of images. Don't Miss: Here Are All the Things in You Can Do in Augmented Reality with the Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+Using the rear-facing camera, users can type out and anchor 3D text, doodle, embed GIFs, and place photos from their photo gallery into their physical surroundings. SamsungSamsungSamsungAR Canvas also includes the ability to copy images recognized by the camera and paste them elsewhere in the scene, an ability previously seen in apps like Weird Cuts and DoodleLens. With the scene set, users can then save the scene for others to view it in that location within 30 days. "AR Canvas provides fun features to decorate the space around you with AR...more

It's Earth Day, which means that nonprofits, individuals, and brands are making a concerted effort to raise awareness of environmental issues and how to change behaviors to reverse impacts of pollution, deforestation, and suburban sprawl, among others. Leading the charge is Snap by stepping up to this challenge by using the augmented reality powers of Snapchat to illustrate problems we face across the planet. Don't Miss: Snapchat Celebrates Earth Day with Sobering Augmented Reality Look at Rising Sea LevelsWorking in partnership with the AR/VR team at Google, Snap recruited Lens Studio creators to craft five interactive AR experiences using the Depth API in ARCore. Three of these Lenses center on the effects of pollution on wildlife, particularly the dumping of plastics and other trash and the spilling of oil in our oceans. In Saving Chelon by Aidan Wolf, you are tasked with guiding the titular sea turtle through a virtual underwater environment using a light controlled by the...more

Gamers, anime fans, and those with an interest in Japanese culture are in for an AR treat courtesy of Google. On Tuesday, the company added 14 3D renditions of popular Japanese characters, headlined by pop culture icons Pac-Man and Hello Kitty, to its roster of augmented reality content available in Google Search. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Here's How Augmented Reality in Google Search WorksIn addition to Pac-Man and Hello Kitty, you can view Ultraman, Ultraman Zero, Ultraman Belial, Gomorra, Evangelion (Evangelion Unit 1), Gundam (Odusseus Gundam, Kusui Gundam, Penelope), Kogimyun, Taiko Master, Pompompurin, and Little Twin Stars. Google/YouTubeSome of the characters come with special animations or sound effects. For instance, Pac-Man gobble dots while being chased by ghosts, while Hello Kitty greats you in Japanese and English. Each of the AR characters can be scaled in size and captured in photos or videos for sharing elsewhere, but the additional effects could make for some interesting...more

The enterprise applications powering the adoption of the HoloLens 2 are only just ramping up as developers continue to work with the still relatively new hardware. But one tech giant, namely Intel, is showing off how it's already harnessing the features of the HoloLens 2 to transform its internal operations. • Don't Miss: Hands-On with the HoloLens 2, the New Best Augmented Reality Experience You Can Get In a new video recorded on the factory floor of Intel's semiconductor fabrication facility in Ireland (its European headquarters), the company gives us a rare behind-the-scenes tour that precisely demonstrates how the high-end augmented reality device is being utilized. Intel IrelandAlthough the Intel staffer giving the tour doesn't mention the software by name, it appears that the Intel expert wearing the HoloLens 2 while making a repair is using Microsoft's Dynamics 365 Guides, an interactive application that can be used to guide workers through some of the most complex technical...more

We've reached the point in the trajectory of augmented reality's growth where AR advertising experiences are becoming commonplace tactics rather than rare experiments. Some of the more impressive examples of AR ads to emerge recently come from Hulu, Coinbase and Ray-Ban via Snapchat, along with a web-based AR experience from Captain Morgan built with the 8th Wall Web platform. Don't Miss: Snapchat Can Turn Your 12-Pack of Labatt Blue Beer into a Virtual NHL ArenaTo promote the second season of its original series Solar Opposites (from the Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland), Hulu has published a Sponsored Lens reflecting the aesthetic of the animated sci-fi sitcom. Starting with the front-facing camera, lead character Korvo instructs you to lift your hand, where a sci-fi rock will materialize. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality From there, the experience switches to the rear-facing camera, where you are prompted to draw a...more

Have you ever wondered where you'd come out if you drilled to the other side of the world? Now, if you have an Android device and Chrome web browser, you can find out. On its Experiments with Google hub, Google has aggregated a collection of AR experiences built on the WebXR standard that show off the outer reaches of what is possible for web-based AR development. Don't Miss: Google Flips the Switch on Web-Based Augmented Reality Experiences for ARCoreProbably the coolest of the AR experiences in the WebXR collection is Floom, which opens a portal to the other side of the globe at your feet. GoogleMoving the device around your space and adjusting the angle will offer a different location, with hints provided at the top of your screen for land and water. Once you've arrived at a location to drill, tap the screen and the portal will open up to show you the exact destination on the other side. You can even explore location further through Google Earth. My hope is that this will finally...more

Over the past two product cycles, Apple has been rumored to be preparing to reveal its Apple AirTags tracking devices that can help iPhone owners find their possessions with augmented reality. Now, it's 2021, and AppleTags are nowhere to be found. But Samsung has leapfrogged Apple with its own take on the product category. Don't Miss: Here Are All the Things in You Can Do in Augmented Reality with the Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+During its Unpacked 2021 event on Thursday, where the star of the show was the new Galaxy S21 lineup of smartphones, Samsung also unveiled the new Galaxy SmartTags and SmartTags Plus. The connected devices, powered by enclosed, coin-sized batteries that last for "months," are designed to attach to keychains, backpacks, and pet collars and track them. Samsung /YouTubeBoth devices use the SmartThings Find platform (similar to Apple's Find My service) to locate nearby items via Bluetooth. For items that are farther away, SmartTags can connect anonymously to a...more

Who had Lil Nas X, blood-drop Nikes, and satan worship on your 2021 bingo card? In a story that's stranger than fiction, the "Old Town Road" rapper has ruffled some feathers with the video for his new single, "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" filled with demonic imagery usually reserved for death metal bands. Don't Miss: Rockers Palaye Royale Conjure Creepy Immersive AR Music Video via Jadu AppAs if that weren't enough, his collaboration with sneaker designer MSCHF to release "Satan Shoes" (customized Nike Air Max 97s with human blood-infused ink injected into the shoe's air pocket) has resulted in a lawsuit from Nike. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Capitalizing on the fervor, AR app Jadu has collaborated with Lil Nas X to create a volumetric video that lets you "have a conversation" with the artist. Available now in the App Store, Lil Nas X appears dressed in red angel wings, red slacks, black tank top, and a leather bag slung across his shoulder....more

With NFTs taking the art world by storm, it's a bit refreshing to know that you can enjoy world famous masterpieces in the comfort of your own home via augmented reality without emptying your cryptocurrency wallet. And that's what you get with the Google Arts & Culture app, which adds three new Pocket Galleries with world-famous masterpieces, one of which emulates guided tours in real-world museums. Don't Miss: Google Arts & Culture Drops AR Synth Exhibit That You Can PlayThis week, the Google Arts & Culture team introduced Pocket Galleries featuring works from the Jean Pigozi Collection, featuring 40 pieces from African and Japanese artists, and Los Angeles's J. Paul Getty Museum, highlighting 200 years of art history from the likes Henri Rousseau, Jean-Antoine Watteau, and Gerrit van Honthorst. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality "These treasures are frequently lent to museums across the globe, but until now have never had a...more

After years of testing and modifications, the US Army is moving forward with its customized version of HoloLens 2 from Microsoft. In separate announcements published on Wednesday, the US Army authorized moving from rapid prototyping to production and rapid field testing. Don't Miss: Here's Your First Look at the US Army's Combat-Ready HoloLens 2 in ActionThe Army officially awarded the contract to Microsoft on March 26, according to a statement. A Microsoft spokesperson revealed that the deal is worth more than $21 billion over ten years. Microsoft beat out Magic Leap for the initial contract, worth $488 million, to develop the headset in 2018. US Army/YouTubeDubbed Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), the modified HoloLens includes sensors for night and thermal vision to serve up data intended to improve situational awareness, targeting, and decision making in the heat of battle. The headset also runs applications for training that simulate battlefield environments ahead of...more

As if teasing its own smartglasses weren't enough, augmented reality gaming developer Niantic gave gamers a glimpse of how 5G speeds can revolutionize how they play mobile games in the near future. This week, the company revealed Codename: Urban Legends, a demo game built with the Niantic Real World Platform that showcases action-packed, multi-player mobile gameplay achieved through low-latency 5G connectivity via edge servers. Don't Miss: Niantic Bringing Buddy Interactions to AR+ Mode in Pokémon GO, Shared Experiences with Other Trainers to FollowFootage of gameplay from the demo, spliced together with CGI cinematic scenes in a trailer for the game, shows a first-person shooter that unfolds in the real world, with enemies emerging from the ground and firing projectiles that incinerate the physical surroundings. Don't look for the game in the App Store or Google Play just yet (despite the fact that there are multiple apps that share the Urban Legends title), but Niantic hints that an...more

The AR walking navigation feature in Google Maps, which is arguably one of the most useful mobile augmented reality to available to consumers, is about to get even more indispensable for travelers. On Tuesday, Google announced a number of new features coming to Google Maps, chief among them an expansion of Live View to indoor navigation of airports, malls, and transit stations. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Hands-On with Google Maps Walking AR Navigation Experiment, a Peek into Our Smartglasses FutureThe new indoor navigation is available now via iOS and Android, but it is limited to malls in Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. It will expand to select airports, malls, and transit hubs in Tokyo and Zurich over the next few months and will continue to roll out steadily to more cities from there. GoogleGoogle"We all know that awkward moment when you're walking in the opposite direction of where you want to go — Live View uses AR cues to avoid just...more

When Microsoft unveiled Mesh a couple of weeks ago, the move revealed a major part of Microsoft's next steps toward dominating the augmented reality space, particularly with regard to enterprise customers. But aside from the general details contained in the announcement, what really got some insiders excited was the demo video (see below) accompanying the launch of Mesh. It looked like something out of Iron Man's holographic lab, but backed by very real sensor and display technology. • Don't Miss: Microsoft Unveils Mesh Platform for Collaborative HoloLens Apps, Previews Pokemon GO Proof of Concept So was the video accurate? If so, how could some of the things in the video be accomplished? And if Microsoft is really focused on the enterprise space, what was the meaning behind including consumer-focused examples, including that amazing Pokemon Go proof of concept? In order to unpack what Mesh really means for the HoloLens 2 and the AR space in general, we brought Microsoft's Greg...more

What is old is new again. In this case, a classic arcade game gets the augmented reality treatment. In a new promotion playing off its ad campaign featuring actor Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine), Pizza Hut has turned its pizza boxes into a virtual Pac-Man game via web-based AR technology. Don't Miss: How to Play Classic Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation & Atari Games on Your iPhoneNow, customers who order a large Tastemaker from the pizza chain between March 15 and 26 (or while supplies last) will receive a specially-marked box that includes a QR code that leads to the Pizza Hut Arcade website. When viewing the website from an iOS or Android smartphone, customers can point their camera at the Pac-Man maze on the box to project a virtual arcade game onto the package. From there, the game plays as one would expect, complete with a virtual joystick controlled with swipe gestures on the touchscreen. Bandai NamcoIf that weren't enough fun, players can share their scores to...more

Sure, Snapchat AR Lenses can be fun, but they can help communicate complex issues as well. While our Facebook news feeds were filled with references to 311 Day, March 11 is also World Kidney Day, the United Kingdom's National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) used the occasion to educate its constituents about organ donation. Don't Miss: AR Snapshots: Your Cats & Dogs Can Join in Your AR Antics with These Pet-Friendly Snapchat LensesUtilizing the new body-tracking technology recently released in Lens Studio 3.4, the NHSBT published an AR experience that overlaid a rough map of the body's internal organs on individuals within the camera view to help educate the public on this often overlooked issue. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality "Working with Snapchat to utilize this new body scanning technology is a really exciting opportunity for us," said Holly Mason, deputy head of organ donation marketing at NHS Blood and Transplant, in a statement. "We...more

Museum curators typically frown upon visitors touching paintings, sculptures, and artifacts, but not when those exhibits are displayed in augmented reality. The latest AR exhibit from Google Arts & Culture not only lets you virtually touch the displays but also make your own audio art. Don't Miss: Google Arts & Culture App Lets You Turn Your Home into an AR Museum Featuring the Works of VermeerThe AR Synth web-based AR experience anchors replicas of up to five electronic music machines in your space simultaneously. Each virtual instrument includes a sequencer interface where you can add and remove notes or click the dice icon to create a randomized sequence. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The instruments featured in AR Synth include the Moog Memorymoog and ARP Odyssey synthesizers, the Roland CR78 drum machine, the Akai S900 floppy disk sampler, and the Fairlight CMI music station. Google's AR experience is limited to mobile browsers on Android devices,...more

Just as the NCAA men's basketball tournament is set to start later this month, USA Today has decided to trot out an augmented reality mini-basketball game to promote its bracket competition. And while USA Today is prolificpublisher of ARnewscontent through its own app, this time, the media outlet took an assist from 8th Wall's web-based AR platform for this particular AR experience. Don't Miss: 7-Eleven Delivers Assist to BodyArmor Drink with Augmented Reality Promotion for NCAA Basketball TournamentCouchketball, which was built on the 8th Wall Web platform, takes place in the camera view of your mobile web browser. It anchors a virtual half-court and basketball goal in your physical space. Players shoot basketballs at the goal with an upwards swipe of their touchscreens, competing in three timed levels of escalating difficulty. Each made basket also adds more time to the clock. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality At the conclusion of the third level, players can...more

In response to Apple's implementation of LiDAR sensors in iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro models, Google is looking to leverage the dual-camera setups in recent flagship devices as depth-sensing components. In recent updates to Google's ARCore, as well as the app that installs the AR toolkit on compatible Android devices, the company quietly added mentions of support for "dual camera stereo depth." Don't Miss: Google Brings Persistent Content Support to Cloud Anchors, Expands Augmented Faces to iOSThe first devices to support this new capability will be the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL, which carry a 12.2-megapixel camera and a 16-megapixel telephoto lens on the rear and an eight-megapixel wide-angle camera along with Soli radar sensors upfront. Support is slated to arrive "in the coming weeks," according to a recent update of the ARCore Supported Devices page on the Google Developers site. Dual camera support can improve AR experiences using Depth API, such as Five Nights at Freddy's AR Special...more

The average business person likely recognizes Epson for its printers or even its projectors, not the futuristic AR wearables. Yet it is Epson's experience with projection technology that has enabled the company to compete in the enterprise-grade smartglasses game, with its latest models in its Moverio smartglasses line carrying noticeable gains in display capabilities. The newest model, the Moverio BT-40, is a standalone device that connects to a smartphone, tablet, or PC via a USB-C connection, and retails for $579. Its sibling, the Moverio BT-40S, comes with a touchscreen-equipped controller running on Android and is priced at $999. Don't Miss: Epson's AR Drone Simulator Lets You Get Your Virtual Wings Before Crashing the Real ThingAside from the controller, the devices carry essentially the same specs, with the improvements to the display leading the way. The BT-40 series delivers dual Si-OLED displays with 1080p resolution and 34 degrees field of view (FoV), which projects to...more

The new WandaVision series is perhaps the hottest TV show on the Disney Plus streaming service since...well, its own The Mandalorian wrapped up its second season late last year. Now, after publishing AR experiences in partnership with Google to promote the latter, Disney has tapped the AR camera effects of Facebook Messenger to hype up the former as the season (and, perhaps, series) finale is set to drop on Friday. Don't Miss: The Best Marvel Movie Scenes Featuring Augmented Reality Concepts That We Might Use in the Near FutureThe newly Marvel-powered app is available in the camera effects carousel in Facebook Messenger for iOS and Android. Once opened, the AR experience fills the camera view with a 360-degree virtual rendering of the titular couple's Westview living room. Mild spoilers are contained therein, so, if you haven't caught up, you may want to avert your eyes. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality As you explore the virtual space, the room transforms to...more

Apparently, we learned nothing from Jurassic Park, as scientists are still working on bringing extinct species back to life. Until that day comes, you can interact with long-lost animals through augmented reality...if you have a newer model iPhone. On Wednesday, Atlantic Productions, the company behind the BAFTA award-winning film David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive featuring the eponymous historian, have created a companion iPhone app that enables users to view virtual reproductions of fossils of three extinct species and then brings them and their habitats to life in augmented reality. Don't Miss: Google Arts & Culture App Lets You Turn Your Home into an AR Museum Featuring the Works of VermeerThe experience includes the Opabinia, a freakish fish with five eyes and a trunk, the Diamorphodon, a winged dinosaur that soars through your physical space and around a virtual tree in chase of a delicious dragonfly, and the Smilodon, a saber-toothed tiger that hunts a...more

For its latest take on augmented reality-infused playsets, Lego is giving the young, and the simply young at heart, its twist on the viral lipsync format made popular by TikTok with Lego Vidiyo. The game remixes TikTok's video creation and curation features with a music business simulation that brings your playsets into the action. But, if you're going to make it anywhere in the music business, kid, you'll need a manager. Or, someone to guide you through the scene. I can do that for you, and I won't even ask for a percentage of your earnings. So, here we go, let's get started with Lego Vidiyo. Don't Miss: Lego's Newest Playsets Transform Normal Toys into Augmented Reality Experiences Across Platforms Install the AppTo get started, all you need is the Lego Vidiyo app. If you want to expand the experience further down the line, you'll need to buy a Vidiyo Beatbox or Bandmates playset. Install Lego Vidiyo: Android (free) | iOS (free)You'll also need a smartphone or tablet that is capable...more

A year and change into its shift towards enterprise customers, Magic Leap has updated Lumin OS and the corresponding Lumin SDK with some key prerequisites for the business sector. First and foremost, Magic Leap has added support for Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC) in Lumin OS 0.98.20, including an update to the Helio browser to improve compatibility with audio and video communications platforms. Don't Miss: 10 Remote Collaboration Apps for HoloLens, Magic Leap, & Mobile That Can Substitute for in-Person MeetingsWebRTC, which works as a Javascript API that enables connected devices on any network to serve as a communications node, was recently adopted as a standard by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), making the Lumin update fairly timely. "This powerful standard is quickly becoming a critical component to many enterprise use cases today," said Yannick Pellet, senior vice president of software at Magic Leap. "Such as remote...more

Two years ago, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing gave flight to a handful of Apollo 11 augmented reality apps and experiences, including one from the Smithsonian Channel. Now, as NASA's latest unmanned mission to Mars is scheduled to land on Thursday, the Smithsonian Channel's digital team has crafted yet another timely space-based AR app for the occasion. Don't Miss: This iPhone & Android App Lets You Celebrate 50th Anniv. Of Moon Landing by Taking the Trip in Augmented RealityAvailable now for iOS and Android, the Mission to Mars AR app unloads seven AR experiences that enable you to get up close and personal with the red planet and the rovers, past and present, assigned to explore it from the comfort of the third rock from the Sun. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The Mars Overview experience also gives you the opportunity to view a miniature rendering of the planet, while the Portal to Mars does exactly what an AR enthusiast would expect it to do, anchoring a digital doorway to...more

Toymaker Lego has been on board with building AR into its playsets and mobile apps since the launch of ARKit. Its latest product takes the brand's approach to combining physical toys and virtual content and remixes it for a generation obsessed with the kind of homegrown music videos common on apps like TikTok and Snapchat. Don't Miss: 8th Wall & Trigger Build AR Lego Playground for Web to Promote Fox's 'Lego Masters'Entering from stage right is Vidiyo, a series of playsets featuring characters from some MTV/Nickelodeon-inspired fever dream that, when scanned by the accompanying app, give kids the ability to direct their own AR music videos. Lego/YouTubeWith six playsets available at launch, each Vidiyo Beatbox is headlined by a specific character and genre of influence, namely Alien DJ, Candy Mermaid, HipHop Robot, Party Llama, Punk Pirate, and Unicorn DJ. There are also 12 Minifigures, or Bandmates, available to purchase separately. The kits come with a stage backdrop and...more

After the mobile augmented reality platforms of ARKit and ARCore moved Google's previously groundbreaking Project Tango (the AR platform that gave us the first smartphones with depth sensors) into obsolescence in 2018, we've seen a bit of a resurgence of what was then a niche component for flagship devices. Samsung revived the time-of-flight sensor with its Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S10 5G, though it has ditched the sensor in its current generation models. Radar made a brief cameo via Project Soli in Google Pixel 4. More recently, Apple implemented LiDAR sensors in the iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro lineups after breaking through with the TrueDepth front-facing camera that ushered in the era of The Notch. Don't Miss: Google's ARCore Updates Bring Scene Viewer for AR on Web & Search, Improvements to Image Recognition & Ambient LightingNow, Google's AI research team has made a set of tools available for developers to take advantage of the 3D data those sensors generate. This week, Google...more

Since launching its web-based AR platform in 2018, 8th Wall has continued to push the boundaries of what brands can do with AR experiences outside of native apps. The company's latest update adds another dimension of realism to web-based AR content. Don't Miss: 8th Wall Spins Up New 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Augmented Reality Experience for Blu-Ray, DVD ReleaseOn Thursday, 8th Wall revealed Realtime Reflections, a new attribute that enables developers to insert surfaces into AR content that mirror its real-world surroundings. 8th Wall/YouTubeThis can translate to more realistic depictions of other glass, metallic, liquid, or even glossy plastic and leather surfaces, such as reflections appearing on a bottle of Miller Lite or new Toyota Corolla, for instance. Sample AR experiences captured by 8th Wall on video make it difficult to differentiate between real and virtual objects. 8th Wall/YouTubeWe've seen similar attributes at play in Lenses from Snapchat, but 8th Wall is able...more

Gotta catch 'em all, right? That's easier said than done, considering that Pokémon GO has region-specific characters that you may never get a chance to see. Sure, you can spoof your GPS location to make the augmented reality game think you're at a different spot on the map, but Niantic Labs seems to be catching on to this method, and some users have been soft-banned for a few hours after trying it. The problem here is that Pokémon GO now knows when you've enabled mock locations in Android's Developer options menu—therefore, we only need to hide this setting from the game in order to cheat again. Well, that's exactly what a handy Xposed module from developer Brandon Nalls does, so if you're rooted, you can now safely change your location without ever leaving the house. Don't Miss: Pokémon GO Just Gamified the Non-Sedentary Lifestyle Big shout-out to WonderHowTo member swedax94 for the tip. Requirementsrooted Android deviceXposed Framework installed"Developer options" enabled"Unknown...more

Bud Light being the official beer sponsor of the NFL just makes sense for American football. But what about the NHL, with hockey being the official winter sport of Canada by decree? Enter Labatt Blue, which might as well be the national beer of Canada and includes a hockey page on the top navigation bar of its website. Don't Miss: Verizon, Pepsi & Cheetos Run AR Plays for Their Super Bowl LV Advertising EffortsTo further demonstrate its love for the game, the beer maker is running a marketing campaign with the NHL to embed a Snapchat AR experience on 12-packs of Labatt Blue. "Labatt and hockey go hand-in-hand and we know our fans right now are celebrating the return of hockey," said Jaime Polisoto, Labatt brand manager, in a statement. "We are thrilled to partner with Snapchat and four professional teams on this brand-new AR experience, connecting Labatt fans to their favorite beer and their favorite game in an entirely new way." SnapSnapScanning the Snapcode on specially-marked...more

Up and coming Los Angeles-based rock group Palaye Royale has managed to grow a substantial social media following, and now the group is looking to grow its fan base through the power of augmented reality. And while AR isn't new to the music business, a new AR experience from the band could end up being as groundbreaking as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" once was for the music video format. Don't Miss: Snapchat Is Helping the Music Industry Reinvent Music Videos via Lens StudioOn Tuesday, the band released "Curse of Calypso," a 10-minute interactive performance filled with Gothic imagery, include levitating bodies and floating candles. The AR show is backed by a medley of tracks — Doom (Empty), Nightmares, and Redeemer — from the band's latest album, The Bastards. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The experience is available for $4.99 Jadu app (iOS and Android) from immersive filmmaker Asad J. Malik and his startup 1RIC. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy...more

Despite the unfortunate social media-driven association of Corona beer with the virus behind a global pandemic, beverage maker Constellation Brands has pushed its marketing forward like a lime through the mouth of a beer bottle. The brand's latest effort leverages an AR experience to entice drinkers with the Corona Hard Seltzer line of "spike sparkling water." Don't Miss: Blippar Adds Landmark Recognition to Its Bag of AR TricksBuilt on Blippar's web-based AR technology, the AR experience opens a portal to a virtual beach, perhaps somewhere in Mexico, with the various flavors of Corona Hard Seltzer arranged in a circular formation. Users can access recipes and play mini-games associated with each flavor. In addition, they can order the products via grocery delivery service Basketful. Blippar/YouTubeBlippar/YouTube"Augmented Reality is reinventing how brands connect with their consumers, wherever they may be. Corona Hard Seltzer is committed to offering consumers an opportunity to find...more

Ever since the US Army awarded Microsoft's HoloLens a $480 million contract, the battle for enterprise augmented reality has heated up in earnest. Now, the Redmond, Washington tech giant is looking to strengthen its hold on the burgeoning AR enterprise space by introducing the HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 The new version of the HoloLens 2 is specifically designed to meet the needs of pharmaceutical and semiconductor clients by adhering to cleanroom (ISO 14644-1 Class 5-8) and particle emissions (UL Class I Div 2) standards. The HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition "With HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition, customers can now use HoloLens 2 in restricted environments without modifying your space, protocols, or workflows," reads a statement released by Microsoft on Monday. The new version of the device is particularly meaningful in the wake of the pandemic as a wide range of industries attempt to modify their workflows to...more

The company augmented reality that Rony Abovitz was trying to build at Magic Leap apparently wasn't working out the way he hoped it would. That company, built on dreams, music, and future-looking entertainment, rather than truly new technology, came with a $2,300 price tag for a device using dynamics most mainstream consumers have never even tried. The hurdles were steep. Today, Abovitz is about to embark upon a new journey that seems to truly speak directly to his interests: entertainment. On Wednesday, Abovitz unveiled his new company called Sun and Thunder. • Don't Miss: Magic Leap Made Me Cry, Probably for the Last Time. Here's Why That's the Good News In the same way he gradually introduced the Magic Leap 1, Abovitz is once again teasing his new project with mystery. Very little detail is included in his initial tweet or on the website, but the promises are, as usual, very lofty. "Sun and Thunder was created in the fall of 2020," reads the website announcement. "The idea was...more

While most established media brands are satisfied with copying Pokémon GO to jump into augmented reality gaming, at least one property is taking a slightly different approach. Launched this week, Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up is a mobile game fitting into the life simulation genre that appoints players as partners in the titular characters' handyman startup, Spick & Spanners. Players coordinate various jobs, assigning available required contraptions and gadgets to complete the time-gated tasks. Don't Miss: AR Snapshots: Anime Makeovers, Mandalorian Helmets, Twerking Muppets, & MoreThe app is available for free via the App Store and Google Play. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Where the game differs from other entries in the genre is the use of augmented reality in two areas of the game. First off, the jobs that players accept during the game include messages from in-game characters. Some of these messages are manifested as holograms, with a very meta...more

In the three years since Snapchat launched Lens Studio, developers and artists have created more than 1.5 million AR camera effects with the desktop tool. Beginning this week, AR Snap Shots will feature five augmented reality filters that showcase the innovative, trendy, or just plain cool AR experiences available on the Snapchat app. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 This week, we'll revisit one of the more popular Lenses from Snapchat, put on a tribute to one of 2020's hit streaming shows, dance with one of Jim Henson's most beloved creations, simulate the face tattoos of a famous rapper-turned-government-informant, and play a classic party game at a social distance. Read further to try these experiences for yourself. Draw Yourself as an Anime HeroWhile Lens Studio has opened up Snapchat as an AR canvas for creators and developers, Snapchat's own creative teams still lead the way when it comes to viral AR experiences. One of the more...more

The past year has revealed a gaping hole of opportunity in the world of business called virtual meetings. Some existing players like Zoom hopped on that opportunity, while others like Skype seemed stuck on the sidelines, and Google Meet just managed to catch up in time to snag some of the shift in remote work. But amid that shift, one question that has repeatedly come up is: Where are the augmented reality tools that promised to help us navigate this new remote frontier? While many upstarts and established players have gradually moved to meet our new needs, it turns out that Magic Leap is also working on its own solution to support the newly robust virtual meetings market. • Don't Miss: Magic Leap Made Me Cry, Probably for the Last Time. Here's Why That's the Good News In an interview with IDA Ireland, the agency tasked with encouraging foreign direct investment into Ireland, new Magic Leap CEO Peggy Johnson (a new member of the NR30) revealed the development of the new app while...more

A lot of digital ink has been spilled heaping scorn on Magic Leap. Much of that media schadenfreude was due to what some believed were unmet promises versus some of the early hype around the product. Others just seemed to be rubbed the wrong way by the startup's Apple-esque secrecy and penchant for attempting to coin new terms and frameworks for things that were, mostly, already in play. But amid the fog of all of the negative headlines, something was lost. Namely, a lot of the great work delivered by a group of incredibly talented people within the company. Specifically, the Magic Leap Studios team and its work to create an augmented reality experience called The Last Light. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 The story involves a young woman who returns to the home of her recently deceased grandmother. As she organizes and cleans up what is now an empty home, along with the family cat, we're taken through a series of stirring and emotional...more

At first glance, it may not sound like there's much value in doing a crossword puzzle in augmented reality, but The New York Times has managed to revamp the pastime as an immersive game. On Tuesday, the media company published its December 22 mini-crossword puzzle via the Spark AR platform for Instagram as Shattered Crossword. Don't Miss: New York Times Debuts Location-Based Air Pollution AR Visualization for Apple iOS DevicesRather than view the puzzle in AR and fill in the blanks, the potential letters are splintered and scattered about in the space above the puzzle, with the pieces of letters for the correct answer colored yellow. Players must then change their perspective, by some combination of walking around, crouching down, and manipulating the puzzle with on-screen gestures, to recombine the letters. After solving a line, the user can tap on the puzzle to proceed to the next clue. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality You can try out the game for yourself...more

Help me, George Clooney. You're my only hope. If that mash-up of cultural references doesn't make sense, it will momentarily. To promote The Midnight Sky, the new film starring George Clooney and dropping via Netflix on December 23 (Happy Festivus), the streaming studio is launching an augmented reality experience that gives consumers the ability to record and send holographic messages, not unlike the iconic plea for help sent by Princess Leia in Star Wars: A New Hope. Don't Miss: Netflix Film 'Anon' Paints Dystopian View of Augmented Reality That Obliterates PrivacyThe web-based AR experience, which is available at the film's website, was built on 8th Wall's web-based AR platform and converts video messages into 3D holograms. After you record your video message, the web app applies a filter that gives the video a curved, 3D appearance. You can then send the recording to others, who can then play back the experience in AR on a horizontal surface. As an added bonus, you can also view...more

You won't have to ask Santa for holiday-themed augmented reality experiences, because practically any social and shopping app that offers AR effects has them available now. Despite the relative ubiquity, a new set of seasonal AR Lenses in Snapchat (iOS | Android) stand out, as they also showcase the app's powerful machine learning chops. Don't Miss: Next Reality Snap Spectacles 3 Holiday Giveaway!For example, the Family Portrait Lens leverages the aging and gender-shifting effects from the Time Machine and Gender Swap Lenses to create a virtual family based on your likeness, with yourself, your opposite gender doppelganger, an elderly you, and an infant you posed for a Christmas card. SnapSnapSnapMeanwhile, the Santa's Beard Lens takes the Time Machine concept and applies it to gradually transform you into Santa. Like Time Machine, a slider enables you to shift your appearance into increasing degrees of Santaness. It's like that Tim Allen movie, but shorter and with less plot....more

Google, you have something that I want. You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of, but you do not. In a few moments, it will be mine...and it can be yours, too, dear readers. That something, of course, is Baby Yoda...er, Grogu...from the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian. But you won't have to fight Mando or Moff Gideon to obtain him. Don't Miss: Star Wars Baby Yoda Unofficially Comes to Magic Leap via This Developer ExperimentNow, if you search Google for either his colloquial label or his proper canon name, or even "The Child" as he was previously referred to by in show, you'll have the opportunity to view him in 3D and, on supported iOS and Android devices, then transport him into your physical space via augmented reality. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Previously, the only official Baby Yoda AR experience for mobile devices came through The Mandalorian app, but that app is only available for 5G-enabled Android devices....more

This year, as part of the Next Reality 30, in partnership with Snap, we're spotlighting an up-and-coming innovator in augmented reality. Specifically, we were searching for an independent developer or creator who embodies the bleeding edge spirit of AR and its ability to leverage machine learning. This year's honoree is Aidan Wolf. • Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 When Magic Leap first made its way into the hands of developers, an informal posse known as the Leap Squad quickly formed around the platform. One of its members was Aidan Wolf, an indie developer who has gone on to leverage machine learning to publish some of the more unique augmented reality mobile apps out there under his imprint Kevaid. In those early days, Wolf worked on an application called Project Play, a 3D modeling, animation, and game creation tool. While he didn't work with Magic Leap as an employee or even a contractor, he did receive support from the company,...more

In recent weeks, Google managed to capitalize on the hype surrounding the Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian with an AR app that was not only exclusive to Android but also available only for 5G-equipped devices. Now, Google has partnered with Red Bull to launch an AR experience that syncs with The Last Ascent, a documentary film about Canadian climber Will Gadd's 2014 and 2020 expeditions on Mt. Kilimanjaro and the impacts of climate change observed between the trips. While the experience runs on ARKit-capable iPhones and iPads as well as Android devices that support ARCore, in this case, you'll need either a Chromecast with Google TV or some other Android TV appliance. Don't Miss: Google Arts & Culture Builds AR Replica of Bangladeshi Mosque as Part of Historic Site Preservation ProjectTo access the experience, you'll need to have the Red Bull TV app for Android and iOS installed on your smartphone as well as on an Android TV. Then, navigate to The Last Ascent on your TV....more

Sure, you could leave a random monolith in Utah and get some notoriety for your street art. Or, you can let others put your art anywhere they'd like with augmented reality so they can appreciate it where they are. That's what artists like Marina Abramovic, Anish Kapoor, Jeff Koons, KAWS, and others are doing with the Acute Art app. Don't Miss: Indie Artists Invade MoMA with Augmented Reality to Reimagine Jackson Pollock's WorksThe Acute Art app, which is available for iOS and Android, lets users view digital works of art in their physical environment, alter shadows and lighting (even with artificial light at night), and capture them in photos and videos for sharing with others. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The app launched with some fanfare in March, when the "Companions" sculpture by KAWS took center stage. A miniature version of the sculpture is available in the app for free. In-app purchases, ranging from $1.99 for a 30-day license for one sculpture to...more

With the new season of The Mandalorian underway, Google has launched a new AR app that enables some Star Wars fans to connect with virtual characters in between new episodes. That is, as long as you have an Android smartphone. Check that...a 5G Android smartphone. Don't Miss: The Porgs from Star Wars Are Coming to Magic Leap OneAvailable now in the Google Play Store, the app puts the titular character in your physical environment. The app is compatible with 5G Pixel devices and other select 5G Android devices from Samsung, LG, OnePlus, Motorola/Levovo, Oppo, Sharp, Sony, and Xiomi. GoogleThe app delivers high-quality 3D content (hence the 5G requirement) and uses ARCore's Depth API to enable content to blend in realistically with your physical environment. Additional content debuts each Monday (via Mando Mondays). "To create this original experience, Google, Disney, and Lucasfilm worked together to imagine a next-generation augmented reality app optimized for 5G devices," said...more

In this year of everything going virtual and remote, it makes even more sense now that Hollywood is leaning heavily on augmented reality. In this case, it's HBO using AR to promote its highly-acclaimed original programming. After developing a series of AR experiences via Snapchat to promote Season 1 of His Dark Materials, HBO has tapped Yahoo to create a web-based AR campaign for the second season of the show. Don't Miss: Magic Leap Releases Game of Thrones Experience for All Magic Leap One UsersThe web-based AR experience is fairly straightforward. Scan the QR code below (or just click this link from your mobile browser) to access the experience, which places the virtual snow leopard Stelmaria, the daemon form of Lord Asriel Belacqua, in the parlance of the source material. Scan this code to trigger the AR experience After placing the big cat in your physical environment, you can take a photo of the daemon to share with others. In addition, tapping the "download" button links you to...more

The Animal Crossing series has been a big hit for Nintendo, so in a bid to enhance the experience even more for users, the game is getting the augmented reality treatment. The latest update for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp adds two new features for iOS and Android smartphone users. Don't Miss: What the New AR Mapping Task in Pokémon GO Means for the Future of Augmented Reality Gaming First, there's an AR Camera that brings characters and furniture from the game into your personal space using ARKit on iOS and ARCore on Android. Once placed in your environment, you can take pictures of the scene and share them with others. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Next, the AR Cabin feature applies the tried-and-true virtual portal effect. If you have progressed far enough into the game to have designed a cabin and filled it with furniture and other possessions, then, with AR Cabin, you can place a digital door in your physical environment and then enter your virtual home away from home and explore...more

When Treasury Wine Estates released 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red this summer, named for its new partner in wine, rapper Snoop Dogg, it already came with the brand's signature AR-enhanced label. Now, with an assist from creative studio Tactic and the web-based AR platform from 8th Wall, Snoop Cali Red has a new (and, arguably, more impressive) AR experience featuring the dee-oh-double-gee. Don't Miss: 8th Wall's Web AR Brings Album Art of Pink Floyd to LifeLike other products from Treasury Wine Estates, such as The Walking Dead and Brazen, the likeness of Snoop comes alive when scanned with the Living Wine Labels app for iOS and Android, with animation overlaid on the label through your smartphone's camera view. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality The latest AR magic trick, titled "Ask the Doggfather," is accessed through its corresponding mobile website. As with the app, scanning the label through your mobile browser unlocks the experience, which starts with a voice-activated prompt to ask Snoop...more

If you're a man and subscribe to podcasts or YouTube channels that cater to masculine interests, then you've almost certainly encountered sponsorships from Manscaped. And that means I don't have to explain what the company is selling you (for the uninitiated, it's a company dedicated to helping you trim your body hair—most notably, your nether regions, in addition to other areas). Now, the brand has let the vines of its advertising reach grow into the augmented reality realm with a Sponsored Lens on Snapchat for iOS and Android. Don't Miss: This Viral Instagram Augmented Reality Filter Will Tell You Which Disney Character You Really AreUpon accessing the "Tame Your Weeds" AR experience through the front-facing camera of your smartphone, a vine of virtual vegetation will emerge from your nose in the camera view. Follow the command to raise your eyebrows, and the Weed Whacker electric nose hair trimmer appears in your real-world space. Tommy Palladino/Next Reality Tommy Palladino/Next...more