Hacking Emperor

The Apple rumor drumbeat is getting louder: a wearable augmented reality device is almost certainly coming, very soon. At least that's the lay of the land based on yet another breadcrumb dropped on Wednesday regarding Apple's upcoming plans for a "mixed reality" device in the coming months. • Don't Miss: Apple's AR Wearables Roadmap Includes Mixed Reality Headset in 2022, Smartglasses in 2025 & More by 2040 Recent reports from reliable analysts have pegged the release of Apple's long rumored wearable to 2022, but a new thread has now emerged that indicates we'll see the actual design of... more http://dlvr.it/Rwlzkb

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 Follow Footage of gameplay from the demo... more http://dlvr.it/RwlSBG

Snapchat parent company Snap may finally be taking the big step into the fully-functioning augmented reality wearables realm with the next iteration of its Spectacles devices. The first two generations of Spectacles functioned merely as face-mounted cameras, but Spectacles 3 came with dual cameras capable of recording depth. As a result, users can add 3D effects from Snapchat Lenses to their videos, making the devices proto-smartglasses, if you will. Don't Miss: How to Expand Your Available AR Effects for Your 3D Spectacles Videos Now, after flirting with the prospect of smartglasses, Snap... more http://dlvr.it/RwhgKF

Even as the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, the tech industry continues to chug along, with some looking for ways to present new products, and in some cases continue major conferences that reveal the latest in augmented reality developments. In this case, the company is Apple, and the event is WWDC 2021. The company has just announced that the 2021 version of the event will be held virtually via an all-online format. • Don't Miss: Inside Microsoft Mesh, What Is It & How Does It Work? We Have the Answers "We love bringing our developers together each year at WWDC to learn about... more http://dlvr.it/RwgjlF

Mobile augmented reality gaming pioneer Niantic is chomping at the bit to get games like Pokémon GO out of smartphones and onto smartglasses, and it appears to be taking matters into its own hands. After previewing a proof of concept of Pokémon GO running on HoloLens 2 earlier this month, Niantic founder and CEO John Hanke on Monday shared a closely-cropped photo of a pair of smartglasses emblazoned the company's wordmark on the temple. Don't Miss: Niantic Adapting Pikmin as Mobile AR Game in New Alliance with Nintendo "Exciting to see the progress we're making to enable new kinds of... more http://dlvr.it/RwdG76

I'm always looking for solutions to problems people are having with their smartphones. This means I spend a lot of time browsing forums and release sites looking for new apps. In doing so, I find a lot of apps that don't quite solve a major problem, but are nonetheless pretty cool. I came across four of those this week. They're all new apps, and they're mostly from independent developers — just one or two people working out of their home, trying to make it big in the tech world. You can find the latest releases from Google, Facebook, and Apple elsewhere — we're trying to shine a light on the... more http://dlvr.it/RwcWnq

I'm always looking for solutions to problems people are having with their smartphones. This means I spend a lot of time browsing forums and release sites looking for new apps. In doing so, I find a lot of apps that don't quite solve a major problem, but are nonetheless pretty cool. I came across four of those this week. They're all new apps, and they're mostly from independent developers — just one or two people working out of their home, trying to make it big in the tech world. You can find the latest releases from Google, Facebook, and Apple elsewhere — we're trying to shine a light on the... more http://dlvr.it/RwSgVV

Microsoft believes its Mesh platform can help developers build immersive AR apps more easily. We spoke with a member of the Microsoft team to learn more about the platform. Meanwhile, one of the companies appearing on stage during Microsoft's AR event where Mesh was unveiled, Niantic, unveiled plans for its next big mobile AR game with a familiar partner. Finally, we explore two devices, a prototype from electronics maker Ricoh and a device partnered with Snap that is available now, that provide different means for interacting with 3D content. Microsoft Mixed Reality Director Greg Sullivan... more http://dlvr.it/RwS4L2

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... more http://dlvr.it/RwNn2z

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... more http://dlvr.it/RwMytx

If you have Snap Spectacles 3, the dual camera-equipped sunglasses capable of capturing 3D photos and video, by now you've likely jazzed up the videos you've captured on the wearable with Lenses via Snapchat. You've probably also realized that the available AR effects are relatively limited compared to Snapchat's vast library of Lenses. Don't Miss: How to Add Snapchat AR Effects to Your Spectacles 3 Videos But did you know that you can also add effects from Lenses created and published from Lens Studio as well? Maybe, maybe not, because it isn't exactly an obvious process. We're here to... more http://dlvr.it/RwJhDR

With non-fungible tokens (NFTs), particularly those that are 3D in nature, holographic displays are becoming more indispensable for those looking to show off their valuable works of art. Now, Japanese electronics maker Ricoh, a name typically associated with printers and copiers, is looking to join the likes of Looking Glass and Sony in offering hands-free 3D displays. Don't Miss: Hands-On with the Looking Glass Pro, An Easy Alternative to AR for Interacting With Virtual Content The company recently unveiled a prototype display dubbed Warpe which is capable of displaying holograms viewable... more http://dlvr.it/RwJF2M

Two of the three entities behind Pokemon GO, the reigning champion in mobile augmented reality gaming, are joining forces again to see if lightning can strike more than once. This week, AR developer Niantic and gaming giant Nintendo announced a partnership that will see a series of mobile games built on the Niantic Real World Platform with Nintendo's stable of characters, starting with the popular Pikmin franchise. Don't Miss: Microsoft Unveils Mesh Platform for Collaborative HoloLens Apps, Previews Pokemon GO Proof of Concept "As we continue to expand our games portfolio, it was a natural... more http://dlvr.it/RwCtVS

Snapchat may trail Facebook and Instagram in terms of daily active users, but a new partnership with Samsung may get those innovative AR Lenses onto the mobile devices of a lot more users. Non-fungible tokens, perhaps the hottest segment of the blockchain tech industry at the moment, has always appeared destined to be on a collision course with augmented reality. Over the past week, we saw several examples of how these technologies can work together with NFTs from gaming brand Atari, to hip-hop legend MF Doom. Meanwhile, Facebook Reality Labs took a brief pause from its research and... more http://dlvr.it/RwCtNH

The NFT space is moving so fast that if you're not already engaged, you've probably already missed several history-making events. One of those events happened this week with the sale of Mars House, a virtual home that sold for over $500,000, which is more than many real-world homes that you can actually live in. • Don't Miss: Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold The creator of Mars House is Canadian artist Krista Kim, who began building the virtual construct back in 2020, when most of the world was forced to... more http://dlvr.it/Rw038W

During this week's unveiling of the new Samsung A Series of smartphones, much of the focus was on the high-end features at a more affordable price as the South Korean tech giant looks to regain its status as the world's top smartphone maker versus Apple's iPhone. But buried in the range of features mentioned in the new Samsung A Series was a surprising and very big feature addition: native Snapchat augmented reality lenses. • Don't Miss: This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain The line-up, which includes the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and... more http://dlvr.it/Rvz7Wk

As augmented reality space continues to move into the mainstream, the competition to offer immersive services is ramping up as well. One of the companies leading the charge to help brands and individuals offer and experience AR via mobile devices is Toronto-based NexTech AR. • Don't Miss: Seek's CEO Reveals How Its New AR Patent Could Change the Entire 3D Space & Looks into the Future of Smartglasses The company is attempting to address a range of immersive segments, including helping companies to hold virtual events, facilitating holographic performances, and even diving into the virtual... more http://dlvr.it/RvwlYt

While Apple has been rather secretive about its work on AR wearables (despite the abundance of leaks revealing details about their unannounced devices), Facebook has been rather chatty about its plans for smartglasses. The company's latest missive on its AR wearables development focuses not on the smartglasses but on a peripheral that would improve gesture recognition for virtual interfaces. Don't Miss: Why Facebook Co-Founder's Call for a Breakup Is Focused on the Wrong Target — AR Is Zuckerberg's Next Big Data Bonanza On Thursday, Facebook Reality Labs published a preview of the progress... more http://dlvr.it/RvvQqf

Progressive Web Apps hope to one day bridge the gap between websites and apps by giving the former more access to your phone's features, but they're not very common yet. In the meantime, you can take matters into your own hands with an app that uses your system WebView to render websites in a full-screen, borderless window with a few extra features — a lot like a native Android app. There are several benefits here. First, you get an icon on your home screen that launches you into the website in one tap. Second, there's not clumsy address bar or browser menu in a UI on top of the website, only... more http://dlvr.it/Rvmf2C

Nova Launcher can be customized to do just about anything, but that can get overwhelming. If you're mostly interested in getting a Pixel-like experience, you'd normally have to spend all day tweaking mundane settings like dock padding and drop shadow placement. Well, we've already done that for you. By downloading a simple Nova backup file, you can transform your home screen into the Pixel's in almost no time. You just need to install a pair of behind-the-scenes apps, then import the backup into Nova to replicate the Pixel's layout. This works whether you're using the free version of Nova or... more http://dlvr.it/RvmD26

Snapchat parent company Snap took a huge step towards the realm of smartglasses with the third iteration of its camera-equipped Spectacles sunglasses. What set Spectacles 3 apart from previous versions is that it gained a second temple-mounted camera, enabling it to capture depth in videos and photos. After transferring the content to Snapchat, you can add AR effects to 3D videos. However, in my experience with the device, it's not immediately obvious how to add 3D effects. So, I'm here to show you how. Prerequisites for this tutorial include a smartphone capable of running Snapchat and... more http://dlvr.it/RvlhXF

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 iPhone Now, 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... more http://dlvr.it/RvhSrg

The augmented reality industry has grown steadily over the past four years, but now it is on a collision course with uber-popular non-fungible tokens technology, with Looking Glass and music artist Reggie Watts among the latest to strike while the iron is hot. Meanwhile, Sketchfab is looking to capitalize on the opportunity to bring users of Google's sunsetting Poly 3D content platform to its own similar service. Elsewhere, Snapchat and 8th Wall serve as examples of how organizations can use augmented reality for very different promotional purposes. Finally, the slow burn towards Apple's AR... more http://dlvr.it/RvWpDV

When creating video content for social media, such as a story on Instagram, it's common practice to add captions or subtitles to the post so that people can watch it wherever they are on silent. Doing this by hand is time-consuming and frustrating, but Instagram has a solution: a feature to add automatically-generated captions to any story you make from your iPhone or Android phone. Closed captioning is still being tested, so you won't find it in the regular Instagram app for Android or iOS. However, you may see it if you're a part of the official Alpha or Beta programs, available from Google... more http://dlvr.it/RvWNnM

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 Lenses Utilizing the new body-tracking technology recently released in Lens Studio 3.4, the NHSBT published an AR experience that overlaid a rough map of... more http://dlvr.it/RvWNjY

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 Vermeer The 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... more http://dlvr.it/RvRcrZ

Most of you probably hate ads on your smartphone, but they're a part of modern digital life. As long as apps like Instagram are free to use, then we'll need to pay by dealing with posts, videos, and pop-ups trying to sell us stuff. Well, not necessarily, so long as you're OK with a few compromises. You won't find an ad-free experience with the Instagram app already installed on your Android smartphone. Instead, you'll need to get acquainted with Instagram Lite, which Facebook publicly unveiled on Mar. 10. With the lightweight version of its app, you can browse posts and stories from followed... more http://dlvr.it/RvNkRm

The face tracking of cats and dogs are probably my favorite AR innovations that have come to Snapchat Lenses over the past few years. What can I say, I enjoy taking photos and videos of my shorkie Lucy and my cat Dorian with goofy effects anchored on their cute little mugs. So, this week, we're highlighting five AR experiences you can share with your own furry friends, so I can get Lucy and Dorian some work. (Unfortunately, Dorian conveniently slept through most of the...Snapshoot.) Two notes before we jump in: First, any of these Lenses work with a cat or a dog, regardless of its title... more http://dlvr.it/RvMw2t

It's getting harder and harder to escape ad tracking by the day. For the latest example, look no further than T-Mobile. The No. 2 carrier updated its privacy policy on Feb. 23, 2021, indicating that it would start sharing customer data with advertisers under the guise of more relevant ads starting April 26. If that's not something you'd like to participate in, there's a way to opt-out. This news comes at the same time Apple is making it more difficult for developers to track users across iOS. Apps are now required to get permission from users before tracking their activity across other apps... more http://dlvr.it/RvJxzy

When an app needs to be absolutely sure it won't be cleared from RAM by Android's memory management system, it posts a persistent, ongoing notification. Another time you'll encounter non-removable alerts is when your phone or carrier really wants you to do something, like apply an update. When you long-press one of these types of notifications, you'll sometimes find that you can't modify its settings. So it's just sitting there in your notification tray, holding an icon in your status bar, and there's nothing you can do about it. Well, not by default. Because a simple app can hide any... more http://dlvr.it/RvJxxB

Google Poly, a repository of 3D objects for use in AR and VR experiences, is the latest Google offering to fall victim to the company's habit of axing products and services, regardless of popularity. Sensing an opportunity, competing 3D content marketplace Sketchfab has swooped in to throw a lifeline to Poly users during this trying time. Don't Miss: Sketchfab Launches Professional 3D Model Store for AR & VR Content Creators On Tuesday, Sketchfab announced Poly to Sketchfab, a web-based tool, built in collaboration with the Google Poly team, that enables users to transfer their Poly 3D... more http://dlvr.it/RvHZGQ

The moment many of the crypto savvy insiders in augmented reality and VR have been waiting for is here: we're finally getting our first big auction of NFT art that exists purely as a hologram. This week, an auction will be held to sell off a unique 3D presentation, accompanied by music, developed by none other than AR and VR enthusiast, and music star, Reggie Watts. • Don't Miss: Hands-On with the Looking Glass Pro, An Easy Alternative to AR for Interacting With Virtual Content What makes this particular piece of art unique is that it will be displayed on the Looking Glass Portrait... more http://dlvr.it/RvDm5V

Based on recent reports, we've got a pretty clear picture of what to expect from Apple's rumored augmented reality headset expected to arrive next year, but the outlook is more opaque concerning its consumer-grade AR smartglasses. Now, an analyst with a proven track record projecting Apple's product roadmap has not only set an event horizon for the company's next-generation AR smartglasses but also surfaced yet another augmented reality wearable, smart contact lenses, further down the path. Don't Miss: Apple to Start Augmented Reality Smartglasses Production Later This Year, Report Says A... more http://dlvr.it/RvDJdp

The year is still off to a roaring start, with augmented reality at the center of nearly everything, from enterprise solutions, to entertainment, to safety. In the realm of streaming, the Marvel universe got another dose of augmented reality marketing help thanks to Disney Plus. On the startup founder front, one CEO is battling Covid-19 by helping to make sure AR headsets are virus-free, while another startup founder just secured a new patent that could prove contentious in coming years. Finally, Microsoft took the wraps off the next phase of its AR and VR strategy, which is still primarily... more http://dlvr.it/Rv3yt4

The process of trying out new augmented reality and virtual reality hardware is as personal as it gets. Bottom line, if you can't directly try these immersive devices on, it's difficult to really understand the benefits they can bring to your life and work. That's why the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a particularly tricky challenge to the many AR/VR hardware makers around the world looking to mainstream their products in a new world in which nearly everyone has, understandably, become a bit of germaphobe. • Don't Miss: Microsoft Debuts HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition for Pharmaceutical... more http://dlvr.it/RtzqG0

You should feel relatively safe to watch and post videos on TikTok, but like with any online service, you're always at the mercy of hackers. It's unfortunate, but anyone can become a target for arbitrary reasons. Maybe your TikTok videos are controversial. Maybe someone has a personal vendetta against you. Maybe your credentials ended up on a brute-force wordlist from a data breach and some black hat randomly picked your account. Maybe you have an in-demand username that somebody wants to steal and sell on an underground market. Don't Miss: How to Stop Creeps & Other Users from Downloading... more http://dlvr.it/RtwK27

Among the various components of the emerging augmented reality space, the most lucrative is the advertising market. The prospect of turning every object, every location, ever signpost in the real world into a discount code or virtual transaction interface is why AR will ultimately be more profitable than VR. But as the foundations of this new era are being laid, some are rushing to secure their space via technological and legal means. The latest is Seek, a Utah-based company that recently secured an AR patent that could fundamentally impact hundreds of companies in the years to come. • Don't... more http://dlvr.it/RtvxHS

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 iOS The first devices to support this new capability will be the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL, which carry a... more http://dlvr.it/Rtqzmg

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... more http://dlvr.it/RtpzMs

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 Future The newly Marvel-powered app is available in the camera effects... more http://dlvr.it/RtmPW3

The Lens Studio creators have published more than 1.5 million AR effects to Snapchat. One of them is Audrey Spencer, who shared her story with us and provided her insights into Lens Studio as a storytelling device. Meanwhile, Snap has added new capabilities to the platform to stoke more creativity from its creators. In AR wearables, Samsung, perhaps prematurely and maybe accidentally, illustrated its vision for smartglasses and spatial computing via leaked concept videos. At Mobile World Congress Shanghai, tech giant Qualcomm and one of its hardware partners, Nreal, each revealed new AR... more http://dlvr.it/Rtld90