Hacking Emperor

There's already some fierce competition between Snap and Facebook in the AR space, but it's about to heat up even more, with Snap snatching up a 3D mapping startup that could add some new AR capabilities to its arsenal. Meanwhile, Facebook is investing a sizable portion of its research and development budget on AR and VR. On the hardware front, startups Campfire and Tooz previewed AR wearables with very specific use cases. Finally, Zoom and Apple have added new immersive features that push the boundaries of their respective video apps. Snap Acquires 3D Mapping Startup Pixel8.Earth The... more http://dlvr.it/Ryp8pZ

The progress Tooz has been making in the smartglasses space has been mostly kept under wraps, but the company is slowly giving us a deeper look at what it has in store for smartglasses wearers. In the latest update, Tooz and Adidas have revealed footage that shows off what the collaboration looks like in the field. Don't Miss: Deutsche Telekom Opens Early Access to Tooz Smartglasses via Dev Kit The actual augmented reality footage appears to still be in the "concept design" phase. However, the hardware is complete and we get to see it on an athlete's face as he uses the Adidas Runtastic... more http://dlvr.it/RykJcm

Facebook's annual earnings call on Wednesday didn't come with any big surprises, that is, if you took everything at face value. However, if you read between the lines, and paid close attention to the very specific and intentional language the company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, used, then a few things stood out that reveal exactly where Facebook intends to take its nearly 3 billion users in the next year. • Don't Miss: Facebook Reality Labs Chief Teases AR Coming to Oculus Quest Gaming, Delves into Future Smartglasses Hardware As for Facebook's earnings, you won't be surprised to know that... more http://dlvr.it/Ryjs9w

Smartwatches are great for notifications. No need to dig your phone out of your pocket or purse when someone texts you — just glance at your wrist! It's great for driving, walking, and any other activities where you need to stay connected to your surroundings. Except it can still be a little distracting, depending on your settings. With a Galaxy Watch and the default settings on many phones, you'll actually get two notifications for every alert. The watch will buzz and light up, but the phone will still beep and vibrate, too. It's extra annoying since it flies in the face of what a smartwatch... more http://dlvr.it/Ryg2Sv

The progress Tooz has been making in the smartglasses space has been mostly kept under wraps, but the company is slowly giving us a deeper look at what it has in store for smartglasses wearers. In the latest update, Tooz and Adidas have revealed footage that shows off what the collaboration looks like in the field. • Don't Miss: Deutsche Telekom Opens Early Access to Tooz Smartglasses via Dev Kit The actual augmented reality footage appears to still be in the "concept design" phase. However, the hardware is complete and we get to see it on an athlete's face as he uses the Adidas Runtastic... more http://dlvr.it/RyfLWw

Ever since the debut of the LiDAR Scanner in the latest batch of Apple's iPhones and iPads, the questions have swirled as to how this would benefit augmented reality interactions. Well, now we have one major new treat that could spur even more adoption and it's called AR Spaces. • Don't Miss: Apple's Clips App Lets You Put Yourself Inside the World of 'The Incredibles 2' The new feature is included in the 3.1 version of the Clips app and allows users to use an iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPad Pro to scan a room and then have fun AR effects applied to the newly mapped environment... more http://dlvr.it/RyZMRt

The augmented reality space is no longer about if but when every company and creator will use some kind of immersive device and software to produce and distribute 3D content. Now, a surprise new contender has entered the AR arena and it's called Campire. • Don't Miss: Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold The company emerged out of stealth on Tuesday, finally showing off its Campfire AR headset and system in action. Operating from California, the company raised $8 million in funding to fuel its entry into the... more http://dlvr.it/RyYwwY

The concept of Metaverse, otherwise referred to as AR cloud, where a digital twin of the real world filled with virtual content anchored persistently for all to see, has been a sci-fi dream of futurists for years and an aim for most tech companies who are serious about AR. It appears Snapchat's parent company Snap shares those aspirations. Don't Miss: How to Use Your Favorite Snapchat AR Lenses on Zoom, Skype, Meet & Other Video Conferencing Apps This week, 3D mapping startup Pixel8.Earth confirmed that Snap has acquired the company. An SEC filing for Snap's quarterly earnings report... more http://dlvr.it/RyYP7C

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 Demo At the end of April, Spokko will draw names from registrants to receive early access to the... more http://dlvr.it/RyV90g

The era of virtual meetings has been evolving every few months, with augmented reality filters leading the charge in changing the way we interact when chatting via video streams. Now Zoom, the current leader in the virtual meetings space, has changed the game again by bring a new kind of immersiveness to virtual meetings with Immersive View. • Don't Miss: Arvizio Brings AR Collaboration to Zoom Meetings with Immerse 3D App for Smartphones, HoloLens & Magic Leap The new feature was officially launched on Monday and allows all participants in a Zoom meeting to put themselves in a virtual... more http://dlvr.it/RyTdhj

As the sports world slowly gets back to normal while observing pandemic protocols, fans are once again being folded into the mix in innovative ways. The latest example comes from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and uses augmented reality via the Snapchat app. • Don't Miss: Wilder vs. Fury Boxing Rematch Will Feature an AR Experience & Sponsorship via a UFC Legend On Saturday, April 24, when users open the Snapchat app, a new sponsored Lens appears that allows anyone to make their picks for UFC 261. Using the head tracking feature in Snapchat, the Lens allows you to pick the... more http://dlvr.it/RyNMs4

As a company, Facebook is not shy about talking up its AR smartglasses plans. The latest missive comes from two executives in charge of developing AR software and hardware. As far as we know, Amazon doesn't have plans to make AR smartglasses yet (and audio-only smartglasses don't count as AR). However, the company is getting into the salon business, and it does have plans for AR in that regard. Elsewhere, content is king, and AR is no exception. This week, Google, Snapchat, and Samsung demonstrated their latest examples of AR content and content generation for mobile devices. Facebook Execs... more http://dlvr.it/RyK9Dj

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... more http://dlvr.it/RyFHSq

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 Levels Working in partnership with the AR/VR team at Google, Snap recruited Lens Studio... more http://dlvr.it/RyDqKb

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so, too, does the demand for video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. For its part, Google is banking on some augmented reality tricks to give Google Meet some added value for users. Don't Miss: Add Some Fun to Your Zoom Video Calls by Changing Your Virtual Background This week, Google unveiled a host of interface tweaks and improvements for Google Meet, including the addition of AI-powered virtual lighting adjustments and automatic zooming and centering. The one that caught our attention, though, is the addition of virtual... more http://dlvr.it/RyDFsL

The march of Amazon to insert itself into nearly every retail arena continues with the e-commerce giant's latest move to launch its own brick-and-mortar beauty salons. However, this new initiative isn't limited to simply facilitating transactions at real-world locations, instead, Amazon is deploying some of its augmented reality aspirations to its experiment with in-person beauty customer service. • Don't Miss: Google Lens Delivers AR Try-On for L'Oreal's Garnier Products at Walmart But what was missing in Amazon's announcement regarding its new beauty salon experiment, and the AR that will... more http://dlvr.it/Ry9GsD

Snap introduced some fantastic new augmented reality abilities in version 3.4 of Lens Studio, the company's tool that allows anyone to create AR lenses for the Snapchat app. The newest features include improved hand tracking and full-body segmentation. The Lens Studio community has wasted no time in putting these capabilities to the test. The results include virtual recreations of popular sci-fi tech along with some amusing and visually stunning effects. Let's check them out... Don't Miss: Next Reality's 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality for 2020 I Am Iron Man in AR Snapchat can't... more http://dlvr.it/Ry8Dmg

In recent years, the fashion world has been dabbling in augmented reality tech in the realm of makeup and virtual try-ons. But now the fashion world's bible, Vogue, is diving into the immersive waters with a new interaction for one of its latest editions. • Don't Miss: Burberry Teams with Google Search to Let You Browse High Fashion in Augmented Reality Readers of the latest issue of Vogue Arabia can see United Arab Emirates royal family member HH Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the magazine's April 2021 cover. HH Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan in AR on... more http://dlvr.it/Ry5GB1

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 Works In 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... more http://dlvr.it/Ry4F7n

Back in Android 9, Google took away the expanding mini-menu for Bluetooth connections. The way it used to be, you could long-press the Bluetooth toggle in your Quick Settings, then the panel would turn into a fast-access menu for Bluetooth settings. It was a fairly minor feature, but dropping it has made it a lot harder to switch between your various Bluetooth accessories. While it doesn't perfectly replicate this feature, a new app by developer Tomas Hadraba makes it even easier to switch between Bluetooth accessories now. Instead of swiping down to open the Quick Settings panel, then... more http://dlvr.it/Ry1HF5

The development of virtual reality at Facebook has been evolving lightspeed in the last few years. But while a relatively small group of VR enthusiasts and gamers are enjoying the social media giant's dedication to immersive headsets, it is the augmented reality space and its potential scale that truly has the tech market enthralled. Facebook Reality Labs chief Andrew Bosworth (a member of the NR30) offered a tiny peek into what may soon be in the offing during a Twitter Spaces chat late Friday with former Oculus chief technology officer John Carmack. • Don't Miss: Inside Microsoft Mesh... more http://dlvr.it/Ry0JJb

If you buy an Android phone from any of the big US carriers, it will come with several extra apps in addition to any apps the manufacturer preinstalled. It's all in the name of profit, of course. Some of these apps are from companies that paid the carriers to distribute their software, and some are from the carriers themselves, usually aimed at upselling you or perhaps collecting a little data. The whole thing is pretty disgusting, honestly. Take the T-Mobile app as an example. On most phones that come with it preinstalled, you can't even delete the app using conventional methods. The... more http://dlvr.it/RxrHYD

The Metaverse, or AR cloud, has been a sci-fi dream for decades, but only recently have companies begun to actually develop the technology to build it. With its latest funding round, Epic Games is suddenly a front-runner in this pursuit. Likewise, smartglasses are another of those tech fantasies that are now gaining steam, with Apple the favorite to come out on top. However, startup Tooz (with backing from telecom giant Deutsche Telekom) and AR wearables pioneer Google shouldn't be counted out. Despite the race for consumer smartglasses, the current market for AR headsets rests almost solely... more http://dlvr.it/Rxr01j

For better or for worse, Google started the race towards smartglasses for everyday use with Google Glass before scrapping the Explorer Edition and pivoting towards enterprise customers. Now, with Apple, Facebook, Snap, and even Pokémon GO maker Niantic working toward consumer-grade smartglasses, Google is conspicuously absent, either in rumor or public disclosure. Don't Miss: Google Just Made It Easier to Get Your Hands on Glass Enterprise Edition 2 But that might be changing, as recent job postings suggest that Google is shoring up its hardware resources for AR wearables. The company... more http://dlvr.it/RxmCsz

The pandemic has forced a number of public-facing businesses to either temporarily close or permanently cease operations, with one of the biggest victims of this trend being the movie theater business. This week, the historic ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres, which account for 300 screens in the US, announced that it would be shuttering due to economic difficulties related to the pandemic. • Don't Miss: ReplayAR Anchors Your Photos in Real-World Locations So You Can View Them in AR Later And while some in Hollywood are still holding out hope for a last-minute save, one augmented... more http://dlvr.it/RxlnK7

If you're a developer working on the bleeding edge of augmented reality, or even an enthusiastic smartglasses early adopter, being first in line for new wearable hardware is a priority. Along those lines, Europe's Deutsche Telekom has opened up an opportunity to score a pair of its Tooz smartglasses before the official consumer launch. • Don't Miss: Deutsche Telekom & Zeiss Launch Smartglasses Startup Tooz The smartglasses are being framed as a subtle way to do everything from viewing messages to making calls, all while mostly keeping the optics subtle by using curved waveguides instead of... more http://dlvr.it/RxhCS5

At its height, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many auto showrooms to close their doors. As the pandemic persists, many consumers are still hesitant to let their socially distanced guard down. To solve this dilemma for its dealers in the UK, BMW has launched a web-based AR experience that serves as an immersive augmented reality showroom. Don't Miss: 8th Wall Escalates Race for Volumetric Video Content with Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture Support The BMW Virtual Viewer displays three of BMW's Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), namely the X5, X1, and 3 Series Touring, although BMW plans... more http://dlvr.it/Rxgmcl

Over the past three years, Epic Games has raised billions of dollars in funding on the success of Fortnite as well as Unreal Engine, one of the top 3D engines available for developing games and AR experiences. But, with its latest massive funding round, it has its eyes set on the Metaverse. Don't Miss: Unreal Engine Maker Epic Games Lands $1.25 Billion Investment to Drive Future of Gaming & AR On Tuesday, Epic Games closed a $1 billion funding round that brings its total equity valuation to $28.7 billion. The company will apply the funding towards future growth opportunities, chief among... more http://dlvr.it/RxcCcP

Apple's augmented reality teases just keep on coming from the halls of its Cupertino labs. The latest comes in the form of an invitation to Apple's next pubic-facing event. • Don't Miss: A Brief History of Apple AR Smartglasses Rumors Slated for April 20, at 1 p.m. ET, the Apple invite is a simple swirl of color in the shape of the company's iconic logo. But when you point your iPhone or iPad camera at the graphic, you're treated to a hidden surprise…an AR experience. As long as you're using an ARKit-compatible iOS device, the device's camera will trigger the graphic's AR mode and ask you... more http://dlvr.it/Rxbmff

When most people think of Los Angeles they think of Hollywood and the movie industry, but in the last 10 years the city has rapidly transformed into a thriving new hub for visual artists. In recognition of this phenomenon, LA-based Snapchat has embraced the community by teaming up with a group of artists to create a series of stunning augmented reality monuments and murals around the city. • Don't Miss: This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain The immersive art series is called "LACMA × Snapchat: Monumental Perspectives" and was... more http://dlvr.it/RxZbsM

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... more http://dlvr.it/RxX9Pg

The year 2020 sparked a trend of people moving out of big cities, with some opting to buy mobile homes and vans to travel rather than be cooped up in a tiny apartment during quarantine. Predictably, that led to a bit of an inventory shortage. But now that demand is eased a bit in 2021, Airstream is using augmented reality to sell one of its best vehicles available. • Don't Miss: Volvo Teams with Unity to Let You Test Out the XC40 SUV in AR, Launches Developer Innovation Portal In the wake of celebrities like Lenny Kravitz making trailer living sexy again, Airstream is banking on that glam... more http://dlvr.it/RxWCBG

This week, Google showed off some wild new and innovative AR experiences that showcase the WebXR protocol for browser-based AR content, while 8th Wall applied its own web-based AR platform in service of Captain Morgan. Meanwhile, other brands, including Hulu, Coinbase, and Ray-Ban, are leaning on Snapchat to generate awareness and sales for their offerings. Speaking of Snapchat, it has also become a destination for music artists to draw attention to their new singles and albums. However, one music artist capturing headlines has gone into another rather interesting direction. Google Shows... more http://dlvr.it/RxLnKb

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 Arena To promote the second season of its original series Solar Opposites (from the Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland), Hulu has... more http://dlvr.it/RxH3mD

Snapchat and its augmented reality capabilities have become a haven for music artists seeking to promote their new albums or simply amplify their art with immersive experiences. We've seen the likes of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande publish Snapchat Lenses to push their new releases, while Bruno Mars and others have created augmented reality effects with Lens Studio that act as extensions of their work. Don't Miss: How to Expand Your Available AR Effects for Your 3D Spectacles Videos In this edition of AR Snapshots, we highlight AR experiences from some of the hottest artists around... more http://dlvr.it/RxGdR8

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook enjoyed a boost in sales of Portal, its smart video cameras with AR effects, as social distancing became the norm. Now, with the pandemic continuing despite the deployment of several vaccines, the Portal portfolio is positioned to become your dedicated Zoom device as well. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Facebook Pioneers Augmented Reality for the TV with Latest Portal Hardware On Wednesday, Facebook updated Portal TV, the smart camera/streaming box hybrid for televisions, to support GoToMeeting and Zoom. The company previously extended support for these... more http://dlvr.it/RxFzP9

Snapchat and its augmented reality capabilities have become a haven for music artists seeking to promote their new albums or simply amplify their art with immersive experiences. We've seen the likes of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande publish Snapchat Lenses to push their new releases, while Bruno Mars and others have created augmented reality effects with Lens Studio that act as extensions of their work. Don't Miss: How to Expand Your Available AR Effects for Your 3D Spectacles Videos In this edition of AR Snapshots, we highlight AR experiences from some of the hottest artists around... more http://dlvr.it/RxCH0Z

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook enjoyed a boost in sales of Portal, its smart video cameras with AR effects, as social distancing became the norm. Now, with the pandemic continuing despite the deployment of several vaccines, the Portal portfolio is positioned to become your dedicated Zoom device as well. Don't Miss: Hands-On: Facebook Pioneers Augmented Reality for the TV with Latest Portal Hardware On Wednesday, Facebook updated Portal TV, the smart camera/streaming box hybrid for televisions, to support GoToMeeting and Zoom. The company previously extended support for these... more http://dlvr.it/RxBqVg

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 ARCore Probably 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... more http://dlvr.it/Rx74XX

With Samsung's One UI 3.0 update, the main on-screen volume slider has a three-dot menu button overlaid on the top of it. Tapping this will expand the slider into a full-blown volume panel, complete with controls for all of the various types of sounds your Galaxy might make. Standard stuff, really, but there's more to it. In the top-right corner of the expanded volume panel, there's a cog-shaped icon that predictably takes you to your sound settings. But in the top-left corner is an odd little button that kind of resembles a letter. This is the one that actually adds brand new functionality... more http://dlvr.it/Rx4nfP

The race for the future of AR wearables gained steam this week with several pivotal developments. First, Apple, the subject of numerous reports and rumors regarding its purported AR headset, is reportedly eyeing an in-person unveiling of the device for later this year, rather than introduce it at its upcoming virtual Worldwide Developers Conference, which would usually be as good a time as any to make a big AR hardware announcement. Second, Snap also has its Partner Summit scheduled for May, and now that virtual stage is expected to include the reveal of its own smartglasses. Third, Niantic... more http://dlvr.it/RwvQ6N

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 App As 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... more http://dlvr.it/Rwqk93

Reddit has been pushing for more first-party content over the last couple years. So instead of just being a place to submit links, you can now upload photos and videos directly to Reddit's servers. But unlike Imgur, Gfycat, and other popular file hosts, Reddit doesn't give you an easy way to download videos. Now, thanks to a useful new app from redditor mehul4795, you can download any Reddit video in just a couple taps, and unlike other solutions, it even grabs the audio. It doesn't matter if you're using a browser, the official Reddit app, or one of the many superior alternatives — just... more http://dlvr.it/RwnTtk