VR In Oil Rigs?

Good morning folks!

We’re less than a week away from the highly-anticipated Meta Connect 2023 event where Zuck and his comrades are all set to unveil the Meta Quest 3. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited but I will only be watching a replay. Zuck talking for hours bores the hell out of me. VR journalists like Ben Lang have already complained about how underwhelming their Quest 3 presentation videos are.

Headlines for people in a hurry:

• 🪖 Microsoft To Supply More AR Combat Headsets To The US Army

• 🥽 Immersed Starts Accepting Pre-Orders For Visor Headsets

• 🚢 Maersk Training & Synergy XR To Partner Up

• 📉 Varjo PCVR Headset’s Price Cut In Half

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

IMMERSED VISOR

Immersed Starts Accepting “Refundable Pre-Order Deposits” For Visor Headsets

If you look at the most exciting product announcements of 2023, Immersed’s Visor headset will land one of the top spots.

It had everything to spark the curiosity of any VR enthusiast — an ultra-compact form factor unlike any headset we’ve ever seen, 4K OLED microdisplays, inside-out tracking, HD color passthrough, hand tracking, and eye tracking set to release in 2024 with support for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Created specifically for enhancing productivity, it lets you open up multiple virtual monitors (up to 5) for your PC and helps to supercharge your workflow. Now, Immersed has announced that they’ve opened up pre-orders for the headset.

It’ll come in 2 variants: a 2.5K/eye model for $500 and a 4K per eye version for a cool $750. In my opinion, the pricing is absolutely fantastic given its top specs and lighter form factor.

MICROSOFT

STA.R. WARS: Microsoft To Supply More AR Battle Headsets After Passing Field Tests

Microsoft and the US Army are taking their relationship to the next level. After a successful field test of the HoloLens-based headset, Microsoft is gearing up to deliver more of these tactical AR headsets.

These aren't just any headsets; they're based on the HoloLens 2 tech and are part of a whopping $22 billion defense contract. The goal? Equip soldiers with the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). There were early concerns about low-light performance and nausea but they've been addressed in the latest version, and the feedback is glowing.

20 prototype versions of the newer 1.2 IVAS headsets were field tested by two squads of soldiers in late August specifically to check for improvements in reliability, low-light performance and ergonomics. The Army has even awarded Microsoft another contract to see if they can ramp up production.

INDUSTRIAL VR

Maersk Teams Up With Synergy XR For Industrial Training

Maersk Training (yes, the same name you see on shipping containers), known for its training services in the oil and gas, maritime, and wind industries, has teamed up with SynergyXR, a provider of immersive training platforms.

Why, you ask? To supercharge practical training using virtual reality (VR) and other immersive technologies. This partnership will weave SynergyXR’s immersive tech into Maersk Training’s custom training solutions.

The result? Trainees will get to navigate lifelike scenarios safely, making learning more interactive while also cutting down on costs and environmental impact.

NEWS FLASH

VARJO

Varjo Aero Gets A Huge Discount

Varjo, the high-end VR headset manufacturer, has slashed the price of its Aero headset by $1000, now retailing at just $990. This move comes after the headset's initial release just three months ago. The Aero boasts a resolution of 2880 x 2720 pixels per eye, making it one of the most advanced consumer VR headsets. The price cut might be a strategic move to compete with other premium VR headsets in the market.

🦑 Real Life Squid Game: The VR version of the Netflix hit series, Squid Game, is coming to a VR arcade near you. It’ll be available at Sandbox arcades.

🎮 Xbox's XR Interest: Leaked Xbox documents hint at Microsoft's growing interest in XR, suggesting potential AR/VR developments in their future roadmap but nothing soon.

🥽 Meta Quest 3's Passthrough Quality: A leaked video showcases the impressive passthrough quality of the upcoming Meta Quest 3, revealing a significant improvement over its predecessors.

😎 Amazon's Echo Frames Third Generation: Amazon unveils the third generation of its Echo Frames, audio glasses integrated with Alexa. The new version offers enhanced volume, sound quality, and battery life, all packed in a slimmer design. The starting price is set at $270, with a premium Carrera model priced at $390.

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

• 5 Essential Tools You Need To Build AR Mobile Apps.

• Here’s How Apple Could Drastically Cut the Vision Pro’s Price.

• The Future Of AR: Tear-Powered Smart Contact Lenses Are Here.

• VR Usage Is Steadily Increasing In Healthcare.

UNREAL MONEY

FUNDING REPORT

AR HUD Tech Provider Envisics Closes Series C

Envisics, a provider of dynamic holographic technology, has successfully closed its Series C funding round, securing new investments from M&G Investments and follow-on investments from Van Tuyl Companies.

This latest financial boost has pushed the company's total Series C funding to a whopping $100 million. The funds are earmarked to speed up Envisics' product development and its global expansion. Earlier in the year, Envisics had already raised over $50 million, with Hyundai Mobis leading the round and additional contributions coming from InMotion Venture (Jaguar Land Rover's investment arm) and Stellantis.

Envisics' groundbreaking technology powers augmented reality head-up displays (AR HUD) in vehicles, a feature rapidly gaining traction among car manufacturers and consumers.

WRAP UP

MEME OF THE DAY

“It’ll be fun, they said.”

Have a great weekend folks.

Any VR weekend plans? If you’re doing something cool, hit reply and tell me what you’re doing.

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