🥽 Confirmed $200 Quest Lite LEAKS

Good morning, folks!

Have you been missing our newsletter? We were having delivery issues with most of our emails somehow ending in the spam folders of our readers. Can you please reply and say something like “I want this” to let Big Email know that this isn’t spam?

Anyway, today’s news is jam-packed with leaks about upcoming XR products. Enjoy a leaky newsletter!

 — Joel Johnson, Founder & Chief Editor

Headlines for people in a hurry:

• 🥽 $200 Meta Quest 3S Final Design Has Leaked

• 🆕 Quest v69 Update Is A Big Win For Multitasking

• 🔍 Immersed Visor's Hardware Leaks Show The Hype Is Real

• 🌏 ByteDance Sets August 20 for New Pico Headset Launch

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

META

Quest v69: Watch a Movie While You Play a VR Game

Twitter user and VR enthusiast Luna has been searching the v69 PTC update for strings and images to unearth new features and improvements. Don’t we all love Luna here at the Spatial Edition? Here’s a short summary:

• "Seamless Multitasking" could let you keep a panel in the foreground as you hop between VR apps. It's like having a sticky note that follows you through the metaverse. All you productivity multitaskers are going to love this one.

• Spatial audio for panels might make your virtual windows sound like they're actually around you.

• Native Windows desktop streaming could be on the horizon (no pun intended), with no extra apps required.

• Codec Avatars (yes that coded avatars) might be making their debut, potentially announced at Connect. Get ready for your virtual friends to see the real you! Oh wait. That’s not good. I told metawarrior69 that I’m a 6ft jacked guy with a handsome face. What will I tell her now?

Why It Matters: Improved multitasking and desktop integration could make Quest more appealing for work and productivity, not just gaming. Meanwhile, features like spatial audio for panels and codec avatars aim to enhance the overall VR experience. As the XR market heats up with new entrants like Apple, Meta seems determined to keep refining and expanding Quest's capabilities.

PICO

PICO 4 Ultra Coming On August 20th To Take On The Quest 3

Looks like Tiktok’s parent company ByteDance is gearing up to crash the VR party with a new Pico headset. Here's the scoop on their upcoming release:

• Mark your calendars for August 20th, folks! That's when ByteDance is unveiling their next Pico headset - but only in China. The rest of us will have to wait a bit longer.

• The new device might be called "Pico 4 Ultra" in China, but could sport the "Pico 4S" moniker elsewhere. It's like the VR equivalent of region-specific Pokémon.

• Leaks suggest it'll pack the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip as Meta Quest 3, but with a beefier 12GB of RAM. More memory for your virtual memories!

• Other potential features include ringless controllers and 6GHz Wi-Fi support. Fast connection for your virtual rejection, anyone?

Why It Matters: ByteDance's push into the VR market shows the company is serious about competing with Meta and Apple in the XR space. While Pico might not be a household name outside of China yet, this launch could be a step towards global expansion. The specs hint at a device that could rival or even surpass the Quest 3 in some areas.

IMMERSED

Wait, The Immersed Visor Is Actually Real?

Hold onto your headsets, folks! Remember the upcoming Immersed Visor we’ve been talking about for a year? Yes, the one that experts were skeptical about its credibility? Well, looks like the product might actually be real.

• A leaked photo of the product to Mixed News shows the right front panel of the Visor, minus the facial interface, displays, and optics.

• We can spot components for 6DOF tracking cameras, potential eye-tracking hardware, and even a tiny cooling fan. Looks like this slim headset is packing some serious tech.

• While the leak doesn't reveal any earth-shattering surprises, it does lend credibility to Immersed's ambitious claims about resolution and form factor.

• The big question: Can Immersed really deliver Vision Pro-level specs at a third of the price? We'll find out soon, with hands-on demos scheduled for September.

Why It Matters: This leak suggests that Immersed might actually be on track to deliver their promised lightweight, high-res headset this fall. If they can pull it off, it could shake up the VR market with a device that bridges the gap between bulky gaming headsets and Apple's premium offering. However, as with any leak, take it with a grain of salt – and maybe a dash of cautious optimism. The proof will be in the pudding (or in this case, the pixels) when we get our hands on the real thing.

NEWS FLASH

META

The Leaks Were True: $200 Quest 3 Will Look Like This

• 🔍 Meta Quest 3S: Final design of the VR headset reportedly revealed.

• 💾 Looking Glass ships its first holo displays to customers, marking a significant step in holographic technology.

• 🚪 Ready at Dawn studio closure confirmed by Meta, ending an era of VR game development.

• 🎮 PlayStation VR2 returns to regular price after a limited-time discount.

• 🌍 Disney Plus Nat Geo Apple Vision Pro experience offers immersive exploration of the natural world.

• 🎯 Flat2VR Studios secures funding to bring dream titles to VR.

• 🖥️ PlayStation VR2 explores potential for PC connectivity, expanding its versatility.

• 🌐 Meta and Jio in talks for a new VR headset with Horizon OS integration.

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

• Upcoming VR Games 2024: New Releases On Quest, PC VR, PSVR 2 & More

• Varjo XR-4 Hands-On: Stunning VR Quality With Disappointing Passthrough

• If Your Graphics Card Has VirtualLink, You Don't Need The Adapter To Use PlayStation VR2 On PC

• How Firefighters Are Training With VR & Haptic Heat Vests

COOL APPS

ADVENTURE

Fancy Roleplaying As Indiana Jones?

• 🗝️ Tomb Explorer VR: Explore ancient tombs and solve puzzles in this Indiana Jones-style VR game, now in Early Access.

• 🏥 Physio XR: Treat shoulder and neck pain with this innovative VR app designed for physical therapy.

• 🔪 Stabby: A chaotic multiplayer VR game where you wield knives and outwit your opponents.

• 🛫 Kid Pilot VR: Let your imagination soar as you pilot planes in this fun, family-friendly VR game.

• 🏜️ The Burst: Engage in Mad Max-inspired vehicular combat in this adrenaline-pumping VR experience.

• 🌾 By Grit Alone: A gritty survival game where you build and defend your homestead in a harsh world.

• 🏰 Pixel Dungeon VR: Dive into classic roguelike gameplay with a VR twist, exploring dungeons and battling monsters.

UNREAL MONEY

BOOMIN BIZNESS

Kopin Receives $1.5M Follow-On Order For Firefighting Tech

Kopin Corporation is turning up the heat in the XR industry with a sizzling $1.5 million follow-on contract. The company's cooking up some high-tech vision systems for firefighters that would make even Tony Stark jealous.

The star of the show? A near-eye thermal imaging system that fits snugly inside firefighter masks. This nifty gadget lets our heroes see through smoke without fumbling with handheld cameras. It's like giving firefighters X-ray vision, minus the radiation and questionable ethics.

Kopin's tech uses a miniature AMLCD display and clever optics to show real-time thermal imagery right in the firefighter's field of view. It's hands-free, smoke-proof, and could be a game-changer for search and rescue missions.

With deliveries planned throughout 2025, Kopin's not just fighting fires – they're fueling growth in the XR market. Now that's what we call a hot business opportunity!

WRAP UP

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