Facebook Messenger is rolling out new augmented reality (AR) experiences to video calls and Messenger Rooms, the platform’s videoconferencing feature. The company notes that the new “Group Effects” feature will be coming to Instagram soon. Group Effects work for everyone on the video call, as Facebook says it’s aiming to make AR effects a shared experience....
Tag: #augmentedreality
Snap is launching a global studio to develop branded AR experiences
Snap announced on Tuesday that it’s launching a global creative studio to help brands develop augmented reality (AR) advertising and experiences. The new studio is called Arcadia and aims to help companies develop experiences that can be used across web platforms and app-based AR environments. The studio will partner with brands and creators to engage...
Google brings its 3D ‘Pocket Gallery’ art exhibition experiences to the web
Google’s Arts & Culture team launched its “Pocket Gallery” experiences in 2018 to allow AR-enabled smartphone users to view artwork from artists like Johannes Vermeer for the first time in history, including pieces that are usually inaccessible publicly. Today, the team announced that it’s making the entire series of Pocket Galleries available to anyone on...
HTC reveals the $499 Vive Flow, a tiny VR headset with some big tradeoffs
Today, HTC has revealed their latest consumer-focused headset, the $499 Vive Flow. It’s designed for portability with a compact design and 189 gram weight, though there are some big caveats, which I’ll get to later. I had the chance to demo the headset in-person in San Francisco and my first impression of the device was...
Seven years after raising $542M at a $2B valuation, Magic Leap raises $500M at a $2B valuation
Magic Leap has had one hell of a journey, and to their credit, it seems investors are still addicted to giving them money. The augmented reality startup announced today that they have raised $500 million at a $2 billion valuation from existing investors. The round echoes the terms of an October 2014 raise where Magic...
Microsoft HoloLens 2 & Unity Used to Highlight the Threat to Endangered Whales at the Smithsonian
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...
NASA Integrates Microsoft HoloLens into Regular Maintenance Operations on International Space Station
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...
This Billie Eilish Oculus Quest 2 Video Inadvertently Offers a Peek at AR Gaming on the VR Headset
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. •...
Google Adds Famous Monuments & Iconic Buildings to Augmented Reality Search Feature
Even with unlimited resources and a serious case of wanderlust, its 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...
Review: Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories make the case for smart glasses
Facebook’s first pair of smart glasses doesn’t feel like much of a Facebook product. You won’t find the Facebook logo emblazoned on them or even its name in small print by the serial code. They aren’t Facebook Stories or Ray-Ban’s Facebook Stories or even Ray-Ban Stories in collaboration with Facebook. Unlike other Facebook-designed hardware like the...