The anticipated turnaround in the augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) market remains elusive, as first-quarter shipments have once again plummeted. According to recent data from IDC, the volume of AR/VR shipments dropped by a staggering 67.4% compared to the same period last year. This decline follows a 54.4% drop in the first quarter of 2023 from the previous year.
Despite the much-anticipated launch of Apple’s Vision Pro, reports indicate a struggle in sales for the tech giant’s high-priced mixed reality headset. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently shared insights on Medium, revealing that Apple has slashed its shipment forecast for the pricey device.
In a recent announcement, chip manufacturer Qualcomm has introduced the latest iteration of its immersive technology, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. Boasting advancements in mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR), the new chipset is set to power future VR innovations from tech giants Samsung and Google.
Diving deeper into spatial computing realms, Qualcomm releases Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platforms, enhancing user immersion through improved GPU performance, AI, and concurrent camera capabilities. Snapdragon XR2 aims at efficient virtual reality navigation while AR1 offers advanced features for smart glasses. However, despite the technological leap, the mass-market embrace of AR/VR innovations stays at bay. The question remains: will Qualcomm’s efforts be enough to spur the demand boost the industry awaits?
Canon, a Japanese multinational business that specializes in professional and consumer imaging products and information systems, has announced that it is actively developing the Kokomo virtual reality (VR) software platform. This product is intended to transform human communications by mixing virtual reality with immersive Canon camera-powered video chats. Canon describes Kokomo as a revolutionary software solution that will let customers meet people “virtually in-person” by combining a compatible Canon camera, a VR headset and a compatible smartphone. Kokomo will allow users to see and hear each other in real time, with their live appearance and expressions in photo-real surroundings, while immersed in a quality virtual reality setting in exciting places. According to the company, the app will combine Canon cameras and image technologies to produce realistic representations of its users, giving the impression that users are communicating face to face rather than on-screen or through a digital reproduction…
Huawei and its VR OpenLab business partners introduced the Dual-G Cloud VR Initiative at the 16th Huawei Global Analyst Summit (HAS). The companies contributing to this initiative include Nvidia, BOE, Cyber Cloud, Letin VR, Skyworth VR, Pico, DPVR, iQIY, and Growlib, and together they will promote continuous innovation in the industry and accelerate the large-scale commercial use of Cloud VR. Under this initiative, Huawei’s iLab and X Labs will function as incubation centers to cooperate with platform, content, and terminal service providers, as well as chip and screen vendors. The participants will have the opportunity to build Gigaband and 5G Cloud VR business products and explore possibilities regarding gigabit home broadband and 5G. Richard Jin, President of the Huawei Transmission and Access Product Line, said, “With joint promotion by industry partners and global operators, the Cloud VR industry is booming. Thanks to the extensive collaboration of all parties…
Verizon has announced a successful edge computing trial on a live 5G network, conducted using their newly formed 5G test bed in Houston. The company’s engineers used Multi-Access Edge Compute (MEC) equipment and MEC platform software, incorporated in a network facility closer to the network edge, and managed to decrease network latency by half. The test results are important for next generation networks, enabling 5G to support low-latency applications such as Virtual Reality (VR). Low latency refers to minimizing the round-trip time taken by data packets. This is an essential yet enormously challenging attribute for a 5G network, and its high performance requirements. At present, many mobile applications depend on cloud-based processing that is handled in centralized data centers, and the physical distances involved increase latency. According to Verizon, locating the computing power nearer to the users at the network edge significantly decreases the time to deliver services. …
After years of hype, we are looking forward to the impending rollout of 5G networks. This transformational technology will lay the foundation for many future services and change how we view productivity. But how will 5G affect you? Speed and responsiveness It is not yet possible to state definitively what network speeds will be reachable, but it is fair to say that the biggest benefit of 5G to the average user will be the speed of this service. Early estimates have shown that data rates could be up to a thousand times faster than 4G, potentially exceeding 10 Gbps. In practical terms, everything we currently do on the Internet would be significantly faster, and these speeds would enable users to download an entire HD film in a few seconds. Responsiveness or latency refers to the time between a request and a response. The ultra-low latency of 5G will result in response…
