Latest news with #ARVR
TechCrunch
29-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
In a victory for Palmer Luckey, Meta and Anduril work on mixed reality headsets for the military
On Thursday, Anduril and Meta announced news that feels like a fairy tale ending for Anduril co-founder, Palmer Luckey. The two companies are working together to build extended reality (XR) devices for the U.S. military, Anduril announced in a blog post. 'I am glad to be working with Meta once again,' Luckey is quoted as saying in the post. 'My mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products we are building with Meta do just that.' This partnership stems from the Soldier Borne Mission Command Next (SBMC) program, formerly called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) Next. IVAS was a massive military contract, with a total $22 billion budget, originally awarded to Microsoft in 2018 intended to develop Hololens-like AR glasses for soldiers. But after endless problems, in February the Army stripped management of the program from Microsoft and awarded it to Anduril, with Microsoft staying on as a cloud provider. The intent is to eventually have multiple suppliers of mixed reality glasses for soldiers. All of this meant that if Luckey's former employer, Meta, wanted to tap into the potentially lucrative world of military VR/AR/XR headsets, it would need to go through Anduril. The devices will be based on tech out of Meta's AR/VR research center Reality Labs, the post says. They'll use Meta's Llma AI model, and they will tap into Anduril's command and control software known as Lattice. The idea is to provide soldiers with a heads-up display of battlefield intelligence in real time. Luckey is apparently feeling good about this reconciliation. He was, of course, famously fired from Facebook in 2017, about three years after Facebook bought his startup Oculus for $2 billion. This came after Luckey was embroiled in a brouhaha over his support for Donald Trump in his 2016 election. Luckey turned around and founded Anduril in 2017, with co-founders Brian Schimpf, Trae Stephens, Matt Grimm. Techcrunch event Save now through June 4 for TechCrunch Sessions: AI Save $300 on your ticket to TC Sessions: AI—and get 50% off a second. Hear from leaders at OpenAI, Anthropic, Khosla Ventures, and more during a full day of expert insights, hands-on workshops, and high-impact networking. These low-rate deals disappear when the doors open on June 5. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW An Anduril spokesperson tells TechCrunch that the product family Meta and Anduril are building is even called EagleEye, which will be an ecosystem of devices. EagleEye is what Luckey named Anduril's first imagined headset in Anduril's pitch deck draft, before his investors convinced him to focus on building software first. 'All of them had worked with me for years via Oculus VR, and when they saw the EagleEye headset in our first Anduril pitch deck draft, they pointed out that it seemed like I was sequencing things irrationally. They believed, correctly, that I was too focused on winning a pissing contest over the future of AR/VR, on proving that I was right and the people who fired me were wrong,' Luckey tweeted in February after winning the IVAS contract After Thursday's news, Luckey posted on X: 'It is pretty cool to have everything at our fingertips for this joint effort – everything I made before Meta acquired Oculus, everything we made together, and everything we did on our own after I was fired.' And to show that Luckey has really buried the hatchet, he said Anduril has even launched a Facebook page.
CNET
27-05-2025
- CNET
Experience Faster Connections With Wi-Fi 7: Here Are Its Key Features
With every new generation, Wi-Fi networks get better at tackling high-demand applications and high-density environments. With Wi-Fi 7, this remains the case. At its core are improvements to speed, latency and reliability. However, its real impact might just be clearest when it's used for augmented or virtual reality. The first Wi-Fi 7 routers were introduced in 2023, but they've become increasingly affordable over the past few months as the major router manufacturers launched their own Wi-Fi 7 lines. They also got a big bump when the latest iPhone 16 models were released with support for the new wireless standard. The Wi-Fi Alliance, a network of over 900 companies that develops and certifies Wi-Fi technology, officially launched its 'Wi-Fi 7 Certified' program in January 2024. Since then, devices like phones, laptops and routers have been eligible for its stamp of approval. The Wi-Fi 7 certification had been anticipated since as early as 2019 when Wi-Fi 6 was still brand new. You'll need both a Wi-Fi 7 router and a Wi-Fi 7 device to take advantage of those benefits, and both are becoming increasingly available, with the new iPhones marking a major step forward in Wi-Fi 7's reign. Like previous standards, Wi-Fi 7 is backward compatible, so a Wi-Fi 7 router will still work with a Wi-Fi 6 device, and vice versa. Maureen Gallagher, Vice President of Marketing at Wi-Fi Alliance, told CNET that she expects Wi-Fi 7 to have a major impact on things like AR/VR/XR, autonomous driving and network congestion. "Wi-Fi 7 helps users overcome congestion and interference in large or crowded venues -- like conferences or stadiums -- bringing improved user experiences in areas with densely packed devices or neighboring networks that overlap," she said. Locating local internet providers Routers from Asus, Eero, Neatgear and TP-Link have been using the Wi-Fi 7 label for over a year, but they're now getting the official Wi-Fi logo when they pass the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification tests. What is Wi-Fi 7? Wi-Fi 7 refers to the seventh generation of wireless technology, coming on the heels of Wi-Fi 6 (launched in 2019) and Wi-Fi 6E (2020). It's a collection of technology standards created by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; the official IEEE standard for Wi-Fi 7 is 802.11be. The Wi-Fi Alliance officially launched Wi-Fi 7 in January 2024, followed by new routers, phones and laptops with the Wi-Fi 7 seal of approval. In order to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7 features, both your router and the device it's connecting to will require Wi-Fi 7 hardware. (You can find out if a device is certified Wi-Fi 7 on the alliance's product finder.) How does Wi-Fi 7 work? Wi-Fi 7 still uses the same three bands as Wi-Fi 6E: 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz. So why is Wi-Fi 7 such an improvement? It comes down to wider channels. Wi-Fi 7 doubles the channel size of the 6-GHz band, going from 160MHz to 320MHz. Think of it like a highway going from two to four lanes -- the amount of data that can be transmitted at once will be drastically increased. A typical Wi-Fi 7 laptop could reach a 'potential maximum' of 5.8Gbps -- 2.4 times faster than the 2.4Gbps possible with Wi-Fi 6/6E, according to Intel, one of the companies producing Wi-Fi 7 certified chipsets. The other significant step forward for Wi-Fi 7 is Multi-Link Operation (MLO). Wi-Fi 6 and 6E provided access to multiple bands, but devices could only connect to one band at a time. MLO allows Wi-Fi 7 devices to simultaneously connect on two bands. That results in faster speeds, but it also means improved reliability and ultra-low latency. Let's go back to the highway analogy. On older versions of Wi-Fi, cars could only travel in one lane at a time, moving to a different lane if there was a traffic jam. With MLO, cars will be able to travel across two highways at the same time, avoiding the slowdowns that come with traffic jams. The Wi-Fi Alliance Do I need new equipment to use Wi-Fi 7? You'll need two devices to take advantage of these benefits: a Wi-Fi 7 router and a Wi-Fi 7 device to connect to it. Fortunately, Wi-Fi 7 is fully backward compatible, so you'll be able to use your older devices with a Wi-Fi 7 router, or a Wi-Fi 7 phone with a Wi-Fi 6 router -- you just won't reap the Wi-Fi 7 benefits. When will Wi-Fi 7 be available? There are dozens of Wi-Fi 7 routers currently available, and new devices like phones, laptops, and smart home gadgets are increasingly equipped with Wi-Fi 7. The Wi-Fi Alliance predicted that 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices will enter the market in 2024 and grow to 2.1 billion devices by 2028. That doesn't mean you need to run out and replace your router immediately. Devices like phones, laptops and gaming systems with Wi-Fi 7 aren't quite the norm yet. That has started to change with Apple's latest iPhone 16 release. Companies like Broadcom, Intel, MediaTek and Qualcomm have also begun producing Wi-Fi 7-certified chipsets, which the Wi-Fi Alliance has used as a test bed for certification. There is typically about a year or two gap between the certification announcement and devices becoming widely available, so we should start to see more Wi-Fi 7 phones, laptops and other devices next year. The Era of Wi-Fi 7 FAQs What is Wi-Fi 7? Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, the seventh generation of wireless technology. The Wi-Fi Alliance officially launched Wi-Fi 7 in January 2024, which prompted new routers, phones and laptops to have the Wi-Fi 7 seal of approval. It's important to note that your router and device must be certified for Wi-Fi 7 to take advantage of this technology. To learn more, check if your device is certified for Wi-Fi 7. ...Read more Is Wi-Fi 7 better than Wi-Fi 6? When paired with a compatible router and device, Wi-Fi 7 features faster speeds, improved latency, reliability and the increased ability to handle multiple devices simultaneously compared to Wi-Fi 6. ...Read more
Geek Vibes Nation
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Geek Vibes Nation
Does The MLB App Offer A Glimpse of Vision Pro's Future?
Photo Credit: @ianzelbo/Twitter Watch baseball like never before with the Vision Pro. If you follow tech trends, you'll be well aware that Apple Vision Pro has been a bit of a flop for a company that usually lists most of its hardware releases in the win column. The AR/VR device, which went on sale last year, is reportedly in a paused production state. That does not mean Apple has given up on the device – far from it – but reports suggest that the number of units shipped is way down on expectations. The Vision Pro has many issues, ranging from the huge price tag (around $3K, excluding extras) to comfort issues due to the device's weight. However, there is also a consensus that a lack of 'killer' apps has meant that the Vision Pro does not give tech fans a reason to buy it. It feels different from the early days of the iPhone, when developers were scrambling to build for the new world of mobile apps. Live stats and an immersive experience Yet, some interesting apps seem like a perfect fit for Vision Pro, and one that Apple has been making a big push on is the MLB app. Before the start of the 2025 MLB season, Apple released a series of promotional videos and articles highlighting how baseball fans can experience the games in whole new ways. While there are still areas of improvement, Apple has made a compelling case. You'll need the MLB App (free) and MLB TV (subscription required to watch the games) to get the most out of it. Once you have them, the Vision Pro can take you into the game (almost literally), creating a 3D immersive ballpark, allowing you to sit behind Home Plate, switching from the pitcher's view to the batter's view, and so on. It's like a blend of being in the ballpark and having the controls to the television broadcast. One thing that stands out is the data feeds. Baseball fans love stats (perhaps more than any other sport), and we could see the concept of getting a constant flow of statistics being used for bettors weighing up the value of MLB lines for betting live in-game. The stats tell the story of a game, such as when a pitcher's velocity is starting to slow down, potentially telling you that the momentum will shift. Golf would also be a good fit for Vision Pro. As mentioned, it does not feel like the finished article just yet. This is the second MLB season where the app is compatible with Vision Pro. However, it feels like more of a glimpse of the possibilities of where we can go with the technology rather than the endpoint of a journey. There have been several articles posted by baseball experts and fans, all of whom are universal in their praise for the platform to watch the games, so that should be heartening for Apple as it ponders what to do next with Vision Pro. Arguably, not all sports would be suitable for this treatment. The pace of soccer and basketball makes it a little tricky to put into this format, but you might say that golf could – and should – be the next sport that Apple tries to bring onto the platform in a big way. The pace and mechanics of the game are similar to baseball, so it would feel like a similar fit to see immersive action at iconic courses like Pebble Beach and Augusta National. There is some compatibility already with the PGA Tour app, but it's not as immersive as the MLB app. What will be interesting is to see what Apple says at WWDC 2025 in June. The annual event is where Apple announces new products, updates, and a direction of travel for the company. It was at WWDC 2023 when Apple first announced the Vision Pro. Can it give us a hint that it will breathe new life into a struggling but impressive piece of hardware? Maybe sports are the best way to get back on track.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unity Software Inc (U) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue and Strategic ...
Q : On the Vector rollout, are customers responding to the 15% to 20% lift in installs and in-app purchases by increasing their spend? Are they shifting spend from legacy ad products to Vector-enabled products? A : Matthew Bromberg, CEO: The performance of Vector is very positive, exceeding expectations and driving returns for advertisers, which leads to increased spending. Customers are moving budgets around, but the key is that it's not capped, and we're seeing broad growth across the segment. The company is facing internal competition between its ad products, which may lead to shifts in revenue allocation. The full financial impact of the Vector-driven improvements is not expected to be visible until later quarters. Grow revenue in the first quarter was down 4% year over year, despite the rollout of Unity Vector. Unity Software Inc ( NYSE:U ) continues to see strong demand beyond gaming, with new customers like Philips and Siemens using Unity for various industry applications, contributing to nine straight quarters of sequential revenue growth. The company has expanded its platform reach with Unity 6.1, supporting new platforms like Nintendo Switch 2 and Meta Quest, enhancing its position in AR and VR gaming. Unity 6, the latest version of the Unity engine, has seen strong adoption with 43% of active users already upgraded, contributing to double-digit year-over-year growth in subscription revenues. The migration of the Unity ad network to the new AI platform, Unity Vector, was completed ahead of schedule, providing a 15% to 20% lift in installs and in-app purchases. Unity Software Inc ( NYSE:U ) exceeded the high end of its guidance for revenue by 5% and adjusted EBITDA by 29% in the first quarter. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript . Story Continues Q: Regarding subscription revenue growth, is it driven by higher pricing on Unity 6 or subscriber growth? A: Matthew Bromberg, CEO: The impacts of significant price increases will be seen in the back half of the year. Current growth is due to both core business growth and effects of older pricing increases. Q: Can you speak to the trajectory of improvements to the Vector model expected in the back half of the year? A: Matthew Bromberg, CEO: We're ahead of schedule with Vector, seeing measurable increases in scale and quality. The business is iterative, with models learning and adapting over time. We're focused on modernizing the entire advertising business. Q: Have you seen any macroeconomic impacts on your business, and what should we keep in mind for the back half of '25? A: Matthew Bromberg, CEO: We haven't seen noticeable impacts from macro factors. Gaming is historically insulated from economic moves, and our advertisers are focused on return on ad spend, not sentiment. Q: What are the big milestones for Vector for the rest of the year, and how do you see margin efficiency improving? A: Matthew Bromberg, CEO: We're at the beginning with Vector, focusing on leveraging platform advantages. Jarrod Yahes, CFO: We aim to resource the business for growth, particularly in ads, while maintaining margin efficiency through automation and prudent cost management. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
