Latest news with #UploadVR
The Verge
7 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Meta reportedly sidelined ‘Quest 4' designs for a goggles-like mixed-reality headset
Meta is pushing ahead with a lightweight headset that could come with a 'tethered compute puck' that powers the device, according to a report from UploadVR. Sources tell the outlet that Meta now aims to release the mixed-reality device by the end of 2026, while sidelining two Quest 4 headsets rumored to launch next year. The forthcoming Quest 4 headsets – called 'Pismo Low' and 'Pismo High' internally – were rumored to come in a standard and premium variant. Now that they might be canceled, another Quest headset may be years away. The company also abandoned plans for its high-end La Jolla headset last year, which would've arrived in 2027. The Information first reported on Meta's plans for a lightweight mixed-reality device, codenamed 'Puffin,' in August 2024, saying it looks like a 'bulky pair of glasses' and weighs just 110 grams. At the time, The Information reported that Meta would have to offload the processor and battery into a pocket-sized external pack to make the headset lighter. The device also reportedly won't come with controllers, allowing users to control it with their eyes and gestures instead. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth confirmed The Information's reporting to The Verge 's Alex Heath last year, saying the company recently moved into the 'discovery' phase of its development. As reported by UploadVR, Meta is currently considering several different display options at varying prices, but it 'hasn't yet settled on which it will ship.' The device will also run HorizonOS, similar to Meta's Quest headsets, but it could be primarily designed for productivity and entertainment rather than gaming, according to UploadVR.
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Meta Quest 3 And 3S Finally Get Important Mixed Reality Upgrade
Mixed reality and augmented reality are at the heart of the Meta Quest 3 series VR headsets, but it has taken until now for third-party developers to truly get their hands on the hardware proper. Meta Quest 3 The latest version of the Meta Quest software development kit finally unlocks API access to the passthrough camera. This has been part of the experimental version of the platform for a few weeks, but the full release means developers can now use it to publish Quest 3 and Quest 3S software to the official store. Why does this matter for the average Quest 3 owner? It means we're likely to see a slew of third-party apps and games that make much smarter use of passthrough tech. The developer can get access to your video feed and, machine learning compute willing, analyze the world around you beyond its basic structure to enrich apps and games. It may not take long for the first these apps to appear either, given developers have been able to experiment with the API for a short while. Before you start picturing a sudden revolution of mixed reality experiences, though, there are some key limitations. The quality of the feed available is quite limited, a 1280 × 960 resolution image at 30 frames per second. This is going to limit its visual acuity — it won't be able to recognise fine detail or small objects from any grand distance. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Meta announced this upcoming capability in late 2024 as part of its Meta Connect conference, and made a pitch we now hope to see realised. 'This will enable all kinds of cutting-edge MR experiences. You've got tracked objects, AI applications, fancy overlays, scene understanding, and so much more,' said Meta, as reported at the time by Upload VR. The future may see more of the onus for keeping the Meta Quest 3 ecosystem healthy placed on third parties too. Last week, Meta announced more than 100 layoffs associated with its Oculus Studios in-house developments teams and the Supernatural team. Meta acquired VR fitness app Supernatural's creator Within back in 2023 for a deal worth a reported $400 million. In February, reported Meta's Reality Labs losses for the preceding 12 months amounted to $17.7 billion. While huge losses from its mixed reality and metaverse division have been its core characteristic since its inception in 2020, the restructure suggests even Meta has had to get real in the current climate.
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Forbes
Meta Quest VR Update Teases Major Upcoming Social Features
Meta Quest 3S Meta may be working on a new feature that will let you easily share what you see in apps through, for example, a Quest 3 headset. As spotted by UploadVR, a VR enthusiast posting on X claims to have rifled through the code in Horizon OS version 76, and found references to a feature not implemented in Meta Quest headsets just yet. It's a form of screen sharing where only the content from a single pane or app panel is shared, not your entire view. The proposed feature 'shares a panel so that other users in your world can see it,' the app code reveals. Data miner Luna suggests this could be used in Meta social platform Horizon Worlds as well as Horizon Home, although there are clear issues for some of the ways you might think of exploiting this feature. It's not going to work for movie and TV streaming apps, because sharing licensed content in such a fashion would be a major digital rights no-no. And Horizon OS already supports a form of full-view screen sharing through casting to a TV, or via Messenger or WhatsApp. It could be handy for sharing the view of a web browser window, but that would also make more sense in a more productivity-driven device like the Apple Vision Pro. Still, this is still an important forward-looking addition developers may want to take into account when developing software for the Meta Quest 3 and co. It may also become more relevant in future as Horizon OS headsets broaden. In April 2024, Mark Zuckerberg announced the system was opening up to headsets from other manufacturers, like Lenovo, Microsoft and Asus. While these third-party headsets are yet to appear, making the system more versatile is important in this endeavour, especially with Android XR set to arrive later this year as the core competition. Horizon OS v76 was recently released as a public beta test, letting actual Meta Quest owners get their hands on it. Other notable changes include a new Selfie Cam menu area. This feature lets you use your Meta avatar, complete with motion and hand gesture tracking, in place of an actual webcam image. The idea is this view can replace a webcam view in situations where you might ordinarily have one, such as video calls. If you want to be able to try out these beta features early, you can join the Meta Quest Public Test Channel, which will see your headset sent early software. Meta has a page on how to sign up. Bear in mind you are more likely to encounter bugs if you do so.
