2024-09-14 15:00:11| Engadget
It used to go by at least two different names Oculus Connect and then Facebook Connect but whatever the moniker, Metas fall event is still a big showcase for the companys latest and greatest achievements in the virtual reality and mixed reality space. Much like last year, we can likely predict the biggest news coming out of Meta Connect 2024 with just two acronyms: AI and AR.
Like every other big tech firm this year, Meta will be desperate to demonstrate how it plans to stay relevant in a future powered by AI. And now that we're seven months beyond the launch of Apple's Vision Pro, which arrived alongside a short-lived spike in interest in augmented reality (AR), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is likely eager to show off his own plans to make AR a reality.
While Zuckerberg isn't as hot on the metaverse as he was when he renamed his company, the union of AI and AR is one way he can still make the dream of persistent virtual worlds come true. It might look less like Ready Player One, but if AR glasses actually take off, they could still let Meta control another piece of our digital world. And to help get them there, delivering an updated inexpensive VR headset couldnt hurt.
With all of that in mind, here are a few things we expect to see at Meta Connect 2024, which kicks off virtually on September 25 and runs for two days.
Orion AR glasses
After reportedly killing a pricey next-generation mixed reality headset, which was meant to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, Meta is instead focusing on a pair of augmented reality glasses, codenamed Orion, as its next innovation. As seen in the background of one Mark Zuckerberg photo (above) , and later somewhat confirmed by him, Orion resembles a pair of chunky hipster frames.
Unlike the Quest 3, which fully consumes your vision and uses cameras to show you a low-quality view of the world, Orion could let you see the real world like a normal pair of glasses. But, like Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens before it, Metas glasses could layer holographic imagery on top of your reality. The key difference, of course, is that it appears to be far less cumbersome than those devices.
The glasses are, I think, going to be a big deal, Zuckerberg said in an interview on the Blueprint Podcast (via RoadtoVR). Were almost ready to start showing the prototype version of the full holographic glasses. Were not going to be selling it broadly; were focused on building the full consumer version rather than selling the prototype.
Back at Meta Connect 2022, Zuckerberg showed off how the company was thinking of AR glasses, together with an intriguing wrist-based controller:
"Its probably our most exciting prototype that weve had to date," Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told The Verge last year. "I might get myself in trouble for saying this: I think it might be the most advanced piece of technology on the planet in its domain. In the domain of consumer electronics, it might be the most advanced thing that weve ever produced as a species."
According to a leaked Meta roadmap, the company plans to release a new pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses next year which would add a small built-in screen alongside its existing camera, speaker and microphone. That would be followed by Metas first pair of consumer AR glasses in 2027. It makes sense that we'll see some sort of concept device this year. Much like Apples Vision Pro was effectively that companys version of an AR/VR concept car to introduce developers to its notion of "spatial computing," Meta will need to give developers a way to use its platform so they can build their own AR experiences.
Meta via Gary_the_mememachine/Reddit
A cheaper Quest 3 variant
Instead of an upgraded headset, all signs point to Meta releasing a stripped-down version of the Quest 3 called the Quest 3S, reports Bloombergs Mark Gurman. Recent leaked images from Metas own Quest Link application has confirmed the headsets existence. According to Gurman, the company is aiming to make it much cheaper than the current version, reportedly considering price points of $300 or $400, while still delivering an experience close to the Quest 3. It could potentially replace the Quest 2, which remains in the product line priced at $299 long after its 2020 release.
So why would Meta do this? Theres a huge performance gap between the Quest 3 and Quest 2, which makes life difficult for developers. With a cheaper device thats similar to the Quest 3, potentially using the same processor, it would be easier to build games that can scale across two price points. According to Bloombergs Gurman, Meta has also considered releasing some models of the new headset without any bundled controllers, which would push the price down even further.
More AI, of course
Expect Meta to show off even more ways its taking advantage of AI across its Quest headsets and the Ray-Ban smart glasses. The company rolled out multi-modal AI search capabilities on those glasses in January, which allowed you to ask the Meta AI about objects or landmarks you were looking at, or for a quick trnslation. Based on our testing, though, those features were surprisingly half-baked.
Meta will likely discuss ways its improving those existing features by implementing its Llama 3.1 large language model (LLM), which its positioning as an open source competitor to Google and OpenAIs LLMs. In particular, the company notes that Llama 3.1 offers dramatically improved translation, math and general knowledge capabilities. Theres certainly room for Meta to introduce new AI capabilities powered by Llama 3.1 in the Ray-Ban smart glasses, but given their limited processing power and battery life, well probably have to wait for an updated model before we see anything truly groundbreaking.
Karissa Bell contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/everything-to-expect-at-meta-connect-2024-ar-ai-and-the-cheaper-quest-3s-130011959.html?src=rss
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