Last month, we learned that Samsung‘s upcoming XR device could be a pair AR glasses, which will work with Galaxy smartphones to overlay useful information on top of the reality that you see through the glasses. Well, before Samsung brings the product to the market, Meta has launched its competitor. Well, sort of, as you can’t purchase it, ever.
Meta, at its Connect event, has made four major announcements. First, the company showcased Orion, a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses. Second, it has launched the Meta Quest 3S, a new mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR) headset that is more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3. Third, Meta has dropped the price of the Meta Quest by up to $150. Fourth, the brand announced new AI features for the Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses.
Meta showcases Orion, the company’s first AR glasses
The Meta Orion looks and feels similar to regular pair of glasses with transparent lenses, allowing people to see the world around them. However, it has a pair of holographic displays and the hardware to run them, including processor, RAM, storage, battery, and various sensors. These holographic displays can overlay 2D and 3D content on physical world around you. In Meta’s words, “Orion bridges the physical and virtual worlds, putting people at the center so they can be more present, connected, and empowered in the world.”
Meta hasn’t said which operating system the Orion is using (it could be running on Meta Horizon OS, the same OS that the Meta Quest 3 is running). However, the company got Meta AI working on it, which can “understands what you’re looking at in the physical world and can help you with useful visualizations.” With the Meta Orion, you can take calls, chat with people over Messenger and WhatsApp, and “open up your refrigerator and ask for a recipe based on what’s inside,” among other things.
Unfortunately, Meta isn’t making Orion available for the public to purchase. According to the company, this is a polished prototype that it will offering to Meta’s employees and select external audiences so that they can provide their feedback on the product. Using that feedback, Meta plans on developing another, similar product, which costs less to produce. The company will make that one available for the public to purchase.
Meta Quest 3S is here, a more affordable version of Meta Quest 3
Meta has launched the Meta Quest 3S, a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3. While the latter costs $499.99, the former costs just $299.99. The major difference between the two is that the new model has the same displays as the Meta Quest 2, which have lower sharpness and narrower field-of-view compared to those on the Meta Quest 3. Rest of the things remain the same. The company hasn’t announced when it will make the Meta Quest 3S available to purchase.
Meta Quest 3 is now $200 more affordable
Meta has dropped the price of the Meta Quest 3’s 512GB storage variant from $649.99 to $499.99. The price drop not only makes the headset much more value for money but also makes it look like a more sensible device to buy than the Apple Vision Pro.
Meta is adding more AI features to Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses
Meta has announced five new features for the Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
First, when you say “Hey Meta” to ask a question and the smart glasses answers it, you can continue the conversation with Meta AI without saying “Hey Meta” once again, offering you a more natural conversational experience with the chatbot.
Second, you can now ask Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses to remember something such as your car parking spot and messaging your mom in three hours when you land safely.
Third, you can now ask Meta AI to record voice messages and send them to people via Messenger or WhatsApp, making it easier for you to converse with them.
Fourth, you can ask Meta AI about anything that you are seeing. The virtual assistant will then analyse and tell you what it is or answer your question about it. Meta says “if you’re at the grocery store and trying to plan a meal, you can ask Meta AI to help you figure out what to make based on what you’re seeing as you walk down the aisles, and if that sauce you’re holding will pair well with that recipe it just suggested.”
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Fifth, the Ray-Ban | Meta glasses can now translate speech in real time. “When you’re talking to someone speaking Spanish, French or Italian, you’ll hear what they say in English through the glasses’ open-ear speakers.”
