That could indicate that AR will be more important to Apple as a tool to improve user experience.

A recent interview with China Daily USA seems to support that, with CEO Tim Cook being “incredibly excited about AR” while wanting to keep humanity at the center of the new technology.

We’ve been hearing more rumors about the headset lately, indicating a looming release. Apple also reportedly showed off the hardware to the board of directors, which they wouldn’t do if it wasn’t almost ready for release.

Here’s what we know, what we think is coming, and what we want to see.

When will the Apple VR headset launch?

Apple hasn’t publicly acknowledged the existence of the VR/AR headset. Many supply chain indicators point to an early 2023 launch date.

But now, some experts believe Apple’s mixed-reality headset won’t make an appearance until later in the year. That’s according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a solid track record when it comes to Apple.

A report from DigiTimes (via MacRumors) says that mass production will start in March 2023. That would mean the release event would be after that.

The report also mentions that “initial production is said to be very limited,” with the marketing focus on commercial markets.

That’s for Apple’s first headset, which might be developer-focused. Then another headset is tipped to arrive in 2025, or possibly two, one cheaper and one more premium.

Isn’t this Apple Glass?

Apple Glass, the AR-only, looks-like-normal-glasses device, isn’t coming until 2025, at the earliest.

Supply-chain analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, says that contact lens-type AR glasses are also in the works, with a 2030-2040 release window.

The headset that’s believed to be coming early next year is a more traditional helmet-style mixed-reality headset.

What will the headset be called?

Bloomberg reported that Apple has new trademark filings for names that could be associated with virtual reality. Those include “Reality One,” “Reality Pro,” and “Reality Processor.”

Could that be the name(s) of the upcoming headset and the chip that will power it? We won’t have long to wait to find out.

What features do we know about?

Apple’s first headset won’t be restricted to VR or AR content – it will feature both.

That means a closed-off helmet-style headset, with external cameras for positional tracking, AR overlays, hand-tracking, and gesture control.

One report from TomsGuide via The Information says Apple’s headset will introduce a new biometrics security feature. The headset will reportedly feature iris scanning as an extra layer of security.

UPDATE 9/14/2022 1:30 PM ET: Apple has now been granted five patents for mixed reality headsets. These patents are related to eye-tracking, image-capturing, and controller processors.

The displays are supposedly 4K (4000×4000) using micro-OLED. Some reports say there will be a third AMOLED display behind those two high-resolution screens, to make a foveated display.

That type of display works in the same manner as our eyes. Essentially, the spot we’re looking at it will appear high resolution, while the periphery is lower quality.

What kind of processor will the headset have?

Early reports said that the headset wouldn’t do its own processing, instead it would need to be connected to an iPhone or Mac.

Since then, we’ve seen reports of it having multiple chips inside, one of which would be “similar computing power as the M1 for Mac.”

An even more recent report says that Apple will put the M2 chip into the headset. That will pair with 16GB of DRAM, which means you’ll be wearing a MacBook on your face.

UPDATE 11/14/2022 7:40 AM ET: A new report from Bloomberg’s Marc Gurman states that the unit will feature an M2 chip and run realityOS.

The headset will reportedly come with a 96W MacBook charger to power all of that. That’s the same one bundled with the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip.

Hardware is cool, but content is king. Apple has reportedly been courting Hollywood directors to create adaptations in AR for their headset.

Expect series like Prehistoric Planet to appear on the device, and more.

How much will the headset cost?

Apple devices are typically sold at premium prices, to match their premium build. Early predictions say the AR/VR headset could cost over $2,000.

This quote was from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, whose sources say that value was floated around in Apple’s internal discussions.

Apple typically charges a bit more than its competitors for products, locking in margins that have helped it become one of the most profitable consumer-electronics companies ever. The new headset won’t be an exception, but the main reason why the company has discussed price points above $2,000 is because of some of its internal technologies.

If so, this isn’t going to be the mass-market device that Meta’s Quest range is.

Instead, this will be a premium device, possibly aimed at developers and other users that will build the next apps for Apple’s future devices.

realityOS: What is it?

Back in February of this year, developers found multiple references to “realityOS” in Apple’s codebase.

Apple isn’t telling you to go touch grass with that name. Instead, it points toward a new device family, which uses a previously-unknown operating system.

The most likely home would be on the VR headset and subsequent devices. Apple has been working on realityOS since at least 2017, when mentions of “rOS” were found in iOS 13 code.

rOS was built on iOS code, but anything could have changed since then. Apple could have gone the desktop replacement route and built realityOS on macOS.

Will you want the Apple VR headset?

The $2,000 question: will you want it? Well, that depends on you, really.

If you’re a professional or developer that wants a stable AR/VR platform to create on, the answer is yes. You’ll want this headset to create programs for the next, cheaper Apple headset, slated for a 2024 release.

Home users might want to pass on this, however. The high price and relative lack of content mean this probably isn’t the headset for you.

Unless you’re a serial early adopter, in which case, you’re going to buy it when it’s available, just because.

What will be Apple’s competition?

The VR market is about to get very crowded. Multiple large brands are coming out with their own headsets, starting with Meta’s Quest Pro later this year.

Meta’s device is aimed at business users to transition their jobs from typing on a keyboard (boring!) to a metaverse virtual keyboard (ooh, snazzy!). It will cost upwards of $1,000.

Microsoft is also releasing a new HoloLens early in 2023. The enterprise-focused AR headset will cost thousands. Not one for consumers, but still exciting and likely to push the AR market forward.

Then it’s on to an entertainment-focused headset, the PS VR2. Sony’s second VR headset should sell millions of units. The only drawback? You need a PlayStation 5 to use it.

HTC is estimated to sell higher amounts of headsets in 2023. VR is one of the things HTC does well, and its recent headsets are all quality.

Then it’s Pico‘s turn. The largest brand for VR in China, they’re on track to ship at least a million headsets this year. Expect to see a new headset from them in 2023, as we’re due based on their historical release cadence.

What we’d like to see from Apple’s VR headset

We’ve used multiple AR and VR headsets over the years, and most suck. The bar Apple has to surpass is a low one, but that doesn’t make it easy. The company still has to address major pain points.

The biggest is comfort. Most VR headsets are weighty, have uncomfortable straps, and aren’t the easiest to adjust to your head. If Apple can nail comfort, the growing market is theirs.

Most headsets have terrible, or barely-capable, audio playback, but that could change this time. Apple won’t be happy with poor audio, as it focuses on providing solid audio quality on its other devices. Spatial audio in VR content will be awesome.

We’d also love battery life to be a big focus. Power efficiency is there, if it uses the M2 chip. With the average headset running out after two or three hours, Apple knows what it has to do.

That said, if it’s coming with a 96W charger, it might not have much of an internal battery, if any at all.

Interconnectivity between the rest of Apple’s product stack would be great.

Apple Fitness Plus would have a natural place on the headset, as would Maps, or other programs. Imagine using Garageband in AR, while you’re playing your instruments.

The future is virtual

UPDATE 9/29/2022 8:30 AM ET: Apple is already looking to future headsets, as well. According to a new report from The Elec, Apple is asking LG and Samsung about future displays that reach 3500 pixels-per-inch (PPI). Theoretically, this will make future displays even more immersive.

Whatever form Apple’s first VR/AR headset takes, it’s clear the company thinks other forms of reality are the future.

Apple isn’t one to jump into a market, they like to study things first (assuming they’re not creating the category).

The first device might be another “iPhone moment,” changing the face of how we interact with technology. If anyone can get VR and AR mainstream, it’ll be Apple.

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That’s right, no more having to get squirmy toddlers to stand in one place while you use a ruler to mark the wall. The inbuilt Measure app on iOS is all you need.

You can also use it to measure rectangular objects, like packages you want to mail. The LiDAR sensor even enables an augmented reality ruler, so you are never far from a measuring tool.

Here’s how to use your iPhone to measure someone’s height

To start, you’ll need one of the following iPhones: iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Once you have confirmed your iPhone has the feature, follow along below:

There are a few things to keep in mind. Measuring someone’s height seems to only work in portrait orientation.

The person needs to be fully in frame. The image above gives you a good idea of how to place them. You also will need to keep pointing the camera at them for a few seconds.

The app does all the heavy lifting for you. Once it determines it is looking at a person, a white dotted line appears next to the head.

That line slowly scrolls up until it’s at the top of their head, hair, or hat and goes solid when it reaches the final measurement. You can also measure people when they’re sitting down, although this seems less useful.

Your iPhone has all kinds of features like this that you might not know about. We’ll keep surfacing more, so you can fully take advantage of all the tools and tricks that Apple has built-in.

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Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reports that Apple’s recent job listings hint that the headset is nearing completion. The clues? Those job listings outline roles to create content for augmented- and virtual-reality environments.

The jobs posted are for the Technology Development Group (TDG), the team behind the upcoming headset. Varied roles are ready to fill, from software producer to audio processing knowledge.

Gurman says that some of those roles show that Apple plans a VR video service for the headset, with 3D content created by artists or professional sports leagues.

We wonder how long it will be before sports leagues have VR follow cams so you can watch as if you’re inside the game.

Another role shows that Apple is working on a 3D mixed-reality world. That’s not the metaverse because Apple hates that word.

Instead, it could possibly be something like virtual avatars sitting in on meetings by placing them in empty seats at a conference table.

Gurman also reiterated some things we knew already:

• The price is likely to be between $2,000 and $3,000
• It will run realityOS
• It will be powered by Apple Silicon, with M2-level power
• At least 10 cameras inside and outside of the headset
• Highest-resolution displays in any mass-market headset
• Potential names include “Reality Pro” and “Reality One.

What he didn’t mention is specifics on a potential launch window. That could be because of the push to hire staff to build the ecosystem around the headset.

Earlier reporting said Apple’s mixed-reality headset was scheduled for a January 2023 unveiling. It’s unclear at this time if that’s still the timeline or if that will be unveiled with retail availability later in the year.

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They’ll be out before Apple’s mixed-reality headset, too. Lenovo targets the end of 2022 for a China launch and “selected markets” in 2023.

The Glasses T1 is Lenovo’s first consumer-facing pair of AR glasses. They’ve been selling AR to enterprise customers since 2019, with the ThinkReality T6 and, later, the T3.

It should be noted that these AR glasses from Lenovo need another device to work. They function as an AR display, instead of a standalone device.

Each eye gets a micro OLED panel with a 1080p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The bonus to them needing a device to power them is they’ll be lighter, so you can wear them for longer.

Using micro OLED means color reproduction should be good. That’s important since you’ll be looking through the display to see the room around you. Most display technologies suffer from a washed-out look in these conditions.

Lenovo also put a pair of speakers into the T1, so you can use them for movie watching or other things.

The company is heavily highlighting the privacy aspect, as the virtual screen can’t be seen by anyone who may walk by. That’s good news for doing banking in public or working on sensitive documents.

Lenovo hasn’t given any firm pricing details for the Glasses T1. They did tell Ars Technica that they are “hoping” to keep the price under $500.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Those “few dozen Googlers and select trusted testers” will test out the new Augmented Reality tools Google has been working on. The prototype glasses that Google showed off at I/O 2022 are the same ones going out to testers.

Google says that while the glasses have cameras, they are for machine vision tasks only. Things like translating restaurant menus or showing you directions to your destination. The prototypes won’t support photography or videography.

That’s a good thing. When Google Glass first came out, there was an outcry over the privacy implications. People in the same room as Glass wearers felt “insecure and as if their privacy was being threatened.” The cameras being only used for AI tasks partially address that privacy concern.

Focusing on the real-world testing of what visual aids would help navigate different environments is also a plus. Last time, Google Glass was an exciting gadget with no actual use. You could take pictures or ask Google Assistant for things, but you could do that on your smartphone.

Since the advancements in AI tech, Google Glass can do so much more. Real-time translation of conversations. Translation of signs and menus into other languages. Navigation that adapts to the surroundings.

I always wanted Google Glass when it first came out a decade ago. Now I might get my chance with a device that looks like traditional glasses.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Things like this are typical for a company to do when releasing emerging tech such as AR glasses. Microsoft did it with HoloLens and Magic Leap pretty much did the same thing with its Magic Leap One headset.

But no one working in Meta’s Reality Labs division knew this would happen. Meta only informed employees of this decision earlier this week, reports The Information.

READ MORE: Meta is working on a digital metaverse wallet

READ MORE: Meta’s upcoming VR headset will reportedly be called ‘Quest Pro’

Truthfully, this is the right call from Meta. The company is working on three different versions of standalone mixed reality glasses, which are due to launch over the next few years.

Unfortunately, the first version would likely cost consumers thousands of dollars, and for the most part, the device wouldn’t be ready for prime time.

Releasing a new product without having any software developed makes it hard for any company to market it to the masses, so releasing the first version of its AR glasses to developers could give it the kickstart it needs.

READ MORE: The Magic Leap 2 mixed-reality headset releases in September

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Kuo says that mass production of the mixed reality headset is still a ways off. Apple wouldn’t want to give the competition any ideas, so it is going to delay any launches or reveals for the time being.

That also extends to realityOS, the operating system that will run the headset. realityOS has been trademarked in multiple countries by a supposed Apple shell company, as an unreleased product.

That’s probably a wise take from Kuo, especially his second tweet which says that showing off the device too early will just enable competitors to clone the design.

That sentiment is also shared by prominent blogger and startup-whisperer, Robert Scoble, who thinks WWDC is going to be for setting up the software and development environment for the AR/VR headset to shine.

He thinks we’re going to have to wait until January 2023 to get a glimpse of the headset. Apple defined a generation by releasing the iPhone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) all those years ago. Releasing their mixed reality headset at the same show would fit Apple’s history.

If Scoble is correct, expect spatial computing to have center stage at WWDC, even if the hardware it will eventually run won’t be in attendance. Apple might be relatively late to the AR/VR space, but it’s about to take it by storm.

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That’s according to a report from Bloomberg, and the usually-accurate Mark Gurman. Now, before you get all excited about a possible WWDC 2022 release, that’s probably too soon for an official announcement.

That doesn’t mean it won’t happen this year though. When Apple released its voice assistant, Siri, in 2011, the board got a preview earlier that year. That could mean the mixed-reality headset is on track for an Apple Event sometime this fall.

READ MORE: Valve’s upcoming VR headset possibly shown off in new patent

That would line up with reports from earlier this year, that said the mixed-reality headset would be delayed until the end of 2022.

READ MORE: Don’t expect to see Apple’s VR/AR headset at WWDC this year

Bloomberg also notes that the development of rOS, the operating system that will run the headset, has ramped up recently.

That could lead to some powerful software, as reports from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo say that the hardware could have similar processing power to the M1 chips used in current Macs.

We’re excited to see what form Apple’s mixed-reality headset takes when it’s finally released. Whenever the actual date is, barring major delays, we won’t have long to wait now.

The real question is, can Apple take market share away from Meta, and its line of Quest headsets? Apple does have a long track record of taking over the product categories it enters, from the iPhone, to the iPad, and more recently, the Apple Watch.

A late 2022, or early 2023 release would put it directly against Meta’s Project Cambria headset.

READ MORE: Apple’s mixed-reality headset is likely coming in January 2023

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Google Glass was an early attempt at ambient augmented reality (AR). It used a small projector and prism to float information in your field of view, but it never really caught on.

People just weren’t ready for it in 2013, and the underlying tech like batteries and AI weren’t quite there. But technology has improved and now, nearly a decade later, AR is a hot topic.

Apple is all-in, Meta wants you to live in the virtual world, and the tech is definitely there. The conditions are right for Google Glass, and Google is testing the waters again.

Instead of brash events and statements, the company chose to highlight a use case instead, with what could be another Google Glass headset.

The use case is an extremely useful one – live translation. Using the company’s natural language processing, Mandarin Chinese was translated in real-time, and English subtitles were projected through the AR glasses.

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No flashy presentation, no hype, just the product in use. It’s so simplistic that it’s powerful, and I can’t wait. I have some sensory processing issues, especially where language is concerned, and being able to subtitle the real world is a game-changer for me.

Google, when you get enough interest to restart the Glass program, I’m all in. Even in the prototype stages, this is something I’ve always wanted to enhance my life.

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Snap CEO Evan Spiegal seems to be on the same page and calls the whole thing “pretty ambiguous and hypothetical,” in a statement to The Guardian. “Just ask a room of people how to define it, and everyone’s definition is totally different.”

Because of this, Snap has no intentions of investing in Zuckerberg’s vision for the metaverse. Instead, the company is putting all its chips on augmented reality (AR). And that makes sense since its AR tech is used by millions of people every day in the Snapchat app.

“There’s now like 250 million people engaging with AR everyday on the smartphone alone,” Spiegel tells The Guardian. “And that’s on this tiny little screen that you’re looking through and you’re using your thumbs on. So we believe that trying to break some of those constraints, and go into a truly immersive and interactive AR experience, will be really important in the future.”

Snap has its own pair of AR Glasses out in the wild, and it’s currently in the hands of testers. Sure, they’re not perfect, but at least they have the ball rolling. In comparison, Meta’s AR glasses have a release date of 2024.

But Snap’s approach is simple. Instead of building tools to replace reality, the company hopes to augment the real world around you. Because realistically, who wants to spend all day hanging out wearing a VR headset?

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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It’s all part of the company’s vision for the metaverse, where you’ll use virtual worlds to play, work, and shop.

The existing Meta Quest 2 VR headset had a bumper holiday season, but that’s mostly focused on entertainment use. Meta is working on a higher-end VR headset, Project Cambria, which will be “focused on work use cases and eventually [replace] your laptop or work setup,” said Zuckerberg.

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Project Cambria will have sensors to track your facial expressions. Your virtual avatar will then recreate those expressions. It’ll also have other sensors that allow your virtual avatar to maintain eye contact.

On top of that, new optics will make the virtual worlds seem more realistic. That includes the ability to have objects with a sense of depth and perspective that isn’t available today.

Zuckerberg wants the company’s upcoming Augmented Reality (AR) glasses and other upcoming technologies to be an “iPhone moment.” That’s a change in how we interact with technology, with VR and AR becoming mainstream technologies.

READ MORE: Meta’s upcoming VR headset will reportedly be called ‘Quest Pro’

READ MORE: Meta’s first version of AR glasses will be aimed at developers

To do so, Meta is betting heavily on innovative technologies. It spent over $10 billion last year on its Reality Labs division, which is responsible for its AR and VR ambitions. Zuckerberg knows it won’t be profitable in the short term, and he’s looking towards a 2030 timescale.

Will Meta succeed in its vision? It’s too early to tell, but the amount of cash the company is willing to burn shows how driven to succeed they are.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Noticed by Protocol, Amazon has been posting job requirements for a long laundry list of specialists. These include “computer vision scientists, designers, program managers, product managers, researchers and technologists”; which could mean a new division at Amazon dedicated to all things Mixed-Reality (XR).

One of the job listings mentions “a greenfield development effort.” That’s the verbiage for a totally new development environment. It’s one being started from scratch without any legacy Amazon code being involved.

That’s exciting. Amazon has tried various AR technologies in the past, like the ‘3D’ screen on the Fire Phone, but nothing stuck with consumers.

A truly new product with new code could make something magical. Something like glasses-free augmented reality. Yes, the Fire Phone technically did this, and so did Nintendo with the 3DS.

Amazon does have a number of patents (shown above) for AR using room-scale projectors, which might come in handy.

Amazon hasn’t shown much interest in AR/VR/XR or the metaverse until now. Maybe that’s because they have retail on a virtual lock; you don’t need the virtual worlds if you own the real one.

Whatever their reasons, if anyone can make glasses-free augmented reality a reality, and fulfill my dreams of a Blade Runner-esque cityscape; it’ll be Amazon and its bags of money.

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At first, there will be two models, with one needing another device to work and the other being a standalone model. Project Nazare will be standalone AR glasses, running a modified version of Android.

They could be “full AR” with support for eye-tracking, 3D visuals, an outward-facing camera, stereo audio, and a wide field of view. They’ll also reportedly look “socially acceptable,” whatever that means for a face-mounted computer.

Also coming in 2024 is “Hypernova,” a lower-specced pair of AR glasses. These will reportedly still need a phone to pair with but are aimed at reducing the amount of time we spend on our phones.

READ MORE: Amazon might be working on AR tech that doesn’t require glasses

Meta is also trying to disrupt our reliance on keyboards and mice for desktop navigation. That’s thanks to the mind-reading bracelet tech from CTRL-Labs, which Facebook bought in 2019.

READ MORE: Meta thinks its next VR headset will replace your laptop

We thought that tech was going into smartwatches at the time, and it still might, but it’s clearly going to pair with the company’s AR glasses as well.

After those two models launch, the report says Project Nazare will release a “lighter, more advanced” model in 2026, and a third in 2028. After those two models launch, the report says Project Nazare will release a “lighter, more advanced” model in 2026, and a third in 2028.

That’s an optimistic timeline for a device that doesn’t even have a working prototype of the first release. Then again, Meta is going to throw money at the problem until it has AR glasses that work.

READ MORE: Meta’s first version of AR glasses will be aimed at developers

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Effect House has been in beta testing since the middle of last year. It allows you to make your own AR camera effects, which can then be used by other creators. Yes, that’s very similar to Snapchat’s Lens Studio, the other big AR social media tool.

Effect House is more than just a creation tool. Full of learning resources, it’s a publishing suite for AR effects. It uses the latest AR tools like advanced tracking, rich interactions, and the ability to preview effects.

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@tiktok Now anyone can create vibrant effects for TikTok. Welcome to Effect House #effecthouse ♬ original sound – TikTok

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AR effects will need to stay within some community standards to be approved for use. That includes things like promoting colorism or depicting cosmetic surgery, such as lip fillers.

The company isn’t going to wait for users to report AR effects, instead, the Trust and Safety team will review every single submitted AR effect. TikTok will only include effects that meet the guidelines.

AR creation tools are here to stay. Meta has Spark AR Studio, which enables AR filter creation to be used on Facebook or Instagram and Snapchat opened up Lens Studio to every creator back in 2018, way ahead of the curve.

READ MORE: What is the BeReal app and why are all the kids using it?

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• TikTok’s ad revenue will surpass Twitter and Snapchat combined
• Don’t fall for the free iPhone 13 scams popping up on Instagram
• Elon Musk is no longer joining Twitter’s Board in surprise decision
• A bug in Facebook’s system led to a surge of misinformation
• How to go live on TikTok

The post TikTok now lets anyone make their own AR filters appeared first on KnowTechie.

The report cites an analyst from Haitong International Securities and claims the product may be delayed until 2023. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t really dive into what’s causing the delay. 

On the other hand, the report does point out that Apple will be using its own in-house chip. At this time, no other competitor is doing this. Additionally, according to the report, Apple’s mixed reality headset will feature more than 10 sensors and cameras.

As for the release date, apparently, no one really has a clue. For the most part, everyone seems to be hinting at the idea that Apple will push the headset to the public sometime in early 2023, but again, this is all speculation at this point.

READ MORE: Amazon might be working on AR tech that doesn’t require glasses

Apple’s headset is also now rumored to feature three displays. Two would be Micro OLED panels and one is expected to be an AMOLED panel.

Ultimately, many of the features are a mystery and it’s still not clear if people will need an iPhone or iPad to use the headset.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• WWDC 2022 will be a virtual-only event starting on June 6
• Is Apple working on a game console?
• Apple’s upcoming VR/AR headset could cost buyers over $2,000
• Apple might offer subscriptions for iPhones and more in 2023

The post Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset has been delayed…again appeared first on KnowTechie.

So naturally, we’ve turned to social media apps to encourage correct behavior, specifically voting. If you haven’t seen Twitter, Facebook, or Snapchat question your voter status, then you haven’t been on social media in the past three or four months. With active voter suppression from the highest office in the land, to armed nutbags showing up at the polls, our best bet is to vote early and have a voting plan. If only there was a magic augmented reality hot dog to encourage such a thing.

Where once the Snapchat hot dog was a being of pure existential questionability, it now once again crosses into our plane of reality, to spin signs about voting and happily distract us from the hellscape we as a society have created. Snapchat has previously rolled out a bunch of voting tools, helping millions of users get the vote out. This past Saturday, on Vote Early Day, the hot dog made an appearance, then disappeared back to the realm from whence it came.

On November 3rd, decked out in Uncle Sam cosplay, the Snapchat hot dog shall return with a “find your polling location” sign

When users click the sign, they’ll be directed to Snap’s Before You Vote tool in order to find polling locations and learn about everything on their ballots, from candidates to amendments. We’re not sure if it translates the obfuscation of political language usually found on ballots to layman text, but it at least tells people where to go. This is extremely helpful in states where the GOP has shut down polling places, because racism.

There’s always been some sort of initiative to get young people to vote, and it hasn’t always worked. I’m not sure of the effectiveness of MTV’s Rock The Vote, but back then we weren’t staring down the barrel of unimpeded fascism. It was just Reaganomics (which led to the tire fire we have now) staring us in the face, which we didn’t really understand the impact of at the time. I think things are a bit more clear now, and the mistakes of 2016 on the side of voters and media (the latter only behaving worse in its quest for clicks) are present in our minds. Sometimes we just need an AR hot dog for that final push.

More people have already early voted than total ballots cast in 2016. They didn’t need a freaking hot dog to do it either. Doubtful they waited until Facebook reminded them they should probably vote. The youth vote is also seeing record numbers. They saw the mistakes of their parents, came of age, and are rightfully determined to save us from ourselves. And next week, they’ll be rewarded in the Snapchat app with an AR hot dog. That makes it all worth it.

Don’t wait for a damn hot dog to dance you to the polls. Go vote.

What do you think? Have you voted yet? Plan on it? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Snapchat adds a new music feature in a feeble attempt to compete with TikTok
• Facebook says they rejected 2.2 million ads meant to interfere with US election
• Twitter joins Facebook by banning Holocaust denial content
• TikTok is now the second-most popular social app in the US, overtaking Instagram

The post The Snapchat Dancing Hot Dog is back because democracy is a snack appeared first on KnowTechie.

Amazon is trying to take the pain out of buying furniture, with a new Augmented Reality tool that lets you see how furniture will look in your room, before you hit the buy button.

Called Room Decorator, it supercharges the existing AR View in the Amazon app so you can place more than one piece of furniture into your room at a time. Perfect for revamping your entire room, or figuring out what to buy to fill that new apartment you just moved into. You can also add products straight to your cart, and save your room planning designs for future use or additional tweaks. Nifty.

Image: KnowTechie

To get to it, start browsing for furniture in the Amazon app. If that sectional you like has an AR version, you’ll see a View in your room button below the listing.

READ MORE: Amazon might be working on AR tech that doesn’t require glasses

Tapping that will open your camera into an Augmented Reality view, and let you place the furniture into your room. Tap the Plus sign to add additional furniture.

Image: KnowTechie

Oh, and in case you can’t find the feature in the Amazon app (like I couldn’t), that might be because Amazon is rolling it out slowly. The company says roughly half of its iOS mobile app users in the U.S. will have the feature by now, with the rest to get it in the coming weeks. Android users will have to wait a few months before they get access.

What do you think? Could you see yourself using this new Amazon feature? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Whole Foods stores may get cashierless tech through Amazon Go in 2021
• Zoom is coming to Facebook Portal, Amazon Echo, and Google Nest
• How Jeff Bezos could spend the $3 billion in Amazon stock he cashed out
• Apparently, Amazon is looking to repurpose an abandoned mall near you

The post Thanks to Amazon, you can now fill your home with AR furniture appeared first on KnowTechie.

Apparently the company had plans to launch this feature this year, but you know, with COVID-19 still lingering around, those plans were axed. The company is looking to bring this new AR experience to the masses sometime in 2022 now.

So why now? What’s Apple’s end game? Well, according to Bloomberg’s report, the idea is to attract and keep subscribers to the streaming service. But honestly, it’s really to promote Apple’s AR technology. That and the fact that Apple’s rumored AR headset is set to launch in 2022, so these go hand-in-hand.

So what kind of AR content can you expect to see on Apple TV Plus? In reality, it will be more like bonus content, similar to an actor’s or a director’s commentary for a movie or TV show. But this summary from the Bloomberg reports sums up it best:

For example, someone watching a moon-walking scene in the Apple show “For All Mankind” might be able to see a virtual lunar rover on their device’s display, seemingly perched atop their living room coffee table.

So yea, expect to see this sometime in 2022. We’re hoping for an earlier release, but given the fact that the world is still upside down thanks to the pandemic, we’ll have to wait until then.

Apple TV Plus runs for $4.99 a month, but if you recently purchased an Apple device like an iPhone or MacBook, the service is free for one year, which a lot of folks are taking advantage of right now. But all in all, $4.99 isn’t all that bad of a subscription fee, especially once these new AR features are added.

Have any thoughts on this? Is this something you’re looking forward to? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• It’s official: Apple is worth $2 trillion, becomes world’s most valuable company
• How to reinstall Fortnite on iOS even after Apple removed it from the App Store
• This Apple TV+ deal combines Showtime and CBS All Access for just under $10
• You’ll now have a year to decide if you actually want AppleCare+

The post Apple is reportedly bringing augmented reality content to Apple TV Plus next year appeared first on KnowTechie.

Now, however, developer Cyril Diagne is looking to give more functionality to the technology. In a recent tweet, Diagne has shown off their innovative use of AR by digitally recreating a plant and then pushing that image onto a document on their computer. Basically, it takes the image and recreates it in the form of a sticker that can be pasted.

Further into the video, you can see the process replicated with a book and also clothes on a mannequin. The last one is probably the most impressive, as it highlights how well the tech is able to recognize the item while still removing background noise.

4/10 – Cut & paste your surroundings to Photoshop

Code: https://t.co/cVddH3u3ik

Book: @HOLOmagazine
Garment: SS17 by @thekarentopacio
Type: Sainte Colombe by @MinetYoann @ProductionType
Technical Insights: ↓#ML #AR #AI #AIUX #Adobe #Photoshop pic.twitter.com/LkTBe0t0rF

— Cyril Diagne (@cyrildiagne) May 3, 2020

As shown, the program can also decipher when it is looking at Photoshop on the computer and paste the image in as a new layer. This is most likely accomplished through some tweaking to Apple’s Universal Clipboard.

This use of AR is definitely one of the more interesting to uses to come out and Diagne is making the code available to everyone through Github in case other developers want to try their hand at improving the process or applying the tech to another project.

What do you think? Do you think this tech could prove useful in the future? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• These force-feedback gloves are just what virtual and augmented reality needs
• Tilt Five is an AR game system that takes board games to the next level
• This AR headset turns any source into a 100-inch screen
• YouTube’s latest AR hotness lets you test out makeup while watching tutorials

The post This AR tool can copy items from the real world and paste them in digital documents appeared first on KnowTechie.

Well, there is. We are, of course, talking about the high-tech gadgets that effectively remove the chance out of your journey and let you focus on the things that truly matter. Let us then take a look at some of the best gadgets you can take with you on your next road trip.

GPS navigator

This is the Alpha and Omega of all road trip equipment regardless of the vehicle. But, why spend money on this device when we already have smartphones, you might ask? Well, using GPS navigation spends a lot of juice. Even if you have a power bank or another type of mobile charger, there is no need to put your daily driver through this never-ending loop of recharge cycles, effectively killing the battery. The GPS navigators are affordable and reliable enough to save your phone from such troubles. 

Smart helmet

Yeah, we are digging into the sci-fi territory here. So, what do these things actually do? Well, depending on the model, smart helmets can serve as incredibly secure headsets, implement collision alerts (courtesy of built-in sensors and cameras), offers voice controls, and even display certain feedback with subtle, but still clearly visible LED lights. Oh yeah, they are also doing one incredibly good job at saving your life in the case of collision. So, a definite recommendation.

Smart battery chargers

If you like to take your trip off-road, bringing quality replacement parts is essential. But, not every component requires bulky replacement. Take for instance the dual program smart chargers that are often sold with other essential dirt bike parts – as long as you have a power source nearby, you won’t need to worry that the vehicle will give up on you when you least expect it. On the contrary, these units often feature the option to optimize the battery for longer and more reliable performance.

Rearview camera

Although they are, by far the most agile, bikers are also the most vulnerable traffic participants. That means taking double caution when performing any kind of maneuver. But, how can you get that all-important road awareness when you have a bulky helmet limiting your sight stuck on your head? Well, the solution is as obvious as it is intuitive. Just install a rearview camera on the back bumper, connect the device with a front-mounted screen and you won’t have the problems with visibility ever again.

Smart gloves

When we talked about smart helmets, we mentioned that some models allow you to use your phone with voice controls. But, when you hit the road and achieve some steady speed, the wind you are going to experience doesn’t make this input option the most fortunate choice. What you should do instead is switch controls to your pair of smart Bluetooth-powered gloves. Although they are not as versatile as voice controls, they will allow you to answer calls, change music and perform other basic actions.

Solar charger

You don’t want to use a solar charger ever in your life. If it comes to this, your road trip has seriously gone off the rails. But, joking aside, if things truly, at some point, go south, it is in your best interest to have a gadget that will keep your phone alive even in the middle of the desert. Looking at things from a more positive side, by using this method of charging, you will do something good for the planet and considerably cut the break times.

Air-bag riding gear

Motorcycles and airbags just inherently don’t play along. Too bad. As we already mentioned, since they so physically exposed, riders are very open to dangerous injuries. But, if you can’t prevent yourself from flying off the vehicle upon collision, you can at least protect yourself from the impact. Enter smart clothing – vests, bodysuits, and jackets capable of deploying airbags milliseconds upon collision. The safety measures like this can, in some cases, make the difference between life and death.

We hope these few smart gadgets and tools will make your next motorcycle road trip safer, faster, and simpler. Try bringing as much of them as possible. The fewer things you need to worry about, the more you will be able to put your focus where it’s needed the most – enjoying the journey to the fullest extent.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• BMW just made the most hideous self-driving motorcycle, thankfully it’s not for sale
• 5 ways to listen to music while riding your motorcycle
• Samsung wants to transform motorcycle windshields into screens
• Harley-Davidson’s electric pedal bikes go on sale in 2020 – here’s what they look like

The post Take your motorcycle road trip to the next level with high-tech gadgets and accessories appeared first on KnowTechie.