As the year wraps up, many find themselves in a reflective mood, and I’m no exception. I’ve penned a couple of thought-provoking pieces on my adventures in XR throughout 2024. They’re quite enlightening, exploring my experiences at various XR events and contemplating the state of XR as it stands today—with both its bright spots and challenges. If you missed them, they’re worth a read. Beyond catching up on these insights and the news I’m about to share, I encourage you to ring in the new year by celebrating with your loved ones. Here’s to a fantastic 2025! 😊
Top News of the Week
Some Meta Quest Headsets Were Bricked Over Christmas
The festive season took an unexpected turn for some Meta Quest owners, as the v72 update reportedly incapacitated certain devices. Those hit hardest had units needing cumulative updates after being skipped for a while. The consequence? A stark boot screen denouncing the headset as "corrupt" and "untrusted," rendering it unusable. This bug was particularly ill-timed, as it struck headsets intended as Christmas gifts or planned activities with family during the holidays, causing quite the online uproar.
Initially, Meta was slow to address the issue due to it coinciding with the Winter Holidays when many employees were off duty. Their customer support also declined assistance for out-of-warranty devices, adding fuel to the fire. With mounting complaints, Meta eventually acknowledged the problem, fixed the update, and even extended support to those with bricked headsets, regardless of warranty status. Most recently, affected users can request a free Quest 3S replacement alongside some Horizon Store credits.
While Meta did right by its users in the end, the recurring nature of such incidents calls for more cautious update rollouts. One cannot help but question the wisdom of releasing significant updates right before the holidays, notoriously a bad time for any crisis management due to reduced staffing.
Other Relevant News
Pimax Unveils the Dream Air Compact Headset
Pimax just can’t resist unveiling new gadgets, it seems. This week, meet the Dream Air, a compact sensation in stark contrast with Pimax’s usual bulky headgear. Aimed at fans of BigScreen Beyond, Visor, or MeganeX, this device boasts features like hand and eye tracking, and automatic adjustments, including a novel auto-tightening strap for the ultimate comfort fit.
Additionally, an optional Cobb puck transforms the headset into a quasi-standalone device, complete with its battery and Snapdragon XR2 chip. Dream Air specs include 2 micro-OLED displays and more, pointing to an advanced and highly competitive product.
Though priced at a hefty $1900, its mid-2025 release seems plausible given the shared optical engine with Pimax’s Crystal Super. Yet, skepticism lingers over potential delays—a typical Pimax trademark.
The VR community’s response has been mixed, with some excitement tempered by questions about Pimax’s relentless product launches. As always, Pimax’s PR pro, Japp, remains engaging and composed amidst it all, detailing the strategic release aimed at capturing market attention, regardless of actual delivery timelines.
Aiming at a slightly different market, Dream Air might be Pimax’s reply to the attention-garnering MeganeX SuperLight 8K. Let’s see how Dream Air performs when it finally hits the shelves—I’ll keep you updated!
Meta’s Rumored Ray-Ban Meta Glasses with Display
The hugely successful Ray-Ban Meta might soon get an upgrade with added display capabilities, according to ongoing reports. This new feature aims to display notifications and AI responses seamlessly. The mention of this addition to the Ray-Ban Meta line is noteworthy, especially when considering prior hesitations from Luxottica regarding bulkiness. Should they proceed together, leveraging Luxottica’s distribution prowess, this could very well extend its appeal.
Anticipation Mounts for New Devices at CES
CES is just around the corner, and anticipation is building for the XR revelations expected. With keynotes by tech giants like Sony, DPVR, and NVIDIA, teasing new products and advancements, this year’s event promises excitement. Given that I’ll be there, stay tuned here for first-hand updates and insights!
News Worth a Mention
Meta Horizon App Sees High Download Volumes
As in previous years, the Meta Horizon app—a must-have for Quest headset configurations—has become a holiday favorite. Its high download rank indicates strong sales for Quest headsets over the festive season, signaling positive momentum.
Pico’s SecureMR Balances Passthrough Functionality and Privacy
In a recent presentation, Pico introduced SecureMR, a new solution promising advanced passthrough assessment without infringing on user privacy. By running ML models on camera data and applying custom rendering, developers can enhance MR experiences while safeguarding privacy. This framework will soon be available for beta access, offering a tech-savvy yet somewhat constrained solution for MR developers.
Looming End for Magic Leap One
Magic Leap is set to shut down servers for Magic Leap One, making the device inoperable. It’s an unhappy ending for longtime users and developers who invested in this ambitious venture, now left with vestigial technology as a reminder of past innovation.
Widespread Availability of LiDAR Data
LiDAR data, originally released by Tokyo, is now accessible from several other global programs. This trove of info is a goldmine for companies engaging in virtual positioning systems and digital twins, broadening opportunities for potential applications.
Road to VR’s Games of the Year
Road To VR released its list for "Best" games of the year. While Batman: Arkham Shadow topped the Quest category as expected, some selections might catch you by surprise. Check them out for your next gaming experience!
Fanatical Launches VR Games Bundle
The "Build Your Own Quest VR Bundle Winter Edition" from Fanatical is offering stellar discounts on popular titles—a chance to expand your collection with select picks at bargain prices.
Content Updates
- Warpfrog is crafting a new, moddable physics-based game.
- “Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable” completes its edition, stirring fan excitement despite lukewarm critical praise.
- Game Night for Quest is making waves as a thrilling local multiplayer party game.
Other News
- Samsung’s XR headset might incorporate Google’s Find My Device.
- It turns out, that the Quest’s startup animation is an interactive 3D model, not a mere video.
News from Partners and Friends
This holiday week, I have no features to share but instead wish you joy this season. Here’s a link to spread some holiday cheer!
Some XR Fun
Enjoy some humor as we delve into AI’s "walls" and other quirky tech moments that remind us of our lively tech-loving community.
Donate for Good
This season, consider aiding those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The Red Cross is tirelessly working in Ukraine, and your donations can make a significant difference. Below is the link to support their cause.
Thank you to all my Patrons whose support enables this blog to thrive:
[List of Patrons]
Here’s the link if you’d like to donate to the Red Cross: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
Header Image by Pimax
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