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Apple dominates wearables, Meta begins Quest Pro 2, XREAL Beam Pro launched
XREAL launches Beam Pro, an AR glasses companion enhancing user experience...
Mads Bach Andersen
June 19, 2024
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Wearable Tech Insights
Apple dominates the global wearables market with nearly 30 million units shipped in Q3 2023. The industry saw rapid growth, with around 150 million units shipped in the same quarter. Apple leads with a 29.7% market share in 2022, shipping 146.3 million units. The market includes smartwatches, fitness monitors, and other devices. Fitbit, now owned by Google, has been surpassed by Apple and Xiaomi.
Meta has reportedly started developing the Quest Pro 2, codenamed La Jolla, since November. The new headset aims to feature high resolution and Codec Avatars for photorealistic remote communication. Meta’s VP of VR mentioned the focus on improving resolution for work-related use. The development is still in early stages, with the release not expected soon. Meta’s next immediate release is the Quest 3S, targeting a lower-end market segment.
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Innovations in Wearable Technology
XREAL introduced the Beam Pro, an AR glasses accessory designed to function like a phone, enhancing user experience without draining phone batteries. It features dual 3D cameras for capturing 3D videos, a 6.5-inch 2K touchscreen, and runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors with Android 14. Priced from $199, it supports both Wi-Fi and 5G models, offering compatibility with XREAL AR glasses for immersive spatial computing.
Magic Leap, in partnership with Doublepoint Technologies, will introduce the WowMouse at AWE 2024. This Android smartwatch AR input device allows users to interact with AR applications using gestures like pinch and gaze. It integrates seamlessly with existing smartwatches, eliminating the need for additional hardware. The WowMouse aims to enhance accessibility and ease of use in AR applications, particularly in enterprise settings.
Even Realities has introduced their new G1 digital glasses, designed to enhance the gaming experience with advanced AR capabilities. These glasses feature high-resolution displays and seamless integration with various gaming platforms, promising to elevate visual and interactive elements. The G1 glasses offer an immersive experience, allowing gamers to see digital overlays and interact with their environment in real-time, enhancing both gameplay and user engagement.
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AI and User Experience in Wearables
Solos’ new AirGo3 smart glasses feature cutting-edge AI capabilities, including real-time language translation via ChatGPT. These glasses can translate speech in real-time through built-in microphones and speakers, offering several modes for different scenarios:
• Listen Mode: Captures and translates speech from a single source during one-on-one conversations.
• Group Mode: Supports multi-person discussions, translating speech for all participants using Solos AirGo3 or smartphones.
• Text Mode: Provides visual translations of captured audio, which can also be played back.
• Present Mode: Translates presentations in real-time, allowing the audience to choose their preferred language.
Priced from $199, the AirGo3 glasses also offer modular design, blue light filtering, and fitness coaching features. These innovations make them a versatile tool for business users, travelers, and everyday wear.
Apple’s watchOS 11 brings automatic nap detection to the Apple Watch, enhancing its sleep tracking capabilities. This feature leverages the watch’s sensors to recognize and record short sleep periods throughout the day without requiring user input. Other significant updates include a reworked Smart Stack interface, new health monitoring features, and improvements to the Fitness app. These advancements aim to provide a more comprehensive health and wellness experience for users.
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Quick Updates and Tips
Wearable devices like smartwatches and smartphones can track Parkinson’s symptoms, detecting changes in gait and tremor. The WATCH-PD study shows these tools can provide real-world measures of disease progression, potentially aiding in the evaluation of new therapies.
ALVR, a free app, now allows Vision Pro users to stream SteamVR games from their PCs. It supports hand gestures and controllers like Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. For optimal performance, use a VR-ready computer on a 5GHz network with minimal activity from other devices.
Researchers have developed a wearable patch that uses tiny hydrogel needles to painlessly monitor blood sugar and other health metrics continuously, sending data to a smartphone.
Thank you for reading today’s edition of Connected Wear. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on the latest in wearable technology.
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Mads Bach Andersen