Gadget Hacks News
News: Air New Zealand Takes Wraps Off Magic Leap One Adventure Tourism Game
The thrill and excitement of great tourism generally requires visitors to take part in the country's local fare in person. But Air New Zealand's new augmented reality experience for the Magic Leap One gives visitors an immersive taste of what the country has to offer without ever setting foot in the country.
News: Onshape Partners with Magic Leap to Bring Its Collaborative Industrial 3D Design Tool to AR
Departing from the long string of entertainment-focused partnerships released in recent weeks and months, a new, enterprise-focused Magic Leap app has finally emerged in the form of Onshape.
News: Magic Leap & Weta Workshop Release Dr. Grordbort's Invaders for Magic Leap One
As promised last week, Magic Leap has finally released the long-awaited augmented reality game Dr. Grordbort's Invaders.
Pixel 3 XL vs. iPhone XS Max: It's a Tough Match Between the Two Large Flagships
Besides the Apple vs. Samsung competition, few battles are as vocal as the battle between the best Pixel and best iPhone. This year, it's the Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XS Max, two phones that are equipped with minor hardware updates from their predecessors, though both showcase significant OS-level improvements.
Pixel 3 vs. iPhone XS: The Battle of the 'Small' Flagships
The battle between the Pixels and the iPhones has been heating up over the last few years, and this year's bout is the best one yet, with Google's Pixel 3 taking on Apple's iPhone XS.
News: Magic Leap One Now Available to Most US Consumers, Affirm Partner Offers Buyer Financing
One the main gripes against cutting-edge augmented reality headsets like the Magic Leap One and the HoloLens is the price — they're pretty expensive compared to most consumer devices. Well, now some of that pain has been relieved for those looking to pick up a Magic Leap One as the company has just announced a financing option that allows anyone with a spare $96/month to gradually pay their way into full ownership of the device.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.1 Public Beta 3 to Software Testers
Apple released the third public beta for iOS 12.1 to software testers on Tuesday, Oct. 9, and there's not a whole lot to be excited about. The update came just hours after Apple released iOS 12.1 dev beta 3 to registered app developers, signaling a return to the traditional Tuesday release schedule for iOS betas. At least, for now.
News: Google Brings Marvel's Avengers & Childish Gambino to AR with Playground for Pixel
If you own a Google Pixel, you'll soon have augmented reality versions of Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Childish Gambino on your camera.
News: Everything You Need to Know About the Google Pixel 3
With all the controversy around the Pixel 3 XL, the regular-sized Pixel 3 might be the phone of choice for most users. Thanks to the huge boost in screen size, the little brother is now an easier pickup for those who like a bigger screen. And once more, the internals are the same, giving you the same experience as the 3 XL without the display notch.
News: Everything You Need to Know About the Google Pixel 3 XL
The "controversial" Pixel. No phone in the history of Google's Pixel lineup deserves this title more than the Pixel 3 XL. For some (including myself), the design is a welcome change that embodies the modern design of 2018 flagship phones. For others, it has an ugly huge display notch that destroys symmetry.
News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.1 Beta 3 to Developers
Apple pushed out its newest beta, iOS 12.1 beta 3, to registered developers on Tuesday, Oct. 9, right at 11 a.m. PDT. The new update does not appear to offer any new features or changes, rather it seems to be simply a routine upgrade. Developers should expect simple bug fixes and security patches, instead of the feature-ridden update seen last week.
News: Upskill Releases HoloLens Version of Skylight AR Productivity Platform
Augmented reality productivity software maker Upskill has expanded the reach of its Skylight platform with support for Microsoft HoloLens.
News: Rovio's Mobile Gaming Classic Angry Birds Comes to Augmented Reality via Magic Leap One
Less than three weeks after Rovio Entertainment announced the game, the augmented reality adaptation of Angry Birds is now available for the Magic Leap One.
News: The Porgs from Star Wars Are Coming to Magic Leap One
It turns out that Dr. Grordbort's Invaders is not the only Magic Leap demo to become a reality for the Magic Leap One.
News: Investors Bank $30M on Varjo for VR/AR Headset with 'Human-Eye Resolution'
A Series B round of funding, totaling $30 million, will enable Helsinki-based startup Varjo to launch its industrial-grade augmented and virtual reality headset capable of "human-eye resolution" before the end of the year.
PSA: There's a Stupid Reason You're Not Finding Good Shortcuts in Apple's Gallery
There's something seriously wrong with Apple's new Shortcuts app, and it's severely limiting the number of shortcuts users can install on their iPhones.
News: Apple Releases iOS 12.0.1 to Address Wi-Fi & Charging Issues on iPhones
If your iPhone XS or XS Max has been suffering from Wi-Fi connectivity and charging issues, Apple just released iOS 12.0.1 on Monday, Oct. 8, as an over-the-air update for all compatible iPhones. The main focus of the update is to give fixes for users going through "Chargegate" and experiencing Wi-Fi issues.
News: Magic Leap Teaser for Dr. Grordbort's Invaders Previews Forthcoming Release During L.E.A.P. Conference
Magic Leap One owners with itchy trigger fingers may have their itch scratched next week, as Magic Leap has shared a brief teaser on Twitter for the long-awaited Dr. Grordbort's Invaders game from Weta Workshop.
Market Reality: Disney's Bob Iger Leads NR30 AR Investors, Magic Leap Acquires Computes, & Snap to Invest in AR Hardware
This week, we continued our NR30 series highlighting the leaders of augmented reality space by profiling the venture capitalists and strategic corporate investors that sustain the industry.
News: Snap CEO Memo Confirms Spectacles Are First Step Toward AR Smartglasses
In a leaked company memo, Snap CEO (and NR30 member) Evan Spiegel has made it clear that the future of the company lies not only augmented reality but also hardware that enables those AR experiences.
News: Nokia 7.1 — HDR Screen, Dual Cameras & Soon to Have Android Pie
Even with all the success HMD had with reviving the Nokia brand in 2017, it seems their second year is shaping up to be even better. Nokia has been steadily releasing sequels to last year's lineup, most with the new minimal bezel design language. The Nokia 7.1 is just their latest creation.
News: Magic Leap's Acquisition of Computes Strengthens Mesh Computing Capabilities by Crowdsourcing Processing Power
The latest business move by Magic Leap could result in a significant boost to its spatial computing platform's performance and headset design.
News: Brainlab Prescribes Magic Leap as Cure for Visualizing Medical Imaging Data, Lumin Updates Pushed to Devs
While many of the latest content partnerships announced by Magic Leap appear to lean towards entertainment and gaming, a new partnership with medical technology provider Brainlab has Magic Leap getting down to more serious business.
News: ThirdEye Reveals X2 Smartglasses Design & Retail Partnership with b8ta
Smartglasses maker ThirdEye has announced that its X1 model wearable will be updated by the slimmer, as yet unreleased X2 model. Both devices will be promoted and sold through its partner, brick and mortar technology retailer b8ta.
News: Snapchat & Facebook AR Experiences Let You Unleash Your Inner Anti-Hero & Become Marvel's Venom
Venom, the latest in a long list of comic book characters to headline its own movie, is known by comic book fans by his catchphrase, "We are Venom."
News: New 'Ghostbusters World' Gameplay Footage Revealed, Haunts Your Neighborhood in the Spirit of Pokémon GO
Location-based AR game Ghostbusters World is creeping closer to launch, and developer FourThirtyThree has released some new gameplay footage and a trailer to capture the interest of the living.
NR30: The Augmented Reality Investment Leaders of 2018
People say that money makes the world go 'round. And it's no different in the world of augmented reality.
News: 'The Purge' Invades Your Safe Home via Mobile AR App
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try to survive The Purge as depicted in the popular movie series? Well, thanks to augmented reality, now you can.
News: Harry Potter Photo Printer from Lifeprint Turns Snapshots into Magical Augmented Reality Portraits
The Daily Prophet, the enchanted newspaper from Harry Potter lore, is no longer the sole source for magical moving printed photos.
News: Magic Leap & Andy Serkis Reveal Lord of the Rings-Inspired Character for Upcoming AR Experience
We already know that Magic Leap is working with Hollywood motion capture legend Andy Serkis on a new immersive content experience but, so far, all we've heard are descriptions of the work. Well, now the mystery is over, and the character of Grishneck, who Magic Leap mentioned just last month, has finally been revealed.
News: Apple Released iOS 12.1 Public Beta 2 to Software Testers with New Emoji & Chargegate Fix
Public beta testers will be pleased to know that the second iOS 12.1 beta has just become available for iPhones. The Tuesday, Oct. 2 update features an impressive 70+ new emoji for testers to enjoy, including bald emoji, emoji with red hair, gray hair, and curly hair, among many others, as well as a patch for iPhone XS and XS Max devices suffering from charging issues.
News: Apple Released iOS 12.1 Beta 2 to Developers, Introduces Over 70 New Emoji & Chargegate Fix
Apple released the second developer beta for iOS 12.1 to testers on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The new update features over 70 new emoji, including emoji with red hair, gray hair and curly hair, and an emoji for bald people, among many others. It also introduces a fix for iPhone XS and XS Max suffering from charging issues, that some have dubbed "Chargegate."
News: Stage Your Own Big Bang with Magic Leap One via the Universe Creator App
One developer has taken the formal name of the Magic Leap One: Creator Edition quite literally with an app that enables users to create a custom universe in their own living room.
Market Reality: Unity Leads the NR30 AR Software Segment, Magic Leap & Microsoft Pursue Military Partners
Continuing our NR30 series this week, we focused on the leaders of the software development industry that make augmented reality experiences possible. In other news, two of the current leaders in making AR headsets, Microsoft and Magic Leap, are pursuing multiple verticals with their products, as both now appear to be interested in making AR headsets for the military.
News: Thalmic's North Wearable Teases a Cooler Direction for AR Smartglasses
A major obstacle to the mainstream acceptance of smartglasses is the current inability able to smoosh processors, sensors, and batteries into a pair of frames that look cool. Wearables maker Thalmic is hinting that it may have figured it all out.
NR30: The AR Software Development Leaders of 2018
One could argue that, at least for the moment, software development is more important to the augmented reality experience than hardware. Since a viable augmented reality headset has yet to emerge for the broader, mainstream consumer market, currently, the same devices that make texting and selfies possible are leading the charge to enable easy-to-use AR experiences.
News: Amazon Offering More Than $100K in Prizes for Augmented Reality & VR Apps Built with Sumerian
Amazon Web Services is calling up an age-old tactic of the tech industry — the hackathon — to drum up excitement and encourage the development of apps built on the Amazon Sumerian AR/VR platform.
News: Hands on with the Honor 8X — Coming to the US Very Soon
Despite Huawei's ongoing battle with the US government, the Chinese company has continued to release phones in the US under its Honor brand. The Honor X series has been consistently released for several years, offering midrange specs at ridiculously low pricing, and the Honor 8X is no exception.
News: Magic Leap Teams with Sennheiser to Deliver High-End Spatial Audio for Augmented Reality
One of the best aspects of the Magic Leap One is the spatial audio, a feature that enhances the overall sense of immersion when interacting with virtual objects and content through the device. Now the company is aiming to boost the quality of that component by partnering with one of the leading names in high-quality audio.
News: Microsoft Fuels Efficiency at Chevron with Remote Assist App for HoloLens
Four months after unveiling the latest productivity apps for the HoloLens, Microsoft now has a series of compelling real-world use case videos showing how the augmented reality device and its apps are helping oil giant Chevron.