Gadget Hacks News
News: Apple Releases First iOS 14.6 Public Beta, Introduces Easy Way to Update from RC to New Test Software
Apple released the first public beta for iOS 14.6 today, Friday, April 23, one day after the company seeded iOS developers 14.6 beta 1. The update introduces an easy way for testers to update from an iOS RC (release candidate) to the latest beta, via a simple option in Software Update.
News: Marvel Studios Tosses 'Falcon & the Winter Soldier' AR Game to Fans in Time for Finale
Disney Plus shows WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier are both streaming hits, but the two series could not be more different in terms of giving fans a taste of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
News: Samsung's New App for Galaxy Smartphones Turns the World into Your AR Canvas
After integrating Snapchat into its latest Galaxy A Series smartphones, Samsung is trying out a new AR camera app for its army of mobile devices.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.6 Beta 1 for iPhone
Apple released the first beta for iOS 14.6 today, Thursday, April 22. The new beta (build number 18F5046e) comes just two days after Apple's spring event, as well as the iOS 14.5 RC, and features an easy way for beta testers to update to the latest beta software when running an RC.
News: Snapchat, Google & Verizon Highlight Humanity's Impact on the Environment with AR for Earth Day
It's Earth Day, which means that nonprofits, individuals, and brands are making a concerted effort to raise awareness of environmental issues and how to change behaviors to reverse impacts of pollution, deforestation, and suburban sprawl, among others.
News: Google Gains Ground in Remote Video Race with Virtual Video Backgrounds in Google Meet
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, so, too, does the demand for video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
News: This Is the Secret AR App Powering Amazon's New Entry into the Beauty Salon Business
The march of Amazon to insert itself into nearly every retail arena continues with the e-commerce giant's latest move to launch its own brick-and-mortar beauty salons.
AR Snapshots: Live Out Your Sci-Fi Dreams with Iron Man Suits & Lightsabers in Snapchat
Snap introduced some fantastic new augmented reality abilities in version 3.4 of Lens Studio, the company's tool that allows anyone to create AR lenses for the Snapchat app. The newest features include improved hand tracking and full-body segmentation.
News: The iOS 14.5 Release Candidate Is Now Available for iPhone
Apple's new iOS 14.5 will be coming out very soon, and that's even more evident now with the release of the iOS 14.5 Release Candidate (RC) on Tuesday, April 20. Anyone can install this update and get all of the same features iOS 14.5 will give everyone for iPhone; only you'll have a head start to using all of the updates in Maps, Music, Podcasts, Reminders, Shortcuts, Siri, and more.
News: The Purple iPhone 12 Ships with iOS 14.5
During its first event of 2021, Apple announced a surprising new purple iPhone 12 the first new color for the device since its launch in the fall. However, one piece of important news slipped under the radar in the announcement — the purple iPhone 12 ships with iOS 14.5.
News: Google Adds Pac-Man, Hello Kitty & More Japanese Anime & Video Game Characters to AR Search
Gamers, anime fans, and those with an interest in Japanese culture are in for an AR treat courtesy of Google.
News: Facebook Reality Labs Chief Teases AR Coming to Oculus Quest Gaming, Delves into Future Smartglasses Hardware
The development of virtual reality at Facebook has been evolving lightspeed in the last few years. But while a relatively small group of VR enthusiasts and gamers are enjoying the social media giant's dedication to immersive headsets, it is the augmented reality space and its potential scale that truly has the tech market enthralled.
Market Reality: Epic Games $1 Billion Raise, Apple AR Surprise, Deutsche Telekom Smartglasses & HoloLens Helps Intel
The Metaverse, or AR cloud, has been a sci-fi dream for decades, but only recently have companies begun to actually develop the technology to build it. With its latest funding round, Epic Games is suddenly a front-runner in this pursuit.
News: Google Signals Smartglasses Ramp Up via Job Postings for Waveguides & Other AR Disciplines
For better or for worse, Google started the race towards smartglasses for everyday use with Google Glass before scrapping the Explorer Edition and pivoting towards enterprise customers.
News: ReplayAR App Preserves Hollywood's Most Beloved Movie Theater Using Augmented Reality
The pandemic has forced a number of public-facing businesses to either temporarily close or permanently cease operations, with one of the biggest victims of this trend being the movie theater business.
News: Deutsche Telekom Opens Early Access to Tooz Smartglasses via Dev Kit
If you're a developer working on the bleeding edge of augmented reality, or even an enthusiastic smartglasses early adopter, being first in line for new wearable hardware is a priority.
News: BMW Opens Augmented Reality Showroom for Plug-In Hybrids on the Web via 8th Wall
At its height, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many auto showrooms to close their doors. As the pandemic persists, many consumers are still hesitant to let their socially distanced guard down.
News: Investors Bet $1 Billion on Epic Games to Build the Metaverse
Over the past three years, Epic Games has raised billions of dollars in funding on the success of Fortnite as well as Unreal Engine, one of the top 3D engines available for developing games and AR experiences.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Public Beta 8, Features Under-the-Hood Changes
Apple released the eighth iOS 14.5 public beta on Tuesday, April 13. The update (build number 18E5199a) comes three hours after Apple seeded developers 14.5 beta 8, so we know that it contains little-to-no surface-level features or changes. Any changes, at this time, appear to be under the hood.
News: Apple Hides Augmented Reality Surprise in Invite for Next Big Event
Apple's augmented reality teases just keep on coming from the halls of its Cupertino labs. The latest comes in the form of an invitation to Apple's next public-facing event.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Beta 8 to Developers
Apple released the eighth iOS 14.5 developer beta on Tuesday, April 13. The update (build number 18E5199a) comes six days after Apple's last 14.5 beta update, which Apple pushed out to both developers and public beta testers.
News: Snap Teams with LACMA & LA Artists to Launch Location-Based AR Art Monuments Around the City
When most people think of Los Angeles they think of Hollywood and the movie industry, but in the last 10 years the city has rapidly transformed into a thriving new hub for visual artists.
News: Intel Takes Us Inside to Reveal How HoloLens 2 Is Transforming Computer Chip Production
The enterprise applications powering the adoption of the HoloLens 2 are only just ramping up as developers continue to work with the still relatively new hardware.
News: Airstream Lets You Take a Road Trip in Its Latest Trailer via Augmented Reality
The year 2020 sparked a trend of people moving out of big cities, with some opting to buy mobile homes and vans to travel rather than be cooped up in a tiny apartment during quarantine.
Market Reality: Google Pushes Web AR, Lil Nas X Goes Immersive, Coinbase & Ray-Ban Snapchat into AR Marketing
This week, Google showed off some wild new and innovative AR experiences that showcase the WebXR protocol for browser-based AR content, while 8th Wall applied its own web-based AR platform in service of Captain Morgan.
News: Hulu, Coinbase, Ray-Ban & Captain Morgan Unlock Advertising Gold with Interactive AR Ads
We've reached the point in the trajectory of augmented reality's growth where AR advertising experiences are becoming commonplace tactics rather than rare experiments.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Public Beta 7 for iPhone, Introduces Under-the-Hood Updates
It's a bit surprising that Apple hasn't seeded beta testers the release candidate for iOS 14.5. The next big iPhone update is rumored to be out soon, so it stands to reason that we'd see a "final" version of that software hit our test devices rather than another beta. But that simply isn't the case here, as Apple decided to release a seventh 14.5 beta.
AR Snapshots: Snapchat Pumps Out Billie Eilish, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift & the Beatles
Snapchat and its augmented reality capabilities have become a haven for music artists seeking to promote their new albums or simply amplify their art with immersive experiences.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Beta 7 for iPhone
Apple's iOS 14.5 is the biggest update to your iPhone since iOS 14. The new software features over 40 features and changes, including 217 new emoji, controller support for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and battery calibration for the iPhone 11 line. Now, Apple is inching closer to the finish line with 14.5 beta 7.
News: Facebook Portal TV Evolves as Remote Work Device with Zoom & GoToMeeting Support
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook enjoyed a boost in sales of Portal, its smart video cameras with AR effects, as social distancing became the norm.
News: You Can See to the Other Side of the World with Google's Latest Web-Based AR Experiment
Have you ever wondered where you'd come out if you drilled to the other side of the world? Now, if you have an Android device and Chrome web browser, you can find out.
Market Reality: Apple AR Headset Event in the Works, Snap & Niantic Have Their Own Smartglasses Plans
The race for the future of AR wearables gained steam this week with several pivotal developments. First, Apple, the subject of numerous reports and rumors regarding its purported AR headset, is reportedly eyeing an in-person unveiling of the device for later this year, rather than introduce it at its upcoming virtual Worldwide Developers Conference, which would usually be as good a time as any to make a big AR hardware announcement.
News: Devilish Lil Nas X AR Experience Debuts on Jadu App
Who had Lil Nas X, blood-drop Nikes, and satan worship on your 2021 bingo card? In a story that's stranger than fiction, the "Old Town Road" rapper has ruffled some feathers with the video for his new single, "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" filled with demonic imagery usually reserved for death metal bands.
News: Google Adds New AR Galleries & Audio Guided Tour to Arts & Culture App
With NFTs taking the art world by storm, it's a bit refreshing to know that you can enjoy world famous masterpieces in the comfort of your own home via augmented reality without emptying your cryptocurrency wallet.
News: Microsoft Wins $21 Billion Contract to Produce Military-Grade HoloLens for US Army
After years of testing and modifications, the US Army is moving forward with its customized version of HoloLens 2 from Microsoft.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Public Beta 6, Features New Siri Voices & Battery Health Calibration for iPhone 11 Line
Apple seeded software testers iOS 14.5 public beta 6 today, Wednesday, March 31. The update includes a new battery calibration for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max, as well as two new Siri voices.
News: Apple Releases iOS 14.5 Beta 6 to Developers, Includes Battery Health Calibration for iPhone 11 Line
Apple just seeded developers the sixth iOS 14.5 beta today, Wednesday, Mar. 31. The update includes a calibration for battery health measurements for the iPhone 11 line, as well as two new Siri voices.
News: Apple Planning In-Person AR Wearable Device Launch In Coming Months, Report Says
The Apple rumor drumbeat is getting louder: a wearable augmented reality device is almost certainly coming, very soon.
News: Niantic Previews the Future of AR Gaming with Codename: Urban Legends Demo
As if teasing its own smartglasses weren't enough, augmented reality gaming developer Niantic gave gamers a glimpse of how 5G speeds can revolutionize how they play mobile games in the near future.
News: Next Snap Spectacles Expected to Include AR Displays, Report Says
Snapchat parent company Snap may finally be taking the big step into the fully-functioning augmented reality wearables realm with the next iteration of its Spectacles devices.