📊 Week Ahead
- Dec 23: DPVR Set to Unveil “Mystery Product” & XR Innovations at CES 2025 – DPVR to showcase next month in Las Vegas
- Dec 24: Samsung, Pimax & DPVR Preview New VR Headsets for 2025 at CES – Provideocoalition: three new VR headsets for 2025
- Dec 25: XREAL One AR Glasses Begin Shipping – Glass Almanac: haptic sleeve simulates realistic touch
- Dec 31: Magic Leap 1 Cloud Services Reach End-of-Life – UploadVR: Magic Leap 1 to cease functioning
🔬 Deep Dive: “The $10B Mistake Everyone’s Making”
💰 Market Moves
- Google contracts over 100 AR staffers from Magic Leap: Strategic talent grab to accelerate Google’s AR roadmap. Nasdaq
- Meta teams with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Vision: Partnership to produce immersive 3D entertainment content for Meta Quest headsets. Reuters
- Microsoft discontinues HoloLens production: Support for original HoloLens ends December 10, 2024, marking a shift in its mixed reality strategy. The Verge
SPONSORED
XR Association Release "State of the Industry Report," with Highlights from 2024 and a Look Ahead to 2025
🎯 Research Radar
- Full-colour 3D holographic AR displays with metasurface waveguides – breakthrough prototype by Stanford, published in Nature
- Smart Haptic Glove teaches new physical skills – embroidered MIT glove with adaptive touch sensors for VR training
- EgoTouch skin-based AR/VR control – CMU’s AI-powered finger-to-skin interface replaces traditional controllers
📋 Patent Watch
- Meta’s Neural Interface Wristband (US20200022606A1) – bioelectrical EMG control for VR input
- Google’s AR Glasses with Insertable Prescription Lenses (WO2024248853) – modular frame design and port integration
- AR Glasses with Optical Receiver/Transmitter & Photovoltaic System (US20250076661A1) – combined display optics and power harvesting
✅ Prediction Tracker
- ✓ Called Niantic’s pivot 3 months ago
- ✗ Overestimated Apple’s AR timeline
- ⏳ Watching our Magic Leap prediction
💬 Community Pulse
- Poll Results: 67% expect a major AR breakthrough in 2025 – SpatialTech Forum Poll
- Reader Question: “What about haptic feedback?” See Research Radar
📅 Calendar
- Dec 31, 2024: Magic Leap 1 End-of-Life – UploadVR
- Jan 9–12, 2025: CES 2025 (Las Vegas) – AR/VR/XR Topics @ CES
- Mar 8–12, 2025: IEEE VR 2025 (Saint-Malo, France) – Registration & Details
