Last week’s headlines were full of updates from key events, product launches, and shock reports from some of the world’s largest tech firms in the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) sector.
Varjo Technologies unveiled a pair of cutting-edge products for consumers, sources revealed further setbacks from Apple, and Facebook plans a major overhaul to its company ahead of a key event.
In case you missed it, here are the top stories from last week. Be sure to also stay posted with our newsletter by visiting https://www.xrtoday.com/sign-up/ for further updates!
Facebook to Rebrand Ahead of Key Event, Reports Say
US social media giant Facebook plans to change its name in a major rebranding effort ahead of a key company address, sources familiar with the matter told The Verge early last week.
The Menlo Park-based firm would not reveal the “closely-guarded secret” but may link the renamed company to its newly denominated Horizons Worlds platform.
The leak comes as Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Founder and CEO, prepares his long-awaited address at the Facebook Connect event on October 28 as the firm transforms into a ‘Metaverse company’.
Accenture Orders Record 60,000 Oculus Headsets
Accenture, a Dublin-based multinational IT consultancy firm, ordered last week 60,000 Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets from Facebook in a major shift to train and onboard employees remotely.
The record sale aims to boost VR training solutions in the company’s massive onboarding push for up to 125,000 new hires.
The news comes as Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture, told Fortune the new VR human resources solution would help new hires “learn more about Accenture in a more engaging fashion” but would also allow employees to have experiences with people they would not “get to be in a room with.”
Apple MR Headset Delayed to Q4 2022, Source Says
Apple’s widely-anticipated MR headset has been pushed back further to the fourth quarter next year, 9to5 Mac reported, citing leading industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed.
Kuo said in statements the Cupertino-based firm’s complex MR headset design caused the delay, namely as the company wanted top spescs for hardware, software, and services ecosystems before the launch.
According to sources from Apple’s supply chain, Apple would begin producing the headset in Q4 following predictions the device would be postponed from mid-2022 to the second half the same period.
Facebook Pledges 10,000 EU Hires to Build Metaverse
Facebook has pledged to hire roughly 10,000 workers in the European Union (EU), allowing the company to advance its plans to develop the Metaverse as well as “unlock access to new creative, social, and economic [Metaverse] opportunities.
The developments come after Facebook Chief Mark Zuckerberg shocked the tech industry after stating he wanted to shift the Menlo Park-based firm to a “Metaverse company.”
Andrew Bosworth, Head of VR/AR, later announced Facebook’s Metaverse ambitions in a post along with over 700 positions to build the company’s new division, and later revealed $50 million USD in investments to build an ‘ethical’ Metaverse along with partnered global organisations.
Varjo Aero, Teleport Event
Finnish mixed reality headset manufacturer Varjo Technologies launched a major event to unveil two solutions for both consumers and enterprises — Varjo Aero and Varjo Teleport — which aim to provide enterprise grade products to consumers and expand access to such technologies “for all”.
The Helsinki-based firm’s Aero headset features leading technologies and top-spec opticals designed for simulation training for pilots, drivers, and others, and will cost $1,990.
Varjo’s Teleport solution will allow XR-3 headset users to create shared spaces by converting scanned environments into digital twins. The new VR tool also works seamlessly with the firm’s Reality Cloud Service to stream real-time 3D content across platforms.
