This week, with long-time technology collaborator EssilorLuxottica, Meta introduced new Ray Ban smartglasses designs and features. The latest designs do not flip the product range on its head with ground-breaking features. However, a new sleeker design intends to drive consumer adoption of the AR-lite device.
The second-generation smart glasses are expanding just in time for summer with three new frames. New Skyler frames are suited for smaller faces, meanwhile the low bridge Headliner frames considers wearers who find glasses sit too low on their face.
Moreover, Meta is also introducing a limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, exclusively for the Scuderia Ferrari colourway in Miami 2024.
The new smart glasses are available for pre-order in 15 regions, covering the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
New Video Streaming, AI Features
New Meta smartglasses features will drop alongside the latest Ray Ban frames, such as Meta AI updates and messaging integration.
Users can share their video feed through integrated WhatsApp and Messenger applications. The glasses provide video sharing as a hands-free procedure thanks to the device’s voice control.
The smart glasses integrate an ultra-wide 12 MP camera to power video feed sharing to provide a high-quality stream.
Moreover, Meta is updating its AI framework, which powers much of its smart glasses product portfolio.
For US and Canadian customers, new Meta AI features will add an intelligent assistant that can provide real-time, contextual information via voice commands like translating text.
Meta started trailing its Meta AI update in December, now the firm is distributing its latest virtual assitant features as a beta to all US and Canadian customers.
New Education Product from Meta
Meta has recently announced that they will release another new product later this year, an XR headset explicitly designed for use in classrooms and educational spaces. This product range aims to improve the understanding and adoption of XR technology among educational professionals. The company hopes this will make it easier for educators to onboard their students onto the platform, leading to better learning outcomes and empowering teachers, trainers, and administrators with education-specific XR applications and management features.
In a promotional video, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, stated:
We are going to be shipping a new education product for Quest in a few month’s time, which has been designed for and very much designed around the feedback we received from teachers themselves.
Similar to last year’s Meta Meta Quest for Business product model, the new education solutions offer new management features, allowing teachers to use multiple Quest devices in a classroom simultaneously. Additionally, deep device management tools eliminate the need for teachers to update devices individually and separately – helping teachers save time and improve student headset onboarding.
According to Meta, the new product has been developed based on feedback from educational clients. It is intended to make learning, applying, and practising new skills easier for students using XR solutions. In his blog post, Clegg explained that the company collaborated with educators, researchers, and third-party developers worldwide to develop the new product.
Clegg notes a significant market for education and training providers, and Meta is witnessing a growing number of developers building and releasing apps aimed at this sector. When it launches, the new education product will be available to Quest for Business-supported markets and institutions serving learners aged 13+. Although Meta has not yet confirmed the product’s name, Clegg said the name and product features would be revealed in the coming months.
Meta to Adopt Open Framework
Meta, the company behind the Quest virtual reality product line, has recently opened its Meta Horizon OS to third-party developers. This move allows a broader range of developers to create applications for Meta’s portfolio of XR products – including emerging immersive solutions for enterprise sectors like education, industrial, and more.
In contrast, Apple has established a closed ecosystem to support its spatial computing vision, while Meta takes an open approach. Meta’s approach allows developers to create custom applications and solutions tailored to their needs.
This strategy makes sense for Meta as it expands its product reach through partnerships with LG. Furthermore, Meta has launched a new storefront, the “Meta Horizon Store,” which will serve as a home for future open Quest applications.
“We’re releasing Meta Horizon OS, our operating system that powers the Meta Quest virtual and mixed reality headsets,” noted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who also added:
In every era of computing, there are always open and closed models. – But it doesn’t have to be that way. In the PC era, the open model won out; you can do many more things, install mods, more diversity of hardware and software, and more. So, our goal is to make it so that the open model defines the next generation of computing again with the metaverse, glasses, and headsets.
Zuckerberg also mentioned that Meta works with industry leaders such as Lenovo, ASUS, and Xbox to create headsets tailored to specific use cases. For instance, a lightweight headset that pairs with a work computer, at home or on the go.
The CEO also added:
So opening our OS is the next step, and we are bringing all these different use cases in the metaverse to everyone. It’s probably going to take a couple of years for some of these new products to start launching, but I’m really excited to get started on this next chapter.
Meta also released an update to Quest 3, version 64, which significantly improves the device’s passthrough features, essential for its AR/MR capabilities. The update also enhances the device’s microphone and user experience.
The past improvements in Quest 3 v64 result in better graphics, colour, exposure, contrast, and dynamic range, enabling users to experience immersive assets alongside real-world environments through improved spatial awareness. Additionally, it allows users to quickly notice minor details of their surroundings, such as phone notifications, thus enhancing situational awareness, which is critical in enterprise or industrial environments.
Moreover, Quest 3 v64 offers external microphone support, enhancing audio quality compared to the device’s built-in microphone. This feature is available under the Experimental Settings tab.
Other updates in v64 include an improved user experience while lying down and a new continuous casting feature that enables uninterrupted streaming of AR/VR/MR content even after removing the headset.
