September has arrived, and the month is commonly an important one for the XR industry. Meta Connect 2024 is due to take place later in the year. Leading up to this year’s event, major XR device vendors such as HTC VIVE, PICO, Sony, and others are leveraging what is being perceived as an increasing level of hype stemming from Mark Zuckberg’s upcoming showcase.
This week saw various leading industry leaders and emerging start-ups gain momentum, leading towards Connect.
Smart glasses and MR headsets are all the rage at the moment. General audiences are becoming more aware of sophisticated AR services and MR passthrough features. Market forecasts expect AR smart glasses to emerge as technology’s next big thing within the current decade, and technology firms aim to lead when adoption becomes mainstream.
Sony will Debut its XR Headset This Year
Sony has become the latest company to face leaks about its upcoming XR headset. Following recent leaks from other players in the headset market, such as Meta and PICO, recent information from a SIG certification suggests that Sony’s XR headset will debut later this year.
Although Sony had previously confirmed that its XR headset would debut in 2024, the recent SIG listing seems to confirm this speculation.
It seems unlikely that there will be any delays at this point. The listing does not reveal any further specifications or details about the device, but previous announcements earlier in the year provide a clear picture of what to expect.
PICO’s Apple Vision Pro-Style Workplace Device to Ship
PICO has revealed more details about its upcoming PICO 4 Ultra MR headset, first introduced last month. The latest information was unveiled at a launch event at Bytedance’s TikTok headquarters in London, UK.
In addition to technical specifications, PICO also highlighted MR productivity services that are similar to Vision Pro’s capabilities.
During the event, PICO announced that the device would launch just before Meta Connect 2024. The PICO 4 Ultra will be available on September 20 for £529, and PICO’s additional Motion Trackers will be released at £79.00.
PICO will begin accepting pre-orders in the EU on e-commerce platforms from September 6th to September 19th. The company will ship the 4 Ultra in several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Vuzix Secures Multi-Million Investment
In Q2, Vuzix, a vendor of AR enterprise smart glasses, faced some challenges. However, this week, the company received a $20 million strategic investment from Quanta Computer Inc., a global Fortune 500 company.
This investment, which includes Vuzix common and preferred stock, will significantly enhance the company’s position in the second half of 2024. It comes at a crucial time, as industry forecasts indicate that smart glasses are expected to outperform VR headsets.
Frank Chuang, the Vice President of Quanta Computer, added:
We plan to work closely with Vuzix to support the AR smart glasses industry and today’s investment in Vuzix represents a strong endorsement of our partnership.
The significant investment is divided among different stock assets. Quanta has already allocated $10 million to common stock, and the investors will soon make two separate $5 million investments in series B preferred stock tied to upcoming Vuzix roadmap milestones.
The firm first disclosed the Quanta partnership last November, and the most recent $20 million investment “represents another important step in our partnership,” said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix.
Get Your Way Earns €850,000 to Enhance Workplace Operations
Get Your Way, a startup focused on developing and distributing in-the-field assistive reality solutions has announced the completion of a successful funding round. They raised approximately €850,000 to enhance their immersive services for users in sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, and industrial environments. Industrya, Noshaq, and a private investor assisted in securing the funding.
The company plans to fully launch aRdent, an immersive workplace solution, and expand its market reach. The funding will also help them scale their expansion towards end-users in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Aude Somja, an Investment Manager at Noshaq, added:
The solution proposed by Get Your Way addresses a growing need for digitalization in companies. Its strength lies in remaining easy to use and seamlessly integrating into the existing environment. It adapts to the demands of complex fields such as the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries. We believe in this lite-tech approach where technology aligns with the real needs of users.
The company is developing hardware and software solutions that allow users to access important information through AR visualization hands-free while simultaneously working on other tasks. With the funding, Get Your Way also aims to expand its presence in new sectors, such as aerospace and industrial clients.
Vuzix and Realwear are already well-established in providing AR-based workplace tools. To compete, Get Your Way must demonstrate drive and innovation to revolutionize AR usage in the workplace with its aRdent service.