Soon, You might want to toss out your huge virtual reality headset thanks to a new wave of sleeker devices.
Finally, NReal is bringing its Air augmented reality (AR) glasses to the US, which the corporation is pitching as a device for streaming shows and playing games. However, You can also use the headset along with Mac devices or an iOS phone or tablet with an optional adaptor. Experts say the AIR will give Mac users a taste of the power of Apple’s rumored upcoming headset.
In an email interview with Lifewire, Anastasiia Gliebova, the CEO of V-Art, which makes VR and VR experience said , “Apple’s rumored ‘mixed reality’ headset will have several exterior cameras and sensors that will incorporate real-world places into a virtual space. “It will also allow users to communicate with compatible phones via Wi-Fi 6E wireless technology. Since the device will use a separate SoC (System on a Chip) architecture (some M2 products), it will also have better graphics performance along with low power consumption.”
Virtual Air
NReal Air is a lightweight augmented reality smart glasses that aims to give an immersive viewing experience for smartphone users. The manufacturer will offer a dongle ($59) that will allow its AR glasses to work with the iPhone.
The glasses look similar to the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses, but the NReal Air has built-in OLED screens that simulate a 130-inch screen when viewed at a simulated distance of 3 meters and a whopping 201 inches at a virtual distance of 6 metres. OLED displays offer a pixel density of 49 pixels per degree and support a 90Hz refresh rate.
According to Glebova, “NReal Air will set a new level of portability and display quality,” “But NReal Air also has drawbacks such as having a power cord and not being able to use it easily, for example, while walking on the sidewalk.”
However, users will also need to buy the official Apple Digital AV Adapter ($35) that plugs into the NReal dongle. “Therefore, this is a heavy-duty and not cost-effective solution for iOS users,” Glebova added.
NReal’s Nebula software provides MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users with a virtual user interface that can display multiple screens in front of users. However, Glebova stated that NReal macOS compatibility is limited to Macs running on Apple Silicon (M1 and M2 chipsets). The company has yet to say if or when Intel-based Macs will get support for Nebula.
But Jason Yim, CEO of Trigger XR, the mixed reality agency, predicted in an email interview with Lifewire that the NReal headset and the Apple device would offer very different experiences. The primary feature of NReal Air is to create a 2D virtual/spatial screen anywhere, while Apple will offer true Mixed Reality experiences, initially at home versus on the go.
“There are many rumors about the Apple headset,” Yim added. “Many speculate that it will be a ‘pass-through’ mixed reality device, similar to the more expensive Varjo XR3 (for enterprises) and Meta’s upcoming Cambria. In addition to the ‘best-in-class’ industrial design, I believe they will offer a unique system for delivering AR content in your room that syncs. With other media: Apple Music, games, TV.”
VR . future
Observers say the new NReal glasses are part of an industry trend toward more comfortable headphones with new capabilities. In an email interview, Chris Breckler, CEO of MyndVR, which creates virtual reality experiences for seniors, said the biggest change in the VR space is the shift from VR headsets to immersive glasses, like HTC’s VIVE Flow.
He added, “The Flow looks like a pair of sunglasses smaller, lighter, no head strap, and generally more friendly to the new user, especially the older we focus on.” “We also appreciate the ease of being able to focus the lenses for each user, with or without eyeglasses.”
Brickler said virtual reality is moving beyond gameplay to features and experiences aimed at providing health benefits. For example, the company’s MyndExplorer feature attempts to make it easier for seniors to travel virtually around the world.
“Likewise, our MyndConnect features provide intergenerational communication over long distances, allowing families to share new VR experiences together in real time, rather than just talking about the same old things on the phone,” he added.
