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Microsoft also announced thatWindows Mixed Reality is dead.
One reason is cost.
The XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses.
The Apple Vision Pro is stupidly expensive (and HoloLens was too).
The other reason is comfort.
What if there was an affordable method, that was also actually comfortable to wear?
The XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses.
That’s theXREAL Air glasses.
Ireviewed the XREAL Air glasses here, and have found them to be a trusty travel buddy ever since.
Right now, XREAL’s biggest problem is software.
Connect up a mouse and keyboard via Bluetooth, and you effectively have an ARM-powered laptop.
But XREAL changes all that.
Using prescription lenses, the XREAL is the only head-mounted unit I’ve used that is comfortable forlongsessions.
The XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses.
However, the downsides to actually using this method as a full laptop replacement are numerous.
But therein lies XREAL’s biggest issue, really.
Some apps don’t scale properly, if at all, when running in a “window.”
Perhaps my favorite Microsoft photo ever, Terry Myerson, Joe Belfiore, and Alex Kipman share a jolly good time at the reveal of the Microsoft HoloLens back in 2017.
There’s an absolutely vast potential in hologrammatic computing interfaces.
And like I said, none of this is XREAL’s fault.
But it is a huge pain point for the firm.
HoloLens, the coolest tech that nobody will use.
Thankfully, thereisan OS for OEMs out there designed for hologrammatic spatial computing in desktop environments Windows Mixed Reality.
Microsoft’s biggest problem was hardware.
When Microsoft revealed HoloLens back in the day, it was summarily mind-blowing.
You have to admit, it looks far cooler than the Apple Vision Pro.
True holograms, realizing the sci-fi dreams of decades of artists and authors.
In reality, indeed, it was pretty tiny.
Then came the price tag.
HoloLens and Windows Holographic development has eventually ended, though.
For gaming, a fully immersive 3D VR environment offered by Meta Quest absolutely makes sense.
HoloLens apologists might say things like, “well, it’s not for consumers!”
To that, I’d argue that it quite clearlycouldbe.
Yet still, Apple hasn’t solved the core issue that HoloLens had: Price, and comfort.
These devices are huge, face computers.
The XREAL Air sports neither of these problems.
This is orders of magnitude cheaper than HoloLens or the Apple Vision Pro.
It’s also barely noticeable while being worn, too, unlike any of the main head mounted devices.
Honestly, I feel as though the XREAL Air are actually more comfortable than my regular glasses.
The issue with XREAL is its lack of viable software.
The issue with Microsoft’s mixed reality is a lack of viable hardware.
Is there enough of a vision or drive left within Microsoft to support devices like this?
XREAL + Windows, it just makes sense.
Right now, the XREAL glasses have an optional accessory called the Beam.
The XREAL Beam is essentially a power bank running the absolute most bare-bones version of Android.
What XREAL really needs is a platform designedforholographic computing, and spatial anchors.
Could this finally be Microsoft’s mobility play in a post-smartphone world?
Could this be THE RETURN OF WINDOWS MOBILE?!?!
Okay, maybe I’m dreaming, but the synergy here is so painfully obvious.
I wish Microsoft still cared about this stuff.
