nreal

New App Brings Real-Time 3D Holograms To iPhone

March 9, 2022 From vrscout

Say goodbye to boring 2D video calls.

Earlier today, Slovakian software company Matsuko announced plans to premiere its new holographic communication app later this week during the 14th annual SXSW Pitch. The app uses a combination of AR and AI technology to project life-like 3D holograms over your real-world environment using an iPhone and compatible XR devices.

According to Mastuko, the idea behind the app was to offer a more natural form of remote communication by allowing you to easily record and share 3D holograms in real-time. No prior experience with immersive technology is required in order to operate. You simply aim the iPhone’s camera at your face and start talking. Those with a compatible XR device, such as the Nreal or Microsoft HoloLens 2, can view the iPhone-captured hologram in 3D real-time.

“If these past two years have shown us anything, it is that as humans we need each other’s presence. And even though we have come a long way with remote communication, today’s tools are still way too distant,” said Maria Vircikova, co-founder and CEO of MATSUKO in an official release.

“Our brain is wired for the third dimension, and we need a sensation of people physically being there. I’m excited to show the judges at the SXSW Pitch how our solution provides a true holographic presence and how that can help people connect emotionally.”

The use-cases for a technology such as this are virtually endless. The app could be used for everything from education and training to teleconferencing and entertainment.

Those on iOS can download the Matsuko app free via the App Store. Holograms can be viewed in real-time using XR glasses like the Nreal and Microsoft HoloLens 2 with support for the Meta Quest 2 on the way.

For more information visit matsuko.com.

Image Credit: Matsuko

Nreal Light is Finally Launching its AR Smartglasses in the US

November 18, 2021 From vrfocus

Getting your hands on actual consumer-focused smartglasses isn’t the easiest thing to do, there are plenty for enterprise but not for the general public. That’s beginning to change thanks to companies like Rokid and Qualcomm. For those in the US, however, Nreal Light will be going on general sale via Verizon stores later this month.

The deal will see Nreal Light sold exclusively through Verizon stores and online for $599 USD, available from 20 Verizon brick and mortar stores from 30th November 2021, whilst online sales begin on 3rd December. Customers who head in-store will be able to trial the smartglasses before buying.

Nreal Light is a smartphone-powered augmented reality (AR) device which allows users to interact with general apps on their phones as well as utilising specific AR apps designed for the headset. Compatible with Android and iOS phones, Nreal Light features 6 degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) tracking, plane detection and image tracking, a 52° field of view (FoV); spatial sound, and a USB-C, all weighing in at 106g.

As for smartphone compatibility, Nreal Light will work with the following Verizon sold devices:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G UW
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G
OnePlus 8 5G UW

“Although Nreal Light’s availability in the U.S. has been highlight anticipated, we couldn’t be more excited to be announcing the sales of Nreal Light at Verizon retail stores as this marks a momentous milestone not only for Nreal, but also the AR industry as a whole,” said Chi Xu, CEO and Founder at Nreal in a statement.

The 20 Verizon stores which will have stock are:

Verizon Retail Store	Address	City	State
Clarendon	2930 Clarendon Blvd	Arlington	VA
Buckhead	3275 Peachtree Rd NE STE 270	Atlanta	GA
Ponce De Leon	650 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Suite 660 B	Atlanta	GA
Boston – Washington St	340 Washington St	Boston	MA
The Hub – Boston Retail	98 Causeway St	Boston	MA
Cambridge – Harvard Square	95 Mount Auburn St Harvard Square	Cambridge	MA
Millennium	36 S State St	Chicago	IL
Hoboken Store	93 Washington St	Hoboken	NJ
River Oaks	2071 Westheimer Rd	Houston	TX
Grand Central	420 Lexington Ave	New York	NY
Madison Avenue	342 Madison Ave	New York	NY
80th & Broadway	2239 Broadway	New York	NY
Hudson Yards	20 Hudson Yards RU311	New York	NY
Bryant Park	125 W 42Nd St	New York	NY
SoHo	581 Broadway	New York	NY
Wall Street	100 Wall St	New York	NY
Palo Alto	219 University Ave	Palo Alto	CA
SF Mission	2654 Mission St	San Francisco	CA
Short Hills Mall	1200 Morris Tpke	Short Hills	NJ
DC 14th Street	1529 14th St NW	Washington	DC

Nreal originally launched its latest generation of smartglasses in South Korea during 2020, following that up with a European release through Vodafone in Spring 2021. Whilst Nreal Light is only just arriving in the US, the company has already revealed the next iteration, Nreal Air, a smaller and lighter device due to arrive in Japan, China and South Korea during December. For continued Nreal updates, keep reading VRFocus.

Nreal’s New AR Sunglasses Look Pretty Gosh Darn Stylish

September 30, 2021 From vrscout

The Nreal Air AR smart glasses are capable of simulating a massive 201-inch with a refresh rate of 90Hz.

Hot off the heels of a successfulSeries C funding round, Nreal—the company behind the Nreal Light AR glasses—has announced a new set of consumer AR sunglasses. The Nreal Air are unlike any other AR glasses we’ve seen so far, combining style with technology.

Nreal’s latest AR wearable is centered around convenience and comfort. Weighing in at only 77g, the company claims that the Nreal Air can be worn comfortably all day, whether you’re looking at the latest sales numbers during a work call or enjoying some after-work-hour activities like streaming episodes of your favorite TV show or chasing high scores against your gaming buds.

On top of solo activities, the Nreal Air allows you to create a shared digital space and invite other Nreal Air users from anywhere around the globe. Here you can collaborate with coworkers or watch content with friends in the virtual theater.

Image Credit: Nreal

The Nreal Air is capable of projecting a massive 130-inch hi-res virtual display when viewing the screen at a simulated distance of 3 meters. The glasses promise impressive visuals powered by its best-in-market micro-OLED chip. If you are looking through Nreal Air at a virtual distance of 6 meters, however, you’ll end up with a whopping 201-inch screen featuring an impressive refresh rate of 90Hz.

While the glasses require a tethered smartphone in order to run, Nreal took additional steps to prevent the device from quickly draining your phone’s battery. What’s especially interesting is the fact that the Nreal Air supports both iPhones and iPads, making them one of the first AR devices in the world to offer compatibility with Apple iOS. Don’t worry Android users, the Nreal Air will be compatible with most Android devices.

There’s no shortage of innovation when it comes to the Nreal Air. Nreal built the glasses to be more adaptive to various facial structures thanks to an Adjustable 3-Step Rake System built into the frames. This system allows for more customization by giving you the ability to tilt the lens to adjust the viewing angle in your glasses. It also uses elastic temples that fit snuggly on your head to prevent the glasses from slipping off of your face.

From the looks of the images we’ve seen, the Nreal Air sunglasses look deceptively stylish. Like other smart glasses such as Snapchat Spectacles or Ray Ban Stories, the glasses controls are built into the arms of the glasses. Nreal took privacy seriously when designing the Nreal Air AR sunglasses. The company streamlined the outward-facing camera to focus more on the theater experience, making the lenses spectacularly occlusive.

In an official press release, Chi Xu, Founder of Nreal, said, “Consumers today are seeking lighter, but longer-lasting AR glasses exclusively for streaming media and working from home. For instance, in Korea, we’ve found that 78% of our users use Nreal Light to watch streaming content.” Xu adds, “Nreal Air builds on our Nreal Light offering and furthers our mission to spread AR globally. With Nreal Air, we’ve zeroed in on the perks of a portable movie theater and condensed this into lightweight AR sunglasses with a zero-footprint display, while making it affordable.”

We’ve yet to get our hands on a pair of Nreal Air glasses, but when we do, we’ll be sure to provide more in-depth coverage.

Nreal plans on launching their Nreal Air AR sunglasses in December 2021 in three key Asian markets, including Japan, China, and South Korea in partnership with the world’s leading carriers. Nreal Air’s rollout to other markets will continue through 2022. Pricing will be determined by local carrier partners but will retail at a fraction of the price of Nreal Light.

To learn more about Nreal, click here.

Feature Image Credit: Nreal

AR Glasses Creator Nreal Secures $100M Series C Financing to Expand Internationally

September 27, 2021 From roadtovr

Chinese AR glasses startup Nreal announced it’s raised a fresh $100 million Series C financing round, something it says will be used for R&D and to fund wider international expansion.

As first reported by CNBC, the latest round reportedly brings the company’s valuation to $700 million. That figure was obtained by an anonymous source with knowledge of the deal, CNBC says, however the company has yet to comment.

The Series C round was led by YF Capital, NIO Capital, and Angel Plus China, with participation by Sequoia Capital China, GP Capital, GL Ventures. According to data reported by Crunchbase, this brings the company’s lifetime funding to $171 million.

Nreal is probably best known for its smartphone-tethered AR glasses, dubbed Nreal Light which made headlines back at CES 2019 for its relatively small form-factor in comparison to Magic Leap One or Microsoft HoloLens.

Nreal Light achieves this by offloading processing to a compatible smartphone. It also incorporates what are called ‘birdbath’ optics, which are notably cheaper to produce than waveguides and typically have greater light efficiency.

Nreal Light has been on sale through telecoms in Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Spain, typically priced between $600 and $820 depending on the region.

Notably the Beijing-based company hasn’t launched Nreal Light in China or the United States, something Nreal CEO Chi Xu says may happen at some point in 2022 along with “more countries as well,” Chi Xu tells CNBC.

The company’s Series C comes at a time when Apple is clearly making preparations for its own XR headsets. A recent report holds that Apple is sourcing parts for its VR headset. A mid-2020 report from serial leaker John Prosser holds that Apple’s AR glasses are headed to market sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.