Samsung is the latest tech giant to rely on virtual and augmented reality. The smartphone maker said it will work with Google and Qualcomm on its upcoming mixed reality platform. The news was shared between Samsung Unpacked event on Wednesday and followed up with reports suggesting that Apple may launch its first virtual reality headset this year.Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google Senior Vice President of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer appeared on stage to announce the partnership.
Samsung did not specify whether any products are in development. It also doesn’t provide a timeline for upcoming mixed reality products or services.
“It’s more of an announcement how we’re going to try to build the XR ecosystem right,” Samsung Mobile president TM Roh said in a pre-event translator interview with CNET.
“Google has long invested in experiences and technology in AR and VR,” Lockheimer said on stage. “Delivering the next generation of experiences requires cutting-edge hardware and advanced software. That’s why our collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm is so exciting.”
Mixed reality is a broad term used to describe technology that combines aspects of augmented reality and virtual reality. Augmented reality combines software with the real world by overlaying graphics over the user’s surroundings, similar to Google Glass, by comparison, virtual reality encompasses the wearer in 360-degree virtual worlds such as meta quest 2.
However, a new wave of VR headsets are developing mixed reality through pass-through cameras. This is a technique that allows VR and AR technologies to be combined into a single product line. Meta’s Quest 2 and Quest Pro The headset can do the same as it will happen. Vive XR Elite. apple expected headphones should be combined into one concept.
announced on time increased interest In virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, Apple is expected to release a mixed reality headset in 2023 that could cost $3,000. According to a report from Bloomberg, Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 and HTC’s Vive XR Elite are slated to launch in 2020. This month, and Google unveiled a new pair of AR glasses at last year’s Google I/O for meta-language translation. Mission 3 It’s coming by the end of the year.
Samsung has been pretty quiet about virtual reality aside from its Gear VR headset at launch. many repetitions Between 2015 and 2017, the device was a head-mounted holster for smartphone-powered VR experiences. Roh said there was growing demand from consumers for augmented reality and virtual reality. Which is why the company chose this time to start discussing its plans. He said the company had been researching categories for some time.
“And now we believe we have reached a certain threshold,” he said.
The synergies make sense since Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm are already working together to develop smartphones. Samsung builds the hardware of Galaxy phones, while Qualcomm supplied the processor. and Google handles the underlying Android operating system of the software.
Roh said that Google and Qualcomm will play a similar role in developing the upcoming XR platform. Even if they overlap in some areas. Even if Qualcomm supplies the processor. For example, Samsung might make some tweaks. The same is true for the chip in the Galaxy S23 lineup.
“Each player has their own leadership category. Then we will work closely together across genres,” Roh said.
CNET contacted Qualcomm for comment on the partnership. and received the following prepared statement: “Building on our existing partnerships with Samsung and Google, we have meaningful plans to jointly drive the XR experience forward with our Snapdragon XR innovations, together with Samsung. With Google’s amazing products and technologies, we have the foundation to make these opportunities real and drive the future of the geospatial Internet.”
Qualcomm has been supplying chips for almost every major VR and AR headset for many years. and has its own initiative to drive radio waves that are compatible with telephones. VR and AR headsets in the next few years Qualcomm is cooperating too. with Microsoft on future AR glasses hardware, and with Meta built in. future deviceIt’s unclear whether this new partnership will be compatible with existing Qualcomm. Snap Dragon Space Platform for headsets and phones
When asked for comment, Google’s Kaori Miyake added, “We are excited to work with our partners to create a new generation of immersive computing experiences. This will elevate what users can do with Google.”
Similar compatibility with Wear OS?
Two years ago, Samsung and Google Cooperation Announcement on a new wave of Wear OS watches that result in Galaxy Watch 4 and ahead of Google pixel clock. Although cooperation between Qualcomm/Google/Samsung This is completely different. But the spirit of collaboration can be very much the same.
On Wear OS, Samsung acts as a hardware partner to help improve the core functionality of Google’s next-generation watch platform, while Google emphasizes software crossover to Android, as well as adding Fitbit features to the hardware platform. It is a successful next generation mixed reality. It will most likely require compatibility with existing apps and even phones. This ensures that the final device doesn’t feel left behind on an island of apps like Meta’s hardware often does.
Because Apple’s headset appears to be incorporating VR and AR compatibility with existing Mac and iOS products. Samsung’s Google/Qualcomm can do the same for Google and Samsung’s mobile hardware.
If this is the type of collaboration that this mixed reality alliance suggests, then Google’s moves in this area continue to be a major question mark.
Samsung announced its mixed reality ambitions alongside New Galaxy S23 smartphone lineupThis includes faster performance. Longer battery life in both smaller models and an improved camera
look at this:
The Super Small Vive XR Elite doesn’t work well with my eyes.
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