What you need to know

• XREAL is an augmented reality glasses company that is at the forefront of miniaturising the tech.
• Up until now, XREAL relied on external computing solutions to add spatial anchors to its insanely sharp hologrammatic screens, but not anymore.
• The XREAL One series (One and One Pro) have a new XR chip baked straight into them, side-stepping the need for apps and external add-ons.
• The XREAL One and One Pro are available now in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, starting at $499 USD, £449 GBP, and €549 EUR.

XREAL is back, and this time, they're even better.

I'm a big fan of XREAL. In my XREAL Air review, I detailed how the subtle lenses do all the things I wish HoloLens would've ended up doing, albeit with a key concession: they have no on-board compute. The worst thing about the XREAL glasses previously was underbaked software and integration with Windows and Android, although the app situation has improved immeasurably over time. XREAL even launched its own compute module for their glasses called the XREAL Beam, although it was a bit like carrying an extra phone around in your pocket, and not exactly ideal.

XREAL agreed, which is why their shiny new XREAL One and XREAL One Pro now have on-board computing for the first time, completing the augmented reality circle HoloLens failed to accomplish.

The XREAL One glasses are now available for preorder over on Amazon.

XREAL describes its new One series as the "biggest least forward" for consumer AR, owing to its independently-designed X1 processor platform. Previously, without a connected XREAL Beam, Android app, or Windows app, the XREAL was unable to independently reconfigure its virtual 3D display. You basically got an external monitor in glasses form, which while admittedly a very good external virtual reality monitor, the lack of configuration options was always a bit of a drag. Now, however, the X1 chip and the new XREAL SDK should enable an entire universe of new possibilities without having to rely on additional devices and apps to do the heavy lifting.

"Using XREAL's brand new, in-house designed X1 independent spatial computing co-processor, XREAL One Series creates a spatial display from nearly any device and for anything the wearer sees, leaping beyond the limits of today's AR and VR devices by introducing a fully customizable cinematic virtual screen that is for the first time spatially controlled by the glasses themselves."

The new glasses feature a variety of other tweaks and improvements over their predecessors. We now have speakers by BOSE, alongside official eye health certifications and even an AI-powered optional modular camera for added tracking and spatial awareness features. The new glasses have dynamic interpupillary distance control as well for the first time, which should make for a more comfortable experience and easier positioning. There are also options for prescription lenses as was the case with the previous glasses.

The XREAL glasses are compatible with a huge range of devices, giving them broad applications for all kinds of use-case scenarios. Connect them to a Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally for large display gaming. Connect them to a Windows PC as a second virtual monitor. Expand your Samsung S24 with Samsung DeX, and so on.

XREAL is what HoloLens could've been

The XREAL One glasses have boosted 57-degree field of view, incredibly sharp 1080p visuals, clocking in at 84 grams and 87 grams for the Pro respectively. This is orders of magnitude more usable and convenient than HoloLens, or even devices like the Meta Quest 3.

I think therein lies the big gap between what some platforms want to push vs. what consumers will actually want in reality. Yes, the XREAL aren't cheap, but they're also something I use regularly as someone who travels frequently. I watched Cyberpunk Edgerunners while travelling exclusively on the XREAL devices connected to my phone. They're great for playing Xbox Cloud Gaming titles, and also adding a bigger display to the Lenovo Legion Go and so on.

The downside was always that you couldn't resize the monitors or anchor them without extra steps. The new X1 computing platform should help resolve that situation. We'll be back with a full review soon.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's mixed reality HoloLens line has been quiet recently, with little information on whether Microsoft will continue perusing the hardware. 
• Outside of a commitment to its military-grade HoloLens, there's little information on what could be next for metaversal style hardware, as Apple and Meta ramp up their efforts in the space. 
• Recently, a patent appeared that looks fairly familiar to HoloLens, complete with unique modularity that makes it look a little more consumer-friendly and wearable. 
• Read on for details. 

A new Microsoft patent could be our first glimpse at a new HoloLens device, after years of relative quiet from the division. 

HoloLens is Microsoft's mixed-reality solution, using a custom version of Windows to overlay hologrammatic apps in a real-world space. It's unique among Microsoft's competitors, most of whom use full-immersion displays that either take you out of the entire real world completely or use mounted cameras to feed the real world into the mix after the fact. It's that uncanny latency between the virtual world and the real world that often induces motion sickness, so Microsoft's novel solution of prismatic holograms is one of the few platforms that can solve that to some degree, although the firm has yet to really make HoloLens available to the masses at scale. 

Right now, most HoloLens applications revolve around high-end engineering projects that benefit from manipulating 3D objects in real-time, or military applications. Microsoft has a contract with hundreds of millions with the U.S. Department of Defense for HoloLens, although the earliest iterations of its devices have reportedly been unpopular with soldiers. 

With Apple and Meta continuing their own mixed reality and "metaverse" efforts, people often wonder if Microsoft is going to keep pushing into the space. The above patent drawings show off what could be a new HoloLens device in testing, with a modular form factor.

The patent description explains that one drawback of the current HoloLens model is that it cannot be specialized to specific user environments. Indeed, the current version of HoloLens 2 available to the public looks very different to the helmet-style version being tested in infantry combat scenarios. Developing a more modular headset style whose prismatic displays can be swapped into and out of different types of head strap styles could be a powerful solution. 

"The modular sensor and display module may include a standard interface for attachment to various fit systems, including, for example, headband, VR headset, glasses temples, helmet, and the like. In some embodiments, a further module, such as a rear-attachment module, may be provided that can provide auxiliary compute, storage, and power resources for the modular sensor and display module."

In the above example, Microsoft envisions a version of HoloLens that can perhaps ditch the battery pack and compute units baked into the headband on the current iteration. In this form, the lenses are swapped out of the headband for a more traditional glasses frame style. 

Reducing the compute overhead could be a way to bring down costs and make the basic HoloLens experience more affordable for general consumers, to speculate. Late last year, Microsoft said that its next iteration of HoloLens needs to be "meaningful," following previous reports that HoloLens "3" may have been canceled entirely. Switching HoloLens to a modular design is pretty much what I'd describe as meaningful, no?

Microsoft also recently patented some virtual keyboard attachment designs specifically for HoloLens and other similar augmented reality headsets. The patent revolves around placing a virtual keyboard on a table, allowing you to type more naturally while using hologrammatic windows. 

Microsoft's layoffs over the past year have heavily targeted its mixed reality and so-called "metaverse" efforts, with products like AltspaceVR completely shut down not too long after acquiring it. Microsoft claims that it's continuing to pursue the metaverse, with its Microsoft Mesh platform which combines Microsoft Teams and other 365 services in virtual mixed-reality environments. Microsoft is also working on updated versions of HoloLens for the military, to satisfy its contracts with the Department of Defense. This was after soldiers complained of motion sickness and general inoperability problems with the first iterations of the product. 

Microsoft debuted its HoloLens mixed reality platform far ahead of Apple, Meta, and other competitors in the space, but has yet to really make it affordable for regular consumers, or logical for the vast majority of business use cases. People have balked at Apple's Vision Pro headset, which costs an absurd $3500 dollars, and doesn't exactly push the envelope far beyond what HoloLens currently does. There were rumors that Meta had killed off its own Quest "Pro" range as part of cost-cutting measures, but the firm behind Facebook later denied these reports. 

As usual with patents, they could just be prototypes that never see the light of day. But hey, it's fun to dream, right?

What you need to know

• Microsoft will deliver a new version of its militarized HoloLens headset to the U.S. Army before the end of July.
• The refreshed Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, will be "slimmer, lighter and more balanced," according to Microsoft.
• Previous versions of IVAS made soldiers feel sick, caused eye strain and headaches, and were considered bulky.

Microsoft's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is about to enter another round of testing with the U.S. Army. Version 1.2 of the militarized HoloLens headset will be "slimmer, lighter and more balanced," according to Microsoft. The company spoke with Engadget about the upcoming field tests and the Army spoke with Bloomberg about the headset.

IVAS has been in the works for years. The aim of the headset is to provide information to soldiers in real-time when in the field.

Earlier this year, it was shared that IVAS version 1.2 was 2.85 lbs, which is much lighter than the 3.4 lbs its predecessor weighed. The latest version of the device also has its computer on the back of the headset to improve balance.

20 IVAS prototypes will be delivered to the Army before the end of this month and testing in August. The viability of the device will be tested in several ways, including on if it makes soldiers ill, if it's comfortable, and if it works reliably.

The previous version of IVAS ran into several issues, including causing nausea, eye strain, and key features failing. The headset also emitted a glow from its display that could be used to locate a soldier at night.

The outcome of these tests could sway the fate of HoloLens dramatically. The deal could be worth up to $21.9 billion, but one has to wonder how long the military would accept unsatisfactory field tests.

It's important to note that many innovations that make their way into the field go through iterative improvements and several tests. The question with HoloLens is if the U.S. military views the project as a worthy investment that will bear fruit.

If testing goes well, the Army could purchase up to 121,000 IVAS units. Following earlier tests, the U.S. Congress chose to give Microsoft $40 million to fix the headset rather than make any further orders. That has resulted in the upcoming tests.

What you need to know

• Apple might not be able to ship one million Apple Vision Pro entries by early 2024.
• The Apple Vision Pro is a Mixed Reality headset similar to HoloLens, albeit fully opaque with inside-out cameras as opposed to HoloLens' transparent prismatic interface. 
• The manufacturing process of the device is sophisticated and complex.
• The company is already working on later generations of the unit to provide users with an array of options to choose from, including a cheaper option.

A little over a month ago, Apple held its annual developer conference, WWDC 2023. A plethora of announcements were made during the event, including iOS 17, macOS 14, the new Mac Studio, the new MacBook Air, and more. Notably, the company also unveiled the Apple Vision Pro VR, which had been long rumored to be hitting the market soon. 

The augmented reality headset is designed to enhance the visual experience for users while watching TV shows, playing games, movies, and more. During the event, Apple indicated it is working closely with the developers to ensure the headset ships early next year, starting in the US.

Rather than typical mobile computing technology used in most of these devices, the headsets will ship with a new form of computing dubbed "spatial computing." You'll be able to get your hands on one at $3,499.

And while we're still a few months, the entry has received both positive and negative feedback from users in equal measure. Granted, the market has shifted in the past couple of years. As such, it might be difficult to determine the adoption of this new technology prior to its official release. 

And now, as spotted by the folks at Ars Technica, Apple might be unable to deliver on its one million Vision Pro shipments in early 2024 promise. It seems the company bit more than it can chew as it has now been forced to make significant adjustments to the production roadmap for the augmented reality headset. 

The changes have been attributed to the entry's sophisticated design. This has also stunted the company's plans to develop a budget-friendly version of the entry. 

Apple is set to use Luxshare, a Chinese contract manufacturer, to assemble the device in the initial stages. But according to sources familiar with their arrangement, the company is now getting ready to assemble less than 400,000 entries in 2024. This way below the initial 1 million mark. 

The source further disclosed that Luxshare is Apple's only contact in charge of assembling the unit. The entry's components are unique, meaning only a few suppliers can access them. In this case, the source indicated that Apple is working closely with two China-based suppliers to acquire these components, but surprisingly the company only procured enough components for 130,000 to 150,000 units. If true, this clearly indicates that Apple won't be able to deliver on its initial promise.

Apple's Vision Pro's modern and stylish screen has been highlighted as one of the main reasons the company won't be able to meet its initial expectations. The device features two micro-OLED displays and a curved lenticular lens, both expensive and critical components of the device that will determine the project's success.

The source further disclosed Apple's concerns with the suppliers' productivity, particularly those in charge of manufacturing the micro-OLEDs. The display is the most expensive component in the entry, and Apple is working toward creating a unique and modern experience free from defects. 

It's not yet clear what Apple's move will be moving forward in a bid to expedite the manufacturing process of the entry, of course, without compromising on quality. Both Apple and Luxshare have declined to comment on the matter. We'll have to wait on the company's delivery early next year. 

To this end, it's still impossible to determine the adoption rate for the entry with the steep price point and experience with similar entries, such as Microsoft's HoloLens, which has been on the receiving end of setbacks most recently. 

In the interim, Apple has already touched base with Samsung and LG and is currently working on the production of later generations of the entry to promote affordability.

What you need to know

• Microsoft will develop version 1.2 of the IVAS augmented reality headset for the U.S. Army.
• IVAS is a system based on Microsoft's HoloLens that aims to aid soldiers in combat.
• The project has seen several delays since its initial announcement.
• The next version of IVAS will be lighter, better balanced, and have new capabilities, such as color-coded navigation.

Microsoft and the U.S. Army continue to work on creating a viable and combat-ready augmented reality headset. We now have more details about an upcoming version of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) which is known as version 1.2 of the system.

The new version of IVAS is lighter, more refined, and has a controller that's separate from its computer. All of these are steps toward making the headset usable in real-world situations, but it will need to pass through several tests before that occurs.

IVAS is based on Microsoft's HoloLens. It's been in the works for several years. Microsoft announced a deal worth potentially $22 billion with the U.S. Army to produce headsets, though that project has hit some bumps along the way. The deal was delayed in October 2021.

Microsoft has worked with the U.S. Army to refine the design of IVAS. The Army purchased 5,000 version 1.0 headsets and an additional 5,000 version 1.1 systems, according to Army Times. Those headsets are expected to be delivered early in the 2024 fiscal year.

Version 1.2 of IVAS will have two phases as well as feedback sessions from soldiers. That version of the militarized headset is scheduled for operational testing in the 2025 fiscal year. If things remained on schedule, field testing would occur by the end of the 2025 fiscal year.

Previous versions of IVAS had a chest-mounted controller and computer that were together. Version 1.2 separates the controller from the PC. The new design allows the computer to be moved around the torso. The computer for the system is now mounted on the back of the helmet.

Moving the computer to the back of the headset should also reduce neck strain. Earlier models of IVAS were more front-heavy. In addition to being balanced better, version 1.2 of IVAS is lighter. The target weight is 2.85 lbs compared to the 3.4 lbs of its predecessor. Army Times highlighted that 2.85 lbs is the same weight as Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binoculars.

Microsoft and the Army also plan to reduce eye strain, expand the field of view, and improve airflow of IVAS. The next version of the device will also have color-coded navigation points on a virtual map.

One of the biggest concerns with IVAS is that it can cause nausea and dizziness in soldiers. The Army has a team tasked to address the issue. That group will work aside partners from Microsoft Visual Sciences and other experts.

This isn't the first time that we've heard about IVAS version 1.2. A report by Bloomberg from earlier this year shed light on the project. That story revealed that the U.S. Army decided that it would not place any more orders for military-grade HoloLens headsets this fiscal year. Instead, a large sum would be spent on developing an improved version of IVAS.

The exact figures have shifted since the report in January 2023, but that's a normal occurrence when it comes to government projects of this size. The main takeaway is the same; the U.S. Army wants better headsets that are more viable options for use in combat.

What you need to know

• In the latest update in the massive Microsoft layoffs, we now have a better idea of how deep the cuts run in Microsoft's Mixed Reality team. 
• The team behind AltSpaceVR and also the Mixed Reality Tool Kit have been laid off in their entireties. 
• Potentially, these layoffs throw serious doubt on the future of HoloLens, which is currently struggling to retain its military contract with the U.S. government. 

The scale of the Microsoft layoffs keeps revealing itself through social media posts, as we get to grips with just how deep and broad Microsoft is looking to restructure. 

This past week, Microsoft revealed its joining Amazon, Google, and others in laying off thousands of employees. The cuts reduces Microsoft's global workforce by 5%, which grew rapidly to take advantage of opportunities that were presented during the pandemic. With work-from-home culture ending, inflation spiraling, and Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine disrupting energy markets, Big Tech is scaling back to keep shareholders happy in a tough economic environment. 

Microsoft is rearranging its bets for the future of the company as a result. Despite having acquired AltSpaceVR back in 2017, Microsoft culled the entire team behind the virtual reality workspace project this past week. As a result, AltSpaceVR will shutter for good in March, effectively ending Microsoft's "metaverse" efforts with it. Supposedly, Microsoft Mesh will be AltSpaceVR's successor, but it remains to be seen just how serious the company is about the so-called "metaverse," despite CEO Satya Nadella's buzzword-laden speeches on the topic at recent events. 

In addition to the death of AltSpaceVR, Microsoft has also culled the entire team behind the popular MRTK framework. MRTK is Microsoft's "Mixed Reality Tool Kit," which is a cross-platform framework for spatial anchors in virtual reality spaces. MRTK was built for Unity VR integrations, and works with Meta's headsets with a focus on HoloLens. 

HoloLens has been scaled back already in recent years following the departure of its chief architect Alex Kipman. Microsoft has been pursuing a HoloLens contract with the U.S. military, which was recently scaled back by the U.S. Congress, owing to reported problems with the program. 

For Microsoft to cull the entire team behind MRTK, which was due to release a new version just next month, it paints a picture of a company that perhaps no longer believes in virtual reality. There are many who believe the "metaverse" represents the next big opportunity in human-computer interfacing, but even Facebook, who rebranded its entire company to Meta in the belief of this technology, is scaling back in this area as well — laying off 11,000 staff back in November. 

What you need to know

• A new report from Bloomberg says the US Army isn't happy with the military-grade version of HoloLens.
• It has requested a new version with improvements that address complaits around discomfort.
• The US Army is refusing to purchase more headsets until this new version is complete.

A new report from Bloomberg today has revealed that the US Army will not be placing any more orders for Microsoft's military-grade version of HoloLens this fiscal year, after field testing last year left 70 Army infantry soldiers with headaches and other discomforts. 

The Bloomberg report states:

"Congress [has] rejected the US Army’s request for $400 million to buy as many as 6,900 of them this fiscal year. The rejection of the request, in the $1.75 trillion government funding bill, reflects concern over field tests of the goggles, which are adapted from Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets. The tests disclosed “mission-affecting physical impairments” including headaches, eyestrain and nausea."

Instead, $40 million will be spent on building a new model that focuses on improvements in these areas. Bloomberg says this new model is labeled as "version 1.2" and will address "physiological impacts identified during testing, and a lower profile Heads-Up Display with distributed counterweight for improved user interface and comfort."

The new version will also include software updates for better reliability and reduced power consumption. Test results from the Army said that soldiers wearing the HoloLens headset experiences discomfort after less than three hours of usage. 

The news comes after a series of blows for the HoloLens division, starting last year when it was reported that Microsoft had canceled HoloLens 3, leaving the org rudderless as to what was coming next. Then, HoloLens lead Alex Kipman left Microsoft after a number of accusations about his behavior were made. 

Just recently, Microsoft said that its customers were not interested in a new version of HoloLens at this time, pointing to the HoloLens 2 as being an excelllent product that's still on the market and fully supported by Microsoft.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is shipping its first batch of HoloLens headsets to the United States Army.
• The U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Acquisition "cleared the Army to begin accepting" shipments recently.
• Microsoft and the U.S. Army agreed to a contract worth up to $21.9 billion for augmented reality headsets that can be used in combat.

Microsoft's partnership with the United States Army surrounding militarized HoloLens headsets just took a major step forward. Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Douglas Bush "cleared the Army to begin accepting" the first batch of headsets resulting from the deal. U.S. Army spokesperson Jamal Beck shared details on the advancement (via Bloomberg).

The partnership between the U.S. Army and Microsoft ran into concerns and delays earlier this year. Microsoft first signed the contract with the Army in April 2021, but things have progressed slowly since then. Known as IVAS (Integrated Audio Visual System), the militarized version of HoloLens needs to be useable in a range of combat situations.

An audit by the U.S. Department of Defense raised concerns about the headset. The reported disarray of Microsoft's augmented reality team likely did not help matters.

It appears that Microsoft and the Army have made progress since then. Beck said that the service "is adjusting its fielding plan to allow for time to correct deficiencies and also field to units that are focused on training activities."

As reported by Bloomberg, Bush issued a directive to accept delivery of some IVAS headsets last month, but that information was not disclosed until recently. A final test report is expected to occur in October 2022. That report will affect the budget Congress approves in the near future. The fiscal year for the government starts in October, and a $424.2 million budget has been proposed for the IVAS program next year.

“We did a good test and will learn from it," said Bush in a previous statement. "The Army remains confident that the program will succeed."

Microsoft's deal with the U.S. Army could be worth up to $21.9 billion over the next ten years, though that value depends greatly on how many headsets the Army orders.

• Insider reports that Alex Kipman is resigning from Microsoft following previous revelations of inappropriate behavior.
• GeekWire corroborated the news as it obtained an internal email giving more details on the decision.
• The Mixed Reality Hardware group will be put into the Windows & Devices organization, and the Mixed Reality Presence and Collaboration group into the Microsoft Teams organization.
• The U.S. Army's IVAS program was also officially approved to enter the Operational Test (O.T.) stage.

Following the bombshell reporting of Insider two weeks ago, a new report from the publication says the head of HoloLens and Microsoft’s mixed reality efforts, Alex Kipman, is resigning. GeekWire corroborated the news after obtaining an internal email Tuesday evening from Scott Guthrie, the head of Microsoft’s Cloud & A.I. Group.

From Insider’s earlier reporting, Kipman was accused of effectively watching “V.R. porn” in front of employees years ago, along with accusations that he fostered “a culture that diminishes women’s contributions.” There were other claims of inappropriate touching and a report filed against him by more than 25 employees complaining of his behavior.

Over the last few years, many employees in the mixed reality division have reportedly left Microsoft over the poor leadership and uncomfortable work environment.

Kipman has been at Microsoft for 21 years, including under Xbox, where he led the team who created the Kinect system. Kinect later evolved into HoloLens, the first wearable mixed reality headset, which debuted after years of secrecy in 2015.

Due to the fallout from Kipman’s departure, the Mixed Reality Hardware group will go under Executive Vice President and & Chief Product Officer Panos Panay, who leads the Windows & Devices org. Other parts of the team, including the Mixed Reality Presence and Collaboration group, will be put under the Microsoft Teams organization in the company’s Experiences & Devices division.

From GeekWire’s reporting, Guthrie stated, “Over the last several months, Alex Kipman and I have been talking about the team’s path going forward. We have mutually decided that this is the right time for him to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.”

Kipman will remain at Microsoft to assist the teams with the transition process over the next two months, according to the email, before “pursuing what is next for him.”

Neither GeekWire nor Insider has received a comment from Microsoft, but Microsoft makes organizational changes around July 1, which coincides with the beginning of its fiscal year.

In more positive news, the email states that HoloLens for the U.S. Army and the IVAS project (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) “was officially approved by the U.S. Army to enter the Operational Test (O.T.) stage.”

What you need to know

• A recent study claims that the use of Microsoft HoloLens can reduce training time by 75% for manufacturing organizations.
• Dynamics 365 and Microsoft's mixed reality technology also help avoid the costs of bringing out experts to fix issues and perform training, according to the same study.
• Microsoft shared stories of Eaton, Toyota, and L’Oréal using Dynamics 365 to improve training and troubleshooting in its post discussing the study.

Microsoft HoloLens and the company's virtual reality technologies are helping reduce the cost of training and troubleshooting, according to a recent study. The Microsoft-commissioned Forrester Total Economic Impact (TEI) report explains that the HoloLens 2 is delivering a 177% return on investment and a net present value (NPV) of $7.6 million over three years. The report also claims that the NPV of the mixed reality headset results in a payback of 13 months.

Forrester discovered three key findings while analyzing the use of Microsoft HoloLens in the manufacturing industry. The firm found that the headset:

• Reduced training time by 75 percent, at an average savings of $30 per labor hour.
• Saved an average of $3,500 per avoided expert trip.
• Avoided 240 to 320 hours of average lost throughput per year.

The HoloLens saves organizations money by providing an alternative to flying an expert out for training or troubleshooting. Dynamics 365 Remote Assist on HoloLens 2 lets organizations perform inspections and audits remotely, rather than having to fly someone to be on-premises.

The tool supports overlaying assets and instructions over real-world objects, which can be used throughout inspections. The TEI study states that manufacturers saved an average of $3,500 per avoided expert trip.

During the pandemic, management company Eaton used Dynamics 365 Remote Assist to perform audits. The use of remote technology allowed the company to adhere to safety guidelines while still being able to perform its standard tasks.

Microsoft's blog post about the TEI study highlights that Dynamics 365 is also used for training purposes. Organizations can use the technology to create mixed reality training programs for manufacturing employees. Training time was reduced by 75% with an average savings of $30 per labor hour, according to Forrester's findings.

It's not all good news these days for the HoloLens department, however. A recent report claimed that Alex Kipman, the creator of HoloLens and current head of Microsoft's metaverse efforts, participated in sexual harassment. Kipman also allegedly fostered a culture at the company that "diminishes women’s contributions."

What you need to know

• Insider published a new, lengthy article where Alex Kipman, Terry Myerson, and Tom Keane are accused of poor behavior towards staff.
• The article dives deeper into how CEO Satya Nadella’s policies while improving the culture at Microsoft have not solved many problems, including “tokenism” and gender-related issues related to pay.
• Company insiders say a culture of executive misconduct has remained constant and pervasive at Microsoft.

Thanks to a new explosive report from Insider (formerly Business Insider), Microsoft is coming under heat. In the article, executives at Microsoft, both current and former, are accused of bad behavior, including “verbal abuse and sexual harassment.” And while CEO Satya Nadella, who himself had a very public blunder about gender pay a few years ago, has made improvements, the article claims there are still “golden boys” who escape any severe repercussions for their behavior.

According to Insider’s reporting, which is behind a paywall, Alex Kipman, who invented Microsoft’s HoloLens mixed-realty headset and currently oversees the company’s metaverse efforts, bears the brunt of the criticism. One story involves Kipman in 2016 or 2017, wearing a VR headset that was also mirrored on a nearby monitor, where everyone in the room could see what he was viewing. The content was not very work-safe, and it made many of the women in the room “very uncomfortable.”

From the Insider report: “In the video that filled the screen, several young women in skimpy clothing frolicked on a bed; an overtly sexualized pillow fight ensued. An employee who was present, speaking with Insider later, described the scene as “VR porn.” The assembled staffers exchanged confused glances, and a couple of them walked out.”

Kipman is later accused of fostering “a culture that diminishes women’s contributions.” 

In another instance, Kipman rubbed a woman employee’s shoulders despite her looking “deeply uncomfortable” and did not lay off even after the employee “shrugged her shoulders, apparently trying to make him stop.”

Perhaps even more damning, managers went to great lengths not to leave women around Kipman. There is even an accusation that Kipman had to have “chaperones” from human resources during meetings (Microsoft denied the practice). And last year, more than 25 employees contributed to a report about Kipman’s inappropriate behavior, although no actions were taken.

Indeed, a blessing in disguise was the pandemic, as it meant no one had to work with Kipman in person, according to one former executive who worked with him.

Myerson and Keane also called-out

Insider’s report goes after some other former executives, including Terry Myerson, who oversaw Windows, and Tom Keane, a corporate vice president of the company’s Azure cloud-computing business.

Myerson’s case is the most interesting as he seemingly (and suddenly) decided to leave Microsoft in 2018. There was never a formal explanation given as to why he was going, and rumors swirled around about the failure of Windows Phone, issues with Windows 10, and other unconfirmed causes.

However, Insider states that Myerson had a “meltdown” backstage at a Microsoft event shortly before he left, where he publicly criticized “everyone” in a yelling fit. It was such an issue that it reportedly caught the eye of Nadella, and three people with knowledge of the issue claim that his behavior played a significant role in his departure.

Keane is also accused of similar actions, including making a staff member cry in the middle of a public meeting. Other employees noted Keane ran things like a dictator such that staffers called him “King Tom” behind his back due to his demands of obedience. 

In January of this year, after a 30-day unexplained hiatus, Keane was reassigned within Microsoft, although he still oversees hundreds of employees.

Microsoft still has a ways to go

It should not be too surprising that a company the size of Microsoft would take years to change around such issues, but it may come as a bit of a shock that things are still this bad for apparently many employees.

While Nadella talks the talk, more needs to be done, especially around the “talented jerks” who still work there. Even in that 2014 public gaffe when discussing women and raises, Maria Klawe, who was on the board, was asked to resign over the incident (she later did the following year).

But if there is one takeaway from Insider’s continued reporting, Alex Kipman’s time at the company may be short-lived, and if not, it should be. This isn’t the first damaging report on him, as Insider also did recent exposes on his leadership over HoloLens, with the division being called a “s--t show.”

What you need to know

• An audit by the U.S. Department of Defense found that the Army may end up "wasting up to $21.88 billion in taxpayer funds" if soldiers do not want to use IVAS headsets.
• IVAS is the codename for the military version of the HoloLens headset that Microsoft is developing for the military.
• The audit explained that IVAS program officials did not define minimum user acceptance levels to determine if the project meets the needs of soldiers.

Microsoft announced a deal worth potentially $22 billion with the U.S. Army to produce HoloLens-like headsets for the military. Since that announcement, the deal has ran into several issues, including delays and reported disarray in Microsoft's augmented reality team. Now, it turns out that soldiers may not even want to use the Integrated Audio Visual System (IVAS).

An audit by the U.S. Department of Defense (PDF) found that "IVAS program officials did not define minimum user acceptance levels to determine whether IVAS would meet user needs" (via The Register). This happened because the Army did not require the officials to define "suitable user acceptance levels."

Potentially, the IVAS contract could result in a large loss for the U.S. Army, according to the audit.

"Procuring IVAS without attaining user acceptance could result in wasting up to $21.88 billion in taxpayer funds to field a system that Soldiers may not want to use, or use as intended, because [redacted]," said the report

While the audit is heavily redacted, the crux of its argument is that officials did not set a clear mark of what level of user acceptance is good enough. As a result, it is difficult to determine if the IVAS project will prove useful for the Army.

The meatier parts of the audit, including soldiers' overall acceptance of IVAS, are redacted. There are, however, some noteworthy portions.

"Results from the surveys show both positive and negative user acceptance. Army officials stated that it was difficult to assess Soldier feedback," stated the audit.

"Officials also stated that challenges to assessing user acceptance included asking the right questions, Soldiers not liking change, comparing prototype 'in process' systems to current capabilities, and lack of Soldier knowledge or training on new systems."

Parts of the conclusion are also left available for viewing. "Program officials stated that, if Soldiers do not love IVAS and do not find it greatly enhances accomplishing the mission, then Soldiers will not use it," said the report. The remainder of the conclusion is redacted.

A section labeled "Management Comments on the Finding and Our Response" has notes based on comments from the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Douglas R. Bush, as well as a response from the office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense.

Bush claimed that the emphasis on the potential waste of almost $22 billion is misleading because "it is a contract ceiling over a 10‑year period and includes all possible sales to the Services and foreign military sales."

The Assistant Secretary also pointed to other types of technology that were not initially met with high acceptance, including "night vision goggles, machine guns, and automated transport replacing horses."

"While we agree there is inherent tension between user acceptance and opportunity, having an established measurement or goal enables officials to know that close combat forces accept, want to use, and can function effectively with IVAS," said the Department of Defense in response.

We report on a broad range of news related to Microsoft and Windows. It's easy to miss a few stories, especially if you also try to keep up on general tech news. Each Friday, we recap the biggest items of the week covered at Windows Central.

This week included the controversial appearance of an ad (or promo, if you prefer) within the File Explorer and poor expectations for the version of HoloLens that will soon enter testing with the U.S. Army. We also saw the announcement of a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2, a popular Reddit app being optimized for Surface Duo, and news about Intel's first Arc GPU.

Microsoft struggles with HoloLens for U.S. Army

Microsoft's HoloLens teams have reportedly run into issues in recent times. The HoloLens 3 was canceled and the entire division appears to have questions regarding its future. This week, a report indicated that Microsoft's augmented reality headset for the U.S. Army isn't expected to meet expectations. Its name is IVAS.

Sources close to the project expressed fear that the U.S. Army may ditch its $22 billion deal with Microsoft for AR headsets altogether. Negative feedback is expected for the current IVAS units, which are due for field testing in May.

New Surface Hub 2S Smart Camera

Microsoft announced a new Smart Camera for the Surface Hub 2S this week. The camera was designed for the hybrid work experience. According to Microsoft, it is the first webcam powered by artificial intelligence. It features a 12MP 136-degree sensor that can capture people as close as 0.4 meters away or as far as 8 meters.

The Smart Camera costs $800. That is more than the best webcams that people are used to for consumer usage, but it is actually cheaper than some competing products in the enterprise space. Logitech has a similar camera that costs $1,000. The camera is also included with the purchase of a $22,000 Surface Hub 2 after May 31, 2022.

Ads appear in Windows 11 File Explorer

Controversy brewed this week when some Windows Insiders ran into ads in the File Explorer. There was some debate on if the ads were indeed ads, with some arguing that they were just "self-promotion." Regardless of what people chose to call the banner in question, its existence in File Explorer caused frustration for many.

Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc later explained that the ads in File Explorer were not meant to be externally published. Notably, he did not promise that there would never be ads in the File Explorer. Instead, he said that this specific implementation was not meant to be tested publicly.

Sync Reddit app optimized for Surface Duo

Sync, a popular Reddit client on Android, was optimized for the Surface Duo this week. The app now takes advantage of both screens of the device, allowing Redditors to browse through topics on one screen while reading comments on the other. The new functionality is in the Dev release of Sync, which costs just a penny under $5.

First Intel Arc GPU launching this month

Intel shared a few more details about its first Arc GPU this week. The company will hold an event for its new GPU family on March 30, 2022. On that same day, the Intel Arc A370M will launch. The first Arc GPU will deliver up to double the performance of integrated graphics, according to Intel.

Intel Vice President and General Manager Lisa Pearce explained that the first Arc GPUs will be on mobile PCs, such as laptops. More powerful devices will have Arc graphics in the future.

Samsung giving free monitors with Galaxy Book2 orders

Preorders for the new Samsung Galaxy Book2 lineup are live. You now can order the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Book2 Pro, or Book2 360. If you preorder either of the pro models, you'll also receive a 32-inch Odyssey Gaming Curved monitor, which is a value of $329.

The new Galaxy Book laptops have similar names but varying specs. To make sure you order the right one, check out our breakdown of the new Galaxy Book2 devices from the end of last month.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's HoloLens division reportedly has internal disagreements regarding the future of HoloLens.
• The reports sparked a discussion about if Microsoft should create a consumer-focused HoloLens in the future.
• Over 85% of participants in our poll on the topic want to see a HoloLens for consumers.

Despite no major announcements or official statements, last week was a busy period for Microsoft's HoloLens division. A report emerged on February 2, 2022 that the HoloLens 3 had been canceled and that the division behind the device was in disarray. Microsoft's Alex Kipmen refuted some of those claims, stating that "HoloLens is doing great." A follow-up report confirmed that the HoloLens 3 was canceled and reiterated that the Microsoft's mixed reality division was in shambles.

The conflicting reports and statements sparked a conversation on the web regarding the future of HoloLens. We ran a poll over the weekend asking if people would like to see a consumer-focused HoloLens, to which 85% of voters said yes.

While the poll voters favored Microsoft creating a consumer version of the HoloLens, those that commented on our article leaned toward sticking with professional users.

"A year ago, I would have answered with a certain yes. Now, as disappointing as it is, I think it's a waste of time and money," said leo74 in the comments section of our poll piece. "Microsoft hasn't really figured out how to work the consumer side of things."

Vincent McLaughlin commented that Microsoft should continue to focus on professional users. "As much as I would like to see this device in consumer hands, there has to be compelling use cases that will prompt the average consumer to purchase it, considering it will not exactly be cheap," they explained. "Microsoft [needs] to focus on military, businesses and education for the [HoloLens]."

Others believed that Microsoft would never go the consumer route when it comes to augmented reality. "I've assumed for some time Hololens and the tech included would be for commercial and military use and not for consumers," said "Monte Constable1."

There was some support for a consumer-focused HoloLens in the comments, though with a caveat. "I would love a more consumer focused Hololens to augment gaming or to compliment Windows 11," said Scovious2. "I would hate a device that required me to buy a Samsung phone. Why would I buy another phone when my last phone lasted 6 years and I just bought a Duo 2?"

Microsoft's HoloLens could be in danger, according to a troubling report that emerged this week. According to more than 20 current and former Microsoft employees that spoke with Business Insider, Microsoft's HoloLens division is in disarray. The same report claims that HoloLens 3 was canceled in mid-2021, Microsoft's $22 billion contract with the military is behind schedule due to inadequate development progress, and there's a dispute within the company regarding the market that Microsoft should focus on.

Alex Kipman, Microsoft technical fellow and head of Microsoft's HoloLens division, disputed the claims made in Business Insider's report. Kipman claimed that "HoloLens is doing great," though he did not address any of the other items in the report.

There's said to be a rift inside of Microsoft when it comes to the future of HoloLens and Mixed Reality. It's claimed that some inside the company want to focus on consumers while others want to continue pushing exclusively toward businesses and the military. There are also alleged internal disagreements spawning from Microsoft's partnership with Samsung to build mixed reality devices.

This week's poll focuses on the market that Microsoft should focus on in the future. Specifically, we'd like to know if you think Microsoft should create a HoloLens built with consumers in mind.

At the moment, HoloLens 2 costs $3,500. The mixed reality headset is also aimed squarely at businesses and the military. For example, NASA uses HoloLens on several projects. Microsoft also has a $22 billion contract with the U.S. Army to create combat-ready variant headsets.

With perpetual talk of the metaverse and Apple potentially entering the mixed reality space, some have voiced interest in Microsoft rolling out a consumer-focused HoloLens. The company has worked on mixed reality for years, so it should have a head start in the space.

On the other hand, some want Microsoft to continue doing what it's doing, which is focusing its efforts on businesses and the military. While it's unclear if Microsoft makes a profit off of HoloLens at this point, the company does have several large contracts.

What you need to know

• A new report has revealed more about Microsoft's canceled HoloLens 3.
• Futher details about Microsoft and Samsung's AR partnership have been revealed too.
• It's not looking good for future HoloLens products running Windows.

Business Insider has today published a follow-up report with more details about Microsoft's canceled HoloLens 3 augmented reality (AR) headset. According to the report, which outright refutes Technical Fellow Alex Kipman's recent comments suggesting HoloLens 3 was not canceled, the device was codenamed Calypso and was canceled during the last year. Furthermore, everyone working on the project has since been reassigned to other projects or has outright left the company.

This new info comes after Business Insider reported earlier this week that Microsoft's mixed reality division was in shambles. "In no uncertain terms, Calypso was canceled," says a source familiar with the matter. The device was going to feature a more robust design with longer battery life, and was able to be used in outdoor settings. The device was canceled as the company wanted to put engineering resources behind other projects, including Samsung's AR device, codenamed Bondi.

The new report says Microsoft is no longer actively working on a HoloLens 2 successor that would be powered by Windows for either business or consumer use. The company is still working on a custom HoloLens for the US military, but that device, codenamed Atlas, is not something that Microsoft's regular customers will be able to buy or develop for.

Business Insider's report does shed light on what the future may hold for Microsoft's augmented reality strategy now that its next flagship product is no longer coming. The partnership with Samsung is said to include a headset with a set of screens inside, powered by a Samsung phone in your pocket. This likely means the headset will be powered by Android, and not Windows, which throws the future of Windows' role in AR into serious doubt.

The report doesn't mention what exactly Microsoft's role is in this Samsung-Microsoft AR partnership. A report from last year was the first to claim that Microsoft and Samsung were working together on an AR partnership, yet that report also failed to mention Microsoft's role.

Finally, Business Insider mentions that Microsoft is looking into the idea of an edge-computing headset, where the OS and data are streamed from the cloud directly onto the device. Business Insider's source claims this idea is still in early planning stages, and could change significantly (or get canceled) before it's announced. It's unclear if this device would utilize Windows 365, or another cloud-based solution.

Overall, if this report is accurate, it's looking like any future AR device from Microsoft won't be running Windows. With no immediate follow-up to the HoloLens 2 on the cards, it's unlikely we're ever going to see another self-contained Windows-powered HoloLens device before Apple and Google debut their own offerings. Whatever comes next from Microsoft and Samsung will likely be powered by an Android phone.

What you need to know

• Microsoft's Alex Kipman may have just refuted the claim that the HoloLens 3 is canceled.
• Earlier this week, a report claimed that the HoloLens division was in complete disarray and that HoloLens 3 was canceled in mid 2021.
• In response to the report, Kipman said "don't believe what you read on the internet," claiming HoloLens is doing great.

Update 11 PM ET 2/4/2022: Business Insider has since published a new report that refutes Kipman's claim in his tweet, as well as shedding much more light on Microsoft's mixed reality plans.

Microsoft's Alex Kipman appears to disagree with the reports claiming that the HoloLens 3 was canceled. Kipman, a technical fellow at Microsoft and overseer of the company's Mixed Reality division, took to Twitter to refute the claims.

The entire HoloLens division came under fire following an Insider report that included information from "more than 20 current and former employees" at Microsoft. Our Executive Editor Daniel Rubino said that he's "never heard of such a division in this much chaos in all [his] years of covering Microsoft."

The report outlined a division in disarray, including Microsoft not having a clear vision for its mixed reality devices. The piece claimed that the HoloLens 3 was canceled in mid-2021, that Microsoft's partnership with Samsung caused rifts, and that at least 25 Microsoft employees working on mixed reality have left for Meta. It also stated that Microsoft's $22 billion contract with the U.S. military is behind schedule due to headset development issues.

In stark contrast to these points, Kipman claims HoloLens is doing great.

Kipman also notes that in earlier times there were reports of the HoloLens 2 being canceled. That device ultimately shipped, disproving such claims.

Nonetheless, Business Insider published a new report that directly refutes Kipman's claims with one source calling it "complete bullsh-t."

Like many in the tech industry, I have been following the evolution of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), all now under the rubric of extended reality (XR). Suffice it to say that the entire category has generated far more interest than actual usefulness beyond just gaming (looking at you, VR).

Microsoft has been pushing mixed reality with its HoloLens headset since it was first introduced in 2015. And six years later, there has been a lot of significant progress in the business space with little push into the consumer market.

But Microsoft does have one not-so-secret advantage over potential rivals in MR: it actually exists.

Microsoft is the only company making millions on MR, and now billions. HoloLens is used by companies like Airbus, Lockheed Martin/NASA, Medivis, Case Western Reserve University, in surgical operating rooms, and now the US Military where Microsoft just landed a massive 22 billion dollar deal that could span a decade.

Last month, Microsoft also touted partnerships with OceanX, Niantic, and Lune Rouge for its new Microsoft Mesh technology, which includes holoportation.

Why is this a big deal? While there is talk of eventual rivals from Apple, Facebook, Google, and lesser-known ones like Nreal Light, or the issue-prone Magic Leap One, Microsoft is the first to market. And the company is doing quite well, recouping its R&D investment before others have even launched. Microsoft is quite literally years ahead of anyone else.

It's not just about selling headsets, however. Microsoft is now doing the less exciting work of building the MR framework for the future. Its cross-platform dev tools (Azure spatial anchors, remote rendering, object anchors, Mesh) are building the groundwork so MR is more than fancy hardware. Inventing HoloLens is one thing, but making the dev tools and the entire platform is another.

There is also user response. Microsoft is open about how it works with companies on HoloLens and adjusts features, hardware, software, and more based on what companies request from actual usage in the real world. See the capability to add LTE and 5G as one recent example. That feedback loop is something that cannot be replicated or inferred in a lab behind closed doors. Right now, other companies are simply guessing.

The proverbial elephant in the room for Microsoft watchers is if it will push MR to the consumer space, presumably via its Surface hardware division. The question has been asked since HoloLens was revealed with Minecraft back in 2015, but I'm not sure even Microsoft (or anyone) knows the answer today.

Mixed Reality for consumers: Apple, Microsoft, Snapchat and more

Right now, MR (and AR) are mostly vague concepts for consumers — the entire category is undefined. It sounds neat but going beyond the cool factor to real-world usefulness is not without its challenges. Like 3D screens for phones, the tech needs to prove itself useful and not just "cool." Google learned the hard way with its Glass headset back in 2013 (talk about being first), but the project has floundered under the newer Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 launched in 2019, which earns nary any attention from the press or businesses.

Facebook is now on the radar with its published interest in AR, which is not surprising. But Facebook faces myriad challenges around privacy and, so far, has had little success with consumer hardware that's not Oculus. Snapchat is also reportedly getting into AR, which has thrilled precisely no one (yes, Snapchat is still toying with hardware).

But it is Apple that has tech watchers the most excited. Despite recent reports that any AR system, dubbed 'Apple Glass' by the press, won't be an actual product until 2025, the company is riding on reputation alone to nail the category. That's still at least four years off (it's reportedly not even prototyped yet). Instead, a more realistic "helmet-like" and traditional AR/VR accessory could launch in 2022 as the first phase (with AR contact lenses later on in 2030 as the third phase. No joke.).

I think that Apple is the most poised for consumer success in AR/MR. The idea of a distributed wearable system, which it is supposedly pursuing, is a formidable one. Powered by the potent iPhone as a CPU, Apple Watch as an interface, and AirPods for audio, it is only missing a heads-up-display (HUD) in the form of wearable lenses. No other company has such a unified ecosystem and software stack, not to mention the robust developer network that will undoubtedly follow when commanded.

That said, I don't think Apple will touch the space where Microsoft is going right now. The idea of Apple providing somewhat controversial military gear is anathema to its ethos, and jumping right into surgery or working on NASA's Orion spacecraft headed to Mars years after Microsoft secured contracts seems improbable. This bifurcation could be a similar divvying of the market we see now with PCs where Apple rules 'boutique' prosumers and Microsoft owns enterprise, professional, and everything else.

There are two noteworthy side points I'd like to make, however. We know Microsoft is exploring AR/MR for consumers, or at least making the tech more ready for everyday usage. A patent from 2019 (and going back to 2011) reveals a more realistic version of what a smaller HoloLens could look like if adapted for either civilian or military use.

We also know Microsoft is working on "a boundless FOV (Infinite Field of View)," likely for the next generation of HoloLens, which would be a massive breakthrough in mixed reality technology. Alex Kipman, the head of HoloLens and holographic computing at Microsoft, believes wearable devices could replace physical screens in the future. And despite little interest, Windows Mixed Reality still exists as a virtual Windows environment right now. Windows Mixed Reality is arguably way better than it should be at this stage – it's really good. What other company has virtualized an entire operating system as vast as Windows? Microsoft did it in 2017.

Basically, Microsoft is in very deep with augmented and mixed reality systems both for software and hardware.

The second point is, even if Microsoft doesn't jump into consumer MR/AR quite as hard as Apple, it will, as it always does, play a significant role in powering its tech. See how Azure and Spatial Anchors already work on iOS. Similar to how Microsoft approaches software on iOS and Android, it is looking to build the services and platforms for AR /MR that other companies will want to use. Microsoft knows it is easier to pay for services and dev tools than create your own, and that's big business for them.

Of course, being first is never a predictor of being the best or the most widely used. Microsoft's early achievements with HoloLens are notable but not necessarily a future indicator. Technological history is replete with examples of a company doing well only to suffer disruption from a rival. That could happen here, too. But while the market dynamics will undoubtedly change in the coming years, right now, it is Microsoft's race to lose.

What you need to know

• Lockheed Martin and ASRC Federal Data Solutions are using Hololens 2 headsets to create spacecraft.
• The HoloLens 2 enables people to complete tasks in 90 percent less time than traditional methods.
• The Artemis program will land the first woman and the next man on the Moon.

Several companies are using the HoloLens 2 to develop spacecraft for long-distance travel. As part of the Artemis program, Lockheed Martin is using the HoloLens 2 to build spacecraft for Artemis II, the first crewed mission on Orion. People have been able to accomplish tasks in 90 percent less time than using traditional methods, saving weeks of work. NASA discusses the use of the HoloLens 2 in a recent post.

Lockheed Martin is the lead contractor for NASA's Orion spacecraft, and ASRC Federal Data Solutions is a subcontractor working on the project.

Mary Lakaszcyk, a technician with ASRC Federal Data Solutions, uses the Hololens 2 for several tasks, including placing tape in locations where technicians will install parts of the Orion's crew module adapter. The HoloLens 2 uses augmented reality to allows people to illustrate plans and ideas in 3-D rather than on flat screens or diagrams. Lakaszyck says, "I honestly cannot express how helpful, time-saving, and fun, the AR goggles are to use," adding, "For something we are used to doing in at least a week's time, or eight to 12 shifts, we were able to complete in one shift."

Lockheed Martin started using augmented reality in 2017, including working on the Orion that will fly on Artemis I.

NASA has seen similar benefits through the HoloLens 2. Carlos Garcia, NASA crew module adapter assembly, says, "For the crew module adapter effort, using this technology for locating click bonds for securing harnesses equated to up to a three week savings."

People will use AR devices to place several components on the Orion, including critical components like the crew module and the heat shield for Artemis II.

Hands-on with HoloLens 2 and its Windows Core OS

By using augmented reality, people don't have to interpret flat designs and instructions into a three-dimensional reality. Shelley Peterson specializes in augmented reality at Lockheed Martin. Peterson states that "Across four sites, we use augmented reality to complete spacecraft manufacturing activities in 90% less time than with traditional methods. For example, an activity that normally takes 8 hours could be completed in 45 minutes."

Microsoft's HoloLens 2 builds off the foundation of the first-generation HoloLens, but is lighter and more comfortable. As a result, it's more feasible for longer periods of work. It also has eye-tracking, which improves holographic apps.

What you need to know

• HoloLens 1 will no longer receive major Windows 10 OS releases.
• The device is now supported by Long-Term Servicing.

Microsoft has confirmed that the first-generation HoloLens headset will no longer receive major OS updates, with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update being the last for the holographic computer. The first generation HoloLens is now in a Long Term Service (LTS) state, meaning Microsoft will continue to support it with security and quality updates for 10 years.

So while the HoloLens will continue to receive monthly patches, the device will no longer receive any Mixed Reality or OS specific features found in newer Windows 10 releases such as the May 2019 Update and beyond. While this may sound like bad news, the majority of HoloLens 1 customers are already using the device to their needs, and likely aren't depending on major OS updates to continue using the device.

As mentioned in the release notes:

If customers want to continue receiving major OS updates, they'll have to splash out for the HoloLens 2, which is expected to ship with the 19H2 release later this year. What are your thoughts on this change in servicing for the original HoloLens? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks for the tip, Marvin!

Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love

Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.

VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)

This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.

Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)

Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.

Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)

This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.

Microsoft's second-generation HoloLens headset has been announced, and it's a marvel to behold. Codenamed "Sydney," Microsoft's HoloLens 2 is rocking more power under the hood, a better field of view, and a whole new way of interacting with holograms.

HoloLens 2 itself isn't shipping just yet, and not many people outside of Microsoft have had more than a few minutes to play with one, so there's still a fair bit we don't know. There is, however, plenty that we do know. This is all of that in one place.

HoloLens 2 hardware

The HoloLens 2 is much sleeker and more powerful than its predeccessor. Featuring a Snapdragon 850 processor under the hood, the HoloLens 2 is Microsoft's first Windows 10 on ARM64 device. The ARM processor means it has more processing power, and is more energy efficient too. It can go to sleep and wake up super fast, just like other Windows 10 on ARM devices can.

Because of the additional power under the hood, HoloLens 2 featuring a much better field of view and anti-aliasing, making holograms look better when placed in the virtual environment. There's also new sensors built into the device that can scan your iris for Windows Hello recognition, and hand tracking which allows users to interact with holograms directly with their hands.

The device also features a new, custom Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) that features an AI coprocessor to natively and flexibly implement Deep Neural Networks. That means HoloLens 2 can analyze visual data locally, without needing to send any data to the cloud. This makes HoloLens 2 faster at recognizing objects and environments.

HoloLens 2 software

HoloLens 2 is Microsoft's first shipping Windows Core OS product. Known officially as "Windows Holographic" this flavor of Windows Core OS is very similar to the old HoloLens 1 OS. From a usability standpoint, HoloLens 2 is a generational leap forward over HoloLens 1, thanks to the ability to touch and interact with holograms directly. Being able to walk up to and manipulate holograms with your hands is a complete game-changer. There's no learning curve to HoloLens 2 once you're aware of how to interact with it. Human instinct is to reach out and touch when you want to interact with something, and that's precisely what you do with HoloLens 2.

To access the Start menu, the Start button itself is found on your wrist. Just hold up your wrist, and a little Microsoft logo appears. Just tap it with your other hand, and the Start menu will pop up. From there, you can tap on any of the elements in your Start menu to get to where you want to go. Scrolling is a unique experience, and there are two ways to do it. You can do it via "touch," which is as you'd expect; just reach out with your finger and scroll as if you were scrolling on a tablet. There's also eye tracking available on HoloLens 2, and in certain areas that eye tracking is used in scrolling. If you get to the bottom of a window, and there's more content available to scroll, the window will automatically start scrolling, which is just magical.

One new thing I was able to try that wasn't working when the press first went hands-on with HoloLens 2 back in February was the new holographic keyboard. Because users can now reach out and touch holograms, Microsoft had to rework HoloLens keyboard to accommodate for this. As such, it's a bit larger, and the keys are round now. It works just as if you were typing on a tablet. You reach out and begin poking at the area where the holographic key is showing up. It's not too accurate, but you can bang out a few sentences if you really need to.

Holographic apps can be much more advanced now, thanks to the new hand- and eye-tracking capabilities. In one of the demos, a virtual bird is floating around the room, and if you hold out your hand, the bird will fly to it wherever you are in the room.

During my hands-on, I asked whether the HoloLens 2 can run Win32 programs. Microsoft was not willing to comment, but I know from sources that this is indeed the plan. I asked because I noticed the version of Microsoft Edge that is shipping on HoloLens 2 is the old Edge, not the new Chromium Edge. I don't think the ability to run Win32 programs will be there when HoloLens 2 starts shipping, but it is something that is in the works and will likely come in the form of an update later in 2020.

Speaking of updates, the HoloLens 2 I was playing with was running the 19H1 RTM build, and it was working well. Since HoloLens 2 is a Windows Core OS device, it will benefit from the new, improved Windows Update that takes less than a minute to reboot once an update is ready to install.

HoloLens 2 release date

Microsoft announced HoloLens 2 at Mobile World Congress in February 2019. It is expected to start shipping in the fall of this year, and costs $3,500 for both developers and businesses. That's $500 more expensive for developers over the original HoloLens, but $500 cheaper for businesses.

More to come

We'll continue to update this page with new information as it appears. In the meantime, are you looking forward to HoloLens 2? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft today announced the launch of the HoloLens 2 Development Edition. Revealed ahead of Build 2019, the new bundle is meant to get Microsoft's latest mixed reality headset into the hands of developers.

Though HoloLens 2 officially made its debut at Mobile World Congress 2019 in February, it has since been available to preorder through "expressions of interest" in select countries. The HoloLens 2 Development Edition gives more developers a chance to start creating apps and mixed reality experiences, provided they have $3,500 or $99 per month to spare.

Developers who pick up the new bundle will also receive Azure credits, along with three-month trials of Unity Pro and the Unity PiXYZ Plugin for CAD data.

In addition to the launch of the development edition, Microsoft revealed that Unreal Engine 4 support will land on HoloLens 2 before the end of May. Developers will be able to take advantage of native platform integration to create augmented-reality and virtual-reality experiences using Unreal Engine 4.

Microsoft HoloLens 2 hands-on: A new generation of holographic computing

Microsoft always has a lot of projects in the works, but one of the most fascinating to watch over the last several years has been the company's efforts with HoloLens. And with the reveal of HoloLens 2 at Mobile World Congress 2019 this week, Microsoft upped the ante by improving upon nearly every aspect of the original.

Still, despite its impressive capabilities and an increasingly clear vision, HoloLens's decidedly enterprise focus can make it hard to zero in on just why the average Jane should care about what Microsoft is doing with augmented reality (AR) in the short term. Taking a longer view, however, we're starting to see some hints of how Microsoft's work on HoloLens could filter down to the consumer space, though the company clearly has a long road ahead if that's ever going to happen.

Aces in enterprise

When HoloLens first got its surprise reveal in early 2015, it felt like a futuristic tech demo. But while Microsoft was clearly feeling out potential applications for AR, it had its sights set on business customers very early. Alex Kipman, Technical Fellow for Cloud and AI at Microsoft and the company's HoloLens chief, acknowledged as much early on, noting that the general public just wouldn't have much to do HoloLens at that point. "If a consumer bought it today, they would have 12 things to do with it," Kipman told Recode in early 2016. "And they would say 'Cool, I bought a $3,000 product that I can do 12 things with and now it is collecting dust.'"

That enterprise focus only grew in the following years, with HoloLens showing promise across a variety of industries. Ford, for example, has started leveraging HoloLens in its design process, while everyone from elevator service companies to surgeons have started experimenting with the headset's AR capabilities.

Using the original HoloLens as a testbed, Microsoft seems to have taken the feedback from its business partners to heart and doubled down on making HoloLens 2 a first-rate experience for workers, whether it be in the field, studio, or operating room.

HoloLens 2's technical improvements, like eye-tracking, an increased field of view, and better hand recognition, are all critical ways to address barriers in the way of getting work done. Similarly, the headset was also redesigned with comfort as one of its top priorities, adding more padding, better weight distribution, and a visor that can be flipped up.

Microsoft is also embracing the varied needs of its business customers with the HoloLens Customization Program. Through the program, third-party companies can make custom headsets for different industries using HoloLens 2 as a base. Imagine HoloLens 2s merged with hard hats for construction workers or medical-grade versions for hospitals. Roz Buick, a vice president with Trimble Buildings, a construction company and Microsoft partner, showed off a customized HoloLens 2 during Microsoft's MWC event. "For many of our customers, mixed reality is no longer futuristic technology nor a gimmick," Buick said at MWC. "It's real working technology that's adding value in the field every day."

If the original HoloLens was simply experimenting with the enterprise, HoloLens 2 is staking its claim with vigor. With the modifications made on the technical side, combined with Microsoft's dedication to making it an open platform for companies to build upon — through hardware or software — there's no denying Microsoft is going all-in on making AR a reality in the enterprise with HoloLens at the center.

Moving beyond business

Even with Microsoft making its business intentions exceedingly clear, its HoloLens 2 announcement included some hints at a consumer future.

Most notably, Epic Games' Tim Sweeney, who has been a notable critic of Microsoft in the past, appeared on stage to reveal Unreal Engine 4 support is coming to HoloLens 2. Sweeney was quick to note that Epic doesn't currently have any games in the works for HoloLens, but he said the company will "support HoloLens in all our endeavors" in the coming years. If Microsoft is going to make a consumer play, having the backing of one of the most popular game engines will give it a big leg up out of the gate.

Mozilla also announced that it will support HoloLens with its Firefox Reality browser. Firefox Reality originally launched in 2018 with the goal of bringing an open and accessible web browser to VR. Mozilla is working closely with Microsoft in its efforts. "Building on Microsoft's years of experience with the current HoloLens, we will work together to learn from developers and users about bringing AR content to the web," the company said in its announcement.

Whatever its plans, Microsoft has quite a tough road to the consumer market, however, according to J.P. Gownder, Vice President and Principal Analyst with research firm Forrester, who focuses on technologies like VR and AR. "Entering the consumer market is fraught with peril," Gownder told us. "It requires social engineering in addition to technical engineering."

Gownder said Google Glass alienated many people for being expensive and for potential privacy concerns. "HoloLens would have to contend with those problems and more," he said. "Its sensors are constantly scanning the environment, so privacy would be a big issue. Perhaps more importantly, the technology isn't small enough or fashionable enough for consumer use."

Additionally, Microsoft has also found itself contending with some ethical quandaries over one of its HoloLens applications. Just ahead of the HoloLens 2 reveal (the timing of which was likely no coincidence), a group of Microsoft employees penned an open letter calling on the company to demanding that it kill a $480 million contract with the U.S. Army. Under the contract, Microsoft could wind up providing more than 100,000 HoloLens headsets to the Army to "increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide, and engage before the enemy."

Separate from the design and social challenges, Gownder also points to Apple's ARKit and Google's ARCore platforms as "potential pitfalls" for Microsoft in the consumer market. And while Microsoft is clearly in the lead with an actual product already commanding attention in the enterprise, Gownder said the potential success of consumer smart glasses from Apple, for example, could wind up threatening that lead as well. "By focusing so strongly on enterprise, there is a possibility that Microsoft will miss out on a consumer play in two ways: leaving money on the table if a consumer market develops and; the fear that consumerization would come back to fight them in the enterprise." If Apple smart glasses become popular a few years down the road, for example, and they find their way into the enterprise, they could have a wider user base and become more attractive than HoloLens, Gownder says.

When reached for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson told us that mixed reality is proving to be a success in the enterprise segment, and the company will continue to "focus on providing leading edge technology and solutions for our customers." Going forward, the spokesperson would only say that Microsoft is on a "multi-year journey" with HoloLens, and its focus remains on its commercial partners and customers.

A long road to consumer success

Many of the innovations Microsoft is cooking up for its HoloLens enterprise efforts will also have the benefit of enhancing the experience for any consumer plays in the future. Just to take one example, the advancements made for hand tracking, which succeed in making interacting with virtual models feel more natural, are important steps toward making a product that anyone can just pick up and use. And if you're venturing into the consumer market, ease of use is one of the biggest factors for success.

There are still enough hurdles in the way of a full-fledged, standalone consumer HoloLens (not the least of which is price) that it's likely a long ways away, if it ever makes it to the consumer world at all. But that doesn't mean the tech Microsoft is working on for HoloLens won't filter down to consumer products in bits and pieces; Windows Mixed Reality, for example, clearly has its roots in HoloLens despite its VR focus. And well-known brands like Samsung and Lenovo offer exciting consumer-focused WMR headsets today.

Still, it would be wise to keep your eyes on HoloLens. As Microsoft continues to expand its features and partnerships, we'll likely get more glimpses into what a consumer future may hold for the AR headset.

March 1, 2018 at 3:48 p.m.: Updated with comments from a Microsoft spokesperson.

In a new interview with CNN Business, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella defended the company's $480 million contract with the U.S. Army following employee backlash. The contract, which would supply the Army HoloLens devices for training and combat purposes, was the subject of an open letter last week, reportedly signed by at least 50 Microsoft employees, calling for the company to kill the contract over ethical concerns.

The contract in question is part of a program through which the U.S. Army is seeking to increase the "lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy" using augmented reality, and it could ultimately lead to the purchase of around 100,000 HoloLens devices.

In the interview with CNN Business, Nadella emphasized that Microsoft is committed to having a "continuous" dialogue with employees about their concerns, but the contract was penned as part of a "principled decision" to not withold technologies from institutions that "protect the freedoms we enjoy." From Nadella:

Nadella went on to say that Microsoft is "clear-eyed" about the responsibility it bears concerning the unintended consequences of the technology it develops, citing the the work it has done with privacy and cybersecurity.

The letter penned by Microsoft employees called attention to the ethical concerns of using technology developed by the company for lethal purposes. ""The application of HoloLens within the [Integrated Visual Augmentation System] is designed to help people kill," the letter stated. "It will be deployed on the battlefield, and works by turning warfare into a simulated 'video game,' further distancing soldiers from the grim stakes of war and the reality of bloodshed."

It's unclear how many employees have signed onto the letter thus far. For now, however, Microsoft seems clearly committed to going through with the contract. (Update: The Microsoft employees behind the letter say that, as of February 25, more than 250 employees have endorsed the letter.)

Nadella's comments came just a day after Microsoft announced the HoloLens 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the original headset.

Microsoft's big news from Mobile World Congress 2019 was the reveal of HoloLens 2, but it also had an interesting announcement for companies adopting the tech for the workplace. The new HoloLens Customization Program will help businesses and customers customize the HoloLens 2 to fit their needs in the workplace.

From Microsoft's blog post:

According to Microsoft, the first company to take advantage of the program was Trimble, which now uses a hard hat solution connected to HoloLens for added safety for its workers in the field. Workers can now safely use HoloLens to get their work done with a hard hat that conforms to the headset.

HoloLens 2, which adds a number of improvements like eye tracking, more padding, and a new carbon fiber design, is currently available for preorder for $3,500 at Microsoft. Units are expected to begin shipping later this year.

Microsoft's HoloLens 2 is now official, and it's packing a new design and a number of useful improvements over the original. Alongside its unveiling today, just as it's done for its recent Surface reveals, Microsoft also put out a short, stylized video showing off how each part of the headset forms the whole, and it's gorgeous. Check it out above.

Apart from its looks, the HoloLens 2 makes some notable advances over the original HoloLens. The body is made out of carbon fiber and is designed to be more comfortable with extra padding. Inside, it's powered by a Snapdragon 850 processor, features better hand tracking, and includes built-in eye tracking.

One of the biggest changes, however, is an improved field of view, which addresses one of the biggest pain points plaguing the first HoloLens. Microsoft says it has more than doubled the field of view, all while keeping the same 47 pixels-per-degree spec as the original.

If you're keen on giving the HoloLens 2 a try, the headset is available to preorder today for $3,500. It's expected to start shipping out later this year.

Hot off the heels of announcing its new HoloLens 2, Microsoft has opened up preorders for the augmented reality headset. You can currently preorder HoloLens 2 for $3,500 directly from Microsoft.

However, as HoloLens is still very much a headset geared at enterprise uses, you won't be able to simply order it off of Microsoft's website. Rather, the company is requiring individuals and businesses to request preorders through a form, with a followup from a salesperson.

HoloLens 2 packs a number of major improvements over its predecessor. The headset runs on a Snapdragon 850 processor, meanin Microsoft has made the jump from the x86 chipset in the previous headset to the ARM platform. In addition, it now sports improved hand tracking and built-in eye tracking for interacting with holograms. It's also been redesigned, sporting a carbon fiber build and additional padding for added comfort.

If you're interested in the HoloLens 2, you can register your interest in a preorder at Microsoft now.

After years of anticipation, the second iteration of Microsoft's HoloLens augmented reality headset is now here. And judging by the new design and improvements Microsoft has made, it looks like HoloLens 2 was worth the wait.

Firth thing's first: The design of HoloLens 2 is, while still a little bulky, smaller than its predecessor. Gone is the head mount that would keep the original HoloLens in place on your head. Instead, HoloLens 2 now features much more padding in the front. On each side is an adjustable band that resembles some of the Windows Mixed Reality headsets that are already on the market. The entire unit is also made of carbon fiber and has been designed to feel like it's "floating" on your head, according to Microsoft.

On the inside, HoloLens 2 is powered by a customized version of the Snapdragon 850, which means Microsoft has made the jump from an x86 processor to an ARM platform. This should benefit battery life, but we'll have to wait until the new headset is out in the wile to get accurate numbers on that front. Despite the switch to ARM, however, Microsoft has foregone LTE connectivity. While disappointing, the company tells us that LTE wasn't something HoloLens users were clamoring for and it would have added extra bulk and impacted battery life and thermals in a negative way.

In terms of content, HoloLens 2 is designed with a wider field of view, addressing one of the biggest pain points of the original headset. It also features better anti-aliasing so projected windows and content look much smoother overall. It features better hand tracking, that lets you grab holograms in real time to resize and move around, along with bult-in eye tracking. The new design also allows the headset to be more comfortable to wear, Microsoft says.

"We have more than doubled the field of view in HoloLens 2, while maintaining the industry-leading holographic density of 47 pixels per degree of sight," Microsoft detailed in a blog post "HoloLens 2 contains a new display system that enables us to achieve these significant advances in performance at low power. We have also completely refreshed the way you interact with holograms in HoloLens 2. Taking advantage of our new time-of-flight depth sensor, combined with built-in AI and semantic understanding, HoloLens 2 enables direct manipulation of holograms with the same instinctual gestures you use to interact with physical objects in the real world."

HoloLens 2 is available for preorder for $3500, and the goal is to start shipping units later in 2019.

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Microsoft is making its first big appearance at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in quite a while this year, and you'll be able to stream the company's keynote as it happens. Set to kick off on February 24 at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CET), the keynote will feature "new innovations for the future of computing" with comments from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and HoloLens chief Alex Kipman.

You can follow along with the keynote live, tune in with the video embed above or at Microsoft's event site.

What to expect

As for what we're expecting Microsoft to announce, all signs point to a second iteration of the company's HoloLens augmented reality headset. We're definitely not expecting any surprise phone announcements, but Kipman's involvement strongly hints at a HoloLens 2 reveal. That's far from certain, of course, but all we have to go off of is a slick, cryptic teaser video posted to YouTube last week by Kipman himself.

The original HoloLens has mostly enjoyed success as an enterprise tool, bolstering manufacturing processes, along with design and medical applications. The headset has even led to a lucrative $480 million contract with the U.S. military, which could lead the Army to eventually purchase upwards of 100,000 HoloLens units.

Given that the original HoloLens launched in 2016, a followup is hotly anticipated. It's already been confirmed that the HoloLens 2 will sport a custom Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) with an AI coprocessor, allowing it to natively implement deep neural networks to analyze objects and data without sending anything to the cloud. However, we expect several other improvements, including, potentially, a switch to an ARM processor and support for LTE.

Ultimately, we'll have to wait and see what Microsoft has in store for its MWC 2019 keynote.

A group of Microsoft employees today called on the company to cancel a $480 million contract it recently inked with the U.S. Army. In an open letter addressed to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith, the employees stated that they "refuse to create technology for warfare and oppression" (via Recode)

The contract in question could see the Army purchase upwards of 100,000 HoloLens headsets for combat and training purposes. When the contract was announced last November, it was described as a program to "increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide, and engage before the enemy" using HoloLens tech. It's precisely this intention that the employees have objected to.

"The application of HoloLens within the [Integrated Visual Augmentation System] is designed to help people kill," the letter states. "It will be deployed on the battlefield, and works by turning warfare into a simulated "video game," further distancing soldiers from the grim stakes of war and the reality of bloodshed."

To address their concerns, the employees call on Microsoft to cancel the contract, cease developing "any and all weapons technologies," draft a public-facing policy on the commitment, and appoint an independent ethics review board to assess the company's compliance with such a policy.

The letter also calls attention to what the employees see as a larger problem within Microsoft; namely, employees aren't "properly informed of the use of their work," the letter says. This, the employees argue, makes it difficult for employees to be informed enough to make the decision to move to another project – an option Microsoft President Brad Smith has indicated is open to employees who may have ethical objections to how their work is being used.

It's unclear how many Microsoft employees have signed onto the letter so far, but Recode reports that the group numbered around 50 as of 5 p.m. ET on February 22.

This is the latest in a string of movements by employees in the tech industry against projects their employers are working on. For Microsoft, the letter is reminiscent of the backlash Microsoft faced from employees last June over its work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during amidst the controversy surrounding U.S.-Mexico border crisis. Those outcries didn't impact Microsoft's work with ICE, but elsewhere in the tech industry, Google employees were successful in pushing the company to abandon an AI contract with the Pentagon and end work on a censored search product for China.

The letter also comes ahead of Microsoft's February 24 Mobile World Congress 2019 event, where it's expected to take the wraps off of HoloLens 2.

We already know of some confirmed and rumored upgrades due to debut with the next iteration of the Microsoft HoloLens, including a dedicated Holographic Processing Unit and, potentially, a move to an ARM processor, but a newly published patent could be our window into a much more impactful addition: eye tracking. The patent, filed by Microsoft in 2017 and published today, describes an eye tracking setups that seeks to solve the downsides presented by typical eye tracking systems while giving users a way to interact with augmented reality (AR) content.

Integrated eye tracking would give a HoloLens 2, or any other head-mounted display (HMD), a whole new input method for interacting with content on the display. The HMD could track a user's gaze to adjust the way content is displayed, while also allowing users to input commands using only their eyes.

The only downside? Typical eye tracking systems can add weight, eat up processing power, and interfere with a user's field of view. All three of these problems are what Microsoft set out to solve with its patented system. From the patent summary:

The current HoloLens headset leans on a combination of hand gestures to support user interaction. Adopting an eye tracking system would allow Microsoft to either drop hand gestures completely or use them in combination with gaze interactions. Further, it could make HoloLens and other HMDs more accessible for those with disabilities who may have a hard time using the current gesture controls.

Eye tracking isn't completely new to Microsoft. The company added native support for eye-tracking devices, like those from Tobii, in Windows 10 last year as an accessibility upgrade, allowing people with disabilities to control their desktop without using a keyboard or mouse.

As with all patents, it's worth noting that this tech may never make its way into a shipping product in this form at all. Microsoft patents things all of the time that either never leave the lab or end up acting as a base for further iterations. Still, we're days away now from Microsoft's MWC 2019 event, where it's expected to launch the HoloLens 2,, so we'll know for sure what Microsoft may be planning before too long.

Thanks to Steven for the tip!

HoloLens is Microsoft's current baby when it comes to augmented reality (AR), and we're even expecting a second version to debut soon. But a new patent filing points to what could potentially be a much more compact take on AR devices from Microsoft.

Filed in September of 2018 and published on January 24 of 2019, the new patent outlines a set of augmented reality glasses that Microsoft envisions could be used in a variety of interesting scenarios. From the abstract:

In non-patent speak, the AR glasses will be able to display and let you interact with digital content overlaid on the real world, much like HoloLens currently does. Where the glasses would set themselves apart is in size. Whereas HoloLens is currently a relatively bulky rig, Microsoft's proposal would pack the same capabilities into something the size of a large set of glasses.

In its lengthy disclosure, Microsoft outlines a large and varied number of uses for the glasses. In one scenario, traveling and tours could be supplemented by displaying sightseeing information over real-world architecture and points of interest. Another implementation could see real-time translations displayed in the user's field of vision. Other applications include enhancements for shopping, advertising, and even military and identification applications.

It's a brief look at what AR may hold for the future, once the technology has been sufficiently miniaturized. For that to take hold, however, it will have to be accepted by society more broadly. And as we previously saw with Google's Glass experiment, that could prove to be a tough nut to crack.

Thanks to Steven Lack for the tip!

Microsoft will supply the U.S. Army with HoloLens headsets for combat and training purposes as part of a $480 million contract. Bloomberg reports that the contract could ultimately result in the Army's purchase of more than 100,000 headsets.

"Augmented reality technology will provide troops with more and better information to make decisions. This new work extends our longstanding, trusted relationship with the Department of Defense to this new area," a Microsoft spokesman said in a statement to Bloomberg.

According to the description of the program, the Army will use the headsets to "increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide, and engage before the enemy."

HoloLens has already seen plenty of use in enterprise scenarios, often assisting in manufacturing, as well as the design and medical industries. The version of HoloLens the Army will receive will ultimately look quite a bit different from the headset we've come to know, however. According to Bloomberg, the Army has asked Microsoft to incorporate night vision, thermal sensing, and the ability to monitor vital signs like breathing and look for signs of concussions.

The bidding process saw Microsoft beat out a number of other competitors, including Magic Leap, which recently released its first consumer AR headset.

The contract comes at a time when tech companies are facing increased scrutiny over their work with government agencies. Earlier this year, Microsoft found itself in the middle of controversy over its work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the agency came under fire for its treatment of migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border. More than 100 Microsoft employees protested, calling for an end to the company's work with ICE in an open letter.

Between HoloLens and its Windows Mixed Reality efforts, Microsoft has gone all in on virtual and augmented reality systems. But while VR and AR may be separate systems now, Microsoft is looking toward a future in which both will be combined in one headset.

A new patent discovered by German blog Windows United shows what at least a portion of this headset might look like. The patent describes a system that would allow you to adjust a VR headset's opacity, letting you switch between viewing VR content or the world around you on the fly. From the patent description:

Such a system could allow you to switch between viewing immersive VR content to the real world without taking off your headset. Microsoft already offers a more limited version of this capability with the Flashlight feature in Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which uses a combination of a headset's cameras and motion controllers to let you peek out at certain portions of the space around you while immersed in VR.

What would be impressive is if the system described in the patent could be used to seamlessly switch between VR and AR applications on the fly. For example, you could strap the headset on to interact with VR applications, but then change the opacity to display virtual objects on the real world. Microsoft's HoloLens chief Alex Kipman has already been pretty vocal about this being the end goal of mixed reality, allowing you to use one headset for both VR and AR.

Microsoft watcher extraordinaire h0x0d discovered a new free Mixed Reality app dubbed "Outings," allowing you to explore landmarks via the comfort of your sofa. Available for HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Outings parses map data to provide 3D visualizations of various local landmarks.

The app probably uses data contained within Bing Maps, which in turn is powered by the HERE mapping consortium.

You can grab the app for free from the Microsoft Store right now, but you'll need a Windows Mixed Reality or HoloLens headset to use it. Either way, it's nice to see Microsoft is still working on tools for Mixed Reality, despite VR's general struggle to hit the mainstream.

See at Microsoft Store

Microsoft's HoloLens is an incredible piece of technology with a number of real world applications and the FDA has recently approved a system for medical use.

It concerns the OpenSight Augmented Reality System, a platform designed for HoloLens to help surgeons plan procedures using the headset.

From Healthimaging.com

HoloLens allows not only a single user, but an entire group, to view a patients medical images laid onto their body in real time, as well as having implications for training. The system can also enable the surgeons to view an accurate internal representation of their patients without the need to open them up.

Medical students can use the system to perform practice procedures, too, and while HoloLens remains an extremely expensive device, its potential uses continue to impress.

A recent video from NASA has given us a look at a HoloLens headset with a design that hasn't been seen before, which has raised suspicions as to whether or not this is our first look at the next HoloLens. Featuring a somewhat slimmer design, this new HoloLens headset looks similar to the original HoloLens, but with a less bulky front.

We know that Microsoft has been hard at work on its next HoloLens headset, which is rumored to debut sometime in 2019. Windows Central understands that this device will be ARM powered, with improved battery life. Hopefully, this device will also feature an improved field-of-view, something the original HoloLens was criticized for.

It's entirely possible that this HoloLens headset is an older HoloLens 1 prototype built before a final decision was made on its design, as the headset is featured alongside familiar HoloLens 1 headsets. It could also be an accidental, or deliberate, tease of what's to come. Who knows.

What do you think? Is this the next HoloLens? Or an older internal prototype that was never intended for release? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for the tip, Jason Jaegers!

Microsoft is ready to mix reality with the virtual world at the workplace. The company today officially launched Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Layout out of preview, opening them up to eligible businesses and organizations around the world (via MSPU).

Both apps initially launched into a limited preview in May before being taken under the Dynamics 365 banner in September. Both are designed to help workers get work done more efficiently. Remote Assist, for example, allows workers to use a HoloLens headset to call in virtual help from a technician or colleague anywhere in the world. The remote collaborator can see everything the worker sees, allowing them to communicate with virtual ink and documents overlaid on the real world.

Layout is a handy app that allows the user to lay holograms of 3D objects over the space around the worker. This makes it a virtual design studio that can help plan out things like workspaces and retail setups at real-world scale. Once a design is plotted out, you can save the file and bring it back to your PC to continue work or share it with others.

If you previously had the preview versions of each app, they're no longer available to download from the Microsoft Store. Instead, you'll have to switch to the release versions, which appear under new Microsoft Store listings.

• See Remote Assist at Microsoft
• See Layout at Microsoft

HoloLens is set to get another feature update later this year alongside the October 2018 Update that brings with it several new features and OS enhancements that make for a well-rounded release. The October 2018 Update is almost finalized, so this changelog includes all the notable new changes coming in this release for HoloLens.

The HoloLens October 2018 Update is codenamed Redstone 5, and will be released as version 1809, following the same versioning found on Windows 10 for PCs.

New changes for HoloLens in version 1809

• New notifications: You can now view and respond to notification toasts directly on HoloLens, just like you do on PC.
• New boot screen: A new circular loading indicator is present during the boot phase.
• Visual feedback UI for volume: Volume up and down buttons will now present a visual display of the volume level.
• Project to Miracast device: HoloLens can now project its display to a nearby Miracast enabled device using the Connect app just like on PC.
• Nearby Share: HoloLens now supports Nearby Share allowing you to share files between Windows devices directly via Bluetooth.
• HoloLens overlays: Overlays such as keyboard, dialogs, file picker, and more, will now popup when using immersive apps.
• Stop video capture from Start or quick actions menu: If you start video capture from the Start menu or quick actions menu, you'll be able to stop recording from the same place.
• Enable post-setup provisioning: Commercial customers can now apply a runtime provisioning package at any time using Settings.
• Assigned access with Azure AD groups: Flexibility to use Azure AD groups for configuration of Windows assigned access to set up single or multi-app kiosk configuration.
• PIN sign-in on profile switch from sign-in screen: PIN sign-in is now available for Other User. 
• Sign in with Web Cred Provider using password: You can now select the Globe sign-in option to launch web sign-in with your password. Look for additional web sign-in methods coming in the future.
• Read device hardware info through MDM so devices can be tracked by serial #: IT administrators can see and track HoloLens by device serial number in their MDM console.
• Set HoloLens device name through MDM (rename):  IT administrators can see and rename HoloLens devices in their MDM console.
• Support for Holographic Camera Capture UI API, which will let developers expose a way for users to seamlessly invoke camera or video capture from within their applications. For example, users can now capture and insert photo or video content directly within apps like Word.
• Mixed Reality Capture has been improved to exclude hidden mesh from captures, which means videos captures by apps will no longer contain black corners around the content.

Microsoft has not announced a release date for this new feature update yet, but we're expecting it'll following the same release cycle that the April 2018 Update for HoloLens did; releasing a few weeks after its PC counterpart.

Insiders can sign up for the Fast ring now and receive the latest Redstone 5 preview builds that already includes all these new features. Keep in mind that the Insider builds are pre-release however, and are not considered stable builds just yet. Are there any HoloLens features you're excited about? Let us know in the comments!

Got yourself a HoloLens in the Fast ring? Well, Microsoft is now rolling out a brand new Insider Preview build for you, packing under the hood changes and fixes. This weeks HoloLens build is 17743, and features only one additional fix over the previous build.

Changes

• We fixed an issue in previous builds that prevented customers from receiving notifications for incoming calls in Remote Assist.

Redstone 5 for HoloLens brings with it a smaller selection of new features over the previous major update released earlier this year. Notable improvements in the upcoming update include better video recording and screenshotting, the ability to stream your display to a nearby Windows 10 PC, Nearby Share, and more.

The next HoloLens update is scheduled to launch this fall, likely a few weeks after it does on PC just like with the Windows 10 April 2018 update. Are you in the Insider Preview for HoloLens? Let us know in the comments!

Microsoft is now rolling out a brand new Redstone 5 Fast ring preview build for HoloLens that brings with it new fixes and under the hood improvements. Today's build is 17737, and is packing a handful of fixes in addition to a couple known issues worthy of note.

HoloLens build 17737 fixes

• We fixed an issue where the cursor will jump between gaze and mouse when using a Bluetooth mouse.
• We fixed an issue with some notification toasts appearing as a gray box.
• We fixed an issue where Cortana may stop listening if you wait for her to respond after saying, "Hey Cortana."
• We fixed several other issues with voice commands and dictation, including an issue that prevented Cortana from working after update.
• We fixed an issue that prevented holograms from re-appearing after sign-out and sign-in.
• We added OCR support for Chinese and Japanese characters in the localized builds. For more information on using these builds, see the link above.
• We fixed a crash in the camera when taking a photo while the thumbnail previous of the last capture is visible.

HoloLens build 17737 known issues

• We're still investigating a bug causing the share dialog to not load all available apps to share to for a while after initial boot.
• After updating from a previous build, customers may not be able to receive incoming calls in Remote Assist.

So far, Redstone 5 for HoloLens is shaping up to be a much smaller feature update for HoloLens compared to Redstone 4, which introduced several new features and changes to the OS after more than a year of no updates. Are you running Insider builds on your HoloLens? Let us know!

Augmented reality is the process where elements of the digital world are overlaid onto the physical world in a user's field of view. This digital content can range from complex objects like a digital representation of a real person (telepresence) to simple text that provides more information about a physical object to which that text is "attached."

Apple and Microsoft are just two companies (among others like Google, ODG and Magic Leap) that are attempting to establish a foothold in this nascent industry. Each of these companies CEOs, Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Apple's Tim Cook, see AR as the future of computing but are approaching its implementation from different angles.

Microsoft, like Magic Leap and ODG, is approaching from a position that represents where the tech is ultimately headed, a wearable AR headset that facilitates hands-free interaction with AR content in real space. It is complementing the hardware with a comprehensive software platform, Windows Mixed Reality, as part of Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP). Apple, like Google's ARCore approach, is leveraging iOS via ARKit to bring AR experiences to millions of consumers and developers through the 2D displays of their iPhones and iPads.

Will Microsoft's smartglasses strategy be overshadowed by rivals?

Apple's ARKit advantage

Both Microsoft's and Apple's approaches come with advantages and disadvantages. Though Apple's 2D AR approach via the screens of iPhones and iPads is a far less natural experience than Microsoft's hands-free "immersive" HoloLens approach, it potentially leverages Apple's 20 million developers and hundreds of millions of iOS users to build mindshare and a vast range of AR experiences.

The sheer number of iOS users and developers also creates an appealing reason for companies like Adobe to partner with Apple. Abhay Parasnis Adobe's executive vice president and CTO said, "With ARKit Apple is the most powerful platform for AR" as he spoke about bringing native support for Apple's AR solution to Creative Cloud during Apples 2018 World Wide Developers Conference.

Apple, with Pixar also created the USDZ file format and demonstrated how it could be used within apps like the News app or on the web to integrate interactive AR content. Parasnis also shared that Adobe's tools will allow What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editing of VR objects from iOS. Users will be able to create AR content directly from Photoshop. Additionally, Apple strategically created a first-party AR measuring app which users may default to when they need to make measurements, as naturally as they do their iPhone flashlights when additional light is required. First, party tools like this can begin to win people to practical uses of AR subtly.

The HoloLens advantage

Microsoft's HoloLens, even with its much-maligned limited field of view (FOV), is a technologically superior AR solution to Apple's iPhone and iPad-based implementation. First, it is a standalone wearable Windows 10 computer. Second, it's positioning over a user's eyes allows digital content to be projected naturally into a user's field of view versus on an iPad/iPhone display that needs to be maneuvered in-hand. Third, spatial tracking, gesture and voice controls and spatial audio allow for natural perception and hands-free interaction with digital content as users seamlessly interact with the merged digital-physical environment.

Microsoft's second generation custom Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) will also sport a dedicated AI coprocessor allowing for native and flexible implementation Dynamic Nueral Networks. This will allow HoloLens to process data on-device, without the cloud, making object and environment recognition speedier. HoloLens 2 is also expected to have a longer battery life, be always connected and less bulky than its predecessor.

This year Apple introduced the following ARKit features with iOS12:

• Improved face tracking.
• Realistic rendering.
• 3D object detection.
• Persistent experiences: AR objects and spaces can be saved to physical objects.
• Shared experiences: users can view the same virtual environment on their iOS devices.

These updates are playing catch-up with features that have long been part of HoloLens, however.

Augmented rivalry

HoloLens has long allowed persistent experiences, where AR apps or objects could be "pinned" to specific physical locations like pinning Netflix to the living room for a TV experience. Furthermore, shared experiences are an intricate part of the Windows ecosystem of which HoloLens is a part. Microsoft has demonstrated how HoloLens experiences can be shared across the Teams apps, during surgery, designing a car, via the Remote Assist app and much more.

Microsoft's "immersive" shared HoloLens experiences places users within the digital-physical space allowing them to "touch" digital content. Conversely, Apple's WWDC shared AR Lego demo looked more like two users, detached from the digital environment, merely playing a cooperative video game on their iPads as they touched the screens between them and the digital content – precisely as one does for non-AR experiences. So what's the point?

Apple's solution, though far less advanced than Microsofts' is positioned to build a strong AR ecosystem and user base for an AR wearable that is likely on Apple's roadmap. When that happens, Microsoft, with its superior tech and methodic HoloLens implementation in specific markets may find that Apple's phone and tablet-based ecosystem rollout will have augmented the threat of an Apple wearable. Or perhaps by that time, Microsoft will have a HoloLens consumer plan in play bringing its superior tech to the forefront. Time will tell.

We already know quite a bit about what to expect from the next iteration of Microsoft's HoloLens mixed reality headset, including details about its dedicated custom AI chip and the Project Kinect image sensor bundle that will ship with the device. But it looks like Microsoft may be looking to address one of the biggest criticisms of the headset's first iteration as well: its field of view.

This week, Microsoft watcher WalkingCat dug up a newly published patent from Microsoft that suggests HoloLens 2 may double the field of view seen on the original headset. Initially filed in December of 2016, the patent describes a "MEMS laser scanner having enlarged FOV." According to the description, the scanner, designed for near-eye displays, could use light of different polarizations to expand the field of view "without increasing the range over which the mirror of the scanner oscillates."

The current HoloLens features a field of view of 35 degrees, but the patent filing notes that the overall field of view using this scanner could increase to around 70 degrees. Though it's worth noting that the patent says the increase "may be greater or lesser than that in further embodiments."

As MSPU points out, one of the inventors whose name is attached to the patent is Sihui He, who is an optical engineer at Microsoft.

As with all patent filings, this tech may never see the light of day. However, one of the major pain points of the original HoloLens is its restricted field of view, so it would make sense that Microsoft would be looking for ways to increase it with version two. An expanded field of view would succeed in making the experience of working with digital objects in augmented reality more immersive, which would increase its potential usefulness for both enterprise and consumer applications alike.

As for the rest of what HoloLens 2 may have in store, we're expecting Microsoft to make the switch to an ARM platform, potentially giving the device instant-on capabilities and a persistent LTE connection. The headset is also rumored to include Qualcomm's new XR1 VR and AI platform for powering a new set of on-board AI processing and imaging features.

Microsoft 'HoloLens 2:' Everything we know so far

Microsoft is always working on new hardware, and thanks a whole bunch of leaks spanning all the back to 2017, we know that we can expect to see at least some of that new hardware within the next 12 months. Everything from a new 10-inch Surface tablet, to a mythical dual-screen mobile pocket PC codenamed Andromeda. Here's everything Microsoft is currently working on for release over the next year or two.

Surface "Andromeda" (2018)

Microsoft's secret Andromeda project is something we first learned about towards the end of 2017. It's a dual-screen, mobile pocket PC that's designed to look and feel a little like a digital journal. According to our sources, Andromeda is one of Microsoft's first shipping products to use the new Windows Core OS modular base of Windows 10, along with a new shell experience dubbed "Andromeda OS" using CShell. We can expect to see this device announced towards the end of this year.

It is widely expected that this device is going to be Microsoft's "re-entry" into the mobile market, that being a device that you can take with you that is always-on, and always connected. Current prototypes feature telephony capabilies, which mean it'll be able to make calls and send texts just like you could on Windows phone. Andromeda is definitely not a "Windows phone" however, so don't expect Microsoft to position this device as a competitor to the iPhone or Pixel.

Surface "Carmel" (2018/2019)

Thanks to a leak last week, we now know that the next Surface Pro is codenamed Carmel and is currently in the works for a release within the next 12-18 months. It is rumored to feature an updated design, refreshed specs, and a USB-C port to match the Surface Book 2. Not much else is known about the device at this time, including a firm time-frame for release. It could be at the end of this year, or it could be sometime next spring or summer.

Perhaps this new "design" will feature a more bezel-less display, akin to a patent that Microsoft won not too long ago that would allow Microsoft to add a virtual bezel to the display when in tablet mode so that you can grab onto it. This would retain the ability to comfortably hold the Surface Pro when in tablet mode, but when in laptop mode, feature a bigger screen that goes almost all the way to the edges of the device. That would be pretty sweet, but at this point, we're just speculating.

Surface "Libra" (2018)

Thanks to the same report, we also know that the rumored 10-inch Surface tablet is codenamed Libra. I've personally heard that we could see this device show up as early as August, which is rather soon. Rumors suggest it'll feature an Intel Core M-based CPU, a slightly redesigned body with rounded corners, and updated accessories to go with it. This is very likely to be pitched as some kind of Surface 3 successor, which is pretty exciting.

Not many people realize this, but the Surface 3 was an incredibly popular Surface when it first went on sale thanks to its lower price compared to the Surface Pro at the time. It started at $499, which managed to grab the attention of many more people who otherwise wouldn't be interested in Surface products. Microsoft targeted that device at students, and it's likely they'll do the same with a new 10-inch Surface that costs less than the Surface 3 did, according to the rumors.

Surface "Capitola" (2018/2019)

I've heard that Microsoft's next Surface Studio is codenamed Capitola and is currently in the works. Obviously, a new Surface Studio would feature updated internals, which would be much appreciated considering the original Surface Studio was made available with rather lackluster specifications for an incredibly steep price. I'm told the Surface Studio 2 will fix this, with improved specifications in the higher-tier models, and perhaps even a lower-cost option for those that can't afford $3000 out of the gate.

Regarding design, we don't know much. Treading into speculative territory, but perhaps Microsoft could introduce that same awesome swivel hinge found on the Surface Hub 2, that would allow you to adjust the Studio in not only an "up or down" position, but horizontal or vertical position too. Not sure how practical that'd be, but it'd be cool anyway. Regarding release, I had originally heard a Surface Studio 2 would make its debut later this year and given the fact the original Surface Studio is out of stock basically everywhere, that doesn't sound too outlandish. But, that could change of course.

Surface "Aruba" (2019)

Microsoft's Aruba project is now commonly known as the Surface Hub 2, and is scheduled for launch in early 2019. Microsoft has already unveiled this device, being the successor to the original Surface Hub, with a huge screen, brand new swivel hinge, and is also one of the first devices to ship with a version of Windows 10 build on Windows Core OS and use CShell. It features dynamic wallpapers, and a brand new experience built specifically for the Surface Hub.

Redmond hasn't shared many details, not even specifications. I've been told the Surface Hub 2 is Intel-powered and will likely ship with top-of-the-line Intel Core i5 or i7 processors for those that need it. It'll also only be available to commercial and enterprise customers, meaning normal people like you and me likely won't be able to just go out and buy one, not that we'd need to, since it'll likely be super expensive like the original Surface Hub was.

HoloLens "Sydney" (2019)

We first talked about Sydney back in April this year, and we believe it's the codename for the next HoloLens which is currently pegged for release early next year. We wouldn't be surprised to see Microsoft announce it this year alongside the likes of Andromeda and maybe even the Surface Studio 2 at an event this October. Just because it's releasing next year doesn't mean it can't be announced sooner than that. HoloLens 1 was announced a whole year and a half before it started shipping, after-all.

According to my sources, Sydney features an ARM processor, an updated design, and will also run a version of Windows 10 built on Windows Core OS, and fully utilize CShell. It's likely we'll also see an improved field-of-view, which is something many complained about on the original HoloLens, along with LTE capabilities meaning HoloLens 2 can remain connected even when you're on the go. With Windows 10 on ARM, it also features always-on capabilities including instant-on, which will make it feel a lot snappier when waking up.

Xbox "Scarlett" (2020)

I first mentioned the Scarlett codename back in July 2017 when I heard it was the project name for the next Xbox, which we recently learned may show up as soon as 2020. Not much is known about Xbox Scarlett, outside of the fact that it might be part of a much larger family of Xbox branded devices. I have heard Microsoft is toying with an audio-accessory that could pair with the next Xbox, akin to the likes of an Alexa or Invoke.

This would allow you to control your Xbox using a dedicated speaker that can also be used for other things. We already know Microsoft is working on this functionality for the current Xbox, but the next Xbox may see Microsoft's own first-party take make an appearance designed for gamers. Regardless, the next Xbox is already in architectural stages and is likely going to be much more powerful than the current consoles on the market today.

More to come

That's just everything we know about right now. We haven't heard anything about the next Surface Book, likely because it's too soon to even begin thinking about one as the Surface Book 2 isn't even a year old yet. Of course, release windows for any device listed here can and likely will change, so don't plan around them. Regardless, do any of the devices listed here interest you? Let us know in the comments!

Microsoft is currently in the process of cooking up the next iteration of HoloLens, and we've even received some early indications of the hardware it will pack. One of the biggest changes we're expecting with HoloLens 2 is a switch from Intel to ARM, and a new rumor points to the platform Microsoft may be looking to leverage for its AI and graphics processing: Qualcomm's XR1.

Citing an anonymous source, Engadget reports that the recently announced XR1 platform, which is focused on "high quality" VR and AR experiences, will be what powers HoloLens 2.

Qualcomm first introduced the XR1 platform in May, touting it as being built for AR and VR devices, which would fit right in with a future HoloLens. The XR1 also supports head tracking, spacial sound, and 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. A dedicated AI engine is also on board for handling machine learning workloads on devices.

A focus on AI in AR

Based on what we know so far, it looks like Microsoft is looking to make a big push with AI and machine learning with HoloLens' next iteration. Last year, Microsoft confirmed that the next version of HoloLens will sport a dedicated holographic processing unit (HPU) for AI processing, giving it the ability to tackle things like image an voice recognition without relying on the cloud.

At Build 2018, the company, Microsoft technical fellow and HoloLens inventor Alex Kipman confirmed that HoloLens 2 will pack the company's Project Kinect sensor bundle, bringing new capabilities to the headset and replacing the third-generation Kinect depth sensor used in the first-generation HoloLens.

HoloLens 2 release date

There's no publicly available timeline for when HoloLens 2 will make its debut. However, Engadget's sources state that we could see it debut sometime around CES in January 2019.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will begin rolling out the official April 2018 update for HoloLens (version 1803) in just a couple of weeks on June 26. This means that starting June 26, users using HoloLens will be able to head to Windows Update and download the latest release just like you can on a Windows 10 PC.

Microsoft has been testing the April 2018 update for HoloLens with Insiders for several weeks now, and the final build can already be installed on HoloLens via the Windows Device Recovery Tool. Unfortunately, installing the release early does require you to wipe your device clean, which is why many have been waiting for the official release on Windows Update.

Now we know the wait won't be much longer, with June 26 just around the corner. HoloLens hasn't received any major feature updates since the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for HoloLens back in 2016, so it's been a long time coming. The April 2018 update for HoloLens is packing lots of notable new changes, including the following:

• Auto-placement of 2D and 3D Content on launch
• Fluid app animation
• 2D app horizontal resize with reflow
• Expanded voice command support
• Updated Holograms and Photos apps
• Improved mixed reality capture
• Improved audio immersion
• File Explorer
• MTP support
• Captive portal network support during setup

There are plenty more changes for developers too, and you can head to this link for a full changelog from Microsoft. Make sure you check out our hands on with the April update for HoloLens. Will you be downloading the April 2018 update on your HoloLens on June 26? Let us know in the comments!

Alongside the PC release of Windows 10 Redstone 5 build 17686, Microsoft is also rolling out the first Redstone 5 preview build of Windows 10 Redstone 5 for HoloLens too for Insiders who are registered in the Fast ring on their HoloLens devices. So far, a changelog hasn't been made available from Microsoft detailing what's new for HoloLens, but the build is available now in the Fast ring.

To get the build, you must be registered as an Insider in the Fast ring, and already running the April 2018 update for HoloLens. Right now, the April 2018 update for HoloLens can only be acquired by flashing your HoloLens with the April 2018 update FFU, which wipes your device. If you'd rather not wipe your device, Microsoft says it will begin rolling out the April 2018 update for HoloLens officially on June 26 via Windows Update.

So far, there doesn't appear to be any noticeable new changes or features on the surface in build 17686 for HoloLens. It's likely any changes in this build are under the hood or minor. I have noticed that reveal effects are now working properly in this build, meaning you get the same awesome reveal effects in apps like Settings and Microsoft Edge now. I've also noticed Settings now features a translucent sidebar like it does on PC, albeit without the blur effects.

The bigger news here is Microsoft appears to be actively flighting builds in the Insider Program for HoloLens again. After briefly receiving a few builds during the development phase of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in 2016, HoloLens remained pretty dormant, receiving no new builds officially or via the Insider Program until earlier this year with Redstone 4. Now, it appears Redstone 5 builds are being flighted to HoloLens, which should reassure those who thought Microsoft had abandoned HoloLens 1.

If you've got a HoloLens, will you be signing up to the Insider Program and downloading Redstone 5 builds? Let us know in the comments!

If you've got yourself a HoloLens but are wondering where the latest April 2018 Update is, we've got you covered with a quick how-to on installing the new update on your device.

Unfortunately, Microsoft isn't pushing out the April 2018 Update to HoloLens devices running the Anniversary Update, likely because there is no direct upgrade path from the older OS to the new one. However, Microsoft has released a way to manually install it using the Windows Device Recovery Tool, which you can grab from this website. This will unfortunately require you to wipe and factory reset your device, so depending on whether or not you want to do that, this how-to will take you through all the steps required for installing the April 2018 Update on HoloLens. Let's dig in!

How to install The April 2018 Update for Microsoft HoloLens

1. Download the Windows Device Recovery Tool using your PC.
2. Power on your Microsoft HoloLens.
3. Connect your HoloLens to your PC.
4. Run the Windows Device Recovery Tool program.
5. Select the Microsoft HoloLens device.

6. Ensure the software available on server is 17134.0 or higher and then select Install software.

7. Wait for the package to download. (This will take a few minutes.)

8. Make sure your battery is at least 25 percent charged, and then select Next.

9. Read the warnings and make sure you have backed up anything you wish to save because this will wipe your HoloLens, then select "Continue."

10. Wait for the installation to complete. (Your HoloLens will restart several times, and it will take several minutes to complete.)

Once the progress bar is complete, the April 2018 Update should be installed on your HoloLens. Again, keep in mind that this will wipe and factory reset your HoloLens, meaning you will have to go through the HoloLens set up process again, pair all your Bluetooth peripherals, and reinstall any apps you had installed before.

There are lots of improvements for HoloLens in the April Update, including enhancements to the window-management gestures, more voice commands, new APIs, and a whole lot more.

Make sure you check out the entire OS changelog here if you're curious as to what's new.

Microsoft's new mixed reality workplace apps, Remote Assist and Layout, first introduced at Build 2018, quietly popped up in the Microsoft Store last week without much fanfare. Today, Microsoft is making things official by announcing a limited-time preview for both apps.

To recap, Microsoft Remote Assist is only available for HoloLens, and the app is intended as a way for workers to remotely collaborate with others on their Microsoft Teams contact list. In the app, users can use video calling, image sharing, and mixed reality annotations to get hands-free assistance from others while they work.

Layout, on the other hand, is a type of design app built for mixed reality. The app can be used to view 3D models in a room at real-world scale. This allows users to see how a room will look with objects in the physical space around them or in a virtual space. Layouts created within the app can then be shared with others in real time.

Both apps represent an increased push by Microsoft to make mixed reality a useful workplace tool. That's important, as we've already seen HoloLens being used in everything from operating rooms to car design studios. This week, Microsoft also revealed its plans to extend mixed reality experiences to SharePoint on any device.

During the limited-time preview, Microsoft will be soliciting feedback in order to get the apps ready for their general availability release. If you're curious, you can grab Remote Assist and Layout on the Microsoft Store now.

• See Remote Assist at Microsoft Store
• See Layout at Microsoft Store

Just over three weeks after it first arrived for PCs, the Windows 10 April 2018 Update is now available for HoloLens. Developers who have one of the augmented reality headsets can now manually install the latest feature update using the Windows Device Recovery Tool (WDRT) (via Neowin).

This update marks the first to roll out to HoloLens since the release of the Anniversary Update in 2016. As such, there are plenty of new features to check out. Here's a look at some of what's available with the April 2018 Update for HoloLens:

• Auto-placement of 2D and 3D content on launch - A 2D app launcher or 2D UWP app auto-places in the world at an optimal size and distance when launched instead of requiring the user to place it. If an immersive app uses a 2D app launcher instead of a 3D app launcher, the immersive app will auto-launch from the 2D app launcher same as in RS1. A 3D app launcher from the Start menu also auto-places in the world. Instead of auto-launching the app, users can then click on the launcher to launch the immersive app. 3D content opened from the Holograms app and from Edge also auto-places in the world.
• Fluid app manipulation - Move, resize, and rotate 2D and 3D content without having to enter "Adjust" mode.
• 2D app horizontal resize with reflow - Make a 2D UWP app wider in aspect ratio to see more app content. For example, making the Mail app wide enough to show the Preview Pane.
• Expanded voice command support - You can do more simply using your voice.
• Updated Holograms and Photos apps - Updated Holograms app with new holograms. Updated Photos app.
• Improved mixed reality capture - Hardware shortcut start and end MRC video.
• Consolidated spaces - Simplify space management for holograms into a single space.
• Improved audio immersion - You can now hear HoloLens better in noisy environments, and experience more lifelike sound from applications as their sound will be obscured by real walls detected by the device.
• File Explorer - Move and delete files from within HoloLens.
• MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) support - Enables your desktop PC to access your libraries (photos, videos, documents) on HoloLens for easy transfer.
• Captive portal network support during setup - You can now set up your HoloLens on a guest network at hotels, conference centers, retail shops, or businesses that use captive portal.

There are also lots of new features included specifically for developers and IT pros. For more, you can check out the full release notes.

For now, HoloLens users will have to manually install the update using the WDRT. This will delete any existing data, including personal files and settings, from HoloLens. However, for those who wish to keep this data, Microsoft says the update will be delivered via Windows Update "in the coming weeks."