Snap and WaveOptics Enter The Shrinking AR Smartglasses Race

J.C. Kuang, Analyst Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality Intelligence Service, Automotive Technology, Devices & Technology, Head-Mounted Displays, Head-Up Displays, Insight Articles, Semiconductors, Venture Capital, Private Equity, and M&A

Following the announcement of its new Spectacles AR development kit, Snap Inc. has announced its deal to acquire waveguide supplier WaveOptics. The deal is worth over $500 million, at least half of which is to be paid in stock. The partnership between the two companies signals a recommitment from Snap to develop and produce true AR smartglasses within the next … Read More

Optics Technologies for XR Head-Mounted Displays: Are We There Yet?

Optics Technologies forOptics Technologies for XR Head-Mounted Displays: Are We There Yet?

Optics Technologies for XR Head-Mounted Displays at CES 2020: Are We There Yet? This show report contains the top stories in photonics, waveguides, and optical technology for VR/AR/XR displays from CES 2020, and updates from the team and what caught our eye. Release Date: January 14, 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the world’s largest shows and one … Read More

Recent MicroLED Developments From Plessey, Others To Enable New Augmented and Mixed Reality Display Applications

Clifton Dawson, Principal Analyst Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality Intelligence Service, Devices & Technology, Head-Mounted Displays, Insight Articles, Semiconductors

Innovations in microdisplays are leading to new visual computing applications, including AR/VR. As a result, the augmented reality near-eye displays market is expected to see a significant increase in the number of microLED-based display devices available for consumer and enterprise end-users over the next few years. This week, Plessey, a UK-based specialty provider of microLED technology for augmented and mixed … Read More

With Intel Acquisition, Apple Prepares for 5G Adoption

J.C. Kuang, Analyst Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality Intelligence Service, Devices & Technology, Insight Articles, Semiconductors, Virtual Reality, Virtual Reality Intelligence Service

Several major media outlets reported on July 22nd that smartphone maker Apple may soon finalize the acquisition of Intel’s smartphone modem assets, including staff and intellectual property, to the tune of over $1 billion. The report suggests that the purchase could further strengthen the Cupertino, California-based company’s already considerable control over its supply chain.  Our Perspective  Despite the long road … Read More

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ is Next Shot Fired in SoC Arms Race

J.C. Kuang, Analyst Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality Intelligence Service, Devices & Technology, Insight Articles, Semiconductors

In a relatively rare development, silicon giant Qualcomm announced on July 15th that it will be releasing a mid-year update to its current flagship chip, the Snapdragon 855. Called simply the Snapdragon 855+, the new SoC delivers a moderate clock speed boost and improved graphics processing performance. Other similarities include the presence of dual cellular modems, as Qualcomm continues to … Read More

RTX Super GPUs from NVIDIA Offer New Value for Casual Virtual Reality Consumer

J.C. Kuang, Analyst Devices & Technology, Insight Articles, Semiconductors, Virtual Reality, Virtual Reality Intelligence Service

In its continuing crusade to bring high-end graphics capabilities such as DLSS and ray-tracing to the masses, Nvidia announced on July 3rd the official release of its new line of consumer GPUs, the RTX Super line. According to new official specifications, the cards will significantly outperform the previous generation of RTX cards (released in January) thanks to an increased number … Read More