Source: Meta
Let’s first break down the key points from Meta’s impressive journey into the world of mixed reality:
Meta Horizon OS: A decade in the making, this cutting-edge computing platform combines inside-out tracking, eye, face, hand, and body tracking, and high-resolution Passthrough.
Mixed Reality Stack: Meta’s full stack of technologies blend digital and physical realms. Think Scene Understanding and Spatial Anchors—powerful tools for bridging the virtual and real.
Developer Paradise: Creators can tap into Meta’s custom frameworks and tooling to craft mixed reality experiences. Plus, they get to reach their audiences through content discovery and monetization platforms.
Meta Horizon Store: Formerly the Meta Quest Store, this houses the world’s finest immersive apps and experiences.
Social Layer: The heartbeat of Meta’s ecosystem, this layer lets avatars, identities, and friend groups roam freely across virtual spaces. Developers can sprinkle rich social features into their apps, fostering connections.
Cross-Platform Bonding: Picture this: people hanging out in virtual worlds that span mixed reality, mobile, and desktop. Meta’s social layer makes it happen.
Meta Horizon App: The companion app for Meta Horizon OS devices, ensuring seamless experiences for users.
Hardware Choice
In a dynamic landscape where mixed reality (MR) is gaining traction, a host of exciting opportunities has emerged for specialized hardware. From immersive gaming experiences to productivity-enhancing tools, MR applications span a wide spectrum. As we’ve witnessed in the PC and smartphone sectors, consumers benefit most when a diverse hardware ecosystem delivers both versatile computing devices and niche products, all seamlessly integrated on a shared platform. Meta Horizon OS has been opened to third party hardware makers keeping this in mind.
Leading global technology companies are already working on new devices built on Meta Horizon OS:
ASUS’s Republic of Gamers will use its expertise as a leader in gaming solutions to develop an all-new performance gaming headset.
Source: Meta
Lenovo will draw on its experience co-designing Oculus Rift S, as well as deep expertise in engineering leading devices like the ThinkPad laptop series, to develop mixed reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment.
Source: Meta
Xbox and Meta teamed up last year to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) to Meta Quest, letting people play Xbox games on a large 2D virtual screen in mixed reality. Now, we’re working together again to create a limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox.
Source: Meta
Meta's partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. bears fruit as they integrate their cutting-edge Snapdragon® processors seamlessly into their software and hardware stacks. The recent launch of the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 Platform alongside Meta Quest 3 marks a milestone, showcasing unprecedented performance that redefines the boundaries of mixed reality. For companies venturing into hardware development within this ecosystem, leveraging these chipsets and tailored software enhancements promises substantial advantages.
Meta Horizon OS: Open App Ecosystem
In a strategic move, Meta Quest is opening up its Meta Horizon OS to a wider array of device manufacturers. Simultaneously, the company is revolutionizing app development by bridging the gap between the Meta Horizon Store and App Lab. This integration allows any developer who meets essential technical and content criteria to seamlessly deploy software on the platform. Notably, App Lab titles will soon enjoy prominent visibility within the Store across all Meta Quest devices, enhancing discoverability for a broader audience. Some of today’s most popular apps, including Gorilla Tag and Gym Class, had their origins in App Lab, underscoring the platform’s role as a fertile ground for innovation. Meta Quest’s commitment to streamlining the development process promises exciting prospects for creators eager to share their titles with the world.
Source: Meta
Meta Quest is forging ahead with the development of a groundbreaking spatial app framework. This framework empowers mobile developers to craft immersive mixed reality (MR) experiences, leveraging the tools they are already well-acquainted with. Whether it’s porting existing mobile apps to Meta Horizon OS or creating entirely novel MR applications, developers can now explore uncharted territory. Aspiring creators can apply for access to this cutting-edge framework via the provided link.
But that’s not all. Meta Horizon OS is embracing openness by dismantling barriers between its app store and the App Lab. This integration ensures that any developer meeting essential technical and content criteria can seamlessly deploy software on the platform. Soon, App Lab titles will enjoy prime visibility within the Store across all Meta Quest devices, enhancing discoverability for a broader audience. Notably, users aren’t confined to titles from Meta Quest’s own app store. Multiple avenues exist for accessing top-notch content, including popular gaming services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Steam Link, and the Air Link system for wireless streaming of PC software to headsets. Furthermore, Meta Quest extends an invitation to the Google Play 2D app store, encouraging it to join the Meta Horizon OS ecosystem, operating under the same economic model as on other platforms.
Source: Meta
Quotes from Meta Partners
“We’ve been inspired by the incredible gaming community that has formed around virtual and mixed reality, and we know that the most passionate gamers want high-performance hardware. With Meta Horizon OS, ASUS and Republic of Gamers will build the gaming headset of the next generation.”
— S.Y. Hsu, Co-CEO, ASUS
“Mixed reality is transforming how people interface with computers by integrating digital experiences and physical spaces to reach new levels of productivity, learning and play. Building from our past successful partnership, Lenovo is bringing together Meta Horizon OS with our leadership and innovation in personal computing to accelerate adoption of new user scenarios in mixed reality like virtual screens, remote presence, content consumption, and immersive training.”
— Yuanqing Yang, Chair & CEO, Lenovo
“The convergence of physical and digital spaces is accelerating, and we see virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality becoming the next computing platform. To enable this future, these high-performance devices require an entirely new class of Snapdragon processors. Our collaboration with Meta has produced extraordinary experiences that have become the benchmark of the industry, and we’re excited to see this new ecosystem taking shape.”
— Cristiano Amon, President and CEO, Qualcomm Inc.
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