Meta introduced a lot at its Join 2024 convention that you will have missed a few of it.
However by no means worry! Here is a short abstract of each necessary Meta Join 2024 announcement.
For full context and particulars, learn the articles linked.
Headsets & Equipment
Meta launched a brand new headset, simplified its Quest 3 lineup, discontinued Quest 2 and Quest Professional, and launched new official equipment.
A New Headset: Meta Quest 3S
After months of leaks, Meta lastly introduced its new headset: Quest 3S.
Successfully, Quest 3S is a less expensive Quest 3 with a bulkier design, inferior lens readability, and decrease decision.
Quest 3S Starts At $300 And Comes With Controllers
Meta just officially announced Quest 3S. Starting at $300, it features fresnel lenses, the XR2 Gen 2 chipset, mixed reality, and comes with controllers.
Quest 3S has the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and shade passthrough combined actuality capabilities as Quest 3, however makes use of the outdated fresnel lenses and stuck single panel from Quest 2 to attain a beginning worth of $300.
All purchases of Quest 3S till Might will come with Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Quest 3 128GB Gone & 512GB Worth Minimize
Meta is discontinuing the 128GB base mannequin of Quest 3 and chopping the opposite 512GB mannequin to its $500 worth.
Meta Cuts 512GB Quest 3 To $500, Will Discontinue 128GB Model
Meta is discontinuing the 128GB Quest 3 and cutting the 512GB model to $500. The 128GB model is now $430 “while supplies last”.
Till inventory is gone, the 128GB mannequin is on clearance sale for $430.
Like with Quest 3S, all purchases of Quest 3 till Might will come with Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Quest 2 & Quest Professional Discontinued
Quest 2 and Quest Professional will now not be accessible when inventory runs out or on the finish of the 12 months, whichever comes first.
Meta Is Discontinuing Quest 2 & Quest Pro
Quest 2 and Quest Pro will no longer be available when stock runs out or at the end of the year, whichever comes first.
Quest 2 was the primary mainstream VR headset and Quest Professional was an revolutionary failure.
Quest 3S will take Quest 2’s place in Meta’s lineup. However there is not any direct alternative for Quest Professional. When it is gone, Meta will now not supply a headset with eye monitoring or face monitoring.
Quest 3 Open Facial Interface
One side of Quest Professional that Meta will supply a alternative for is its open periphery design, as a result of it is releasing an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3.
Meta Releasing Official Open Facial Interface For Quest 3
While Quest Pro is being discontinued, Meta is launching an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3 – with a strangely unique design.
As a substitute of being a halo strap, the official Open Facial Interface nonetheless presses in opposition to your face. However the house between the interface and the headset itself is empty, permitting you to see the actual world.
Quest 3S Breathable Facial Interface
Quest 3S is getting its personal unique facial interface accent.
Quest 3S Has “Breathable” Facial Interface Accessory
Meta is selling a “Breathable” Facial Interface for Quest 3S, which makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “help you keep cool while working out or playing intense games”.
The “Breathable” Facial Interface makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “assist you to preserve cool whereas understanding or taking part in intense video games”.
Meta’s Simplified Lineup
When Quest 2, Quest Professional, and the 128GB Quest 3 are gone, Meta’s headset lineup shall be:
- Quest 3S (128GB): $300
- Quest 3S (256GB): $400
- Quest 3 (512GB): $500
New Horizon OS Options & Apps
YouTube Cowatching
Official YouTube cowatching will lastly launch as a beta subsequent week.
YouTube Cowatching On Quest Will Finally Arrive Next Week
Official YouTube cowatching on Horizon OS will finally launch as a beta next week, more than two years after it was first announced.
YouTube cowatching will happen in Horizon Residence, which means you may see different folks as their Meta Avatar alongside you.
Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3
Quest 3 homeowners within the US can attempt photorealistic scenes through Meta’s new Horizon Hyperscape demo app.
Meta Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3
Meta’s Horizon Hyperscape demo shows photorealistic 6DoF scenes on Quest 3, but is only available in the US.
UploadVR’s Don Hopper tried Horizon Hyperscape and located it to be considerably greater high quality than Gracia, with a “stark distinction” in visible readability.
New Amazon Prime Video App With Downloads
Amazon launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that helps passthrough and downloads.
New Amazon Prime Video Quest App Supports Downloads
Amazon just launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that supports downloads for offline viewing.
Prime Video is the primary main streaming service formally accessible on Horizon OS to help downloads, making it perfect to be used on airplanes with the Travel Mode Quest headsets now have since Might.
Computerized Pairing With Home windows 11 Laptops
Quest headsets will have the ability to lengthen Home windows 11 laptops by simply them, with out putting in any software program, later this 12 months.
Meta says this shall be attainable due to a partnership with Microsoft.
Quests Can Soon Extend Windows Laptops By Just Looking At Them
Quest headsets will soon be able to extend Windows 11 laptops by just looking at them, and without installing specific software.
Your laptop computer’s display screen will flip off and get replaced by a large digital display screen, and you’ll spawn completely digital additional screens.
New Meta Avatars
The brand new Meta Avatars system with overhauled graphics will launch on Tuesday.
The New Meta Avatars Launch Next Week
The new Meta Avatars system will launch on Tuesday, featuring overhauled graphics and deeper customization.
And a while subsequent 12 months, Meta will enable customers to generate a brand new outfit by typing, leveraging generative AI.
In Horizon Worlds, Meta says it would additionally help “fantastical avatars”, non-human types which customers can unlock in particular worlds.
Passthrough API
In a shock announcement, Meta revealed that it’ll give builders entry to the passthrough cameras of Quest headsets through a brand new API subsequent 12 months.
Quest Developers Will Get Access To The Passthrough Cameras
Meta says Quest developers will be able to access the passthrough cameras next year, unlocking entirely new capabilities.
Meta hasn’t but mentioned whether or not there will be any restrictions to the Passthrough API, however we’ll preserve a detailed eye on the corporate for any additional particulars of this thrilling upcoming functionality, which may unlock completely new use circumstances for Quest headsets.
AI NPCs In Horizon Worlds
Meta says Horizon Worlds creators will have the ability to add AI NPCs to their worlds subsequent 12 months.
These AI NPCs will have the ability to “interact in conversations, assist folks out, and even compete in video games”,
Meta Horizon Worlds Is Getting AI NPCs You Can Talk To
Horizon Worlds creators will be able to add AI NPCs to their worlds next year, and you’ll be able to talk to them with your voice.
“Whether or not it is a pleasant fishing fanatic or a fantastically evil boss, it is possible for you to to customise NPCs utilizing our avatar and voice tech, and it is all multiplayer prepared.
We’ll additionally help world understanding and sophisticated motion chaining, so NPCs is usually a actually wealthy a part of the world you created.”
“The Future Of Horizon OS” Tease
Meta teased “the way forward for Horizon OS”, exhibiting an idea of an entire redesign.
Meta Teases “The Future Of Horizon OS” With New Design
Meta teased “the future of Horizon OS” at Connect today, showing a concept of a complete redesign.
Meta did not give even a tough timeline for the brand new Horizon OS interface, and what was proven seems to be an idea.
Two New Video games & Supernatural Multiplayer
Triangle Technique VR Port
Triangle Technique, a turn-based tactical RPG from Sq. Enix, is being tailored for VR this 12 months on Quest.
Acclaimed Tactical RPG Triangle Strategy Gets VR Port Next Month On Quest
Triangle Strategy, a turn-based tactical RPG from Square Enix, is being adapted for VR this year on Quest.
On Quest, Triangle Technique’s VR adaptation guarantees a “complete new look” throughout the battlefield, letting you attain out to items and concern instructions straight.
Residence Sports activities
Residence Sports activities is a brand new combined actuality multi-sports recreation that rolls 5 sports activities into one assortment on Quest 3.
Home Sports Is A Mixed Reality Multi-Sport Game For Quest 3
Home Sports is a new MR multi-sports game from Demeo’s studio that rolls bowling, hockey, and more into one collection on Quest 3.
A precise launch date stays unconfirmed. Decision states Residence Sports activities “shall be launching quickly” for the Meta Quest 3 household.
Supernatural Multiplayer
Supernatural Collectively is a brand new enlargement that provides group-based exercises to the health app on Quest.
Supernatural Together Adds Group-Based Workouts To The VR Fitness App
Supernatural Together is a new expansion that adds group-based workouts to the fitness app on Quest.
Group Exercises function particular Problem Zones and Victory Tunnels that “require teamwork and coordination to finish.”
Horizon Retailer & App Improvement
2D Android Apps On Horizon Retailer
Meta Horizon Retailer, the app retailer on Quest headsets, will enable builders to submit 2D Android apps.
Quest’s Store Now Accepts 2D Android Apps
Quest’s Meta Horizon Store now accepts 2D Android apps, which could bring more apps and services to the platform.
Meta shall be hoping this brings a few of the most helpful and entertaining apps from the Google Play Retailer. Nevertheless, the dearth of Google Play Companies will make it difficult for some apps to be ported.
Meta Spatial SDK
Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cell growth instruments, and not using a recreation engine.
Meta Spatial SDK Lets Developers Easily Build Quest Apps
Meta Spatial SDK lets developers easily build apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with traditional mobile development tools, without a game engine.
It offers rendering, elective passthrough, controller and hand monitoring, help for flatscreen and immersive media playback, physics, and spatial audio.
The Ray-Ban Meta good glasses are getting a swathe of latest software program options, in addition to new transitions lenses kinds.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Getting Live Translation & More
Ray-Ban Meta glasses are getting a swathe of new features, including live translation, reminders, QR code scanning, and voice-controlled Spotify.
New Software program Options
The next options are coming “quickly”:
- Meta AI Reminders
- Extra Pure Visible Meta AI
- Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart Controls
- QR Codes & Telephone Numbers
And these options are coming “later this 12 months”:
- Dwell Translation
- Meta AI Video Imaginative and prescient
New Transitions Types
Additional, EssilorLuxottica and Meta launched new model choices with Transitions lenses:
- Skyler Shiny Black with Amethyst Transitions
- Headliner Shiny Caramel with Sapphire Transitions
- Headliner Low Bridge Match Shiny Black with Sapphire Transitions
- Headliner Matte Black with Grey Transitions
- Wayfarer Matte Black with Graphite Inexperienced Transitions
Orion True AR Glasses Prototype
Meta confirmed off built-in prototype AR glasses with a area of view that is exceptional given their type issue.
Meta’s Prototype AR Glasses Have Remarkable Field Of View
Meta showed off prototype true AR glasses at Connect, codenamed Orion, with a remarkable 70-degree field of view.
Nevertheless, the Orion glasses will not be offered as a product, as Meta admitted every prices on the order of $10,000 to provide. The corporate mentioned Orion shall be used as a demonstrator and inner growth equipment, describing it as “a time machine that lets us stay sooner or later”.
