On Sale in September

Last week I stopped by the Microsoft campus, and visited the Microsoft store there. I asked if I could see a Hololens 2.

I did see one, but it was on the head of an employee who was "gathering data." He raved about it but didn't let me try it on.

The folks at the store there said that their Hololens 2 was overdue. They expected it a couple of weeks ago and still haven't seen it. So they're on the "any day now" plan.

When it shows up I'll head down to check it out in person.


SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp’s second generation HoloLens augmented reality headset will go on sale in September, the company’s executive vice president Harry Shum said on Thursday.

Shum made the comment in a speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.


Display first... 

In the strictest sense, it's still speculative that Microvision's tech is in Hololens. (But there is enough evidence that I'm all in) This contract when mentioned, Microvision stated that once development was complete, Microvision could sell the results to whoever they wanted to.

I think the enterprise focus of Microsoft made things happen a bit more slowly, but a lot better. I think consumer versions will be close behind.

Reuters

The Verge

It's there, but not there.

To the largest part of the market(where the most money is moved,) the idea that Microsoft will make any headway with Hololens is speculative.

I expect we'd hear this if we asked them about it: "We've heard something about it, and saw something once, and... show me. Until then I have paying customers who want to get into UBER."

Microsoft hasn't really made any efforts to move it into the mass market yet.

If you go to their store and look up devices, it's not even listed. (VR and virtual reality are listed) but then you end up on the splash screen below... where Hololens will appear...second -- after Facebook's Oculus Rift. 

Hololens is there, but not really there. If you're going out of your way to find it, you can find it. If you just wait for it to jump in front of you... it's not going to happen. 

In spite of all of the glowing reviews - amazing results and demonstrations - and the huge Military contract for the device, the most popular video about it on YouTube is about.... Minecraft. (Has less than 5 million views... ) The amazing demonstrations of it in use improving productivity are way down the list. (They don't need YouTube to get the word out to people who will employ it that way.)

The idea that Microvision is in the Hololens is secondary speculation. Which in my view both painful and awesome.

We do not have definitive proof that MicroVision's tech is in the Hololens, but there's enough evidence that it could win the court case, and the appeals.

Meanwhile, there are 1.7 billion shares of UBER, trading at $33. It has a market cap of 57 Billion, and loses $3 per share. --- but it's popular, and people like to throw their money into it.

Given the behavior of Microsoft around Hololens.... when they do their media blitz they will get it a lot of attention... and the part of the market where the most money is moved will notice.

Microsoft Virtual Reality

Holographic Tactical Sandbox

More very cool stuff flying just under the radar... 



Janes
Virtual Reality Times

Cool. 
This is done with the camera so far.

If you want to use gesture control in a room... or in a room with multiple people then you're going to need a high-resolution LiDAR to pick up the gestures accurately and distinguish between people who should be able to control the smart house and those who shouldn't be able to.



Google Gesture Control

More and more, tech companies are leaning on AI to solve the equation for AR wearables in terms of form factor and functionality. Even Microsoft is blending the AI approach of ARKit and ARcore in detecting surfaces for the new scene understanding capabilities of the HoloLens 2. The software approach could be the key in arriving at smartglasses that are slim enough to wear every day instead of just in the comfort of the user's home or office.

Hololens Partner Videos

The partners they highlighted on their new page. Videos from them. (couldn't find a good one from Medvis)

The Page
CAE Healthcare



Pearson



Siemens Truck Maintenance


Bosch



Upskill



Phillips

The Return of Consumer Smart Glasses

Very interesting article, and Microvision is noticed.

2020Mag

Thanks Mike & Karen & John


LASER TO HOLOGRAPHIC COMBINER:
Pico-laser-based near-eye displays were pioneered by Microvision. With this kind of display system, a laser is bounced off a micro-mirror, mounted on a dual-axis gimbal. Early versions of these Microvision displays simply used a beam-splitter, otherwise known as a two-way mirror to combine the view of the real world with the view of virtual content. Over time, a more sophisticated optical combiner was developed, similar to the holographic waveguide. A series of micro-mirror-like holographic elements could be embedded inside a lens and the laser targeted at them, to reflect into the user’s eye. These laser displays—in their current form—have one distinct shortcoming compared to waveguides: a very narrow field of view (that being the width of the user’s view that can be augmented with virtual content). But as a competitor to waveguides, they also have a tremendous lens-crafters like Interglass of Switzerland, or Canadian consumer smartglasses brand, North, have shown that these kind of laser-based displays can be embedded within a traditional prescription lens. 

​

North also has a patent to embed a waveguide within a prescription lens. Interglass says they’re also working on a waveguide within a prescription lens, and DigiLens have IP around a curved waveguide applied to the surface of a prescription lens. A representative from Interglass has suggested that a holographic waveguide embedded within a prescription lens should be expected in time for the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2020.

The waveguide display also requires a “light engine,” or micro-display to project into its input grating—the image source. These are also miniaturizing, getting brighter and falling in power consumption. 

​

In future generations, expect lenses to combine displays with tunable focus lenses.

FCC: 5G is safe.

There are many people concerned about this, but for now, the FCC has determined it to be safe.

This may have been part of the later than expected Hololens news (recent approval from FCC)

5G would be beneficial to MVIS -- delivery of more data, at faster rates will make delivery of video and Augmented Reality Date much more efficient -- and likely cheaper over time.


tech.co/news

FCC Link

PDF of FCC Statement


The Federal Communications Commission has officially announced this week that 5G and the radio waves that come with it — while draped in controversy — are indeed safe for everyday use.

5G networks have only just begun hitting the market for smartphone users, and the buzz is substantial. With reported speeds as high as 1.1 Gbps, everyday users and industry experts are drooling at the potential uses for this blazing fast network. Plus, with Apple finally getting in on the action, 5G will soon become the standard for all devices.

However, many have worried that the higher frequency radio waves used for 5G could have negative health effects on citizens around the world. Luckily, according to the FCC, there's nothing to worry about.
What Did the FCC Say?

In a statement released earlier this week, the FCC outlined their plan to maintain current radio frequency exposure standards, which stated pretty matter-of-factly that 5G is not only safe, but that the regulations in place to protect you are also pretty strict.

“The FCC sets radio frequency limits in close consultation with the FDA and other health agencies. After a thorough review of the record and consultation with these agencies, we find it appropriate to maintain the existing radio frequency limits, which are among the most stringent in the world for cell phones,” 

Microsoft - Samsung relationship deserves to be watched.

WindowsBlog

Smarthouse

Samsung and Microsoft will team up on a suite of new product integrations, combining their sizeable market powers against Google and Apple.

Microsoft Word recently became one of the rare Android apps not made by Google or Facebook to pass 1 billion downloads, thanks in part to the app often coming pre-installed on new phones.

Samsung plans to ship the Note 10 with Microsoft’s Your Phone app pre-installed too, which mirrors text messages and notifications onto Windows 10 PCs.

Microsoft head of mobile and cross-device experiences Shilpa Ranganathan announced this morning the app will also let users make and receive calls from their PC later this year, similar to a feature that allows Mac users to place calls from their computer through a connected iPhone.

The Marine Propeller Plug Market Forecast

This illustrates why some articles about some companies should be ignored....I counted 10 this morning... they all appear to be roughly the same kind of click-bait without the entertaining bug.

Finance Express

From this carefully crafted report:

Each section of the report reveals critical information about the global Marine Propeller Plug market that could be used to ensure strong growth in the coming years. Our unique blend of primary and secondary research techniques helped us to recognize hidden business opportunities available in the global Marine Propeller Plug market, besides collecting significant insights of market participants and obtaining precise market data. It includes several research studies such as manufacturing cost analysis, absolute dollar opportunity, pricing analysis, company profiling, production and consumption analysis, and market dynamics.

The Marine Propeller Plug market is valued at million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach million US$ by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of during 2019-2023. 

The Major Players Covered in this Report: eMagin Corporation, Universal Display Corporation, AU Optronics Corp, KopIn Corporation, Micron Technology, Himax Technology, LG Display, Microvision, Sony Corporation, Syndiant & More.

Moooovies