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Trying VR Bungee Jumping and the Future of Augmented Reality
CNET· 2025-06-14 12:00
AR/XR Technology & Market Trends - The AR/XR industry is experiencing rapid change with AI integration and evolving form factors like meta bands and XR glasses [2] - Snap is developing AR glasses for release next year, while Google's Android XR platform, incorporating Gemini AI, will debut with AI glasses through Warby Parker before expanding to full AR glasses [3] - Peripherals like rings and watches are being developed to enhance AR glass functionality, enabling hand gesture tracking and control even when hands are out of sight [3][4] - AR glasses are evolving for outdoor use and multi-user experiences, as demonstrated by Niantic Spatial's location-based AR experience using Snap Spectacles [5] - Companies are exploring the overlap of physical and virtual experiences in entertainment, such as Meowolf's collaboration with Niantic Spatial to integrate AR into physical installations, expected in 2026 [9] - Light field displays are being developed for mission-critical applications like defense and driving, offering greater depth and potential for windshield integration [10][11] Product Development & Future Outlook - New Meta glasses are anticipated by the end of the year, and Google's AI glasses are expected in 2026 [13] - Companies like XRL are pushing boundaries with devices like the XRL 1 Pro glasses and eye camera, offering six degrees of freedom tracking and potential for AI integration [13][14] - Haptic technology, such as haptic gloves, is being developed to enhance tactile interaction in VR/AR experiences [16] - Free Aim is launching motorized VR walking shoes via a Kickstarter campaign, with shipping expected 6-8 months after the campaign ends in July [17][18] - The future of AR/XR remains uncertain, with various form factors and AI integration strategies being explored [19]
Liquid Glass Reactions Get Spicy 🔥 but 3 iOS Updates Matter More
CNET· 2025-06-12 12:00
iOS 新设计与用户体验 - 苹果公司推出了新的 "液体玻璃 "设计,但用户对其可读性和视觉效果存在分歧 [1][2][19] - 新的 iOS 系统增加了辅助功能选项,可以调整透明度 [3] 功能更新与应用 - iPhone 用户可以通过截图进行搜索,视觉智能将提取截图中的信息 [5][6] - Apple 地图将根据用户日常习惯提供路线建议,但数据准确性和隐私问题引人关注 [7][8][9][10] - 电话功能升级,机器人秘书可以帮助用户过滤来电,并提供实时翻译功能 [11][12][13][14][15] 其他设备与功能 - iPad 获得类似 Mac 的新界面,支持窗口平铺和多任务处理 [15] - Spotlight 搜索功能得到改进,但未被宣传为 AI 功能 [17] - Apple Watch 推出新的锻炼伙伴功能 [18] 行业影响与未来展望 - 苹果公司的新功能旨在提供更智能的助手服务,但并未明确强调 AI [16][17][18] - 行业将持续关注新的 "液体玻璃 "设计是否会应用于其他产品,如眼镜或 AR 头显 [19]
iOS 26 Features Explained -- Here’s What You Need to Know
CNET· 2025-06-10 04:50
iOS 26 Overview - Apple previewed iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, featuring a new name and look [1] - The theme of WWDC 2025 is consistency across Apple devices and user experience [2] - iOS 26 introduces a new interface called "liquid glass," providing a clean, transparent look across iOS [3][4] - The new design extends to the home screen, lock screen, watchOS, tvOS, macOS, and CarPlay for a consistent experience [5] Key Features and Updates - The Messages app now supports polls, with Apple Intelligence suggesting poll creation in group chats [5][6] - Messages app includes spam text detection and screening of unknown numbers [7] - Live translation is supported in Messages, FaceTime calls, and phone conversations using on-device Apple models [8] - The camera app has been overhauled for easier navigation with streamlined controls [8][9] - A new Games app provides a dedicated portal to Apple Arcade and third-party games [9][10] - The Phone app features call screening for unknown numbers and hold assist to manage hold music [12][13] Availability - iOS 26 is scheduled to launch in the fall, with a developer beta available now and a public beta in July [14] - iOS 26 requires an iPhone 11 or newer [14]
WWDC 2025: Everything Revealed in 9 Minutes
CNET· 2025-06-09 18:35
Welcome to Apple Park and welcome to WWDC. Liquid Glass with the optical qualities of glass and a fluidity that only Apple can achieve. It transforms depending on your content or even your context and brings more clarity to navigation and controls.It beautifully refracts light and dynamically reacts to your movement with specular highlights. This material brings a new level of vitality to every aspect of your experience. From the smallest elements you interact with to larger ones, it responds in real time t ...
Apple Unveils Call Screens to Eliminate Unwanted Calls
CNET· 2025-06-09 18:22
We're also introducing a new way to help eliminate distractions like unwanted calls, which can get in the way of picking up the important calls we're waiting for. Now, when you receive a call from an unknown number, call screening helps you quickly gauge whether it's something important or just another pesky telemarketer. Building on live voicemail, call screening automatically answers calls from unknown numbers silently in the background.Once the caller shares their name and the reason for their call, your ...
WWDC 25: Introducing macOS Tahoe
CNET· 2025-06-09 18:15
Mac OS Tahoe. Mac OS Tahoe is all about giving you beautiful and powerful tools for the unique ways you use Mac. It includes many of the features you heard about in iOS like backgrounds and screening tools and messages, more options in image playground and live translation.Starting with a stunning new design, it elevates the iconic elements of Mac OS, making them at once fresh and timelessly Mac. From the moment you unlock, the desktop is instantly familiar. Widgets, the dock, and app icons have been refine ...
Apple iOS 26 Will Stay On Hold For You
CNET· 2025-06-09 18:10
We have another great experience to help you on your least favorite kind of call. One where you're put on hold. We know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold for what feels like forever just to finally speak with a live agent.Well, get that time back with hold assist. With hold assist, the phone app can keep your spot in line while you wait for a live agent. Next time you're stuck on hold, whether it's because you're changing your flight or dealing with utility bills, the phone app automatically detects ...
Liquid Glass: A Sassy New Look for iPhone
CNET· 2025-06-09 17:56
User Interface Design & Functionality - Liquid glass material adapts intelligently between light and dark environments, enhancing user experience [1] - Alerts appear from the point of user tap, streamlining interactions [2] - Context menus expand into easily scannable lists for improved navigation [2] - Tap bars shrink when scrolling to elevate content, instantly reappearing when scrolling up, creating a more intuitive experience [3] Visual Aesthetics & Customization - App icons are crafted with multiple layers of liquid glass, offering diverse visual options [3] - Icons come to life in light mode, dark mode, colorful new tints, or a clear look, providing customization [3]
iOS 26 is Apple’s Biggest Redesign Since iOS 7
CNET· 2025-06-09 17:49
Our last major redesign was iOS 7. Back then, we were inspired by the recent emergence of retina displays and the amazing power of our A6 silicon. Well, a lot has changed.Apple silicon has become dramatically more powerful, enabling software, materials, and experiences we once can only dream of. And our devices have become even more vital to our daily lives with more apps available than. ...
ROG Xbox Ally, the Xbox Handheld is Real and I Played It
CNET· 2025-06-09 01:31
Product Overview - Xbox is releasing two handheld gaming devices, the Xbox Ally and the more powerful Xbox Ally X [1] - The Xbox Ally runs Windows 11 and supports multiple storefronts including Xbox, Game Pass, Battlelet, and potentially Steam [2] - The devices allow users to download games, remote play from Xbox, or stream from the cloud [5] - The Xbox Ally features a dedicated Xbox button and larger contoured grips, differentiating it from the previous ROG Ally [9] Technical Specifications - The Xbox Ally features an AMD Ryzen Z2A processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, weighs 670 grams, and has a 60Wh battery [10] - The Xbox Ally X features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, 24 GB of RAM, 1 TB of SSD storage, weighs 715 grams, and has an 80Wh battery [10] - Both devices have a 7-inch 1080p screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate [11] User Experience - The devices boot directly into the Xbox full screen experience, optimized for handheld gaming [7][8] - The Xbox Ally uses the Game Bar, similar to the Xbox app on PC, with a new command center tab for adjusting power consumption and performance [6] - The full screen experience minimizes background activity and dedicates more system resources to gameplay [8] Market Positioning - The Xbox Ally is positioned as a more open platform compared to the Nintendo Switch, similar to the Steam Deck [4] - The device offers more utility than PlayStation's Portal, which can only stream and play remotely [5]