The Ghost Howls

MAY 23, 2023

So the next 2–3 weeks are going to be crazy for me, so sorry if I will make the comments on the newsletter a bit shorter than usual. On the personal side, I’m a bit devasted by the flood that happened in central Italy.

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Apple Magic Leap Machine Learning Samsung 303

The Ghost Howls

FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Let’s see how Apple and Google will answer. Sony closes its game studio in Manchester. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony is closing its Manchester-based game studio, that it opened in 2015 to produce ‘AAA’ PSVR exclusives. Google Glass 2 is now available for direct purchase. And Facebook has just made its first move.

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Hand tracking AR Augmented Reality Oculus 424

The Ghost Howls

JANUARY 25, 2021

Regarding the Valve Index , GabeN explained that it went out of stock because one of the needed components came from Wuhan (yes, exactly that city…) and during the pandemic, Sony and Microsoft got all the supplies , so Valve had enormous problems in manufacturing the device. More info (Use Google Translate). Some XR fun. Funny link.

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Apple New Zealand AR Data 411

The Ghost Howls

APRIL 13, 2020

On the other side, this is massive for Apple, that mixing the data of Apple Maps together with all these point clouds detected by the rear cameras when in use, will be able to create an AR Cloud ecosystem probably even before Facebook, Microsoft, and Google. Let’s see if Facebook will be a worthier opponent than Google. Image by Acer).

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Augmented Reality Virtual Reality Apple Tools 386

The Ghost Howls

MARCH 20, 2022

Today, while I’m packing my stuff up to go back to Italy, I want to tell you a few words about my experience there, and if I think it has been worth going. I was not so sure I wanted to go, because from Italy to Austin is a long trip, but I decided to try this new adventure… and well, I’m more than happy of having done that.

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Austin Texas Italy Industry 475

The Ghost Howls

MAY 11, 2020

This startup just exited from stealth mode, is like Google Maps but for the interior of shopping centers, offices, and other closed environments. More info (Google Lens) More info (AR copy to Photoshop) More info (VROOM). It can be very important for indoor navigation, or to let you explore a shopping center before going there.

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Magic Leap Healthcare Oculus AR 273

The Ghost Howls

JANUARY 20, 2021

And in fact, some weeks ago Sony has made everyone understand that it has delayed the launch of the PSVR 2 because the market is not there yet. And a big company like Google could also afford to sell it at the same price as the Quest 2, hoping for a future domination of the VR ecosystem. It is cool, but pretty old now (Image by Sony).

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Virtual Reality Trends China HTC 518

The Ghost Howls

OCTOBER 26, 2020

Coronavirus is back in Italy and from yesterday we’re having new restrictions like a night curfew, some kind of shops closed, etc… I hope that you and the people you love are safe. Sony will give PS4 camera adapters for PS5 for free. Sony has answered this question in the weekend.

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UploadVR Between Realities podcast

MAY 4, 2017

Google and Sony both have intellectual property around waveguide designs similar in nature. Essilor is the world’s largest lens manufacturer, and recently merged with Luxottica of Italy, the world’s largest eye-frames company. They recently closed a $22M round co-led by Sony and Foxconn. Near-eye Optics Basics.

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The Ghost Howls

MARCH 2, 2020

The damn coronavirus continues to impact all our lives: the fact that many countries are applying restrictions on flights to and from Italy is, for example, creating various nuisances to my job. Coronavirus impacts headsets production and kills F8 and GDC. Facebook acquires Sanzaru Games. The details of the deal are unknown.

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Hand tracking AR Oculus HTC 232

ARPost

JULY 23, 2021

Where: Turin, Italy (and Online). When: October 17 – October 21. Turin becomes the hotspot for anyone passionate about VFX computer graphics.

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Asia China Virtual Reality Entertainment 509

XR Today - Virtual Reality

JULY 29, 2024

EssilorLuxottica, a multinational corporation based in Italy and France, is already working with Meta on developing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. This chipset will reportedly be integrated into Samsung and Sony headsets, Play for Dream MR and Immersed’s Visor. Based on LSEG data, this stake could be valued at $4.73

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Magic Leap HTC Hardware Italy 159

The Ghost Howls

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Italy won the Tennis Davis Cup, and that was pretty cool to see (the match between Sinner and Djokovic was just incredible). This may be one of the potential names for either the upcoming mixed reality headset that Samsung is developing with Google or the name of future AR glasses. Who will it be… Sony or Meta?

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Augmented Reality Apple Samsung Ukraine 346

The Ghost Howls

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Among other things, I have written a fantastic post about the VR concerts worth millions of dollars that Pico is doing in China ; I have been interviewed in a podcast by Moonbase ; and this Saturday I will be close to Turin (Italy) speaking at a science and technology festival about my work in immersive concerts.

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HTC Ukraine Sony Healthcare 342

The Ghost Howls

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

Sony has just clarified that VR “games with unlocked framerates or dynamic resolution up to 4K may see higher fidelity” on PS5 , and some games like Blood&Truth and Firewall Zero Hour have been patched to introduce this feature, but it is not enough for the PSVR community. Google releases the Objectron dataset.

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The Ghost Howls

JULY 3, 2023

Top news of the week (Image by Google) Google killed its AR glasses Project Iris Do you remember the name Project Iris? Various reports indicated it as the internal codename in Google for a project meant to build augmented reality glasses. It was our hope for Google entering the AR race together with Meta and Apple.

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Google Gaming Unity Machine Learning 265

The Ghost Howls

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

That’s why we rejoiced when Apple launched its headset: while Google and Microsoft can discard new technologies pretty easily, Apple is slower at deciding to take a step, but when it makes it, it commits to it. They will just spend the rest of the time allotted for the event with Blackjack and Hookers or by drinking BBQ sauce.

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The Ghost Howls

OCTOBER 31, 2021

Here in Italy we were not used to celebrating it when I was a kid, but children now have fun dressing up and asking for some sweeties from their neighbors. Sony is reported to launch a mobile VR headset. According to Xperia Blog, Sony is going to launch a mobile VR headset working out of Sony phones.

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The Ghost Howls

OCTOBER 16, 2022

This is ridiculous, not only because the Pro costs a lot of money, but also because it is sold as a “work device” I don’t know how things work where Zuck lives, but here in Italy, a typical workday is 8 hours, not 2. If at Meta they just work 2 hours, I want to be hired there immediately.

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The Ghost Howls

APRIL 18, 2022

Anyway, today should be a vacation in Italy, but here I am writing this roundup for you, so if you want to show your appreciation, don’t forget to make a donation on Patreon ! In case there is another platform involved, e.g. Android, 30% will go to Google, and 25% of the remaining money (i.e. Top news of the week. In total, 52.5%

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The Ghost Howls

APRIL 25, 2022

This was the final big surprise of the event: Sony Pictures and Meta, in partnership with nDreams, will bring the famous franchise to virtual reality. The second one is called Phorhum and it is a project by Google Research about reconstructing the 3D model of a person, with all its clothes, from a single photo.

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The Ghost Howls

MARCH 23, 2020

Jokes apart, before starting, let me send a big hug to all of you that are in quarantine because of the coronavirus and thank all the people that in these days have cared about me after having heard the sad news about Italy (Simon, David, Daniel, Suzie, Mark… John that has been so kind… Sebastian, and many others!). Yes, Android, Google.

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