Newsletter - June 18th, 2025

Jun 18

Samsung is widely expected to confirm a release date for its Android-XR-powered mixed-reality headset at next month’s Unpacked event.
Rumors point to a Snapdragon XR2 + Gen 2 chipset, Sony micro-OLED panels, eye- & hand-tracking, auto-IPD, and a hot-swappable battery.
Serial leaker “Panda Flash” says Moohan will launch first in South Korea before a gradual global roll-out, echoing Apple’s Vision Pro strategy.
If Moohan ships this year it would become the first commercial device running Google’s new Android XR platform.

Khronos Group has released new Spatial Entities extensions that standardize plane, anchor, and marker tracking across XR devices.
The move cuts development time and cost by letting creators build persistent, shareable spatial apps without per-platform code.
Google’s AndroidXR OS is highlighted as a key beneficiary, promising true cross-vendor compatibility for upcoming headsets and smartglasses.
Early adopters—including PICO and Samsung’s Moohan project—are already testing the extensions ahead of full ratification.

Debuted at AWE 2025, UDCAP uses 0.1 mm elastic sensors to capture subtle finger movements with no external cameras or markers.
Plug-and-play design connects directly to PCs or headsets; SDK supports Unity, Unreal, and leading tracking systems.
Enterprise focus spans robotic tele-operation, surgical simulation, and VTuber performance; multiple gloves sync for group choreography.
Beta units ship now at US $1,799, with a lighter gaming version priced from $539 during launch promo.

At AWE, Google confirmed an upcoming SDK and emulator that will open Android XR to lightweight smart-glasses.
One code-base will target both full MR headsets (e.g., Samsung Moohan) and “computational-puck” glasses like XREAL Aura.
Tools will integrate Gemini AI services, encouraging voice- and vision-driven apps that run hands-free in everyday contexts.
The announcement pressures Meta and others to match openness as developers seek uniform spatial-app workflows.

Veteran smart-glasses maker Vuzix received a second Quanta tranche to expand low-cost waveguide manufacturing for its Z100 consumer glasses.
Funding brings Quanta’s stake to $15 million, supporting ambitions for “the world’s most affordable AI glasses.”
Vuzix’s in-house waveguides already power enterprise and defense partners; new capital targets mass-market pricing.
The deal lands amid a broader smart-glasses race, with Meta-Oakley eyewear slated for launch later this month.

The June 10-12 Long Beach event drew 5,000 + attendees and 250 exhibitors—its biggest showing yet.
Theme “XR is going mainstream” underscored AI as a catalyst; Google detailed AndroidXR while Snap teased 2026 consumer Spectacles.
Hall highlights included Android XR dev kits, XREAL Project Aura glasses, and enterprise demos ranging from logistics to field service.
Organizers noted enterprise now accounts for 71 % of XR market revenue, reflecting a shift from entertainment to productivity.

Imersiv.IO