Meta, the tech giant, recently announced that it will open up its Meta Quest system, used for augmented reality devices, to third-party hardware manufacturers such as ASUS, Lenovo, and Microsoft. This means that these companies can now use the Meta operating system to create their own augmented reality devices.
Meta stated that they are collaborating with leading global tech companies to expand the ecosystem of augmented reality and provide developers with more development space. By extending the Meta Quest system to other company’s products, it will stimulate the development of more applications and content, making the technology and applications of augmented reality more diverse.
Meta has named this operating system “Meta Horizon OS”. Horizon OS features built-in tracking capabilities to detect users’ body movements and enable control. Additionally, it possesses high-resolution perspective, scene understanding, and spatial anchor capabilities. In the future, any augmented reality device from collaborating companies can adopt the Horizon OS system.
Meta stated that they will allow developers to utilize the functionalities of the Horizon OS system to develop new applications, which can then be published on Meta’s content platform, such as Meta Horizon Store, for users to download and generate profits.
ASUS, Lenovo, and Microsoft are all partners in this endeavor. Currently, software or systems running on Meta Quest devices to support social interaction will be expanded to use the Horizon OS system and will be available on devices from different manufacturers. This will allow users to interact with other identities, virtual characters, and communities across devices. Furthermore, all devices running Horizon OS will also use the same mobile application called “Meta Horizon App”.
Currently, many hardware manufacturers are developing devices that run on Horizon OS. For example, ASUS’s gaming brand “ROG (Republic of Gamers)” is developing a new performance gaming device with Horizon OS. Although specific details have not been disclosed, this product may provide gamers with augmented reality functionality.
Chinese tech company Lenovo is also developing a new augmented reality device that adopts the Horizon OS system to enhance productivity, learning, and entertainment experiences. Lenovo already has some experience in this field, as the company previously collaborated with Facebook, now known as Meta, to create the virtual reality device Oculus Rift S. Later, Meta rebranded and abandoned Oculus, renaming it Meta Quest.
Microsoft’s Xbox is also collaborating with Meta to develop a “Limited Edition Xbox-themed” Meta Quest device. Additionally, Meta has opened up the ability to run Xbox cloud gaming services on Quest devices, further deepening the collaboration between the two companies.
However, for now, Xbox does not seem to have plans to independently release their own branded augmented reality device.
Source:
Business Standard, Cointelegraph, CNBC
Reviewed and edited by: Gao Jingyuan