Q2 Global AR/VR Headset Shipments Rise by 25.5%
According to the latest report from IDC titled "Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker," global shipments of AR and VR headsets reached 2.13 million units in the first quarter, marking a 25.5% year-over-year increase. Notably, this data excludes mobile VR devices like Google Cardboard. The report highlights a growing interest in immersive technologies, with more consumers and businesses exploring augmented and virtual reality solutions.
In the second quarter of 2017, the top five companies in terms of AR/VR headset shipments were Samsung, Sony, Facebook, TCL, and HTC. Their market shares stood at 26.7%, 24.4%, 11.6%, 5.0%, and 4.4%, respectively. Samsung's Galaxy S8 and S8+ boosted Gear VR sales, while Sony's PSVR ranked second. Facebook’s Oculus Rift saw a sales boost after a $100 price cut, surpassing HTC. TCL's bundled sales with smartphones placed it fourth, and HTC Vive maintained its fifth position with a 4.4% market share. Interestingly, HTC had recently announced a price reduction for the Vive, aiming to boost future product sales.
$1.1 Billion! HTC and Google Reach Acquisition Agreement
HTC faced significant challenges, with August revenue dropping by 54.39% year-on-year and a sharp decline to NT$30.01 billion, the lowest since 2004. Over the past five years, HTC's market value has plummeted by nearly 75%, now standing at just $1.9 billion. Its smartphone business holds less than 2% of the global market and has fallen out of the top 10. In response, HTC and Google announced an agreement: Google will acquire a team that worked on the Pixel phone, and HTC will receive a $1.1 billion payment. Additionally, HTC will grant Google non-exclusive licenses to its intellectual property.
HTC and Google Reached an Acquisition Agreement
As part of the deal, HTC will focus on its own smartphone production and the development of the HTC Vive. While the Vive has been one of HTC's most successful ventures in recent years, the VR industry is still in its early stages, requiring continued innovation and investment.
Small School Launches 8K VR Head on Kickstarter
Recently, Small School Technology launched its 8K VR headset on Kickstarter, aiming to raise $200,000. The campaign reached its goal within an hour. The headset features two 4K screens (3840 x 2160), a 200° field of view, less than 15ms latency, and supports DP1.4 and USB 3.0 interfaces. It also uses a self-developed sub-millimeter-level PITRACKING laser positioning system and BRAIN-WARP technology to achieve a 180Hz refresh rate. The device is expected to ship in January 2018.
Small School Technology 8K VR Head
Intel Cancels Project Alloy
While Microsoft introduced the Windows MR platform last year, Intel's Project Alloy did not gain much traction. According to reports, Intel has decided to cancel the public reference design for the Project Alloy VR headset, citing a lack of partner interest—possibly due to the dominance of Microsoft’s ecosystem.
iPhone AR Applications Remain Popular Among Early Adopters
The iPhone 8 has officially launched, but consumer reception has been mixed. Many are waiting for the iPhone X. Apple's A11 chip showcased impressive performance, and although VR wasn’t explicitly mentioned, support for AR was strong. iOS 11 added an AR section to the App Store, featuring apps like AR cameras and games. However, some users reported overheating when running these apps on older models like the iPhone 6, 6s, or 7. Upgrading should be done with caution.
AR Apps in iOS 11
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