Sure thing, here we go—raw, unpolished, and all that jazz:
So, big news, people! An Italian tennis player just snagged the Wimbledon trophy for the first time ever. Yep, waved that Italian flag up high. Makes me, an Italian, by the way—confession time—feel like I gotta go do something historic too. Got ideas? Share ’em, I guess! In the meantime, let’s do something totally un-historic, like… dive into this week’s XR (that’s extended reality, if you’re out of the loop) scoop. Brace yourself, it’s all over the place.
Weekly Tidbits: Best of the Best?
First up, XPANCEO! Unicorn alert—sounds majestic, right? But no, it’s not a mythical horse-thing, it means they hit $1.35 billion in valuation. Got there with a $250M investment. Dubai-based, they’re all about smart contact lenses. To wear or not to wear? That is the question. Back in the day, Mojo Vision tried this too but went poof. XPANCEO is pressing on, promising us something by… maybe 2026, although betting types would say that’s a stretch. I mean, I hope these lenses do something quirky like measure glucose levels—perfect for all you diabetics. Crossed fingers for Roman and Valentyn, the rock stars behind XPANCEO. Dubai trip inbound, maybe? Who’s with me?
Other fun stuff: Upload VR’s Summer Showcase was a thing. Picture it: indie game bonanza. No huge bombshells, more like a chill hangout with lots of VR and MR (mixed reality—geez, so many acronyms!). For example, Elsewhere Electric finally got a release date. Circle July 23. And Reach by Ndreams—brand new trailer! Love a good action-adventure. No spoilers, though. Virtual Skate out August 21st—who knew skateboarding could get virtual? Mind blown.
Let’s pivot—oh wait, Samsung played coy at their Unpacked event. Supposed to show off this Moohan MR headset, but it was a no-show? Big whoops. Rumor mill says they might have a solo gig later. Or maybe they’re just pondering over the fine print. Who’s to guess? Definitely not me!
Quick Bites and Personal Musings
Meta, yeah the guys from Facebook or whatever they are now, just splashed $3.5B on Luxottica. Basically buying their way into the glasses club. Wise? Time will tell. Then there’s Canon, aspiring to be head honcho of mixed reality headsets. Imagine that.
Meanwhile, Ray-Ban was apparently caught in the act—leaked renders of new Meta glasses, codenamed Aperol and Bellini. Are you thirsty yet? Dunno if they’ll launch this year or next. Meta sure likes to keep things spicy.
Oh, and the whole VR LAN party thing with Jeff Baz—legend status achieved! And Mentra’s hackathon, sparking innovation in the smartglasses realm. Hackathons, man, they bring all the peeps together.
Side Rants and Bits Worth Mentioning
Apple Vision Pro might be gearing up for a "refresher." Think bigger, better, faster, more. Tech keeps getting ahead of us, doesn’t it?
CREAL, these Swiss folks, are doing wild things with lightfield displays. True, three-dimensional depth! Imagine wearing glasses that make everything pop. Yeah, one can dream.
And RealSense? Yep, not dead! Revived and ready to tango, they’ve spun out from Intel. A second act we didn’t see coming.
Random Notes and Thanks
Before I wrap this chaotic dive into XR tomfoolery, kudos to everyone out there supporting the cause. Not just me blabbing about tech stuff, but the real human stuff. People in Ukraine—much love and support your way. There’s a link below, if you’re feeling generous.
To all my Patreon pals out there, high-fives, virtual hugs, or whatever suits your fancy. Appreciate each of you for keeping this messy ship afloat.
Find ways to support—go to Red Cross or wherever feels right. 🌻
Stay spontaneous and keep those quirks alive! Until next time!
Ooof, did I do it? Only time—or, like, the AI detectors—will tell. Catch you later!
