Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Mark Gurman reported today thatMeta is upgrading itsSmart glassesand explore new wearable devices, such as watches and camera-equipped headsetswhich aims to embed its AI capabilities into more products.
According to people familiar with the matter,Meta to develop Oakley-branded smart glasses for athletes this yearMeta's device group, Reality Labs, is also planning to release new high-end eyewear with built-in displays in 2025, though those moves have yet to be announced.
The report also mentions that Meta's other products in development will compete with Apple's smartwatch and AirPods. The company is making progress on its first "true augmented reality product," which will be the first of its kind in the world.To be released around 2027A Meta representative declined to comment on the company's plans.
The product line, internally codenamed "Supernova," will expand in three main areas of business, according to the report:
- First, the company plans to take its current Ray-Ban eyewear to new markets.
- Second, Meta is expanding its smart glasses technology to other fashion brands under partner Luxottica Group SA. This includes a new version dubbed "Supernova 2", will be based on Oakley's Sphaera eyewear, which places a camera in the middle of the frame for cyclists and other athletes.
- The biggest upgrade this year will be a new high-end product with a design closer to current Ray-Ban eyewear. Codenamed "Hypernova (ultra-supernova)"The glasses will include a display at the bottom of the right lens that projects information into the user's field of view. Users will be able to run simple software applications, check notifications and view photos taken by the device. Some employees involved in the project expect thatThe Hypernova glasses will cost $1,000.(Note: currently around Rs. 7,278) or so, while the current Meta Ray-Ban glasses start at $299 (currently around Rs. 2,176).
Last September, the Meta Orion, the world's most expensive AR glasses, was announced, and with 10 years of development and a cost of $10,000, it became the center of attention for many fans of cutting-edge products. However, Gurman says the Orion glasses will never go on sale to customers. InsteadMeta hopes to start selling the successor, codenamed "Artemis," as early as 2027..
The report also mentions that Meta still needs to overcome challenges related to cost, display technology and manufacturing before it can actually ship. Those with knowledge of the Artemis prototype revealed thatThe glasses are more advanced and less heavy than the Orion beta glasses.
Meta is also building a rival prototype to the AirPods.Built-in camera to see the outside world and invoke AI. However, people with long hair are somewhat hampered by the device, and Meta was not happy with the camera angle in the recent demo version. The headphones, known internally as "Camera Buds," are still in the early stages, people familiar with the matter said. If Meta can't solve these challenges, it could cancel the project.
The Bloomberg report also mentioned thatApple is also exploring the idea of mounting cameras on headphones, and has made progress over the past few months. According to other sources familiar with the matterSamsung is also considering a headset with a camera.
