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This Week In XR: Apple’s Annual Love Fest, RIP Darqui AR, Story UP Funding, Vive Cosmos Out, Gunwerx Virtual ARsenal

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The biggest news in XR this week was Apple’s annual unveiling of new editions of the iPhone, iWatch, iPad and Apple services like their Arcade gaming subscription. Notably absent was any announcement of Apple eyewear, but everyone in XR was talking about it, just in case. Everyone else has their eye on the new iPhone 11 pro.

Google announces ARCore update improving cloud anchors. The new update to ARCore is said to improve the reliability of anchoring AR content in the world using visual processing in the cloud and allowing for multiple anchor points to be resolved in a scene simultaneously. Nerd-speak aside, this means more reliable 3D content that can be viewed from more angles. 

DAQRI shutting its doors after 10 years. The pioneering augmented reality company, which has been on its heels since management turnover in 2018, is winding down all operations for its hardware production and Worksense software by the end of September. There’s a famous saying in the Valley: “pioneers are the ones with arrows in their backs, settlers build cities by their graves.”

Human Capable Inc.’s $199 Norm Glasses, lightweight, normal looking AR Smart Glasses have launched a successful Kickstarter to fund their Augmented Reality Smart Glasses with voice recognition, speakers, camera and display; head-up & hands free. The design won an Innovation Award at CES 2019. They crushed their $15,000 goal, raising $591,411. Human Capable says the Norm Glasses will ship in January, 2020. More from Venture Beat.

StoryUP closes $1.3 Million round and brings on Tinder founder as board advisor. StoryUP are the creators of VR mental health app Healium. Sean Rad, founder of Tinder, connected with StoryUP at SXSW earlier this year when the startup won the pitch competition. Basically, their unique brain wave reader lets users move things around with their minds. Healium is also available for AR in the app store.

RE’FLEKT and Bosch announce first vertical-specific use case for augmented reality operating system. The Bosch Common Automotive Augmented Reality Platform (CAP) focuses on utilizing AR for knowledge transfer in the automotive industry. Bosch CAP is now using RE’FLEKT’s RE’FLEKT ONE augmented reality software platform which is hardware agnostic. In addition, the two companies are Hololens 2 partners with Microsoft. 

Vive Cosmos now available for Pre-order, shipping October 3. Notable features of the new headset from Vive include six camera inside-out tracking, 2880 x 1700 resolution, and a flip up display. Users will be able to use existing outside-in tracking of their Vive lighthouses using a modification available Q1 of next year. Anyone who pre-orders will receive a 12-month Viveport Infinity subscription. The headset can be had for $699 and included two wireless controllers. Tony Vitillo lays it all out.  

Hologate to demonstrate new Hologate Blitz VR motion platform at IAAPA Expo Europe. The seated motion platform allows users to experience the thrill of racing through fantastical worlds in the comfort of a Hologate VR arcade. With a mix of hydraulics, air blowers, and a VR headset the Hologate Blitz motion platform can simulate high speed experiences in VR. The new motion platform can be seen at the IAAPA Expo Europe, 17th-19th of September 2019. 

TIME launches AR experience “Inside the Amazon: The Dying Forest”. In partnership with Trigger - The Mixed Reality Agency, Time Immersive has launched their latest AR enabled news story via their app. Users can view tabletop size 3D representations of the Amazon forest and see the effects of deforestation, as well as the size of the areas deforested. You can try the experience using the TIME Immersive app.

Interactive tours at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts brought to you by Zappar. Visitors to the newly opened REACH using the Tour the Kennedy Center app can now scan Zapcodes located throughout the campus to activate interactive media and trivia. The content was created in collaboration with Mo Willems, children’s author and illustrator. The AR experience is available now during REACH’s opening festival September 7-22. 

Gunwerx to display products in AR thanks to NexTech. We don’t want to shoot our mouths off about 3D e-commerce, but NexTech is building AR eCommerce displays for the high-end custom shooting systems company. Gunwerx customers will be able to view products in 3D via their at home devices before making a purchase. They need to make some free Gunwerx I can take with me into Fortnite.

Festival of International Virtual and Augmented Reality Stories underway this weekend in Toronto. Starting Friday, September 13, the 5th annual edition of Toronto’s FIVARS festival is showcasing over 150 immersive experiences using virtual reality, augmented reality, projection mapping, and more.

First ever VR esports tournament in Mexico launched this week. Minority Media, in partnership with Cinemex, is running a tournament for its VR arcade title Chaos Jump. The game and tournament can be found in 19 Cinemex locations across Mexico, and the companies aim for 20 more locations over the next year. Semi-finalists will be flown to Mexico City to compete live in the finals on November 9th, where first place will be awarded 10,000 pesos(about $8000 USD). 

EWTS next week in Dallas Texas. The Enterprise Wearable Technology Summit is taking place September 17-19th in Dallas, Texas at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Several important company announcements are expected. We’ll be there collecting enterprise use cases. See you there!

This Week In XR is written and edited with Michael Eichenseer.

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