The AR Roundup: August 2020

Here is what you missed in augmented reality from August 1–31, 2020

Source: Acute Art featuring art by Nina Chanel Abney

Numbers

Forecasts

• The market research firm Future Market Insights forecast this month that the mobile augmented reality market alone would be worth US$3-billion by the end of this year — and US$24-billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 23.2 per cent. (The Globe and Mail)
• “[Apple’s] path to $3 trillion starts with the fact that the world has changed. Apple’s current and future golden geese (wellness, AR, autonomous systems) are becoming more central to our lives in this new world.” says Gene Munster of Loup Ventures (ped30)

Reported

• The Weeknd Virtual Concert on TikTok Drew Over 2M Viewers, Raised $350,000 for Equal Justice Initiative (Variety)

Featured Video: Matt Reed creates the killer AR app of the Summer — copy & paste Margaritas

Source: Twitter — mcreed

Money

Hardware

• Varjo Raises $54M Financing to Support Its Retina-Quality VR/AR Headsets for Enterprise (Road to VR)

Platforms & Tools

• Unity Software Files for New York Stock Exchange IPO (Bloomberg)
• Report: Apple quietly acquired Israel’s Camerai, formerly Tipit, a specialist in AR and camera tech (TechCrunch)
• Accenture buys CreativeDrive to expand output of content for brands (Marketing Dive)
• Epic Games unveils $1.78 billion funding round at $17.3 billion valuation (VentureBeat)

Applications & Solutions

• Apple acquires VR startup Spaces (Protocol)
• L.A. augmented reality startup Fabric raises $1M for AR social app (dot.la)

Featured Tweet: AR isn’t just about adding things to the world — Takahiro Horikawa demos Diminished Reality

Source: Twitter — thorikawa

News

Hardware

Launch Announcements

• Nreal Light AR Smart Glasses Will Be Bundled With Latest Samsung And LG Smartphones (VR Scout)
• DropLab’s launches EP 01 Triple Black Haptic Sneakers (VR Scout)
• Amazon announces Halo, a fitness band and app that scans your body and voice (The Verge)
• Subpac gives a sneak peek of the Subpac X1 (Twitter)

Updates

• Elon Musk demonstrates Neuralink’s tech live using pigs with surgically implanted brain-monitoring devices (TechCrunch)
• Facebook changes name of its annual VR event and its overall AR/VR organization (TechCrunch)
• Work smarter from home with new video conferencing apps on Portal (Tech@Facebook)

Rumors, Patents & Relevant Research

• ‘Apple Glass’ may use Look Around-style smooth navigation motion (Apple Insider)
• Apple Glass could communicate with other devices for accurate AR mapping (Apple Insider)
• Apple wins a Pair of Patents Relating to Holographic Imagery generated from Future micro-LED Displays on iPhone & HMD (Patently Apple)
• Apple Patent Reveals some of the Details behind the iPhone 12’s ToF Depth-Camera System (Patently Apple)
• Apple Wins a Patent for a High-End Predictive, Foveated Mixed Reality HMD (Patently Apple)
• Apple wins patent for an Expandable Ring accessory that will control content on Future Mixed Reality Glasses & HMD (Patently Apple)

Platforms & Tools

Launch Announcements

• Lens Studio 3.1 Update Alert Police cars revolving light: 2D Full Body Tracking transforms your dances, workouts or whatever keeps you moving (Twitter)
• Google debuts On-device, Real-time Body Pose Tracking with MediaPipe BlazePose (Google)
• Ultraleap brings natural XR interactions to the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G Reference Design (Ultraleap)
• Move.ai enables AI motion capture without the hassle for video game production (VentureBeat)

Updates

• Zoom updates with filters, reactions, lighting and more (Zoom)
• Apple releases iOS 14 public beta 6 with time picker changes, Spatial Audio toggle, more (9to5 Mac)
• Pixel phones losing Playground AR stickers could just be the start (Slashgear)

Rumors, Patents & Relevant Research

• Apple TV Plus is reportedly getting augmented reality companion content (The Verge)
• Google uses crowdsourced photos to recreate landmarks in 3D for AR/VR (VentureBeat)

Featured Creators: Jeremey Bailey, Ines Alpha & Jean-Paul Pirie debut Spectacles Lenses

Source: Twitter — spectacles

Source: Twitter — jeremybailey

Source: Twitter — spectacles

News

Applications & Solutions

Consumer

• Instagram launches Reels (The Verge)
• Google makes NASA artifacts and prehistoric crustaceans viewable in AR (The Verge)
• Google adds AR chemistry models to Search (Android Police)
• New Google Lens feature will scan math problems and offer guides to help students (MobileSyrup)
• LEGO and Harry Potter conjures Diagon Alley Set and AR Experience (Syfy)
• Abacus Brands to release Bill Nye’s VR Science Kit this Fall (ToyBook)
• The Witcher is getting a monster-hunting AR spinoff for mobile (The Verge)
• Tour de France 2020 to feature augmented reality, machine learning, and more (TechRepublic)
• Augmented reality Indy 500: 5G set to transform the virtual race day fan experience (TechRepublic)
• Doodlar app brings your doodles to life in AR (Input Mag)
• Felix & Paul Studios To Create AR Book Of Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Seven Ravens (VR Focus)

Enterprise

• Porsche and innovation.rocks win two Red Dot awards for augmented reality training solution (innovation.rocks)

Marketing

Social AR

• New Sally Hansen Nail Colour Try-On Lens On Snapchat (AR.Rocks)
• Hoka One One Taps Snapchat AR Lens for Virtual Pop-Up Store (AdWeek)
• Missoni uses Instagram Filters to let users try on masks (Twitter)

WebAR

• Burger King delivers immersive AR experience during VMAs (Mobile Marketer)
• Hyundai releases browser-based augmented reality experience in place of retail stores (Mumbrella)
• Run The Jewels release 3D model of their iconic logo for remix contest (The Verge)
• Saatchi AR tool lets you test out paintings on your wall before you buy them (Digital Trends)
• Aircards announce WEbAR retail experience for BON V!V (Aircards)
• Park a 2021 F-150 Anywhere with Ford’s Augmented-Reality Tool (Car and Driver)
• Montreal Canadiens & Edmonton Oilers use Ford Sponsored WebAR Face Effects to engage fans (Twitter) (Twitter)
• Dominos Pizza Japan launch WebAR marketing campaign (Twitter)
• HLN publishes WebAR escape room (Twitter)

Other

• Gucci’s smartphone app now lets you try on its watches virtually using augmented reality (Luxury Launches)
• Pinterest expands lipstick Try on feature to over 10,000 shoppable shades (VentureBeat)
• Amazon’s AR app lets you fill your home with virtual furniture (9to5 Mac)

Featured Quote: Welcome to the “Virtual Experience Economy”

“We’ve now entered what market research firm IBTM World calls the “virtual experience economy.” Consumers want brands to use technology that not only serves a purpose, like making it easier to order a cup of coffee from their car, but also creates a memorable and lasting experience.” (CNBC)

Music & Art

• Nina Chanel Abney Unveils First-Ever Artwork in Augmented Reality (Hypebeast)
• ARTECHOUSE Presents Vince Fraser’s WE RISE ABOVE, an Augmented Reality Experience (Broadway World)
• Zedd unveils immersive Snapchat Lens for hit single “Funny” (EDM)

Human Impact & Ethics

• Google expands Lookout app for people who are blind or vision-impaired (CNET)
• Ogilvy, City of Chicago Team Up on Snapchat AR Lens to Encourage Mask Usage (AdWeek)
• TxDOT launches ‘dart those distractions’ game (Times Record News)
• Edward Colston: Project launched for statue replacement (BBC News)
• Snapchat honors the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington with “Raise Your Voice” Lenses (Twitter)

Follow me on Twitter @TomEmrich. Got news to share or have feedback on “The AR Roundup”? Email me at tom@tomemrich.com.