Qualcomm struck the mobile tech scene
hard with the official announcement of the Snapdragon 835 chipset. The
efficient 10nm chip is now more power-friendly and capable than ever, with
particularly major performance improvements in the graphics department.
The American semiconductor giant, along with
Osterhout Design Group (ODG) wasted no time in introducing an interesting new
implementation and potential use for its newfound hardware power. The R-8 and
R-9 are both smartglasses, which is a slightly ambiguous title. They offer VR
experiences much like the HTC Vive or PS VR, but are untethered and rely solely
on the aforementioned Snapdragon chip.
Also, much like Microsoft's HoloLens, the R-8 and
R-9 offer an augmented or mixed reality experience as well. Ralph Osterhout,
Founder and CEO of ODG, commented on the exciting future implications of the
tech.
ODG is pioneering glasses for the masses that play
movies with cinematic clarity, drop you inside immersive 3D interactive
experiences, and reveal new worlds of invention and productivity. This is so
much bigger than just a device, it’s about a whole new computing medium that
will transform how we interact with and discover information and engage with
people and objects in the world around us.
The two initially showcased device are geared
towards slightly different crowds and usecases. The R-8 has a 40-degree field
of view and HD resolution and is generally intended as an end-user product.
Early adopters of the tech from the enthusiast consumer crowd will likely opt
for them.
Whereas, the R-9, with its 50-degree FOV, 1080p
resolution, advanced visual inertial odometry motion tracking and Project
Horizon compatibility, have a much more serious developer pedigree.
The more premium R-9 is expected to start shipping
to interested industry parties in Q2 of 2017, so content development can be
kickstarted. Their price tag is currently set at US$ 1,799. As for the
consumer-grade R-8 - they should hit shelves a bit later, during the second
half of the year and retail for around US$ 1,000.