Virtual & Augmented Reality


At $3499, the Apple Vision Pro Offers a Lot of Flash, but Where’s the Substance?

Apple announced its long-rumored, long-awaited virtual and augmented reality headset today, the Apple Vision Pro. On the one hand, it’s always exciting when Apple announces something new, as they do have a history of revolutionizing different markets. On the other hand, this looks like it might not quite hit the target, and we’re pretty skeptical. Could this be Apple’s first big faceplant in years?



Qualcomm Brings Augmented Reality to Life with the Snapdragon XR2 Platform

Everyone loves the idea of full virtual reality, but the really interesting future is in augmented reality. With this, you’re still seeing the world around you, but you’re getting an overlay of new details, from inventory management to pretending you’re catching Pokemon. Qualcomm wants to push AR to new heights with their Snapdragon XR2 Platform, and it offers some really exciting potential!


Liteboxer VR and Oculus Will Bring the Boxing Gym to You

Like most people, I’ve managed to get pretty well settled in my home gym. I have a good arsenal of kettlebells, some dumbbells, a rowing machine, and other ancillary equipment. Everything I have has to be relatively compact to be stored away in my small space. As a result, while I love boxing, it’s hard to find the space to hang a bag or set up a stand. This is a pretty common issue, and the folks at Liteboxer have a creative solution — box in virtual reality with Liteboxer VR and Oculus!



Lenovo ThinkReality A3 Brings Super-Futuristic Augmented Glasses to Enterprise Users

Lenovo does more than just computers and accessories; they also own Motorola, and that leads to a whole new mobile world as well. While most of us laughed off the sci-fi future that Google Glasses showed, there’s a market for a hands-free way to access all sorts of data safely and easily. Lenovo is taking that to the next level with ThinkReality A3, augmented-reality glasses for the enterprise user.


Oculus Quest 2 Lands, Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 for Power and Performance

If you’ve read the book “Ready Player One” you know it’s extremely uneven, but the main driver of the action is an immersive virtual reality experience. We’re not quite at the point of living a whole life in VR, but it is getting faster and more immersive, and with the new Oculus Quest 2 powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2, it’s a tiny bit closer to reality than it used to be!


HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality Headset Makes for a Great Escape

I have never wanted to “get away” more than the months spanning the COVID-19 pandemic, where my family was being extremely cautious and avoided public places. What a better way to escape than through virtual reality? The HTC Vive Cosmos Elite was an extremely welcome break from the monotony thanks to the immersive experience. The kit retails for $899.


Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Makes Pretend Reality Even Better Than the Real World

Virtual reality has gone from sci-fi to living rooms, though sadly we aren’t yet at Holodecks. However, we’re getting closer, thanks to the innovations of companies like Qualcomm, which is rolling out the Snapdragon XR2 Platform. It may not sound exciting, but don’t let the dry name fool you — it’s a reference design for eXtended Reality, aka better virtual reality!





Gear Diary’s Best of CES 2018 Awards

With more than 4,000 companies exhibiting at CES, choosing the best of CES was a challenge. Even so, we want to recognize the products we saw that are truly innovative, take technology in new directions or, in one case, make something great accessible to every consumer.


Finally, a VR Headset That Doesn’t Need a Phone or a PC

Virtual reality is quickly gaining steam as a mature, mainstream technology. It’s gone from concept to a geeky project to something the everyday person can not only understand, but also utilize and enjoy. Lenovo wants to really bring that to the next level with their Mirage Solo and Mirage Camera, and by including Google Daydream and a whole lot more!


Punch Bowl Austin Review: Can VR Gaming Work While Dining?

Now that the holidays are in full swing, and your home is cycling through visiting friends and family, you might find yourself trying to come up with a fun group activity that includes dinner. I’ll bet you’re thinking “it shouldn’t be this hard”, and you’re right! So, I’ve got the solution for you — Punch Bowl Social!


Star Wars: Jedi Challenges Review – the Force Is Strong with This One

Lenovo’s Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is arguably the most exciting use of augmented reality we’ve seen to date. To that effect, for anyone who has ever wanted to experience the feeling of what it’s like to wield a lightsaber (and that’s most of us) then this is the closest you’ll probably ever get to that experience. But sheesh – it turns out that wielding a lightsaber is a total workout! Who knew?




2017 IFA Global Press Conference: The Sign of What’s to Come

For the past few years, I’ve been one of a select group of international journalists invited to the IFA Global Press Conference. A warm-up, if you will, for the yearly IFA convention held in Berlin, the press conference is a great time to check up on the current and future status of the global electronics market.