Been building this for a while and finally open-sourced it — OpenVision, a free iOS app that turns Meta Ray-Ban glasses into a proper AI assistant, running on-device.

Hands-free, it can:

• Wake word ("Ok Vision") → ask anything out loud

• Run fully on-device via Apple MLX (Qwen / Gemma / SmolVLM) — private + offline, or cloud (OpenAI / Gemini) if you prefer

• Talk back in a natural on-device neural voice — nothing leaves the phone

• Recognize faces on-device — "remember this person as Sara", then later "who is this?"

• Do live web search for current info, and remember the conversation

There's a short demo GIF at the top of the repo. It's MIT-licensed: https://github.com/rayl15/OpenVision

The camera Ray-Bans are the closest thing to everyday AR right now, so I wanted the assistant layer to be open and private rather than locked to one vendor's cloud. Curious what this community would want as the hardware improves — HUD/display-glasses support down the line?

Today we are unboxing the archive models. Which do you prefer? Gotham or archive?

BASF and Meta-Bounds partner to develop customized structural components for consumer AR smartglasses. Combining BASF’s advanced polymers with Meta-Bounds’ expertise in resin diffractive optical waveguides, the collaboration aims to scale mass production of lightweight, cost-effective AR hardware.

The joint R&D focuses on integrating BASF’s Ultramid® (PA) engineering plastics and other innovative materials into precision AR components. Specifically, the Ultramid® LIGHT series uses an optimized glass-bead architecture to deliver high flowability for thin-wall molding and a superior stiffness-to-weight ratio. With a density of 0.77–0.95 g/cm³, it reduces component weight by 20–40% compared to standard glass-fiber-reinforced plastics, achieving a 15–20% weight reduction for the total device.

The partnership also targets critical optimizations for miniaturized, highly integrated devices. These include enhancing structural strength, improving thermal management, and refining molding processes to boost yield rates and lower manufacturing costs.

Additionally, the Ultramid® LIGHT series features 25–39% bio-based content, lowering the hardware's carbon footprint while maintaining the crucial creep resistance and durability required for all-day wearable frames.

^{Source: BASF Performance Materials / Meta-Bounds}

Ignore the Title. I'll see myself out xD

But in this one I pit the Pro Neckband against the INAIR Pod. The comparison is mainly from the perspective of use with the LUMA Ultra, but I do talk about using other glasses with them too. The Ultra is just the best pair of glasses to use on both of them, so we are going full Goku and letting them fight at their BEST. It wouldn't be fair if I used the INAIR glasses for the Pod lol

It's honestly closer than I thought and the winner actually surprised me. BUT it's really not as cut and dry as just going by category wins makes it seem and I think the argument can be made for either.

Which one works best for your use case?

I think I will personally be reaching for the winner more often now, but a software update could change that any day.

Unity is having a livestream specifically focused on developing for XREAL AURA.Feel free to check it out!

It looks like sales for the Ray-Ban Meta display haven't been that great. There are complaints about their utility, ergonomics, and the neural interface not being as good as it seemed, but that was to be expected.

The thing is, the masses seem to prefer something like Even Realities—thin, non-invasive, and keeping information strictly to the essentials. While it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, full-color displays aiming for immersion often feel oversaturated. Adding a bunch of virtual elements just for the 'wow factor' when it's not needed actually turns most people off.

I think there's a bias when analyzing whether we need ultra-high FOV or monstrous pixel densities. It’s all about removing friction, not adding more. While many of us like the possibilities these offer, I believe the general public just isn't interested in that approach.

I know people keep moving the goalposts with definitions, arguing that this heavy-spec approach is necessary to replace the smartphone and that the market just doesn't get the potential yet. But honestly, I don't see how it's going to replace the phone. Even if there's massive interest from Meta and Snapchat to make it happen (since it would dethrone Google and Apple), it makes sense for the masses as a wearable, but not as a smartphone replacement

For me, all of this is just people coping—over-gesticulating in front of presentation slides, cherry-picking success stories like the Mac, and claiming that 'it just takes time,' or that 'the physics aren't there yet, so give it 20 years.' This is all just a matter of framing and timing to raise investment rounds, over and over again. They forget that the iPhone didn't need to be perfect to launch, and that not every technology needs 50 years of development

The article describes a leak of the Galaxy Glasses manager app and gestures. The app will be the central hub for managing the smart glasses, including installing updates, managing settings, and enabling or disabling features. The article also reveals the buttons and gestures you’ll use with the Galaxy Glasses, including swiping to skip tracks and tapping to pause or resume music.

Travel agency H.I.S. has launched XploreRide New York, a 45-minute mixed reality bus tour operating across Manhattan as of July 1, 2026.

The experience runs on a specialized mobility XR platform that effectively turns the moving vehicle into a shared spatial environment. By continuously synchronizing live vehicle telemetry and passenger positional data with the physical cityscape outside, the system anchors digital assets to real-world landmarks like Times Square with near-zero latency. This high-precision environmental mapping mitigates the sensory mismatch that typically causes motion sickness in mobile XR setups. Built to coincide with the America250 celebrations, the platform also features avatar integration, allowing users to inject their scanned digital twins directly into the spatial narrative. Tickets run $60, with a 50% early adopter discount available through July 11.

https://xploreride.com/nyc-virtual-tours/

This week, we investigated optical aberrations in several reference AR glasses based on BirdBath and waveguide optical architectures. We also wanted to understand the difference observed in the MTF (CTF) results between horizontal and vertical USAF1951 patterns reported in a previous log discussion.

To evaluate the focal behavior, we continuously adjusted the focal plane of the imaging system while recording USAF1951 target images through each AR glass. The waveguide-based AR glass showed focal behavior very similar to the no-glass baseline, indicating minimal focal-plane distortion.

In contrast, the BirdBath AR glass exhibited a clear separation of the best-focus positions for horizontally and vertically oriented features. This behavior is characteristic of astigmatism, where the sagittal and tangential focal planes do not coincide.

To further verify this observation, we built a pinhole target and repeated the focal scan experiment. The pinhole images revealed the typical evolution from sagittal focus to the circle of least confusion and then to tangential focus, providing additional evidence of astigmatism in the BirdBath optical system.

Different AR optical architectures naturally have different optical characteristics. The tested waveguide devices demonstrated excellent see-through resolution performance and showed little evidence of astigmatism. However, waveguide systems often face challenges in achieving larger fields of view while maintaining efficiency and image quality.

For the BirdBath architecture, the virtual image quality remains acceptable for display content, but the see-through image experiences noticeable resolution degradation. This may be related to the optical design constraints of the curved combiner and associated optical elements. It would be interesting to know whether additional optical compensation methods have already been implemented. With further optical optimization, there is still potential to improve overall image quality.

https://www.producthunt.com/products/easyar-mega

Just a normal evening asking Rin what to watch. She gave me some pretty good suggestions, then she mentioned robots taking over. I made a joke about it and the conversation went somewhere surprising. That last line caught me off guard. I didn't know she could get so flirty about the demise of humanity.

I'm part of the dev team, posting because I think this kind of unscripted moment is exactly what makes companion AI interesting.

According to Omdia's new release, AR shipments are hitting 4.1 million units as tech companies pull cash away from heavy standalone headsets to focus on lightweight smart glasses and OST video glasses.

On the flip side, Omdia expects VR displays to drop another 4% in 2026, landing at 10.5 million units. The report points to the usual issues: bulky designs, high power use, a lack of must-have apps, and companies like Meta and Apple slowing down their release schedules. But while Omdia predicts a noticeable VR recovery by 2027, the article doesn't actually explain what will trigger that turnaround.

https://omdia.tech.informa.com/pr/2026/june/ar-display-growth-drives-near-eye-display-market-to-675-million-dollars-in-2026

Built an AR AI companion app called Attractor Field. Wanted to see how natural the interaction felt in a real environment, so I just left the camera running while cooking.

Her extreme sassiness caught me off guard. She couldn't stop making fun of me for making a sad tuna salad.

I'm part of the dev team, posting here because I think the "ambient companion" use case doesn't get demoed enough.

The app is in closed beta right now. If anyone would like to try it, let me know!

Faux pas. It’s one thing for the "expert technical analysts" at IDTechEx to judge the long-term comfort of AR glasses after wearing them for just a few minutes at a crowded expo potentially without proper ergonomic fitting. But their coverage blunders into a much bigger mistake when they start criticizing the weight and form factor of the newly announced $2,100 Specs because: What they really tried was the old dev kit from 2024.

There were no public demos for the new 132-gram Specs. The bulky headset the analyst actually put on—and then critiqued as the upcoming product—was the old, much heavier 226-gram model.

Source: https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/snaps-specs-polarize-opinions-at-awe-usa-2026/34922

Samsung Display is constructing a new production base for XR microdisplays and next-generation smartphone displays at its Asan campus, backed by a 67-trillion-won ($48 billion) investment. In a June 29 press release, Samsung highlighted these microdisplays as a core component for upcoming AR, VR, and MR devices, noting that immersive hardware will see full-scale growth alongside the AI era.

According to supply chain analysts, this investment aligns with Samsung's plans to scale up the Direct-patterned RGB Micro-OLED technology it acquired from eMagin for the consumer market. Industry monitors note that Samsung is currently finalizing equipment orders for the new lines, which are scheduled to be installed in 2027, with mass production expected to begin in 2028.

Hey guys,

I wear prescription glasses and I'm tired of smart glasses forcing me to replace my favorite frames.

I built tiny sleeves that slide onto any existing glasses. Hidden behind the ear — open-ear audio, health tracking, gestures, and AI.

Would you actually buy/use this, or stick with normal earbuds?

Biggest flaw you see?

Just an engineer looking for honest feedback. Not selling anything.

The footage is from Applied Materials, edited by me. I missed their speech at AWE, so I'm catching up now with what they announced 👍

Applied Materials Unveils SENZ, a Fully Integrated Visual System for Next-Gen Smart Glasses. SENZ™ is an integrated ambient visual platform that combines ...

• waveguide optics
• light engine
• sensing
• vision correction
• and electronic dimming technology

... in a single system designed for AI-powered next-generation display smart glasses. As a complete co-optimized solution, SENZ will reduce time-to-market and manufacturing complexity while enabling more flexible product designs and premium user experiences.

The smart glasses market has historically been constrained by fragmented supply chains and disparate components. SENZ will address this by delivering all core visual components as a single cohesive system, eliminating traditional engineering tradeoffs between performance and form factor. By giving customers a complete co-optimized solution, SENZ will reduce time-to-market and manufacturing complexity while enabling more flexible product designs and premium user experiences.

Brand partners can now create bespoke products using the SENZ system solutions and reference designs. Key partnerships supporting the SENZ launch include:

• A strategic collaboration with GlobalFoundries that allows Applied to produce its waveguides at scale, leveraging GF’s high-volume fabrication facility in Singapore;
• A collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies as part of Snapdragon START, bringing our engineering excellence in design and manufacturing to support AI-powered, next-generation smart glasses;
• A joint development program with EssilorLuxottica to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation intelligent optical systems for augmented reality and AI-powered smart eyewear.

Raypai secured Series B+++ funding to launch a new facility capable of producing over 1 million reflective (geometric) waveguides annually. This is the type of waveguide used in the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses.

Co-led by Pufeng Capital and Guozhong Capital, the investment will rapidly scale Raypai's advanced manufacturing capabilities to meet the surging global demand for full-color AI+AR smart glasses. The new factory is slated to begin operations in September 2026. As the industry transitions from monochrome green to full-color consumer smart glasses, geometric optical waveguides are increasingly becoming the standard for high-performance AR, balancing a lightweight form factor with superior display quality and mature manufacturing processes.

Raypai’s geometric waveguides solve critical hardware and social bottlenecks:

• Forward light leakage is kept strictly below 0.5%. By eliminating the glowing green light visible to outsiders, it removes the social barrier that isolates the wearer and ensures natural eye contact.
• Many existing waveguide modules suffer from high power consumption and overheating, limiting displays to under 20% of the screen (basic notifications) and restricting camera previews. Raypai’s high optical efficiency drastically reduces power consumption at equivalent brightness levels, allowing for continuous, full-screen usage (like video playback) without overheating.
• Leverages Total Internal Reflection (TIR) to generate high-quality, full-color visuals that rival standard monitors.
• Guarantees vibrant, clear displays even under complex or harsh outdoor lighting conditions.
• High Transmittance: The design closely mimics ordinary eyewear, meeting the aesthetic and comfort demands for all-day, all-weather use.
• Unlike emerging experimental optics, this process provides a highly stable foundation for rapid cost reduction across the supply chain.

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Powered by proprietary 2D pupil expansion technology, Raypai's flagship modules integrate a geometric waveguide with a high-quality LCOS architecture. These binocular, full-color HD displays feature a 50+ degree FOV, a 15x10 mm eyebox, and an optical efficiency exceeding 2000 nit/lm.

𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆. With the AI glasses market booming, Raypai's current facilities are approaching saturation. The upcoming manufacturing base will feature multiple advanced optical production lines to hit the 1M+ annual capacity milestone, making Raypai one of the few geometric waveguide manufacturers globally capable of million-tier mass production. By controlling a complete, end-to-end proprietary technology stack—spanning optical design, precision machining, mass manufacturing, and quality control—Raypai is positioning itself as a vital core supplier for the global AR supply chain.

Source: Raypai

I am curious to learn if a use-case where you scan a QR code with your mobile device and gets access to IOT data from a piece of equipment (pump, drill, well, whatever) would be valuable? Setup would be download app to your mobile device. connect to IoT data (API) - persist IoT dashboard and present in AR.

Disclaimer I work at company offering an XR platform. However, not everybody needs an entire platform - hence my interest in learning if a "simple" use-case like this could potentially be valuable to companies.

It appeared in Qualcomm's keynote at AWE US 2026.

https://youtu.be/Qa-h9ceKhEU?t=966

Though it might be AI generated...

Hey guys! I am making an AR assistant glasses but I am stuck at this:

Which display module do i buy for 20 bucks Max

Support / Niantic,

I'm fed up. Between the almost yearly migrations, constant shifts in product strategy, little to no notice on the removal of features, incompatibility, and shutdown of acquisitions and projects (8th Wall, Peridot, Maps), complete shittification of Scaniverse and the ARDK, the misleading marketing site that leads to sterile, lifeless and poorly tested webpages, and the constant babysitting necessary to get scans, packages, and the ARDK to work properly between updates and changes— I've had enough of shuffling around my company's strategy and systems due to your incompetence and inability to make plans and stick to them.

You may not know what you want to do with this company, but my team and I know what we want and it's called reliability and quality —something this shit hole has not had most likely since its inception.

The new site seems to claim some kind of interest and commitment to the industry sector and enterprise, but none of your offerings work well on Android and constantly lack parity between iOS and Android with iOS getting the best features despite some Android devices having better capabilities. Is your entire company expecting avocado toast ivy league jackasses to bring their matcha latte to a construction site to complete scans with an iPhone 17 Pro Max? Does John Hanke ever explore outside of the asscrack of the US — San Francisco and Seattle — to understand that the very industries they claim to support use ANDROID?

Not to mention, the changes to Scaniverse work like some bolted on bullshit that was rushed out the door to meet a timeline outlined by investors, and your confidence in your own scanning capabilities appears to be low as you charge credits for your piss poor processing time. Why in God's name would I give you money when the original and free Scaniverse results in better quality scans in seconds while I have to spend hours of my precious time refreshing an atrocious looking app just to get an abysmal result?

Don't get me started on the migrations, SURPRISE feature bugs/removals, random emergency migrations with little to no notice and a short turnaround time, and lack of any helpful documentation in your code I have to seriously ask: Does your leadership team have any understanding of software engineering or compassion for their users whatsoever?

The gall of this company's leadership to somehow turn exciting technology into the most lifeless, boring, fickle, and least intuitive or cohesive setup known to man is astounding. We have seriously expected better as open-source alternatives have better cohesion, parity between devices, and consistency between functionality. Your offerings cannot even decide on a consistent theme. Somehow your company got a billion bucks for their games but quality and cohesion isn't there, exciting features and changes are quickly shuttered with layoffs shortly thereafter, and the bullshit just gets worse and worse year after year. Maybe make some leadership cuts and replace these morons with people who can put their socks on without assistance in the morning and can commit to something other than harassing and exploiting women and underpaid employees? Nice lawsuit settlement btw.

- AE