HoloLens is fully untethered and self-contained. It’s the only device that enables holographic computing natively with no markers, no external cameras, no wires, no phone required, and no connection to a PC needed. And it’s a Windows 10 device – the interface is familiar, and connected by the power of a unified ecosystem of Windows devices.
The device consists of multiple environment understanding sensors and it’s powered by a custom-built Microsoft Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) and an Intel 32-bit architecture. The HPU is custom silicon that allows HoloLens to understand gestures and gaze while mapping the world all around you, all in real time.
Microsoft today announced that the Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition will start shipping on 30 March, at $3000 a piece. They also offer a look at the hardware powering HoloLens.
Am I the only one irritated by the abuse of the word “holographic” here?
You don’t get it : this is a “revolution”
Its about as annoying as when I saw some company claim they created “4D printing” when really it was just a 3D printed object that curled up in water, where as 4D implies that the object was some how printed both forwards and backwards in time. Its all ‘buzz words’ really.
That being said, even though technically its not “holographic” its a step in the right direction toward true holography.
More common buzzwords:
“Web 2.0”, “Cloud”, “‘Smart’ Keyboard”, “AJAX”; all are buzz words.
This is not about buzzwords, which are annoying annoying in their own way. This is about redefining words. “Holography” has a meaning, and it is a very interesting and powerful concept. It does not simply mean “3D”.
Next thing, they’ll probably try to trademark the word.
About as irritated that the term hoverboard was stolen for a device with wheels and doesn’t hover.
These new interfaces relying specifically on vision and eye tracking could be an accessibility disaster for anyone who has the least issues with their vision or coordination. I wonder how Microsoft plans to address this?
Probably it will be offered as another user interface tool; not applicable for everyone.
Hopefully. Ms doesn’t have the best track record in knowing what UI is applicable where however. Here’s hoping Windows 8 taught them.
They learned precisely nothing from Windows 8/8.1/10.
Sure, they were told lots of things but IMHO they just put their fingers in their ears and shouted ‘La-la-la-la Can’t hear you’.
So we ain’t gonna get the UI from Windows 7 back. If you have to use Windows then you’d better get used to Metro/Tifkam/Modern or move on to something else that does not assume that you are running on system that has touch or install one of the apps such as Start8 etc.
The one thing to come out of this is that they really don’t care about the users. Why do apps open in full screen when you are using a 4K display. That is just stupid. It is a PITA and frankly I am glad that I’m hanging up my developer gear this year (After almost 45 years).
Well hey, they did give us the start button back.
I was trying to be nice, as I’m often accused of being overly critical of Microsoft. Not much to be nice about, but I did try.
Apps don’t open in full screen in Windows 10. If they are doing that for you then you turned on Tablet Mode somehow.
Tablet Mode behaves like Windows 8. But with it off it is more like Windows 7.
If they’re Metro apps they will sometimes open in full screen on Windows 10, though you can window them after that if you want.
Wow $3000 is insane? I got an Oculus and HTC Vive for less then half that price combined!
It’s got a complete computer system. It has to do AR which is much more difficult than VR because it has to match the world, locate surfaces, adjust the colors of the projection in order to get the right results, etc.
I see they got rid of the belt worn CPU. And they’re using custom silicon in the thing. I’m surprised its only $3,000.