Microsoft Hololens Business Preorder and Details Released
Also revealed is the fact that these development kits will be shipping out to developers around March 30th, which means we could very well begin seeing games developed for the platform soon.
Due to the lack of many augmented reality experiences out there, Microsoft will also be including a few interesting applications with the headset, including a game called Robo-Raid, Skype for Hololens, a mystery game called Fragments, and a game interestingly featuring Conker from rare, titled Young Conker.
If you would like to read more about the features and tech aspects of the hololens, please click the spoiler below.
The HoloLens display begins with a pair of transparent waveguides. In the HoloLens, the waveguides are clear lenses that allow lightwaves from your surroundings to blend with digitally created holographic images. The HoloLens’ images, which are created by two high-definition light engines inside the headset, create the illusion of computer-generated objects hovering or resting in the real-world spaces around you. The Development Edition headset automatically calculates the distance between your pupils—essential for nailing the 3-D effect of the holographic objects—which is a useful new feature for sharing the headset. In a HoloLens demo late last year, Microsoft had to measure interpupillary distance for each person and input that data into the headset manually.
On the headset itself, there are volume controls to adjust the built-in speakers or 3.5mm headphones, brightness controls, a microUSB port, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 LE connectivity. The headset also comes with a remote control, a case, extra nose pads, and a strap in case you don’t want to wear HoloLens like a pair of glasses.
Three grand gets you a lot of sensors. The HoloLens is stocked with six cameras (four that survey your immediate environment, one to calculate depth of field, and a two-megapixel/1080p shooter to capture your own stills and video), four microphones, an ambient light sensor, and an inertial measurement unit that combines accelerometers and gyroscopes. Those sensors will give developers a chance to play around with eyesight tracking, gesture control, voice control, and spatial audio when they’re coding apps.
On the headset itself, there are volume controls to adjust the built-in speakers or 3.5mm headphones, brightness controls, a microUSB port, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 LE connectivity. The headset also comes with a remote control, a case, extra nose pads, and a strap in case you don’t want to wear HoloLens like a pair of glasses.
Three grand gets you a lot of sensors. The HoloLens is stocked with six cameras (four that survey your immediate environment, one to calculate depth of field, and a two-megapixel/1080p shooter to capture your own stills and video), four microphones, an ambient light sensor, and an inertial measurement unit that combines accelerometers and gyroscopes. Those sensors will give developers a chance to play around with eyesight tracking, gesture control, voice control, and spatial audio when they’re coding apps.
The future of Hololens is entirely a mystery at the moment, one that honestly doesnt look to be as future proof and as interesting as the fast approaching Virtual Reality. Only time will tell if Microsoft opting to be the odd-man-out will be a benefit or a disastrous misstep on their part.
