VR headsets are out, and AR glasses are in. Research from analysis firm Counterpoint shows that the global VR shipments trended down through 2024 despite proliferation cheap headsets like the Meta Quest 3s. Worse, VR sales numbers may not improve any time soon. The next step for these companies are glasseswith or without augmented reality capabilities. Big tech now needs to convince consumers thin glasses filled to the brim with AI are better than shoving a heavy piece of plastic on their noggins. The number of VR headsets shipped globally fell by 12% year-over-year. Headset shipments fell a whole 5% in the last quarter of 2024. That was despite the grandaddy of the virtual reality hype bubble, Meta, promoting the $300 Meta Quest 3s. That cheap but capable headset gave the Mark Zuckerberg-led company an even greater VR market share than in previous quarters, consuming more slices of a dwindling pie.PlayStation VR2, which got a boost from its integration with PCVR late last year, plus the usual holiday discounts. Counterpoint The luster is coming off the VR headset, and not just the really affordable ones. The Apple Vision Pro was similarly in decline in the last few months of 2024. Counterpoint said shipments of Apples first spatial computer fell by 43% in the quarter of 2024. The company had a small boost in sales when it took its headset to a few select global markets in the middle of last year, but it didnt help its market share when it ended the year at just 2%. The analysis firm contended that the VR market wont gain much ground in the next two years. Thats mostly due to a lack of content and the common complaint about discomfort from shoving a screen in front of your eyes for hours on end. These complaints arent new. Theyve been present for years, even more so back when Meta was all in on promoting the shared VR world called the metaverse. Now that were several years past the hype cycle, Meta and Zuckerberg have glasses on the mind. The unexpected success of the Meta Ray-Ban has the company raring to go on more wearable products. The company also sees these glasses as a vehicle for getting you used to its cloud-based AI models meant to offer you a personal assistant straight from your face. Counterpoint claimed the AR glasses market will grow 30% through 2026. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses proved such a big hit that Meta now hopes to release half a dozen new AR glasses models in 2025. Zuckerberg told investors earlier this year he thinks the company could sell billions of AI-enabled AR glasses to completely corner the market like it did with VR. Apple is further behind on its long-rumored smart spectacles project, though it may have something to show in the next few years, according to the latest rumors.And still, more big tech players are getting into the VR/AR headset game. Samsung and Google are developing Project Moohan, an AR headset that seems close in capabilities andif you look at its rumored specsthe high price to the $3,500 Vision Pro. Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Ive used the Ray-Ban Meta, and I wasnt as impressed as others. Theyre fine for shooting hands-free photos and video (though without control for focus or zoom makes them less than ideal). As for the much-touted AI connectivity, I have yet to find a use for a chatbot that routinely fails to identify objects around it correctly.Beyond smart sunglasses, the next step for lighter, feature packed wearable devices is augmented reality visuals like a heads-up display scrolling in front of your eyes. CES 2025 was flooded with these kinds of devices, some of which with integrated AI chatbots and screens with blazing green text. Ive put on plenty, and all of them still dont feel like usable products. They lack a solid use case without capabilities that go beyond a typical smartphone. Perhaps Google, Meta, Apple, or any number of smaller companies may show up in 2025 with something that is both light and powerful. The closest weve seen to that promise so far is Metas Orion, a pair of true AR glasses. And still, the issue with AR-capable wearables is that you need to stick a powerful computer in an incredibly small package. Metas pet AR spectacles project requires an additional data puck to function. Its an issue that reportedly killed Apples plans for tethered AR glasses. We may be able to avoid the discomfort of headsets in 2025, but we may instead be tangled in a mess of wires running from our faces to our pockets or have AI chatbots talking to us through our glasses.

Earlier today, I told you about Googles Pixel 9a, a mid-range smartphone release thats supposed to compete with Apples iPhone 16e while offering a cost-efficient entry in the Pixel lineup. But by the time I poured my coffee, it was reported that Google was delaying shipment of the Pixel 9a to April. Usually, when a manufacturer reveals a new smartphone, the on-sale day follows closely behind the announcement day. Thats not happening with the Pixel 9a. Forget about pre-ordering it. You can only sign up to be notified when the phone becomes available. Google hasnt revealed the official launch date yet, though it did issue a statement. Were checking on a component quality issue thats affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices, said a Google spokesperson in an email to Gizmodo. The Easter bunny will not be dropping off a pearly Iris or Peony-colored phone in anyones basket this holidayat least, it doesnt seem like it.The delayand the fact that it was not revealed when the Pixel 9a was officially announced as existingis not a good look for Google, which has been in some hardware hell lately. The Pixel 4a battery firmware update that happened recently reminded us all that there was a time when smartphone batteries could explode. And then there was that legacy Chromecast issue that messed up some antiquated living rooms set up for streaming. Is this what happens when you combine hardware and software teams and hope everyone aligns on the same thing? Its good to know Google is pulling back the reins instead of putting out hardware with a component quality issue. But its a bummer for those of us impatient for the drama of the Pixel 9a versus iPhone 16e comparison pieces that will be coming out. (Ill be writing one, too).

You want to know how I transform this beautiful default cube into an even more beautiful kitchen interior? Better check this video! Blender artists know the struggle of turning that iconic cube into something epic! This is the ultimate transformation or is it? Drop a like if you feel the pain of the default cube and let me know your funniest Blender moments!#Blender #Meme #DefaultCube #Shorts #3DModeling #Funny #Rendering #BlenderCommunity

Watch Random Flow videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKFJy6TgdDCIC8rEkGbY09tE0IEn5j5b3&amp ;amp;si=99m9czjgBALNZY8ZUsing Random Flow to simulate an inner mechanism with functional realism in Blender.Check out my tools: https://www.blenderguppy.com/add-ons Visit my shops:https://gumroad.com/blenderguppy https://blendermarket.com/creators/blenderguppy Become my Patron:https://patreon.com/blenderguppy Follow me:https://facebook.com/blenderguppy https://instagram.com/blenderguppy https://twitter.com/blenderguppy #b3d #blender3d #3dmodeling #3dtexturing #conceptart

Abstract shapes using the geonode feature in the Random Flow add-on in Blender.Shops:blendermarket.com/creators/blenderguppygumroad.com/blenderguppyPatreon:patreon.com/blenderguppy#b3d #conceptart #blender3d #blenderaddon #blendermarketing

Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, at 2 pm ET 11 am PT 6 pm UTC Boris FX Live: SynthEyes 2025 AI-Powered 3D Tracking & Masking! Live Demo & Q&A! Join us as we explore the latest release of SynthEyes 2025, now featuring powerful AI-driven masking to streamline your 3D tracking workflow. Say goodbye to tedious manual roto and hello to Mask ML, an intelligent new way to separate objects for more precise tracking. Boris FXs own Ben Brownlee will be joined by special guest Kalvin Kingdon, renowned VFX artist and SynthEyes expert, along with Boris FX product specialist Elizabeth Postol for a deep dive into all the new features in this jam-packed release. What Youll Learn: AI Masking with Mask ML Cut down roto time and improve tracking accuracy Faster Auto-Tracking Reduce errors by automatically removing unwanted tracking points Advanced Cleanup Tools Easily refine your results and keep your tracks rock-solid Workflow Enhancements Smarter, more efficient tools for 3D tracking artists Live Q&A Get your questions answered by the experts! Giveaway Alert! Watch live to win an annual subscription to SynthEyes ($325 value) or the complete Boris FX Suite ($1495 value)! Head over to www.borisfxlive.com for details. Stay in the Loop: Dont forget to subscribe and hit the bell to stay updated on future live streams, interviews, and tutorials.Useful Links:Product page: https://borisfx.com/products/syntheyes Join us on Discord: https://www.borisfxdiscord.com/ #BorisFX #SynthEyes #3DTracking

One of Boris FX Optics superpowers is your ability to combine multiple masks on a single layer.Learn about the multiple mask and mask blend options available to get your desired output.// K E Y P O I N T S //* Multiple Masks on One Layer: Optics allows you to add multiple masks onto any effect layer* Mask Blend Modes: Optics masks have their own blend modes allowing you to precise control over where an effect shows up .* Mask Shortcuts: Use various mask shortcuts to control and verify where each pixel is shown. // U S E F U L L I N K S //Find out what Optics has to offer: https://borisfx.com/products/optics/ Learn all Optics with free videos : https://borisfx.com/videos/?tags=product:Optics&amp ;amp;search= // D I S C O R D C H A N N E L //https://www.borisfxdiscord.com/ #optics #photography #borisfx

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08678-9Mandimycin, a polyene macrolide, exhibits strong antifungal activity and possesses a mode of action that is distinct from other compounds of this class.

Nature, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00581-7A Chinese team has transmitted quantum-encrypted images a record 12,900 kilometres.