Microsoft reportedly preparing Google Glass competitor

starlight777

starlight777

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Sep 12, 2013
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I had thought these glasses would tie into the xbox one

Microsoft reportedly preparing Google Glass competitor

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-reportedly-preparing-google-glass-competitor

fortazela02.jpg

Microsoft may be preparing a competitor to Google Glass, according to a new report, though little information on what the product may entail was provided.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft "is testing prototypes for Internet-connected eyewear similar to Google Glass," citing sources with knowledge of the development. Beyond that statement, however, The Journal provided no informational about the product, such as if it even has a chance to reach the consumer market.
The report follows the discovery of a 2012 patent filing Microsoft submitted for augmented reality glasses. That filing attempts to patent "the system and related methods for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game via a user head-mounted display device." According to the filing, Microsoft's proposed glasses would use both visual and voice recognition and be capable of facial recognition and eye tracking.
In June 2012, a leaked Microsoft product roadmap mentioned a pair of computing glasses code-named "Fortazela." The roadmap stated a WiFi version of the glasses was slated for release in late 2014, followed by a version for cellular networks sometime in 2015.
 
Xbox One Fortaleza AR glasses revealed in new patent
http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/02/xbox-one-fortaleza-ar-glasses-revealed-in-new-patent-3909117/

Microsoft has registered a new patent for its still unannounced AR glasses, which will allow you to invite people into multplayer games just by looking at them.
The fact that Microsoft is planning to make AR goggles was leaked last year, when a 56-page ‘roadmap’ for the Xbox One (pictured below) found its way onto the Internet. Microsoft subsequently confirmed that the roadmap was genuine, but outdated.
Beyond mimicking some of the functions of Google Glass though it was never really clear what exactly the AR glasses, codenamed Fortaleza, were for.
 
Microsoft patent uncovered for "Fortaleza" gaming glasses - Xbox One's Oculus Rift?
Tech could support multiplayer invites, VR swordfighting and dancing games
http://www.oxm.co.uk/59569/microsof...rtaleza-gaming-glasses-xbox-ones-oculus-rift/


Once upon a time it was rumoured that Microsoft would introduce its own 3D gaming glasses alongside the Xbox One, but there was nary a squeak of such tech at the manufacturer's reveal event in May. The rumours continue to bubble, however. Gamechup has uncovered a Microsoft patent for a device known as "Fortaleza" - a codename you may recall seeing on that "Xbox 720" design brief we reported on back in June 2012.
 
this below is old, from 2012, but interesting to say the least

Microsoft's (old) Xbox 720 roadmap through 2015 leaked online [Updated]
http://www.wpcentral.com/microsofts-xbox-720-roadmap-through-2015-leaked-online


We're still going over the massive slideshow but here are some highlights:
  • XTV - Xbox TV will be launched "Holiday 2012" and will be what it sounds like. Full support won't be till the Xbox 720 though in 2013. It will work on the Xbox 360, Phone and PC.
  • Fortaleza (Kinect 3D Glasses) in 2014 with WiFi for living room; by 2015 it will have a cell radio/4G for use everywhere
  • By 2015 "Xbox experiences served up form the cloud. Instantly on any screen."
  • Xbox 720 Media Hub - "Record TV in the background and serve up to any device in the household.Stream your personal videos, music, photos and more and play them back from any device. Start and play your favorite Xbox games from other devices like phones and PCs with RemoteFX technology...Take your entertainment everywhere. Start on one screen but instantly pause and play it again from any other device makes it best way to enjoy your TV, movies and music when you’re on the go."
  • Kinect v2 Sensor (2013) - Better 3D Play Space (closer, wider, deeper); Improved Voice Rec.; 4 Player tracking; Dedicated Processing; Improved HD
 
If anyone can pull it off, it's MS. Kinect sold a ton of standalone units AND more expensive console bundles. If a pair of MS glasses come out that supported well, looks good and interacts nicely with Kinect 2, it's a natural fit.

The whole Oculus thing may be snazzy (though every video I've seen shows games that aren't spectacular), but unless they can shrink that gadget to 1/3rd the size, I see few people wanting to spend $300 to strap a big tissue box sized thing on your face.
 
It's interesting how Microsoft is becoming more of a hardware company. I think it was only inevitable if they wanted to push forward their vision of the future on the world, and I definitely think limited themselves to software only is not auspicious to that.
 
I've been wondering when MS is going to finally come out and announce these glasses, if they are still slated as a 2014 product. E3 2014 seems way too long for devs to keep a secret like that, IMO. I think that a reveal in early spring might be the best time to regain post-holiday sales.

They could also do a keynote at CES in early January. IMO, this kind of thing will slingshot XBO sales through the roof.

One serious challenge is how to market this type of device? Is it for gamers? Is it meant to compete with Google Glass? Both? OK, how do you advertise this? Where do you display it in the store? Behind the games glass? By laptops? By cellphones? By TVs? It IS a display device.
 
Naw... These glasses are not Microsofts style. Microsofts product will be far more sinister when it comes out. Like direct neural feed or some such. Perhaps uploading into the Azure cloud.
 
Kassen said:
It's interesting how Microsoft is becoming more of a hardware company. I think it was only inevitable if they wanted to push forward their vision of the future on the world, and I definitely think limited themselves to software only is not auspicious to that.
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Apple simply changed the game.

I really like this Microsoft 2.0 :D

MS saw Xbox as their only chance to dominate the livingroom screen. They got there!

They waited so long to get into smart phones though... but then they did just buy Nokia. :)

Despite people crapping on Surface at launch, the brand name is really strong and I think sales must be decent, since Surface 2 is launching.
 
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aceattorney said:
Imagine if the glasses could display IllumiRoom effects?
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It has long been my belief that Illumiroom has been a smokescreen for Fortaleza, as well as a way to demo it to an audience.

Notice that one of the patents has a camera on the glasses, not unlike how Illumiroom used a Kinect to capture your display/furniture. One difference though, is that these glasses will do 3D native. It isntantly makes me creeped out to think of The Ring girl crawling out of the TV or projector screen. :D
 
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Not surprised. Though I haven't followed Google Glass at all. Is it even out yet? And do people even use it?
 
aceattorney said:
Imagine if the glasses could display IllumiRoom effects?
Click to expand...

GordoSan said:
It has long been my belief that Illumiroom has been a smokescreen for Fortaleza, as well as a way to demo it to an audience.

Notice that one of the patents has a camera on the glasses, not unlike how Illumiroom used a Kinect to capture your display/furniture. One difference though, is that these glasses will do 3D native. It isntantly makes me creeped out to think of The Ring girl crawling out of the TV or projector screen. :D
Click to expand...

Jesus...you guys are really underestimating what Fortaleza is. It's soooo much more than Illumiroom.


On topic, this is really old news. Also, it's not just AR, it's also VR as well. I expect Halo 5 to be the premier Fortaleza launch title in late 2014.
 
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GordoSan said:
Apple simply changed the game.

I really like this Microsoft 2.0 :D

MS saw Xbox as their only chance to dominate the livingroom screen. They got there!

They waited so long to get into smart phones though... but then they did just buy Nokia. :)

Despite people crapping on Surface at launch, the brand name is really strong and I think sales must be decent, since Surface 2 is launching.
Click to expand...

I am picking my Surface 2 up this afternoon (I hope that GAME have it delivered today)......:crazy:
 
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astrograd said:
Jesus...you guys are really underestimating what Fortaleza is. It's soooo much more than Illumiroom.


On topic, this is really old news. Also, it's not just AR, it's also VR as well. I expect Halo 5 to be the premier Fortaleza launch title in late 2014.
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No, actually I'm not underestimating at all. :) I've been following the patents and everything for a while. I only was refering to the Illumiroom link and replied to how it COULD do Illumiroom stuff. Of course I understand that the patents imply it could do MUCH more! In fact, nothing could stop full VR, it seems. The patents suggest that the opacity can be set by different factors, etc. Could it do what Illumiroom does? I think so. But yeah, why add to an existing screen when you have much more lifelike 3D display at your disposal? I get that. Especially with the Kinect connection...
 
GordoSan said:
No, actually I'm not underestimating at all. :) I've been following the patents and everything for a while. I only was refering to the Illumiroom link and replied to how it COULD do Illumiroom stuff. Of course I understand that the patents imply it could do MUCH more! In fact, nothing could stop full VR, it seems. The patents suggest that the opacity can be set by different factors, etc. Could it do what Illumiroom does? I think so. But yeah, why add to an existing screen when you have much more lifelike 3D display at your disposal? I get that. Especially with the Kinect connection...
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It doesn't really do what Illumiroom does though. It does an effect vastly more potent than that in the same vein. I was simply wanting to make sure ppl didn't get the idea that Fortaleza was akin to Illumiroom because that connotation dramatically undersells Fortaleza. It would be a Google Glass killer and an Oculus Rift killer, so to speak. This project really could be the holy grail that gamers have wanted for decades. Actual VR in an ergonomic form factor on a platform most gamers will own at some point already. It will be exciting to see how it plays out. :)
 
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astrograd said:
It doesn't really do what Illumiroom does though. It does an effect vastly more potent than that in the same vein. I was simply wanting to make sure ppl didn't get the idea that Fortaleza was akin to Illumiroom because that connotation dramatically undersells Fortaleza. It would be a Google Glass killer and an Oculus Rift killer, so to speak. This project really could be the holy grail that gamers have wanted for decades. Actual VR in an ergonomic form factor on a platform most gamers will own at some point already. It will be exciting to see how it plays out. :)
Click to expand...
Yeah, just saying it can (likely) augment and enhance real-world objects and maybe even people, if that is desired. I think the openness of AR/VR is what will drive devs to push things no one has ever thought possible.

I still say they will likely use Illumiroom to give an audience the idea and show them what's happening behind those glasses, just for demo purposes. Of course, I would assume they would also need plenty of actual working pairs for demo.

Another cool thing I was thinking was in VR mode, the little camera could actually capture nearby objects and overlay them as a warning, maybe as an outline or something. Just a thought. This is clearly a new frontier.
 
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