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Microsoft Announces Azure Kinect

Almost completely swallowed up by the HoloLens 2 announcement yesterday, was the fact that Microsoft also announced Azure Kinect. Unlike previous versions, this one is fully self-contained, but the price also reflects that, coming in at $399. The specs have been drastically improved, though.

Featuring a 1MP depth sensor with wide and narrow FOV, a 12MP RGB camera, a 7 mic array, and a lot of other features, this looks to be another piece of former gaming technology aimed at the enterprise market. Hopefully this one also eventually trickles back down to the consumer market.

Microsoft Anounces Hololens 2

HoloLens 2 was introduced yesterday, with 2 X 3:2 2K displays curtesy of a new two layer waveguide (down from three) and an LBS (laser beam scanning) MEMS (micro-electro mechanical systems) based light engine.

This version of HoloLens is once again, made for the enterprise market, focusing on increasing productivity. This is not a bad place to be right now, but it really does hit home with the fact that the product is just too costly to make consumer based AR/MR a reality, at this point.

HoloLens 2 Live Stream Microsoft's Reveal in Barcelona:

From the Microsoft conference In Barcelona:

Hololens Teased, Primed for Reveal- What's Inside?

2.24.19 #MWC19 - are you excited? I know I am...https://t.co/nO8apOLrGB pic.twitter.com/JXENF2nzEq

— Alex Kipman (@akipman) February 11, 2019

Hololens 2 is coming, and will be shown at Mobil World Congress event on February 24th. Satya Nadella and Alex Kipman will represent Microsoft at their first MWC since their failed Windows Mobile/Nokia endeavour. Why here? Mixed Reality is what Microsoft is hoping that the world will eventually trade in their phones in for, some day. What's in the next Hololens? One compiled a list of confirmed / rumored / patented specs (yes, I have read through quite a few patents)

• Smaller Form Factor- Confirmed by Microsoft
• APU- ? Rumored Qualcomm Snapdragon 850
• HPU- (Holographic Processing Unit) Confirmed next gen AI coprocessor running deep neural networks
• Wider FOV- Confirmed. Rumored to be double (70°) at minimum
• VR Capability- ? Mentioned in patent. (Only if >90° FOV)
• Variable Focus- ? Rumored, In patents
• Light Blocking- In patents. Requires liquid crystal, per pixel sync for dark shadows
• Eye Tracking- ? In patents [involving LBS display]
• Foveated Display- In patents [involving LBS display]
• Spacial/Hand Tracking- New Kinect for Azure, Confirmed. Combines 6 cameras/sensors into one, higher res
• Display Technology- ? Rumored/Co-Patented MicroVision LBS (Laser Beam Scanning piezoelectric micromirror device)
• Lens Display- ? Likely still Surface Relief Waveguide(s), next gen version of current
• Consumer Version?- only if <$1500... maybe <$1000