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Meta Quest 3 to get new tracking feature other VR headsets don't have -- not even Apple Vision Pro

Mashable

The Quest 3 doesn't come out for a couple of weeks, but Meta is already announcing some promising updates for prospective buyers Per UploadVR, the Quest 3 (which launches on Oct. 10) will get an update in December that delivers upper body tracking and "AI-estimated legs." The headset has some side cameras that aim down, allowing them to track your torso and other appendages for more immersive, realistic body movements in simulated environments. Before the update, Quest 3 (and pretty much all other VR hardware) could only accurately track head and hand movements. Leg-wise, things are a bit more interesting. Quest 3 will use AI to make educated guesses about where your legs are and will try to incorporate them into gameplay.


Will AI shades see off the tour guide? Meta and Ray-Ban unveil smart glasses which show the user information on what they are looking at and help translate signs and menus

Daily Mail - Science & tech

They are near the top of most travellers' packing checklists. And now sunglasses could become even more of a holiday essential thanks to a technology which will see them double as an electronic tour guide. Luxury brand Ray-Ban has teamed up with Meta – the firm behind Instagram and Facebook – to incorporate AI technology inside the frames. With cameras, microphones and speakers, the glasses will allow the user to ask for information of what they are seeing, or get help translating signs or menus. Tourists will also be able to share their experiences with friends and family back home by streaming videos live on social media, or sending photos back instantly. The smart glasses are among the first devices to use Meta's new AI chatbots – technology which aims to mimic human conversation.


Meta unveils AI assistant and Facebook-streaming glasses

The Japan Times

Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday rolled out new products using artificial intelligence for consumers, including bots that create photo-realistic images and smart glasses that answer questions, as well as an updated virtual-reality headset. Zuckerberg described the products as bringing together the virtual and real worlds, and underscored that part of what Meta is offering is low cost or free AI that could integrate into daily routines. Meta's Quest is the best-seller in the nascent VR space and the company's executives described it as the best value in the industry, a nod to the impending release of a much more expensive headset from Apple. Speaking from a central courtyard on Meta's sprawling Silicon Valley campus, Zuckerberg said a new generation of Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses would start shipping on Oct. 17, priced at $299.


Nothing's budget-friendly brand CMF debuts a $69 smartwatch and $49 earbuds

Engadget

CMF, the budget-friendly sub-brand Nothing announced back in August, has launched its first products: A smartwatch, a pair of earbuds and a GaN charger. The $69 Watch Pro comes with a 1.96-inch AMOLED display and built-in GPS. Its battery can last for up to 13 days, and it can make and receive calls, so long as it's connected to a phone via Bluetooth, but it doesn't seem to have access to an app store. The device is largely health-focused with various features that include monitors for real-time heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, as well as sleep and stress levels. It also provides hydration and movement reminders and the ability to set personalized goals.


Microsoft's big Windows 11 update drops on September 26 with Copilot AI baked in

Engadget

Microsoft is releasing a big Windows 11 update next week, on September 26. The catchily-named 23H2 is packed with some real game changing features, along with a whole bunch of quality of life improvements. The update arrives just in time for the launch of the just-announced Surface Laptop Go 3 and the Surface Laptop Studio 2. The big news here is the inclusion of the new AI-powered Windows Copilot feature. This toolset already exists as part of the Edge browser, but now it'll be natively implemented in Windows, which allows for some nifty use cases. This native implementation means that Copilot is available in nearly every aspect of the operating system, from Powerpoint to Teams and beyond.


Amazon Echo Frames (3rd-gen) hands-on: Refined look, better sound, faster Alexa

Engadget

Amazon's smart glasses have yet to impress us, but the company made big changes for its third-gen Echo Frames that could go along way in changing our minds. First, the company has upgraded the design, slimming down the area around your temples that houses all of the components. Amazon has also changed the look, continuing to make the glasses and sunglasses options look more like something you'd actually want to wear. What's more, it's working with the more fashion-minded Carrera Eyewear on smart glasses with a refined touch -- in addition to its own versions. First, there's the improved sound quality.


Microsoft Surface event: Everything we're expecting to see

Mashable

Microsoft's got something cooking for us. Let's peek under the lid and see what it is. On Thursday, Sept. 21, Microsoft is hosting its annual Surface showcase event in New York City. Like last year, we expect it to be full of hardware announcements, but this year's show could also be a little different. That's because Microsoft is going all in on artificial intelligence like the rest of the big tech world.


6 ways Intel's new 14th-gen 'Meteor Lake' CPUs supercharge laptops

PCWorld

Intel's 14th-gen mobile processor, code-named Meteor Lake, represents a dramatic shift from the chips Intel has shipped for years -- and Intel has provided us with a ton of information. If you don't have time to wade through it all, however, we've summed up the most important points here. Here's what you need to know about Meteor Lake. For a much more detailed examination of what this new generation of processors offers, please see our deep-dive into Meteor Lake. Intel will brand Meteor Lake as the Core Ultra, and it will launch on Dec. 14, Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger said at its Intel Innovation conference.


Intel's Core Ultra 'Meteor Lake' chips arrive on December 14

Engadget

After years of rumors, Intel's "Meteor Lake" processors will finally be arriving in PCs on December 14th. Now dubbed "Core Ultra" as part of the company's new naming scheme, they'll be the first chips built on the "Intel 4" (7nm) architecture, as well as the first to include a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to accelerate AI performance. In almost every way, the Core Ultra chips demonstrate where Intel is headed next: Building efficient-yet-powerful chips that can keep up with modern AI demands. At this point, Intel appears to be squarely focused on laptops with Core Ultra chips. The company is rumored to be refreshing its Raptor Lake CPUs for desktops later this year.


Apple Watch Series 9 will have new 'hand gestures' feature that can be controlled WITHOUT touch - and will be company's first ever carbon-neutral gadget

Daily Mail - Science & tech

The newly unveiled updated Apple Watch Series 9 will be Apple's first-ever carbon neutral gadget that requires a simple tap of two fingers to work. The device, which will become available on September 22, was also made using renewable materials and clean energy, leading to a 75 percent decrease in the amount of carbon waste emitted. And for the first time, users will be able to control the watch simply by tapping together the index finger and thumb on their watch hand. The Series 9 will start at $399 while the Apple Watch SE will run you $249. The Ultra 2 model will set you back $799.