How much!?! … USD $3,500 for a mixed reality headset. Err … No thanks!
We knew it was coming, but now it’s official. Microsoft has unveiled HoloLens 2, a next-generation “mixed reality” headset that the company hopes will change “the way work gets done.” Microsoft says it will be more immersive and comfortable than the original, and provide “industry-leading value out of the box.” HoloLens 2 has more than double the field of view of its predecessor (Microsoft didn’t give an exact figure) while maintaining the same 47 pixels per degree of sight. The company says the change is equivalent to jumping from a 720p television to a 2K set for each eye. The headset will track your retinas to know exactly where you’re looking, too, and support Windows Hello authentication out of the box.
HoloLens 2 uses a new “time-of-flight” depth sensor, combined with some fancy algorithms, to track your hands controller-free. During a live demonstration, a Microsoft employee yanked various applications in 3D space, including a virtual piano and Microsoft Teams — the company’s take on Slack and Facebook Workplace. You can use a single finger, or an entire fist to punch buttons and other interface elements in mid-air — it doesn’t really matter because none of these elements have any actual weight.
The new headset should be more comfortable thanks to carbon fiber material and improved thermal management. There’s a dial for tightening the main headband, similar to PlayStation VR, and the main visor can flip up if you quickly want to concentrate on something else.
HoloLens 2 will launch later this year for $3,500, or as part of a subscription that includes Dynamics 365 Remote Assist (a piece of software that helps technicians diagnose problems remotely) for $125 per month. The headset will be sold in the US, Japan, China, Germany, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft confirmed.
