XR Weekly Update (June 16, 2025): Meta Teams with Oakley for Friday Glasses Launch, Snap Plans 2026 Specs, and More!

I’m in Cupertino—where Apple reigns supreme. The land of tech dreams, right? Anyway, I’m here for a week of meetings. After that, Berlin! I’m set to mentor at XRCC. Wish me luck! Hoping this week goes smoother than last week at AWE. I was stumbling around like a zombie. True story. Send some good vibes, yeah? Meanwhile, I’ve gathered some quirky XR news for you.

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### Big News: Meta and Oakley Are Up to Something

Ever heard whispers about Meta and Oakley teaming up on glasses? They’ve been floating around for a while now. The point is, an “oakleymeta” social account just popped up, and it’s teasing something big for June 20. Could be legit, could be hype, but it’s intriguing—especially since summer and sunglasses make the perfect pair. It’s an odd time to launch, but it does make you wonder. And I’m totally curious about this new gadget.

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### Snap’s Future Spectacles: Changing the Name Game

Over at AWE, Snap’s CEO talked about a 2026 launch for new, lighter Spectacles—rebranded as “Specs.” Good change or just marketing fluff? Who knows. But they’re promising less weight and more capability, aiming for a bigger splash by making them accessible to everyone. Could they win the AR race? It’s a long road ahead, but exciting, nonetheless.

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### Qualcomm’s AR1+ Chip: A Step for Privacy

Qualcomm launched the AR1+ chip and wowed the crowd at AWE with a demo. This chip is all about privacy, running AI locally on the device. No big brother watching, apparently. Their demo assistant, entirely on-device, was impressive. I was there, seriously geeking out.

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### Google’s Tech Peek: Beam and Moohan

Rumors are flying that Samsung might announce Project Moohan’s official date. HP’s rolling out the HP Dimension, which feels like a Christmas must-have—even if it costs $25,000. And XREAL’s Project Aura glasses? A 70° field of view. Wild. More reasons for us geeks to get excited about what’s next, while poking fun at outrageous prices.

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### Apple’s Updates: More Than Meets the Eye

Apple’s Vision Pro stirred the pot with expandable widgets. They’re getting super fancy, sticking to virtual walls like high-tech sticky notes. Plus, games might note if you need PSVR 2 controllers. Great or confusing? Time will tell, but their involvement means someday we might have gems like Assassin’s Creed Mirage in VR.

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### Quick Mentions

– Someone’s coding a SteamVR driver to revive WMR headsets. Legendary work.
– Meta’s new headset might have face unlock—finger-crossing it’s true.
– Palmer Luckey’s on a mission with his high-cost military headset.
– OpenXR’s diving into spatial computing for richer AR and MR.

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### Random Tidbits

AWE had me bouncing between Infinite Decks and virtual parkours. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely a blast for me. Also, updates on games like “Reach” and “Omega Pilot Evolution” were sprinkled in. These aren’t just tech stories—they’re glimpses into the next wave of VR experiences.

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### Final Thoughts and Good Vibes

Wrapping up with some shout-outs to the heroes supporting my XR crusade, from big names to anonymous friends. And if you’re contemplating philanthropy, consider donating to the Red Cross. They’re doing crucial work in Ukraine, and every bit helps.

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Catch you next update. Let’s keep in touch with all things XR. Don’t forget—never take tech too seriously. Life’s too short not to have fun!