eta Connect 2024 kicked off on September 25 in Menlo Park, California.
Meta’s annual conference started this year’s edition with a bang as Mark Zuckerberg delivered his keynote with some exciting technology and Meta news. From several Meta AI updates, Meta Quest 3S to RayBan Meta Glasses, and of course, the highlight of the Meta Connect 2024 – Orion, their first Augmented Reality glasses.
Everything announced at the 2024 Meta Connect shows its push into artificial intelligence practice and metaverse ambitions.
So, here’s a roundup of the biggest announcements and Meta news from this year’s event.
Quest 3S VR Headset Announced Photo Credits: Meta News
Mark Zuckerberg announced the Quest 3S VR headset at the 2024 Meta Connect—and the leaks were true! The headset is available for pre-order starting at $299.99 and looks like an improved (and more affordable) version of the Quest 3 VR headset.
The new Meta VR headset will be available for $299 for the 128GB storage version and $399 for the 256GB variant. While the Meta Quest 3S VR does not offer the highest resolution interface on the market, as we get 1.832 x 1.920 per eye, it does have the same pixels as on the Quest 2 VR headset. A lot of users have been extremely happy with the Meta Quest 2 VR headset resolution, so the newer version should continue to meet these expectations.
Mark Zuckerberg explained at the 2024 Meta Connect that the Meta Quest 3S includes the same mixed reality (MR) features and performance capabilities as the original Quest 3. Plus, we can also play the same games – on either device!
The newer Meta Quest version is rated for a higher battery lifespan than Quest 3 or Quest 2. While the Meta Quest 3 gets 2.2 hours of use, the Meta Quest 3S has 2.5 hours on average.
Price: $299 or $399Display Resolution: 1,832x1,920 per eyeVR Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 Refresh Rate: 120HzControllers: IncludedStorage: 128GB and 256GBGames Included: Batman: Arkham ShadowThe Meta Quest 3S is officially available for pre-order now and will be shipped on October 15.
Subscribe to our newsletter RayBan Meta Glasses Update (Photo Credits: Meta News)
At the 2024 Meta Connect event, Mark Zuckerberg also announced many software updates to the RayBan Meta Glasses.
The latest Meta news about their RayBan smart glasses is the launch of their limited edition translucent style. This brings the RayBan Meta Glasses closer to helping us feel actually smart.
Meta RayBan smart glasses already include one of the most advanced integrations of Meta AI. Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the glasses can now “remember” things for you by scanning QR codes. For example, with the help of these smart glasses, you can look at a t-shirt in a store, and you can set them to remind you to purchase it tomorrow. And Meta AI will send you a notification on your phone. At the same time, we’ll also be able to call someone directly by scanning a QR code.
“We keep updating the software and building out the ecosystem, and they keep on getting smarter and capable of more things,” stated Mark Zuckerberg at Meta Connect.
Meta AI Natural Voice Interactions (Photo Credits: Meta News)
Mark Zuckerberg also revealed at 2024 Meta Connect the integration of natural voice interactions into its Meta AI systems. Meta’s LlaMA 3.2 is one of the largest language models so far due to its efficiencies. So, what’s next? Natural voice integration via multimodal models.
The founder of Meta explained that voice will become the most frequently used method of interacting with artificial intelligence. This is why Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta will give its AI a voice (or multiple).
“I think that voice is going to be a way more natural way of interacting with AI than text” said Zuckerberg at Meta Connect.
Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Kristen Bell, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key are among the actors who will lend their voices to Meta AI. This update aims to make AI conversations more personal and familiar. However, the new audio feature of the Meta AI chatbot will also include multiple generic voice options.
The celebrity voices of the AI conversation chatbot are reportedly to launch first in the United States and other English-speaking countries across Meta’s apps – Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Orion AR Glasses Revealed (Photo Credits: Meta News)
Among the most exciting Meta news of the day, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the project Orion – the Meta’s first holographic AR glasses.
Although the Meta AR glasses are still in their prototype stage, it’s clear that Project Orion stole the entire show. Zuckerberg described these glasses as if they were “a time machine”. And at the most basic level of understanding, they are like a cool computer we wear on our faces.
The design itself of the Orion AR Glasses makes it even more like a game-changer as they are made of silicon carbide. This advanced material is created to enhance durability, be lighter, and offer an ultrahigh index or refraction.
Another feature of Project Orion is that the lenses remain clear, allowing everyone to see our facial expressions. This is an incredibly big step forward, as most face-computer displays have been heavy or have a small field of vision. The Project Orion Glasses is created specifically as a normal pair of glasses.
“These glasses exist, they are awesome, and they are a glimpse of a future that I think will be exciting,” said Zuckerberg during the Meta Connect presentation.
The project Orion AR glasses will be distributed this year only internally and by a few select developers, each costing thousands of dollars to produce. Zuckerberg also revealed that the company aims to ship the first commercially available AR glasses in 2027.
By
Andreea Iorga
•
September 26, 2024 4:50 AM
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