Meta Connect 2024 started with a bang.
Zuck was shot out of a cannon, and we had trouble keeping up with his excitement.
Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening folks!
(Image credit: Future)
Let’s start with the announcement that seems most likely: the Meta Quest 3S.
Sticking with theMeta Quest 3S design, there are a few extra details to unpack from this leak.
We’ve heard this is an ‘Action Button’ like you’d find on aniPhone 16.
(Image credit: Future)
They will, however, supposedly boast a variable refresh rate that supports 90Hz and 120Hz playback.
Two, it’s way too soon.
Three, I think Meta is going to tease a different kind of glasses instead.
So don’t expect a hands-on feature from us unfortunately.
We’ll probably hear a little bit about VR gaming at Connect, in particular Batman: Arkham Shadow.
I’m spit balling a bit here, but you get the picture.
We’ll know either way in a couple of hours.
We’re only 90 minutes from the start of Meta Connect and Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote address.
Will there be AI on Meta’s AR headsets?
What sort of features will Meta offer?
This could be a way for Meta to pull ahead with its own, more affordable AR headset offering.
According toa report in Reuters, Metawill announce this new feature today, with more celebrities along side.
One of the big questions for today are Meta’s Ray Ban Smart Glasses plans.
Will we see a new set of glasses today?
Will there be new styles?
Will Meta leave the Ray Ban partnership for its own fashion brand?
Still, it would be exciting to see more in the smart glasses space.
I’d also like to see battery improvements, and maybe something new for the camera as well.
That’s a very smart move, giving the new headset a launch title.
Back in the olden days, every gaming console would launch with an iconic game attached.
If you bought the Nintendo, you got Mario.
(Image credit: Future)
If you bought the Sega Genesis, you got Sonic.
You shouldn’t need to sign in to Facebook to watch today’s event.
Justgo to this Facebook pageand you’ll find the video playing.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s not just you, it’s late for us too.
So, hey, while we wait … anybody see that new Thunderbolts trailer?
That looks pretty sweet, huh?
Too bad they lost Stephen Yeun, he would have been great.
Also, have you been listening to Chappell Roan?
Wow, that album is so great.
I just keep it on repeat all the time.
Has it started yet?
Wow, five minutes late.
Okay, time to place bets.
I have no information in advance, I’m just guessing here.
Meta Quest 3S today?
Absolutely, sure thing.
Will they come with Batman: Arkham Shadow?
Not entirely sure, so I’d say 50/50 chance there, maybe depending on your region.
Will there be new Ray Ban Meta smart glasses?
Something with the camera, for sure.
That’s the way development has been heading.
There will certainly be other news about Meta’s AR projects, but will they include AI?
Will we see a virtual image generator?
It should start in … well, it should have started already.
Keep watching, we aren’t going anywhere.
The waiting screen has changed, a new countdown has begun, and frankly it’s much prettier.
We’re a minute away from the next delay or Mark Zuckerberg, whatever comes first.
Mark Zuckerberg is on stage now and he says they have a lot to talk about.
Without much delay he announces the Meta Quest 3S, and it’s exactly the unit we say early.
“High quality mixed reality for $299.
New glasses? Or did somebody just forget their Ray Bans?
I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time,” says Zuckerberg.
Of course, the Meta Quest 3S has also been improved since then.
Zuckerberg says Meta’s social networks are indeed getting an AR update.
Now Zuckerberg is showing off the new Horizon Worlds improvements.
Zuckerberg also showed off Meta’s new virtual room app in beta.
You’ll be able to tour famous rooms like the studio where Green Day recordedDookie.
Meta Quest 3S on Zuckerberg’s friend Kenny
The Meta Quest 3S is available for pre-order today and it will begin shipping on October 15.
We’ll have pricing for each region and other availability news as soon as we know more.
Zuck is on fire, he’s already moved on to bragging about Meta AI.
Meta is adding natural voice interactions to Meta AI today.
Zuckerberg says voice will be the most frequent way we interact with AI.
Now comes the ‘iconic voices.’
John Cena, Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina are all confirmed.
Zuck is now talking to AI Awkwafina.
It’s unclear if this is a feature coming to the public or a tech demonstration.
Now, Zuckerberg is showing off new live translation features that are coming to Meta apps that use videos.
The Meta AI will be able to translate live, even synchronizing close to lip movements.
Zuck is still fired out of a cannon.
Now we’re onto the next version of Llama 2.
Mark is talking glasses!
They’re also just good looking glasses, he says, and he’s also very correct about that.
Is that a dig at the latest Snapchat Spectacles?
First of all, the AI will get more conversational.
Glasses will also be able to take actions based on what you see.
If you see a phone number, it can start a call.
If you see a QR code, it can navigate to that destination.
Meta AI will also have multi-modal video capabilities.
Zuckerberg says, to applause, that this will be a big platform.
We’re now seeing a demonstration of live translation working with Meta Ray Ban smart glasses.
Zuckerberg is speaking English to MMA fighter Brandon Moreno, who is speaking Spanish.
Zuckerberg has a set of clear transparent frames that are a limited edition, apparently available now.
No pricing announced by Zuck.
Full holographic glasses are on stage now, arriving in a handcuffed case.
NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang reacts to the new Meta holographic glasses
The glasses are thick and chunky, but they look remarkably like normal-ish glasses.
They don’t look like goggles or futuristic face gear.
Okay, these aren’t just holographic glasses.
Zuckerberg just used the term “neural interface” on stage to describe an input method.
They remark about the light weight design, and the potential for future use cases.
These new holographic glasses aren’t ready yet.
Zuckerberg offered a litany of improvements he hopes to make before they hit the market.
Now we’re reviewing everything we’ve seen so far.
Will there be one more thing?
We don’t need it, holographic AR glasses are a LOT to see.
Hopefully we’ll get some hands-on time as well.
Now the keynote is closing down.
We’ll have hands-on with that unit soon.
The current version is only a prototype, and it is a bit large with a battery puck.
But Zuckerberg seems confident that Meta will offer a shipping holographic glasses product soon.
Now we’re just watching Vaughn’s movie.
They just look so cool!
Too bad they aren’t a bit more powerful, or long-lasting, or maybe 3D-hologram enabled.
Oh well, maybe next time.
I’ll have to stick with my boring old dumb glasses a bit longer.
