Apple choose Luxshare, Metaverse makes legal history, and Healium take $3.6 million.
Apple choose Luxshare, Metaverse makes legal history, and Healium take $3.6 million.
This week...Apple confirm Luxshare development of AR device, Meta's planned 'Cardiff' headset cancelled, and Colombia hold court hearing in Metaverse.
Good morning Metaverse Business Brief readers. Let’s jump into the most relevant news from the immersive world in our weekly roundup.
Top Stories
New Apple AR device to be developed by Luxshare. The move to give development duties to Luxshare represents the first time in which Apple have relied on a Chinese supplier for a first generation device, bucking fears over technology tensions between the U.S. and China. The company already help build iPhones, Apple Watches and Airpods.
Meta’s “Cardiff” headset reportedly cancelled. Reports have suggested that the Meta Quest 3 was to be followed by a headset codenamed “Cardiff” - this project however has been canned amidst layoffs and cost cutting measures intended to affect the companies Reality Labs division. “Cardiff” was intended to land in 2024.
Metaverse growing trend in fashion. Reports from New York Fashion week suggested increased interest in Metaverse fashion, as big brands embrace the technology in their own ways. At NYFW, famous fashion designer Vivienne Tam held a show in the metaverse, complete with a virtual red carpet and backstage exclusives for those who couldn’t be at the ‘real world’ event.
Colombia hold court hearing in Metaverse. The two hour hearing, in which a complainant tried to sue the police force, was held in the meta platform Horizon Workrooms. Lawyers donned headsets to take part, with viewers invited to tune in on Youtube to follow proceedings. Attendees were also present as avatars. The event represented one of the first of its kind in the virtual space.
In Funding
Worldwide Webb raise $10 million in series A funding. Crypto investment firm Pantera Capital invested the funds, with the money intended to go towards bringing in human resources, forming brand and IP partnerships, and bringing NFT collections into Worldwide Webbs pixel art based game.
Spheroid Universe take $25 million. The investment commitment, made by ABO Digital, will be used to continue building tools and scaling infrastructure within the XR platform which allows organisations to buy AR spaces.
Healium have $3.6 million seed round. The VR and AR biofeedback startup announced the investment alongside confirmation of a licensing agreement with Mayo Clinic. Healium transforms bio-data from fitness trackers into immersive, reactive media.
Quell raise $10 million in series A funding. The Immersive fitness and gaming platform based in the UK made the announcement to confirm the scaling up of launch Shardfall, with funds also being used to expand the platform’s video game library.
Keep an eye on
Meta partner with Ikea for AR experience. Shoppers visiting Swedish stores this month will be treated to an interactive AR game inspired by the retailers children’s collection BLÅVINGAD. To access the game, users must open a specially tailored instagram filter.
BFI Flare’s first immersive programme announced. BFI Flare, the London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, has launched a new ‘Expanded’ series, a free programme of immersive projects from four artists from an LGBTQIA+ artists. Those interested in visiting should go to BFI Southbank from 16th to 19th of March.
Snow Crash manuscript auctioned by Sotheby’s. The original manuscript for Neil Stephenson’s seminal book Snow Crash is being offered as part of an auction opening Monday, 27th of February. The manuscript contains the first instance of the term ‘metaverse’, which was coined through the final novel.
Pico continue live VR events. After first stepping into the virtual concert scene with music from Calvin Harris, Pico have announced the UK’s first live comedy shows in VR. The shows, filmed live in 8k with a 360-degree field of vision at the Comedy Store in London, will allow virtual viewers to interact with comedians in real time.
Events to be at
March 14 Online | Insights Live: The Great Debate: Entertainment in the Metaverse – LBE vs Home Entertainment
April 11 Online | Insights Live: Growth of Web3 and Retail
May 09 Online | Insights Live: Human Progress and the “Programmable World”
March 10 Austin | SXSW Conference
March 16 Paris | Virtuality Web3 Summit
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Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments and your thoughts on the future of fashion retail in the metaverse to team@aixr.org.
January 27 2023 Edition - Issue 8