After about four years, Microsoft presented an updated version of its mixed reality glasses HoloLens at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). The new HoloLens 2 can already be introduced, the price is 3500 dollars and the additional software Dynamics 365 Remote Assist can be booked for 125 dollars per month.
According to Microsoft, the Immersion is significantly better than its predecessor in terms of wearing comfort. This is achieved by the Field of View (FoV) which is twice as large. Microsoft compares the jump in image quality like switching from a 720p to a 2K monitor.
The time-of-flight sensors included in the glasses can track the user’s hands without the need for additional controllers. In addition, the iris is also tracked exactly in order to determine the user’s viewing direction. Registration via Windows Helle is also possible.
The comfort often criticized by the predecessor has been improved by a reduction in weight achieved by Microsoft through the use of carbon. In addition, the heat of the components is better dissipated. The adjustment to the wearer’s head is a comparison with the PlayStation VR glasses, where the headband can also be adjusted via a wheel.
The target group of the Microsoft HoloLens 2 are mainly professional users and companies like Airbus, Honeywell and Saab who are already working on the development of individual software. Major customers also have the option of individually modifying the hardware of the HoloLens 2. SketchUp, a company that builds 3D models, had the glasses integrated into a helmet, for example.
There is no release date yet. Microsoft only speaks of “later in the year”. In addition to the USA, HoloLens 2 will also be available in Germany, China, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand.
