The first time we spoke about Magic Leap was last March, and despite the official video that revealed its technology, we were left with several doubts. A company that receives million-dollar investments and cancels public expositions at the last minute never conveys a good feeling, to say the least. However, at NeoTeo we always keep our radars on, and here we have a new demo. Without a doubt, it is simpler than the original video, but it is possible that it is more aligned to what the final product will be like...
I think we all agree that the Microsoft HoloLens is the main reference in the augmented reality market. The Redmond giant prefers to call it a "hybrid" device, but the demos speak for themselves, and in most cases there was more "augmented" content than "virtual." Both realities are supposed to explode next year, with multiple devices hitting the shelves (that includes the Oculus Rift), and carrying the hope of seducing new consumers tired of empty promises.
One of those devices will be Magic Leap. The company's representatives are not yet ready to reveal exactly what it is, but there are two things that are certain: they are using an old Motorola factory in Florida as an assembly center, and they expect the volume to be in the millions. In general terms, Magic Leap is shaping up as a direct competitor to the HoloLens, although there is also something more: one of the company's future plans is the development of a visual computing platform. Do you need an extra guarantee? Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, is part of Magic Leap's board.
As for the demo itself, I must confess that I am not as surprised as I would like. A small robot hidden under a table and the reproduction of the Solar System on the desk are not extraordinary achievements, to tell the truth. On the other hand, I admit that this humbler demo gives a certain touch of honesty to Magic Leap. The original demo was over-processed, thus deteriorating its final value. In contrast, if this latest video is representative of the real state of Magic Leap, I think we can accept it more comfortably.
