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☆ Meta unveils Quest 3 mixed reality headset ahead of Apple's VR debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Katie Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, June 1 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday revealed the company's next generation mixed reality headset, the Quest 3, as it braces for Apple to potentially reshape the nascent market that Meta has dominated so far. Priced starting at $499, the device will be 40% thinner than the company's previous headset and feature color mixed reality, which combines augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) elements, Zuckerberg said in an Instagram post. Zuckerberg's announcement came less than a week before tech rival Apple (AAPL.O) was expected to unveil its first mixed reality device. Meta's devices comprised nearly 80% of the 8.8 million virtual reality headsets sold in 2022, according to an estimate by market research firm IDC. Its high-end Meta Quest Pro now retails for about $1,000, down from a launch price of $1,500, and the Quest 2's 256 GB version now starts at about $430, down from $500.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Pico, Meta, Katie Paul, Yuvraj Malik, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: YORK, Apple, Meta, Qualcomm, IDC, TikTok, Thomson

☆ Mark Zuckerberg shows off $499 Quest 3 just four days before Apple is expected to announce a rival headset costing around $3,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The announcement comes four days before Apple is expected to announce its mixed-reality headset. Apple's headset is expected to cost around $3,000 and reportedly faces some internal skepticism. It's official — Mark Zuckerberg just announced Meta's latest headset, the Quest 3, is coming this fall with a price tag starting at $499. Meanwhile, Apple's rumored mixed-reality headset is expected to be unveiled next week after delayed releases in 2019 and 2022. ET, so check back here Monday afternoon for any news on the big headset reveal.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Apple's Organizations: Meta, Apple, Facebook, Apple's, Meta's Connect, Bloomberg

☆ Zuckerberg unveils Meta Quest 3 VR headset days before Apple reveals its own
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased his company's latest virtual reality headset, the Quest 3, on Thursday. Apple is expected to debut its competing VR headset next week as part of the company's June WWDC event. The iPhone-maker's consumer headset, which could also incorporate augmented reality technologies, will reportedly work with hundreds of thousands of iPad apps and cost at least $3,000. Meta continues to be spending heavily in the metaverse, the yet-to-be-developed digital universe that requires virtual reality and augmented reality technologies to access. Last October, Meta debuted its Quest Pro VR headset intended for businesses as opposed to consumers.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, it'll, Meta Organizations: Qualcomm, Apple, Labs, Meta, Quest Pro, Research, NPD Group, CNBC, Nvidia Locations: U.S

☆ A 13-year-old boy was groomed publicly on Twitter and kidnapped, despite numerous chances to stop it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Ben Goggin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

On the Hunter Fox Twitter account, the adult interacted directly with the boy's account, where he posted selfies of himself on a school bus and in other locations. Their teen son had plenty of friends, his parents said, and liked to play golf and build Legos. Heather McConney's teen son communicated with the man accused of grooming him through an Apple iPhone. The suspect's primary Twitter account appears to have been @HunterFloofyFox. After the worst day of their lives, the McConneys' son was recovered early on the morning of Dec. 28 in Nebraska.

☆ 19 Best Gift Ideas for the Dad Who Has Everything
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

To help, we tapped a coterie of expert gift-givers to share the best gifts for dads who have everything. For the dad who loves to relaxFor the dad who’s always moaning about his aching feet, gift him this top-rated foot massager, which uses a mix of Shiatsu, compression and vibration to provide an effective and thorough massage. For the dad who loves to napFor fathers who enjoy an afternoon snooze or have trouble sleeping at night, these wireless sleep headphones are a solid bet. New York City-based Greenberg loves the space-saving aspect. If he’s even “slightly handy,” says Greenberg, he’ll appreciate this addition to his gadget arsenal.

Persons: Sarah Grossbart, Rachel Simon, “, ”, Josh McBride, Bad Birdie, Hannah Redmond, that’s, Steve Greenberg, wouldn’t, Greenberg, I’ve, —, Redmond, Elisabeth Jones, Hennessy, Dad, Alison Deyette, Paul Zahn, won’t, Zahn, ” Greenberg, he’ll, Roberts Schey’s, Francisco Corvi’s, Keys, Roberts Schey, Pam Blondin Organizations: Bluetooth, VR, Scout Locations: New York City, York City, Florida, . New York City, Los Angeles, Argentine, Raleigh, North Carolina

☆ Meta's job cuts are gutting customer service, leaving influencers and businesses with nobody to call
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

As part of the company's two rounds of layoffs, equaling roughly 21,000 job cuts, Meta gutted wide swaths of its customer service operation, leaving influencers and businesses with nobody to contact about their accounts. CNBC spoke with influencers, small businesses and Meta account managers as well as a half-dozen former contractors and former Meta employees about the deterioration in customer service at the company since the job cuts began in November. Holliday said it appears that the only people who get customer service are those who represent a company that's spending heavily on advertising. However, some influencers say Facebook has had such poor customer service that there's no reason to pay for it. After all the problems she's experienced, Karlova questions whether Meta will be able to provide better customer service.

☆ Apple's smart goggles could be the shot in the arm the whole industry needs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple is reportedly launching its Reality Pro smart goggles in June, combining VR and AR. Smart goggles are a tough market, with Google and Microsoft hitting major roadblocks in their efforts. Apple Watch paved the wayFor example, smart watches were out for years before the Apple Watch turned up. It took the Apple Watch to bring the concept into the mainstream. The market for headsets is arguably in a similar situation as the pre-Apple smart watch industry.

☆ Apple's own execs are split on whether the company should make smart goggles. Experts say if Apple can't make smart glasses happen, no one can.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Asia Martin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Apple is reportedly introducing its Reality Pro smart goggles in June. Experts say the goggles may not be a smash success, but if anyone can make it work, it's Apple. Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that a rare wave of dissent made its way into the team behind Apple's mixed-reality smart goggles, called Apple Reality Pro. Apple Reality Pro will have a wow-factor to it because it's had time to improve upon the foundations laid by its competitors. The virtual reality headset market was worth $7.7 billion in 2022, according to a report by Grandview Research.

☆ Brazil looks to regulate monetized content on Internet -official
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Victor Pereira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAO PAULO, March 17 (Reuters) - The Brazilian government is studying whether to regulate Internet platforms with content that earns revenue such as advertising, its secretary for digital policies, Joao Brant, said on Friday. The idea would be for a regulator to hold such platforms, not consumers, accountable for monetized content, Brant told Reuters. Platforms would not be held responsible for content individually, but for how diligent they are in protecting the "digital environment," he said in an interview. Brant did not detail what the regulatory body would look like, but said the government wants to regulate monetized content and prevent the platforms from spreading misinformation. Meta questioned its responsibility for removing content without a court decision in a case involving a fake Facebook profile.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The Nasdaq popped last week. But tech might be in trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Nasdaq outpaced other indexes last week. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. That makes two straight months that the Nasdaq has outpaced the other indexes. Subscribe here to get this report sent directly to your inbox each morning before markets open.

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The Nasdaq soared last week. But tech might be in trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Nasdaq Composite outpaced other indexes last week. This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. That makes two straight months that the Nasdaq has outpaced the other indexes. Subscribe here to get this report sent directly to your inbox each morning before markets open.

☆ Meta is slashing up to $500 off the price of its VR headsets after 'underwhelming' sales and mixed reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meta is cutting the price of its VR headsets, which are a big part of its metaverse ambitions. The high-end Meta Quest Pro will be reduced from $1,500 to $1,000. The headset has had mixed reviews and suffered "underwhelming sales," The Verge reported. The price of the 256GB Meta Quest 2 will drop from $500 to $430, while the higher-end Meta Quest Pro will get a $500 haircut to $1,000. They've been matched by "underwhelming sales," Alex Heath of The Verge reported in his Command Line newsletter on Friday.

☆ Meta Slashes Price for Quest Pro VR Headset Months After Launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Sabela Ojea | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

With its Quest Pro virtual-reality headsets, Meta Platforms is going after the professional computing market. Meta Platforms Inc. is cutting the prices of its Quest Pro virtual-reality headset months after its launch. Starting Sunday, the social-media giant’s Meta Quest Pro headsets will be priced at $999.99 from $1,499 previously in the U.S. and Canada.

☆ Meta lowers Quest VR headsets prices to lure customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) cut the prices of its virtual reality headsets in hopes of stirring demand for its VR hardware, as its bold bets on the metaverse have struggled to make a big splash. Its flagship Meta Quest Pro will retail for $999, down from its launch price of $1,499, and Quest 2 256 GB version for $429 from $499, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a broadcast on its social media platform Instagram on Friday. Late last year, the company launched Quest Pro, positioning it as its most-advanced VR headset with capabilities to push the use-cases further. While VR headsets have added more advanced capabilities of late, their adoption outside of the gaming community has been slow. Last month, Tencent, the world's largest video game publisher, shelved plans to venture into VR hardware, while it has been in talks to distribute Meta Quest line of products in China.

☆ Meta announces big price cuts for its VR headsets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Meta will slash the prices of its Quest 2 and high-end Quest Pro headsets, the company announced Friday. The price of the Meta Quest 2 will drop from $499.99 to $429.99, while the price of the higher-end Meta Quest Pro will be slashed to $999.99 from $1,499.99. Meta lost $13.7 billion on its Reality Labs segment in 2022. The Meta Quest Pro 2 was announced in November, but its high price put it out of reach for most consumers. The price changes will begin rolling out on March 5 for the Meta Quest 2.

☆ Meta is cutting prices for its VR headsets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Meta is cutting prices for two of its virtual reality headsets as it continues trying to boost adoption for the nascent technology on which it has bet its future. The company announced Friday that it is slashing the price of its higher-end Meta Quest Pro headset by some $500, bringing its cost to $999, roughly six months after it was released. The Quest Pro price drop will take effect the same day in the United States and Canada and on March 15 in all other countries where it is sold. Facebook rebranded as Meta in late 2021 as it outlined a bold vision to build a future, immersive version of the internet called the “metaverse,” powered by VR technology. Meta lost $13.7 billion last year in its “Reality Labs” unit, which houses its VR and metaverse efforts.

☆ Tencent in talks with Meta to sell Quest VR headsets in China - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) is in talks with Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) to distribute its Meta Quest line of virtual reality headsets in China, three people familiar with the matter said. The talks between Tencent and Meta started last year and have continued in recent months, according to one of the sources who has direct knowledge of the matter, adding that the talks remain early stage and details have yet to be agreed. Tencent and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Tencent is mostly known for software that includes a suite of games and social media applications. It sells the Nintendo Switch console in China through a partnership with the Japanese gaming firm (7974.T) established four years ago.

☆ Ex-Meta exec had 'real issues' with the company's decisions and spending: 'I thought large fractions were really poorly spent'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Meta VR exec John Carmack said he had "real issues" with the company's plans and spending. "I was having some real issues at Meta with large-scale strategic directions," Carmack said in an interview with the business publication, Dallas Innovates. "I'm sure you've seen some of the headlines about how much money they're spending, and I thought large fractions were really poorly spent." He had previously been Oculus' CTO. Zuckerberg has taken several strides in recent months to cut back on company spending — including embracing his role as "Chopper-in-Chief," Insider's Kali Hays reported.

The PlayStation VR2 headset launches February 22 for $550, and preorders are available now. Sony says more than 30 PS VR2 games will be released during the initial launch window. PlayStation VR2 The PS VR2 is a new virtual reality headset built for the PS5. PS VR2 featuresThe PlayStation VR2 carries over many features found on the original model released in 2016, while offering a few key upgrades and new options. The PlayStation VR2 base package costs $550 and includes the headset, two wireless PS VR2 sense controllers, and a pair of headphones.

☆ Meta is killing Echo VR, one of its popular Oculus metaverse games
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"After many discussions internally and with our partners at Meta, we have made the difficult decision to shut down Echo VR," the post stated. Over the past few years, Echo VR has catapulted into the league of an e-sport. Echo VR can be played using the Meta's Oculus Quest, Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Rift S devices, according to the Oculus website. One fan on Reddit went as far as to describe Echo VR as "more than just an esport, Echo VR is a sport. A petition titled "Save Echo VR" has been created on change.org, and has already racked up 9,848 signers.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., demonstrates the Meta Quest Pro during the virtual Meta Connect event in New York, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Analysts were expecting Reality Labs to record an quarterly operating loss of $4.36 billion on revenue of $715.1 million, according to StreetAccount. In July, Meta announced it was raising the price of its Quest 2 VR headset by $100. Meta then debuted its more expensive Quest Pro VR headset in October, pitching it to companies as an enterprise-workplace device for $1,500. This week, Meta is running a sale on its high-end VR headset, shaving off $400 for a limited time.

☆ Facebook lost several notable leaders in 2022, from Sheryl Sandberg to John Carmack, with more changes likely to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

As Facebook began 2022 with a quiet reorganization, several executives and well-known leaders left the company. Along with executives leaving the company, Meta also laid off 11,000 employees, with even more cuts possible in the coming weeks. Sheryl SandbergSheryl Sandberg Facebook COO. Maria Angelidou-SmithAngelidou-Smith joined Meta in 2014 and spent five years as head of monetization for the Facebook app. When the company began to quietly reorganize and plan for layoffs in late summer, the Facebook app was not immune.

☆ I tried out Meta's $1,500 virtual reality headset to attend a meeting in the metaverse. The tech was undeniably cool, but after 20 minutes I was relieved to take it off.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I was invited to try Meta's $1,500 virtual reality headset at its Kings Cross office in London. I used the device to attend a meeting in Horizon Workrooms — Meta's collaborative work tool in VR. The device gives users access to Horizon Worlds, a social universe in Meta's metaverse. Breakout rooms in Meta's Horizon Workrooms. Gaskell pointed out that VR "doesn't address" some of the primary concerns about remote work including proximity bias and networking.

☆ Meta is building virtual world open to app makers, CEO tells antitrust court
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Katie Paul | Industry Insight | Saw Law Firms Move Past The Pandemic Into A More Client-Focused Service Environment | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg leaves federal court after attending the Facebook parent company's defense of its acquisition of virtual reality app developer Within Inc., in San Jose, California, U.S. December 20, 2022. REUTERS/Laure AndrillonSAN JOSE, Calif., Dec 20 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) boss Mark Zuckerberg defended his acquisition of a virtual reality fitness app to an antitrust judge on Tuesday, arguing that his company was helping to build a nascent virtual reality industry, not dominate it. On fitness apps, he said, "it's less important that we own the experiences than that they exist." Platform companies have built "the key apps, what they call the killer apps," Zuckerberg said, "but they're not the only apps available." Within developed Supernatural, a VR app it advertises as a "complete fitness service" with choreographed workouts.

☆ Meta to delay closing Within Unlimited deal by one month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 20 (Reuters) - Facebook parent Meta Platforms (META.O) does not expect to seal its acquisition deal with Within Unlimited, maker of the popular fitness app "Supernatural", before Jan. 31, according to a court filing from Tuesday. In August, Meta had agreed not to close the deal until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. Meta already has the best-selling VR headset, the Quest 2, and controls a Meta Quest Store with hundreds of apps. Within Unlimited, founded in 2014, creates original content for virtual reality. It describes itself as "the premier destination for cinematic virtual reality."

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