🚀 Latest Real-world Spatial Applications 

• BMW is using the Meta Quest 3 and a new mixed reality app, "Impossible Battery," to train technicians on how to repair its complex EV batteries in a safe, cost-effective, and immersive digital environment. Read more

• Adobe has launched Substance 3D Reviewer, an app for the Meta Quest that allows teams to experience and review 3D models at room scale in virtual reality. Read more

• HBO Max has launched a new immersive environment for Apple Vision Pro, allowing subscribers to watch movies and shows while sitting in the Hogwarts Great Hall from Harry Potter, complete with day and night modes. Read more

• BeamXR Live has been released for Meta Quest, allowing users to livestream to Twitch and YouTube directly from their headset without the need for an external PC. Read more

• The US Open is leveraging spatial video, with fans able to watch 3D clips of key moments captured on devices like the Apple Vision Pro and the new iPhone 16 Pro. Read more

• Stake.com has become the first online casino to launch a native app for the Apple Vision Pro, offering an immersive mixed-reality gambling experience with live dealers and layered gameplay. Read more

• Full Sail University has opened a Spatial Computing Innovation Lab on its campus, becoming the first higher education institution to be equipped with the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive Camera for capturing Apple Immersive Video. Read more

• A new paper in the journal Propaganda and Persuasion explores the potential of spatial computing to transform pharmaceutical marketing and medical education through the use of augmented and virtual reality. Read more

⚙️ Operating System Announcements

Meta Horizon OS v81

The latest Public Test Channel update brings a major overhaul to the Quest VR home experience. The new "Immersive Home" replaces previous environments with a high-quality loft, while "Horizon Central" introduces a larger, more detailed social space with a new Arena for events. This update also adds the ability to pin apps and place objects in Passthrough, and includes improvements to the in-headset Meta AI. Release notes.

Meta Spatial SDK v0.7.2

The developer toolkit for building native spatial applications for Meta Quest has been updated. Version v0.7.1 introduced new features like Environment Raycasting, which allows for more natural interactions with a user's surroundings, and a new UI set for building with Meta Quest's design system. Version v0.7.2 includes bug fixes and stability improvements. Release notes.

Apple visionOS 26

While the visionOS 2.6 update provided bug fixes and security improvements, a future major update, referred to as visionOS 26, is poised to introduce significant new features. Highlights include the ability to place persistent widgets in your physical space, a new "Spatial Scenes" feature that transforms 2D photos into 3D with lifelike depth, and native support for 180°, 360°, and wide field-of-view videos. It will also bring improved Personas, new hand tracking capabilities, and support for PlayStation VR2 controllers. Release notes.

Android XR SDK Now in Developer Preview 2

There have been no new announcements for the Android XR SDK since the release of Developer Preview 2 earlier this year. Developers continue to work with the existing toolkit, which includes support for stereoscopic video, hand tracking via ARCore, and an improved emulator for a more stable development environment. Learn more.

🌎 Community & Industry

Upcoming Events

Meta Connect 2025 September 17–18, Menlo Park, California. Event info.

With Meta Connect 2025 in a few days, anticipation is high for new announcements. Rumors suggest the keynote will focus on Meta's first consumer smart glasses with a display, codenamed "Hypernova," as well as new features for the next-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses and updates to the Meta AI platform. While a new Quest 4 headset is not expected, new hardware from third-party partners running Meta Horizon OS may be revealed. Read more ‘rumors’.

The Spatial Computing Business Newsletter team will be attendance and will be creating a special edition to cover all that is discussed in the coming days.

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Industry News

Smart Glasses Market Poised for $8.26B Growth by 2030 

A new market analysis from Grand View Research projects the global smart glasses market will grow from $2.47 billion in 2025 to $8.26 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 27.3%. The growth is being driven by new advancements in augmented reality and artificial intelligence, as well as by consumer and enterprise adoption in sectors like healthcare and manufacturing. Read more.

ShapesXR Launches Animation 

ShapesXR, a design and prototyping platform for 3D and spatial experiences, has released a new animation feature. The new tool allows creators to add transitions and dynamic interactions to their prototypes without writing any code. The feature is available on both Meta Quest and Pico platforms and works on the ShapesXR web editor. Read more.

Job Board Expands to Spatial Computing 

Nasdaq is offering a four-week internship opportunity for a Swift Developer to work on an Apple Vision Pro project, located at Nasdaq Labs in Boston. Read more.

Mainstream News Coverage 

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple's Vision Pro is gaining traction in business niches, with companies like Lowe's using it for kitchen design visualization and CAE for pilot training, despite the device's challenges in the broader consumer market. Read more.

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Meridian Meetups are booming! Following dozens of successful events all over the world, we continue to hear from many of you asking to expand the community gatherings to new cities.

If you're an XR professional, mobile app developer, or designer looking to connect, Meridian Meetups are for you. The events are designed to bring the community together through engaging talks, hands-on workshops, live demos, and valuable networking.

Ready to get a Meridian Meetup started in your area? Learn more!

🛠️ Hardware News & Rumors

Meta's "Celeste" smart glasses, which feature a display and a neural wristband controller, may be more affordable than previously rumored. Read more.

A headset codenamed "Project Cambria," believed to be an updated version of the Meta Quest Pro, has reportedly surfaced online. Read more.

Samsung is reportedly developing its own standalone smart glasses to launch next year in a bid to compete directly with Meta and Google in the growing smart eyewear market. Read more.

A new Apple patent suggests a future version of the Vision Pro could include an eye-monitoring feature to enhance user comfort and awareness. Read more.

Leaked code indicates that a new version of the Apple Vision Pro, potentially powered by an M5 chip, is expected to launch by the end of 2025. Read more.

Reports suggest that Meta's new high-end "Puffin" headset, featuring display panels from LG, will be launched as early as 2025. The device is expected to go toe-to-toe with the Apple Vision Pro. Read more.

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The work you're doing is helping to shape the future of spatial computing!

As we continue to navigate this rapidly evolving industry, we believe that your voice is essential.

We would be thrilled to feature any of your notable projects or discuss your insights, so please get in touch with our team. What developments in spatial technology are you most excited about today?

Thank you for being a part of this journey into the future.