[Special Edition] Spatial Computing Business Newsletter, Meta Connect 2025

⚙️ Hardware & User Experience

Meta has significantly improved the user experience for sharing and collaborating with others by enriching how users interact with the system and various forms of content, making spatial computing more intuitive and versatile.

• Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2): The next generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses features an extended battery life of up to eight hours of mixed use and ultra HD 3K video recording. The new "conversation focus" feature uses open-ear speakers to amplify the voice of the person you're speaking to in noisy environments. Read more.

• Oakley Meta Vanguard: A performance-oriented AI glass with a durable design, a centered camera with a wider field of view, and a battery that lasts up to nine hours. It includes new capture modes like Hyperlapse and Slow Motion and integrates with Garmin and Strava for real-time performance stats. Read more.

• Meta Ray-Ban Display: The company introduced its first pair of AI glasses with a display. The new glasses feature a high-resolution monocular display and are controlled by a new wrist-worn product called the Meta Neural Band, which uses surface electromyography (sEMG) for subtle, silent hand gesture control. Read more.

• Hyperscape Capture: A new feature was announced in Early Access that allows users to scan a room and turn it into a photorealistic virtual world, enabling new ways to create and share content. Read more.

• Native Discord Window: A native Discord window app is slated to launch on Quest in 2026, aiming to provide a new discoverability engine for developers and enhance social connections. Read more.

• New Native Media Apps: The keynote highlighted the power of native media apps to deliver compelling content, citing Blumhouse's new app with 3D special effects and the upcoming launch of Disney+ on Quest. Read more.

🌟 Core Meta Platform Enhancements

Building upon its foundation as an immersive social platform, Meta has introduced fundamental improvements to its core technology and creative tools, laying the groundwork for more sophisticated spatial applications.

• A new foundational infrastructure for Meta Horizon was announced. It is designed for better graphics and faster performance, capable of supporting over 100 people in a single space. Horizon Engine: Read more.

• The VR home environment has been completely rebuilt with the Horizon Engine, allowing for more customization with persistent app windows like a web browser or a giant Instagram portal. Immersive Home: Read more.

• A new editor with generative AI tools was introduced to lower the barrier for creators to build virtual worlds and immersive content. These tools can generate 3D meshes, textures, sound effects, and even fully-rigged avatars and NPCs using simple text prompts. Horizon Studio: Read more.

⚙️ Enterprise Capabilities

New tools help businesses create custom 3D apps for specific work needs. These apps can securely view sensitive information, manage devices for teams, and allow secure collaboration in shared virtual spaces.

• Wearable Device Access Toolkit: This new toolkit allows apps to access the vision and audio capabilities of Meta's AI glasses, enabling new applications like giving tips to guests at Disney parks or providing live guidance for people with low vision. Read more.

• Meta Horizon Android Studio Plugin: Porting Android apps into VR is now easier with the new Meta Horizon Android Studio Plugin, lowering the barrier for developers to bring their existing applications into the immersive world of spatial computing. Read more.

🌎 Community News

A Collaborative Future

The growth of community initiatives and events like Meridian Meetups further supports this expanding ecosystem.

The fast growth Meridian Meetups have launched in communities in Barcelona, San Francisco, Nairobi, Brooklyn, Lagos, and more soon!

Want Meridian Meetup in your city? Learn more here.

🫂 The Spatial Computing Business Newsletter

We're dedicated to keeping you informed about the dynamic world of spatial computing. Our newsletter provides a concise and scannable rundown of:

• Latest Spatial App Releases: Stay informed on new real-world applications for Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, Android XR, and more, from leading brands and organizations.

• Mobile to Immersive Experiences: Discover how existing mobile experiences are extending into immersive spatial computing environments.

• Key Announcements: Get crucial updates on operating systems, hardware news, and industry trends shaping the future of XR.

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? 💬