HoloLens fans will pretty much be disappointed to know that there will never be a second generation model of the mixed reality smart glasses. Microsoft is, however, making up for that by released the third generation instead.
Microsoft is skipping HoloLens V2 and will release V3 instead. Given that Microsoft currently does not have any competition in the industry of augmented reality (AR) technology, it is only reasonable for the tech company to not feel any pressure in launching a second generation of the AR device. Magic Leap, a competitor, had actually promised revolutionary AR devices but has so far not been able to deliver.
Traditionally, second generation products are smaller and cheaper versions of first generation ones with little tweaks and updates to features. On the other hand, third generation products offer all-new technological features.
If the company did proceed with a second generation, it would only prolong the release of a third generation. With technology evolving faster than ever and with Microsoft's resources, it is quite possible to jump straight ahead to a third generation with all-new augmented reality tech.
Thurrot writer Brad Sams reported, "By skipping what was version two on their roadmap, the company can accelerate version three which will be closer to a generational leap and help keep Microsoft ahead of the competition." Sams further added that version 3 will not arrive until 2019 according to his sources.
A 2019 release date for a third generation of the device will not at all be possible if a second generation is released first. Even if the release date is still 2 years away, fans do not need to worry as Microsoft is continuously improving on the current version by releasing updated software.
HoloLens, which was known as Project Baraboo during development, is the first and currently the only wearable holographic computer. It features a Holographic Processing Unit that runs on a 28-nanometer manufacturing process. It is equipped with a total of four "environment understanding" sensors that create the augmented reality on top of a real environment the user is in.
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