Microsoft is etting eavily on a i#ed reality future

Think Windows Mixed Reality (formerly Windows Holographic) and the HoloLens is probably the rst device (maybe only?) that comes to mind.

But that won’t be the case soon. Several leading thirdparty hardware makers are already onboard the ambitious Windows Mixed Reality platform, which actually covers the whole spectrum from augmented reality (AR) to mixed reality (MR) to virtual reality (VR), and anything in between.

Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and 3Glasses are some of the vendors that Microsoft previously said would be shipping headsets capable of mixed reality. Designed to work with a ordable PCs and laptops, prices for these headsets start at US$299. Amongst them, the Acer Windows Mixed Reality Development Edition headset has already started shipping to developers. Like the other inexpensive MR headsets, Acer’s headset touts built- in inside-out tracking, which means there’s no need to purchase or install external trackers or sensors in the wall.

But what’s good of a mixed reality headset if it doesn’t come with a good controller? Previous demos and handsons had the Acer headset paired with an Xbox controller, which was clearly not ideal. Microsoft knows that of course, and at Build it has announced the rst Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers. Like the VR controllers you get with the HTC Vive, these MR controllers support six degrees of freedom (6DOF). They also support inside-out tracking using the sensors in the headset, so no external markers are needed.

Microsoft’s hardware partners will be selling these controllers this coming holiday period, presumably with their own headsets. Acer, for example, will be selling a headset and controller bundle at a price of US$399.