As we prepare to close out an incredible year, we’re excited to bring you the final edition of our newsletter for 2024—a festive roundup filled with exciting news, magical updates, and groundbreaking XR innovations.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and an exciting 2025 ahead. Happy Holidays, and see you next year! 🎄✨
Now, let’s dive into this week’s news:
💰 New Year, New Deals! Save Big in the Meta Store!
The Meta Store’s Holiday & New Year’s Sale runs until January 6, 2025, offering unbeatable prices on all of Odders' XR games.
Les Mills Bodycombat: Sweat it out with epic workouts, now at just $19.99!
Les Mills Dance: Groove into fitness for only $19.99!
OhShape: Fun and fitness combined for only $9.99
Chess Club: Challenge your mind and master the board in the most immersive chess experience yet. Get it now for $4.99
Make It Stable: Enjoy the base game for FREE and grab the DLC for only $2.99! Test your building skills in this engaging MR challenge.
🥽 Samsung Unveils 'Project Moohan': The Android XR Headset That Blends Quest, Vision Pro, and More
Samsung's Project Moohan headset
Samsung's "Project Moohan" is the first MR headset built on Android XR, merging software elements reminiscent of Meta's Horizon OS and Apple's VisionOS for a seamless experience.
The headset features a sleek 'goggles' design inspired by Vision Pro but adds a rigid strap and ergonomic adjustments similar to Quest Pro for superior comfort and fit.
ntegrated with Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, it supports advanced pancake lenses, automatic IPD adjustments, and hand and eye tracking for intuitive navigation.
Early hands-on impressions highlight sharper passthrough visuals than Quest 3, offering reduced motion blur and optimized clarity, particularly at arm’s length.
While still in the prototype phase, Project Moohan is expected to debut in 2025, marking Samsung's bold entry into the competitive mixed reality market.
🧑🏼💻 Google Introduces Android XR: A Game-Changer for Immersive Computing
Image: Google
Google unveils Android XR, a spatial operating system designed for XR headsets and smartglasses, offering seamless integration of existing Android apps alongside immersive and spatialized content.
The built-in Gemini AI sets Android XR apart by bridging real-world and virtual interactions, enabling conversational assistance for both environments—a leap ahead of competitors like Siri and Meta’s experimental AI.
Android XR brings Google’s flagship apps like Chrome, Maps, and YouTube to life with spatial features, alongside immersive experiences like Google Photos’ 3D conversion and Maps’ volumetric captures.
Developers gain new tools like the Jetpack XR SDK, Android XR Emulator, and expanded OpenXR capabilities, streamlining the creation of immersive apps and ensuring broad compatibility with existing Android workflows.
Android XR extends to smartglasses, reimagining compact, HUD-like devices as smartphone companions, with Gemini enabling text displays, navigation, and translations in sleek, everyday designs.
👤 Meta Unveils 'Audio To Expression': Redefining Avatar Realism
Image: Upload VR
The new Audio To Expression feature in Quest v71 generates realistic facial movements (cheeks, eyelids, eyebrows, and lips) using only microphone audio input—no face-tracking hardware required.
This feature replaces the 2015 Oculus Lipsync SDK, expanding beyond lip movement while using less CPU.
Compatible with Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest 3S, it also supports Quest Pro, though Pro's dedicated sensors remain the gold standard for precise facial tracking.
Smaller studios and indie developers can now deliver more expressive NPCs and avatars without expensive facial capture technology.
Currently, Meta Avatars still use the older Oculus Lipsync SDK, but Audio To Expression sets the stage for more immersive VR experiences.
Today also marks a milestone for Odders Lab and Les Mills as we celebrate two groundbreaking announcements that highlight our commitment to innovation and excellence in VR fitness. 🤩
These unveilings represent significant achievements in expanding the reach and impact of immersive fitness experiences. Stay tuned throughout the day on our social media channels to discover all the exciting details behind these industry-shaping developments!
Finish 2024 Strong: Les Mills XR BODYCOMBAT Introduces the Fourth DLC – Focus Mode
Les Mills XR BODYCOMBAT ends the year with the launch of its fourth DLC, Focus Mode, designed to elevate your virtual fitness journey.
Discover more about this exciting release today at 19:30 CET on our social media channels. Don’t miss it!
Les Mills XR Dance Now Available on PICO Global: A New Era for VR Fitness
Les Mills XR Dance launches on PICO Global, bringing immersive dance fitness to the UK, EU, and Asia markets.
Learn more about this exciting expansion and how it transforms workouts into exhilarating dance experiences today at 12:30 CET on our social media channels.
👉 That's a wrap for this year's highlights! A big thank you to everyone who has subscribed and followed our updates throughout the year. We're excited to have you with us and look forward to bringing you more in 2025! 🥂
Stay tuned for all the latest in XR and tech trends—sign up for our newsletter and keep up with every exciting update! 👇
