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Microsoft’s Hololens will be wireless, battery lasts up to five hours

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Hololens will never be a wired device

I’m still adamant that Microsoft’s Hololens isn’t a gaming device, purely because the company isn’t positioning it as such. yes it does some light gaming integration, and it’s been on stage at E3 (where we actually got to try it out), but it’s first and foremost a mobile Augmented Reality unit that’s meant to make a plethora of industries easier day to day. Although you’ll be charging it up to work – a lot.

Straight from a new event out in Tel Aviv, Microsoft have revealed a few small details regarding their mobile AR processing headset. Technical Evangelist Bruce Harris was quizzed on the battery life for the Hololens, and unsurprisingly it depends how hard you push it. Taxing applications can limit the device to just two and a half hours of use, with more conservative estimates putting battery life at around five hours.

That’s not going to change with a different version just yet either, as Microsoft have zero plans to ever release a wired version of the Hololens. And that makes sense too, given that the headset has all its processing and computing done on-board. Unlike VR headsets, it doesn’t need a PC to be tethered into so that it can work, so why would there ever be a need for physical cables?

Addressing the main concern with the headset though, Harris explained that Microsoft were in fact looking at options around increasing the field of view, which currently is nothing like the on-stage demos suggest. It’s a matter of financial feasibility at this point, with Microsoft already aiming for $3000 for Hololens development kits (remember, it is a PC essentially). There’s still no public plan on how it’s going to be sold, but it seems that Microsoft are already thinking that far ahead in terms of cutting costs.

And while Hololens will be able to integrate with native Windows 10 apps, I think its true potential will only be realised once those development kits start going out. Hololens is years off still, and in the same bracket as the likes of Google Glass in terms of market viability. It’s certainly not a project just meant for gaming, but I definitely think it has the potential to change the way we compute daily.

One day.

Last Updated: January 18, 2016

No Comments

  1. 5hr battery life
    10hr charge
    BUT NOT IF YOU BUY THE CHARGEFAST (pat pending) DLC!!! (Sold separately)

    Reply

    • The Grand Admiral Chief Prime

      January 18, 2016 at 12:38

      I need to market that.

      I’d make a killing. Something that charges your smartphone faster, for a once off purchase in the app store. Or a five-pack at a discount.

      Retirement in 3 weeks.

      Private island in 5

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    January 18, 2016 at 12:37

    Seems hollow…
    Okay I’ll leave

    Reply

    • The Grand Admiral Chief Prime

      January 18, 2016 at 12:58

      [insert tumbleweed sounds]

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      January 18, 2016 at 13:02

      It’ll leave your wallet and soul hollow… 😛

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      January 18, 2016 at 13:05

      Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

      Reply

  3. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    January 18, 2016 at 12:57

    LOL!—–

    Reply

  4. RinceThis

    January 18, 2016 at 13:05

    This after they said they’ve invented some new battery that charges in 30 seconds and lasts 8 hours?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 18, 2016 at 13:07

      Thing is those batteries are blue and triangular. Not sure it’s compatible 😛

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        January 18, 2016 at 13:08

        The can surely offer DLC that allows it to change shape, become waterproof and can be charged in a microwave?

        Reply

    • Alessandro Barbosa

      January 18, 2016 at 13:40

      Yeah batteries for a controller, not a micro PC 😛

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        January 18, 2016 at 13:55

        I’m saying perhaps they can integrate that tech as I am pretty sure it isn’t at the moment.

        Reply

  5. Ir0nseraph

    January 18, 2016 at 13:21

    Sorry I stopped reading at $3000….

    Holy Crap, it will be interesting to see what price it will hit when it’s all done.

    Reply

  6. Loftus

    January 18, 2016 at 13:25

    I still want that 10 second microwave that makes the pizza, hololens is nice and all but having pizza that quick….yummm. O yes and having hover boards and shoes that tie themselves.

    Reply

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