Microsoft Hololens 2 ushers in the next generation of augmented reality

Mobile World Congress is a show primarily for phone announcements, but Microsoft used it to unveil its brand new augmented reality headset: the HoloLens 2.

The new headset is sleeker-looking, more comfortable, and more powerful than the first generation Hololens that debuted in 2016. But most importantly, HoloLens 2 has a much wider field of view — more than double the original HoloLens — to enable more immersive mixed reality experiences.

Without a doubt, the extremely limited FOV was the original HoloLens' biggest weakness. And it looks like Microsoft's listened to all of our complaints.

Alex Kipman, Microsoft's technical fellow for cloud and AI, said, "[It's] like going from two 720p [resolution screens] to 2K resolution in each eye."

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In addition to having a much wider field of view, the headset has also been designed to be "more than 3x" more comfortable to wear.

HoloLens 2 achieves this improved comfort with a new carbon fiber construction that's lighter to wear for long periods of time. Furthermore, the headset's band has been calibrated to better balance the weight of all the computer parts and distribute it across a user's head.

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Beyond hardware improvements, Microsoft says it's also made a number of significant improvements to the "holograms" within the HoloLens platform.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

A new "instinctual interaction" design language was created to make holograms more touchable. For example, Microsoft invented new virtual buttons and sliders that simulate tactile feeling with audio.

You still can't feel virtual objects, but with audio, your brain's tricked into thinking it's actually pressed a button or flipped a switch.

In one demo, Microsoft showed holographic buttons being tapped and sliders moving on a rail as if they were physical objects in real space:

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Below, you can see how a holographic piano can be played just like you would on a real piano. Microsoft says HoloLens 2 supports full 10-finger touch.

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Another cool feature on HoloLens 2 is built-in eye-tracking, which can be used for things like scrolling down a holographic website as you look up and down the page.

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HoloLens 2's form factor is also customizable. Microsoft showed how the headset could be adapted to fit a variety of different fields.

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Trimble is the first company to customize the new mixed reality headset to fit into hardhats for frontline field workers.

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Other noteworthy announcements include Microsoft's open app store for HoloLens development. Kipman said developers will of course be able to sell their holographic apps in the Windows Store, but they'll also be able to create their own app stores.

"We believe in an open app store model," Kipman said. "Developers will have the freedom to create their own stores as first class citizens in our experience."

This "first-class citizenship" was echoed for open web browsers for HoloLens. Microsoft Edge will still be supported, but Firefox will also be coming to the holographic platform.

HoloLens 2 will be available as an "enterprise edition" for $3,500. Kipman downplayed the price by reminding everyone of the $5,000 cost of the original HoloLens. Developers will also be able to purchase HoloLens 2 for $125 per month.