Got a spare $3,000? Microsoft has opened HoloLens dev kit pre-orders

By Kane Fulton

Microsoft has set up a webpage inviting developers to pre-order the developer version of its HoloLens headset, which is powered by an unspecified 32-bit Intel processor.

Essentially a Windows 10 computer worn on the head that allows for wire-free holographic computing without wires, cameras or any other devices, HoloLens will begin shipping to developers on March 30.

Announced on the Microsoft blog, HoloLens also features a custom-built “Microsoft Holographic Processing Unit (HPU)” which can recognize gestures and maps the wearer’s surroundings in real-time.

It weighs 579 grams (1.2 pounds) and comes with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Communication options include Bluetooth 4.1 LE and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and battery life is rated at between 2 – 3 hours of real-time use.

Future gazing

Its other specs sound suitably futuristic. HoloLens features see-through lenses (waveguides); two HD, 16:9 light engines; automatic pupillary distance calibration; 2.3 million total light points in holographic resolution and more than 2,500 radiants (light points per radian) in holographic density. Obviously.

And the cost? A cool $3,000 (around £2,160 or $4,202) if you’re a US or Canada-based developer — Microsoft is yet to announce when it will ship dev kits to other countries.

For that, you’ll get …read more

Source:: techradar.com – Computing Components