Microsoft and Acer release ‘mixed reality’ glasses for developers

Microsoft and Acer have announced the Mixed Reality Development Edition. These are VR glasses that can be connected to a Windows PC and have cameras for scanning. Microsoft will bring mixed reality content to the Xbox One next year, including Project Scorpio.

The headset contains two LCDs with a resolution of 1440×1440 pixels and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The glasses also contain connections for audio and a microphone and connect to a screen via HDMI 2.0 and the PC via USB 3.0. On the front are two cameras for scanning objects and the environment. Contrary to Microsoft’s own HoloLens, and contrary to what the name ‘mixed reality’ suggests, the glasses do not contain transparent glass.

Microsoft and Acer will start delivery to developers this month. They can then create applications for the glasses using a software development kit. The headset can run HoloLens apps, Windows Universal apps and ‘traditional’ Windows programs in a VR environment, Cnet writes.

Microsoft also announced that its Xbox One consoles, including next year’s Project Scorpio, will be getting “mixed reality content.” The company does not provide further details about this, but there is a possibility that the Windows headsets can be connected to the consoles for a VR display.

In addition to Acer, HP, Dell, Lenovo and Asus also release similar VR glasses for Windows PCs, Microsoft announced last year. The price of the headsets will start at $299, that was the promise at the time.