Sightful kills AR laptop Spacetop, but wants to make AR glasses work on Windows laptops
Startup Sightful has discontinued development of its Spacetop AR laptop. Instead, the company will focus on Windows software for AR glasses.
In an exclusive interview with CNET, Sightful announced that it has discontinued development of its Spacetop AR laptop.
Instead, the company will focus on developing Windows software that will allow conventional laptops to connect to AR glasses in a similar way to the Spacetop.
According to the startup's founders, all pre-orders for the Spacetop will be refunded. Sightful cites Microsoft's new focus on AI as the reason for the reorientation.
AR glasses could work better on Windows computers thanks to the integration of system-wide artificial intelligence in Windows and special AI-optimized laptop chipsets with neural processing units.
Microsoft's own XR ambitions are likely to be rather low, at least since the end of HoloLens 2 and the discontinuation of Windows VR headsets.
Sightful was founded by ex-Magic Leap executives
The Spacetop was originally intended to offer a 100-inch virtual workspace in a compact, portable device. Key features planned included:
- An integrated Xreal Light AR headset
- 7 hours of battery life
- A Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset
- 90 Hz refresh rate
- AI functionality
The purchase price for the AR laptop was set at $1,900.
Sightful was founded by former Magic Leap executives Tamir Berliner (CEO) and Tomer Kahan (COO). The company employs over 60 people and has raised 61 million US dollars in venture capital to date.
Originally, Sightful wanted to shake up the stagnating laptop market with the Spacetop and take a decisive step towards the acceptance of spatial computing. The device was aimed at people who want to work productively from any location while maintaining their privacy.
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