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The $1,499 Quest Pro Is Meta’s VR Solution For Business
Mark Zuckerberg has announced a new mixed-reality device designed for professionals, dubbed the Meta Quest Pro.
At Meta Connect 2022, a new device designed for business professionals has been unveiled, and it represents a considerable upgrade from the cheaper $399 Quest 2 device.
Meta’s new Quest Pro VR device aims to increase “social presence, productivity, and collaboration”, using advanced eye tracking and multiple virtual screens overlaid on top of your physical apartment or office space.
The Quest Pro features a unique “open periphery design,” which allows wearers to still see the world around them in their peripheral vision, with magnetic light blockers available if a more immersive experience is required.
Compared to the Quest 2, the new device sports a 40% thinner pancake lens, with better visuals and two LCDs that offer richer colors and far more contrast. The Quest Pro also provides 37% more pixels per inch, with the aforementioned eye-tracking technology and better facial recognition to render avatar expressions.
All New Controllers
As well as a visual update, the Meta Quest Pro features all-new controllers with a more ergonomic design. Haptic feedback and triple sensors are present to track movement independently of the headset, enabling 360 degrees of motion. Finally, a stylus can be added to the bottom of each controller, allowing more creative options for Horizon Workrooms and other programs.
The new Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers have an upgraded, ergonomic design and haptic capabilities through the company’s TruTouch Haptics system. The controllers’ three built-in sensors are the biggest change, tracking movement independently of the headset to enable a 360-degree range of motion. You can also add a stylus to the bottom of the controllers, transforming them into writing utensils for Horizon Workrooms and other apps.
Bigger Battery, More Storage
The Quest Pro runs on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ platform, which offers 50% more power than the Meta Quest 2, with better cooling ability. There’s a new curved battery too, offering improved balance and comfort, and it’s rechargeable via a 45W USB-C dock (along with the controllers).
Configuration options are lacking, with the Pro sporting 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Controllers and stylus tips are included in the price, along with the charging dock and magnetic light blockers, though optional accessories, such as a carrying case, will cost extra.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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