News

Apple Likely To Release 8K VR Headset In 2022

Published

4 years ago

February 12, 2021

apple likely to release 8k vr headset in 2022

Unsplash

Near the end of January, Bloomberg published a report claiming that Apple is working on what could be the most expensive 8K VR headset ever made. Now, a JP Morgan analysis, spotted by China Times, states that the headset could be available as early as Q1 2022, but it’s likely to cost around $3,000 USD.

Why the steep price? Because Apple’s first VR headset will likely boast dual 8K displays with eye-tracking technology, offering far better resolution than other VR headsets that are commercially available at the moment. For example, the $300 USD Oculus Quest 2 has a singular fast-switch LCD panel with a 1832×1920 per eye resolution, while the $700 USD HTC Vive Cosmos displays text and graphics through a 2880 x 1700 combined pixel resolution.

apple 8k vr headset illustrations

In addition to an ultra-high-resolution display, the headset is also expected to feature the combination of an optical radar (LiDAR) and a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor for accurate location of the headset in space. All these and other components will be coordinated by a new version of the M1 chip, the first ARM-based system on a chip designed by Apple.

The chip will be manufactured by TSMC, one of the world’s biggest semiconductor foundries, and the final assembly of the headset will be handled Pegatron or Quanta Computer.

According to a drawing published by The Information, the headset could feature a HomePod-esque mesh fabric and swappable Apple Watch-style headbands. Depending on the specific materials Apple decides to use, the headset could be considerably lighter than its competitors, which would definitely help with long-term comfort.

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Because of how expensive the headset will be, some experts predict that its target audience will be professional content creators—not regular users. Currently, producers of virtual reality content have to rely on third-party VR headsets and deal with the potential compatibility issues associated with them.

News

Paymob Extends Series B Funding To $72M Amid Continued Growth

The financial services provider has secured an extra $22 million after strong performance in its core market of Egypt.

Published

22 hours ago

September 12, 2024

Nour Nasir

paymob extends series b funding to $72 million amid continued growth

Leading financial services provider Paymob has secured an additional $22 million in a funding extension, bringing its Series B total to $72 million.

The funding was spearheaded by EBRD Venture Capital, with support from Endeavor Catalyst. Existing backers such as PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude, and Helios Digital Ventures also participated, reaffirming their confidence in Paymob’s business model and potential in the regional fintech industry.

This extension comes on the back of Paymob’s strong performance in its core market of Egypt, where it has experienced 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B in Q2 2022. With the Series B extension and continued profitability in Egypt, Paymob is well-positioned to further its expansion strategy across the MENA region.

Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO of Paymob, commented: “We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there. This funding will help Paymob fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC roll-out. We remain committed to creating cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact”.

Also Read: Zoho Expands Qatar Operations & Releases New Survey Data

The expansion into GCC markets has been driven by Paymob’s initial Series B funding of $50 million, raised in 2022 and led by Kora Capital, PayPal Ventures, and Clay Point. The investment fueled Paymob’s growth, allowing it to launch its mobile app in 2023 and grow its merchant base by 3.5 times, now serving nearly 350,000 merchants across MENA.

Paymob has also expanded its payment acceptance suite to offer 50 payment methods through its gateway, POS terminals, and the Paymob app, providing the region’s most comprehensive fintech solution. The company recently introduced embedded checkout services for Shopify and WooCommerce, further demonstrating its commitment to empowering small and medium businesses across the region.