Augmented Reality

Finisar (FNSR) is Apple’s 3rd largest VCSEL array supplier, accounting for about 5% of iPhone X VCSEL arrays. Tonight the company reported earnings for the Apr-18 quarter. Finisar continues to expect a ramp in VCSEL demand in their Oct-18 quarter,…

Today, Apple said loudly and clearly that the customer is always right. There were more new features for users than there were new tools for developers: screen time limits, monitoring, and reports, grouped notifications, Do Not Disturb at bedtime, Siri…

In our meetings with AR companies at Augmented World Expo (AWE) this week, it’s clear the industry is waiting for Apple to announce ARKit 2.0 at WWDC. Improvements in persistence and multiplayer functions are two of the most requested additions…

Apple’s annual developer conference starts next Monday, June 4th. Consistent with past WWDC’s, announcements will be software heavy. Most notably a preview of iOS 12 and the upcoming MacOS. We expect Monday’s keynote to be highlighted by extending the reach…

Facebook announced the release of their Oculus Go standalone VR headset at the F8 developer conference on May 1st, and gave every attendee at the conference a free device. The Go is an easy access point for getting into VR…

The core insight of science fiction is that all technologies live on a spectrum of good and evil, useful and harmful, and our perception of their place on that spectrum vacillates over time. It’s a truth that we've long known…

Conclusion. This week we’re attending F8, Facebook’s annual developer conference. We have been down on the Facebook story given the negative effects it has on society (i.e. most people don’t feel better after being on Facebook) have recently outweighed the…

Earlier today, Snap resurrected Spectacles with version 2 for $150 (up from $130). The updated Spectacles have a slightly sleeker design, the ability to take pictures, new colors, optional prescription lenses, and water resistance.

Now you play chess in AR just like R2-D2 and Chewie. On Wednesday, Star Wars Holochess was released as an additional game mode on the Star Wars Jedi Challenges iOS app. This version of Holochess uses ARKit and allows users to…

Apple announced an updated iPad along with a suite of programs that enable educators and students to pursue creativity, which is critical in the future of education. We estimate education accounts for 10-15% of Apple’s business. We believe today’s announcements…

After markets closed, Finisar (FNSR) reported earnings for the Jan-18 quarter. Finisar is Apple’s 2nd largest VCSEL array supplier, which powers 3D sensing applications such as facial recognition through a flood immolator and dot projector on the front of the…

Special thanks to Austin Bohlig for his work on this note.  Two of Apple’s key iPhone X component suppliers, Lumentum (LITE) and AMS AG (AMS), reported strong Dec-17 quarter results and more importantly provided upbeat 2018 outlooks. Both company’s supply key…