![]() Maybe I need more time to get used to the idea. But I definitely think it may need a bit more refinement and support for more than just web apps. Will AR enthusiasts come out of the woodwork to buy Spacetops? Only time will tell. For those who travel, Sightful says it will include a 5G SIM card with one month of free service so its customers can work on the go. But in those cases, it may be easier to tack a pair of glasses to my existing work laptop than getting used to a new, limited, Android-based OS. HP even makes some laptops with these built in, which it dubs Sure View). I've seen numerous people on planes and trains with special privacy films attached to their screens to keep nosy onlookers from seeing whatever they're doing. There is one area where I see this working: privacy. Hopefully they have this ironed out on production units. Some were during shortcuts, while others were simple system freezes. I should also note that each of the three systems I used during my hands-on time crashed at some point during my demo. But it would be very distracting to see that angle on anyone, nevermind that it’s just unflattering. Of course, the Sighftul reps told me people ask them what those cool glasses are that they're wearing. This looks weird, as if you're not paying attention. It's at an angle that looks under the glasses, at your eyes. If it's on a desk, well, it still does that, just to a lesser degree. If the base unit is on your lap, the camera looks up your neck at your chin. The webcam also seems poorly thought out. I don't wear glasses or contacts, but I was told that when you order, you'll be able to enter your perscription, and it will come in the box ready to attach to the glasses for no extra cost. And each time, like clockwork, one of the founders or their PR person reached in to move the cable between my arms, which they have determined as optimal because it won't get in the way of other objects or knock over drinks. Each time I put on the glasses, I tended to put the cable, which comes out the front, around my arm to the left side of the laptop. The founders told me they used Qualcomm because it has some spatial technology that Intel doesn't offer just yet. This SoC originally launched in 2020 and has since been succeeded several times in the mobile space. The SoC powering the Spacetop is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 with eight Kryo 585 cores, going up to 3.1 GHz, qwith Adreno 650 graphics. ![]() And because of a limited field of view, you will have to turn your head to see parts of your "screen." If you move, you hold shift on both sides of the keyboard to re-center the desktop in front of you. Instead of shuffling between windows, now you have to find the one you want and zoom into it with three fingers on the trackpad to make it legible. But it also means there's new complications. But there sure feels like far more screen real estate than on a laptop. I can't tell you if Sightful hits its 100-inch virtual screen claim. This works, but as a person who meets the mobile, multi-window criteria Sightful is looking for, the lack of apps feels like a dealbreaker it's effectively a fancy AR Chromebook. When I asked about the lack of the Google Play Store (or any other app store), I was told that they see "the web as a first-class citizen." Everything in the start menu, like Discord and Spotify, actually served as bookmarks for websites in the browser. At the moment, the Spacetop is limited to web apps. There's also a very small e-ink display on the unit, though Sightful was only using it to show off its logo. There are two USB Type-C ports on the side of the laptop, which can be used for peripherals or to attach a physical display. But in the demo units I tried, the keyboards felt a bit loose. The keyboard and touchpad feel like they belong to a laptop (they're produced by laptop manufacturer Wistron). Yes, you need to be approved at this point for them to take your money. Once an applicant is approved, they will pay $2,000 for their hardware. People who need more powerful hardware, like gamers, will be asked to wait. The company wants people who they think can use this the way envisioned - using lots of windows, largely web apps - trying the Spacetop first. To start, Sightful founders Tamir Berliner and Tomer Kahan (formerly of Magic Leap) told me that while the Spacetop is ready to start shipping today, you have to apply for early access. Spacetop OS (Android Open Source Project)ġ0.47 x 9.8 x 1.57 inches (266 x 249 x 40 mm) Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 - Kryo 585 8-cores, up to 3.1 GHz
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