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Microsoft's HoloLens was the company'southward first step towards developing augmented reality hardware. The wearable device projects 3D images in forepart of your eyes and layers the images over what you see in the real world. Now, it seems Asus is mulling whether to marketplace its own version of HoloLens. Asus CEO Jonney Shih and Microsoft'southward vice president of Windows and devices Terry Myerson affirmed to CNET they're in talks about working on a HoloLens project together, though Asus has said that it is "still evaluating" the potential of HoloLens.

If true, Asus will be the first third-party company to build a version of HoloLens. The Microsoft HoloLens is currently restricted to select audiences and cannot exist purchased at retail yet — although reports suggest that Microsoft might unveil a version of HoloLens for software developers at a price tag of $three,000 by the end of this twelvemonth. As is oft the case, the agenda behind releasing it only to software developers is to inspire them to create applications for the HoloLens platform in advance, and so that the general public will have a reason to buy in when information technology becomes widely available.

As the globe's sixth largest PC maker, Asus might come up up with a lower-cost variant of the HoloLens. The Taiwan-based manufacturer is well known for its affordable range of products, and if the deal with Microsoft is sealed, and so the company will be able to focus on improving and reducing the price of the hardware while Microsoft handles any software-related shortcomings. If all goes well, then in the future we might see larger audiences going for the HoloLens and incorporating it into their daily routines. Microsoft is hopeful that in taking a cue from Asus, other manufacturers may also chinkle in with their ain versions of HoloLens.

All being said, this won't be a cakewalk for Asus, as information technology will be expected to adhere to sure guidelines laid down by Microsoft. It might involve a waiting period of up to v years before making the technology accessible to the general public. Microsoft once mentioned HoloLens as a "v-twelvemonth journey," so we presume that Asus might have to wait until the completion of the said menstruum. Myerson mentioned that the HoloLens is a preview of what Microsoft has in shop for future, just like the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.

"Everything we're doing in hardware, we exercise with the listen of how do we grow the Windows ecosystem," Myerson said. "That is why nosotros're investing in creating a category. It's ultimately up to Shih whether Asus makes its own version of HoloLens."

Microsoft has nonetheless to reveal whether it might beginning selling its own less-expensive version of the HoloLens. Early testers praised the original for its version of Minecraft, with many referring to information technology every bit a "killer app" for the platform.

Ever since it unveiled the HoloLens, Microsoft has been working hard to develop the technology further. For instance, it'south focusing on creating 3D images that are ameliorate able to collaborate with the outside ecosystem. The company also showed a glimpse of such images with its Projection X-ray at a recently held hardware issue. In an earlier report, information technology was revealed that Microsoft has collaborated with NASA to test HoloLens on astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS). The company has partnered with AutoDesk to create applications for the device. Moreover, every bit Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said, the company is as well planning to try out the technology in fields as various as healthcare and construction.