Tech

META Just Revealed The Future of AR

Augmented Reality (AR) is set to transform how we interact with the world around us, and the latest development in this exciting field comes in the form of Orion—a game-changing pair of AR glasses that blend the physical and digital realms like never before. After years of anticipation, Orion is being hailed as the most advanced AR glasses ever made. META just revealed the future of AR technology.

Why Are AR Glasses the Future?

There are three main reasons why Augmented Reality glasses like Orion are key to the future of human-computer interaction. Here’s what makes this technology so important:

Beyond Screens: Digital Freedom
Forget staring down at your phone screen—Orion’s holographic displays project content directly into the physical world around you. From multitasking with holographic windows to life-sized digital entertainment, Orion transforms the space you’re in into an interactive canvas.

Contextual AI that Understands You
Orion integrates with contextual AI, which senses and responds to the world around you. Whether you’re cooking and need help with a recipe, or on a video call while managing your schedule, the AI assistant ensures a seamless flow between the digital and physical worlds.
Stylish, Lightweight, and Practical
Unlike bulky headsets, Orion is designed to be worn comfortably all day—indoors or outdoors. What sets these glasses apart is their transparent lenses, allowing you to see people’s faces and maintain social interaction, making it ideal for daily use.

The Evolution of Smart Glasses: Moving Towards True AR

Smart glasses aren’t new, but Orion represents a giant leap forward in what they can achieve. Ray-Ban Meta glasses introduced the concept of hands-free AI access, allowing users to engage with their digital world without needing a screen. However, Orion takes things to the next level with a large holographic display that enables true AR experiences.

While Ray-Ban Meta was focused on AI interaction without visuals, Orion combines both worlds—a personalised AI experience and large immersive holographic displays, packed into a sleek, lightweight design. The UAE’s tech enthusiasts can expect a whole new level of engagement, with interactive digital experiences becoming part of everyday life.

Orion’s Groundbreaking AR Display

The biggest challenge in creating AR glasses has always been combining the technology needed for Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) into a device that’s lightweight and stylish. With Orion, the team behind these glasses has nailed it. Orion’s holographic display offers the largest field of view in any AR glasses to date, delivering immersive experiences in a small, wearable form.

Imagine using multiple windows for multitasking or seeing life-size holograms of people projected in front of you—all while seamlessly blending with your view of the physical world. This is the type of experience UAE residents can look forward to with Orion.

Unlike other AR glasses or Mixed Reality headsets, Orion retains its glasses look and feel, with transparent lenses. This means that while you’re interacting with the digital world, you can still engage with people around you, maintain eye contact, and share real-time experiences.

What Can You Do With Orion?

The real question for tech lovers in the UAE is: What can Orion actually do? While still in its early stages, the potential for Augmented Reality experiences with Orion is exciting. Here are some of the standout features:

Hands-Free AI Assistance
Orion works with Meta AI, an intuitive assistant that understands what you’re looking at and provides useful visualisations. Imagine opening your fridge and having Orion recommend recipes based on the ingredients inside. Or, without lifting a finger, you could take a video call while adjusting your family calendar—all through holographic displays.
Stay Connected, Stay Present
Orion allows users to stay connected with friends and family through WhatsApp and Messenger, sending and receiving messages without needing to pull out a phone.

These features show just a glimpse of what’s possible. As UAE tech enthusiasts know, Augmented Reality is the next frontier, and Orion is pushing those boundaries with innovation that merges the physical and digital in new ways.

Orion: A Polished Prototype With Big Potential

The Technology is still in the prototype phase, but make no mistake—this isn’t just a research project. Orion is a highly refined product prototype, developed to showcase what’s possible with today’s AR technology. While it won’t be available to consumers just yet, Meta is already testing Orion with select employees and external partners to refine the product for eventual release.

This means that UAE consumers can expect Orion’s AR technology to continue improving, with the final version promising even more immersive features and a smaller, lighter form factor.

What’s Next for AR Glasses?

Looking ahead, Orion’s development team has their sights set on enhancing three key areas:

Display Quality: Sharper visuals for an even more immersive AR experience.
Form Factor: Making Orion even more lightweight and comfortable for daily use.
Affordability: Scaling up production to make these cutting-edge glasses more accessible to a wider audience.

For UAE residents who love to stay ahead of the curve in tech, Orion represents a glimpse into the future of wearable technology. As the AR industry continues to grow, devices like Orion will lead the charge, enabling users to stay connected, empowered, and present in the world around them—without sacrificing access to the digital world.

Conclusion: A New Era in Augmented Reality

With Orion, the future of Augmented Reality is within reach. These advanced AR glasses represent the next great leap in technology that blends seamlessly into our daily lives. As UAE tech lovers await the official consumer release, they expect a future where digital information is easily integrated into the physical world, all through a pair of stylish and lightweight glasses.

From the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses to the innovation of Orion, the world of AR glasses is evolving, and the UAE will be at the forefront of this technological revolution.

Read about it more in our online magazine at https://whatshotinuae.com.

Related Topics:ar Augmented Reality meta Orion

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Tech

How to Hide Files and Folders on macOS

Keeping your private files secure on a Mac is essential, especially when you share your device with family or friends. While macOS has built-in security features like password protection, Touch ID, and Apple Watch authorization, there’s always a chance that someone might stumble upon sensitive files while browsing through your system. We look into How to Hide Files on macOS.

Fortunately, macOS provides several ways to hide files and folders, ensuring that your personal data remains out of sight. Whether you use Finder, Terminal, or third-party encryption software, here’s how to keep your data private on macOS.

Method 1: Hide Files and Folders Using Finder

macOS allows you to hide files and folders by renaming them with a period (.) at the beginning of the file name. However, before you start hiding files, you’ll need to enable visibility for hidden files so you can see what’s already concealed.

Step 1: View Hidden Files in Finder

🔹 Press Shift + Cmd + . (period) in Finder.
🔹 Hidden files and folders will appear faded but visible.

Step 2: Hide a File or Folder in Finder

1️⃣ Select the file or folder you want to hide.
2️⃣ Click on the name to edit it.
3️⃣ Add a period (.) at the beginning of the name.
4️⃣ Press Enter, then select Use Dot to confirm.

🔹 The file or folder will remain visible but faded. To fully hide it, press Shift + Cmd + . (period) again.

Step 3: Unhide Files in Finder

🔹 Rename the file or folder removing the period.
🔹 Restart Finder by opening Terminal and typing:

bashCopyEditkillall Finder

🔹 Press Enter to apply the changes.

Method 2: Hiding Files Using Terminal

If you prefer not to rename files manually, macOS Terminal provides a command-based method to hide and unhide files.

Step 1: Hide a File or Folder

1️⃣ Open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type “Terminal,” and press Enter).
2️⃣ Type the following command:

bashCopyEditchflags hidden

3️⃣ Drag the file or folder you want to hide into the Terminal window (this automatically adds the file path).
4️⃣ Press Enter to hide it.
5️⃣ Restart Finder using:

bashCopyEditkillall Finder

🔹 The file is now hidden.

Step 2: Unhide a File or Folder

1️⃣ Open Terminal and enter:

bashCopyEditchflags nohidden

2️⃣ Drag the hidden file or folder into Terminal and press Enter.
3️⃣ If the file remains hidden, press Shift + Cmd + . (period) to reveal it in Finder.

🔹 Note: This method is quick and easy but not entirely secure—anyone familiar with macOS can still reveal hidden files.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Software for Extra Security

If you need stronger protection than Finder or Terminal, consider third-party tools that offer password-protected file encryption.

1️⃣ Funter (Basic File Hiding Tool – Free)

Funter is a menu bar utility that allows you to hide and unhide files with a single toggle switch.

🔹 Key Features:
✔️ Quickly hide/unhide files from the menu bar.
✔️ Search for hidden files on your Mac.
✔️ Works similarly to the Shift + Cmd + . shortcut but with a simpler interface.

🔹 Limitations:
❌ Files can still be revealed without a password, meaning it’s not a fully secure solution.

2️⃣ Encrypto (Password-Protected File Encryption – Free)

For maximum security, Encrypto allows you to encrypt and lock files with a password.

How to Use Encrypto to Secure Files on macOS

1️⃣ Download and install Encrypto.
2️⃣ Open the Encrypto app.
3️⃣ Drag and drop the file or folder you want to hide into the app.
4️⃣ Enter a password to encrypt the file.
5️⃣ Click Encrypt to lock it.
6️⃣ Save the encrypted file anywhere on your system.

🔹 To decrypt the file, simply double-click it, enter the password, and retrieve your data.

💡 Pro Tip: For extra security, use Finder or Terminal to hide the Encrypto-protected file so that even if someone finds it, they won’t be able to open it without the password.

Final Thoughts: Which Method Should You Use?

🔹 If you just want to temporarily hide files, use Finder or Terminal.
🔹 If you need quick access to hidden files, try Funter.
🔹 If you require serious security and password protection, Encrypto is the best option.

By following these methods, you can effectively hide and secure your files on macOS, ensuring your privacy remains intact. Whether you’re protecting personal documents, sensitive work files, or private media, macOS offers multiple ways to keep your data safe from prying eyes.

Tech

Akai And Native Instruments Collab for MPC 3

Native Instruments has just made a groundbreaking announcement at NAMM 2025, unveiling its Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Hardware Partner Program. Designed to streamline and enhance music production, this initiative bridges the gap between hardware and software, offering music producers unparalleled creative possibilities. Major industry players like Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio have joined the program, ensuring seamless integration of their renowned controllers with Native Instruments’ software ecosystem.

Akai And Native Instruments MPC 3 Collection — Akai MPC 3 Collection of Instruments

This marks a significant evolution for Native Instruments’ vision of creating an open and connected platform for music creators. With over 2,000 NKS-compatible instruments and effects from 250+ brands, producers now have access to a diverse and premium library of sounds—all at their fingertips.

Pioneering a Unified Music Production Ecosystem

At the core of this development is the Native Kontrol Standard (NKS), a technology that unifies virtual instruments, effects, and hardware. This integration allows music makers to bypass complex setups, delivering an intuitive workflow that keeps their focus squarely on creativity.

Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer at Native Instruments, underscores the collaborative spirit of this expansion, stating:

“This expansion highlights the impact of collaboration. It marks an important milestone in our mission to provide musicians with an open, connected platform, making professional-grade tools, instruments, and technology more accessible to creators everywhere.”

What the NKS Hardware Partner Program Offers

The NKS Hardware Partner Program enables basic integration for partner controllers, giving users access to Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol desktop software. With this, musicians can fully explore the 2,000+ NKS-compatible instruments and effects library. Supported hardware now benefits from:

Intuitive Mappings: Supported controllers offer plug-and-play functionality, allowing hands-on control without the need for extensive configuration.

Future-Ready Features: The program sets the stage for advanced functionality in upcoming products, ensuring creators remain at the forefront of innovation.
Streamlined Workflows: Producers can stay immersed in their music-making process without unnecessary distractions.

Akai And Native Instruments Expansion Packs Are Available Now.

Industry Leaders Joining the NKS Ecosystem

The partnership with Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio is a game-changer for music production. Here’s how each brand’s hardware integrates with NKS:

Akai Professional:
The MPK Mini Series (MPK Mini, MPK Mini Play, and MPK Mini Plus) now features NKS compatibility, bringing Akai’s widely loved compact controllers into the Native Instruments fold.
Novation:
NKS integration enhances the Launchkey MK3 and MK4, FLkey, and SL MK3 controllers, expanding their already exceptional DAW workflows. The addition of NKS compatibility means creators can now combine Novation’s ease of use with Komplete Kontrol’s powerful sound library.
Nektar:
The LX MK3 Series gains velocity-sensitive NKS functionality, enabling producers to enjoy expressive control and streamlined creative workflows.

Korg:
With MIDI 2.0-ready Keystage controllers, Korg brings its signature innovation into the NKS ecosystem. These controllers cater to both live performers and studio producers, offering advanced sound design possibilities.
M-Audio:
The Oxygen Series keyboards now boast NKS integration, empowering music makers with cutting-edge tools for studio and stage performances alike.

akai x ni 1 — Akai And Native Instruments

Why This Matters

For producers, this expansion eliminates the frustration of incompatible hardware and software. By integrating their favourite controllers with Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol platform, music makers gain a seamless and expressive workflow that fosters creativity and innovation. The addition of industry-leading hardware ensures that the NKS ecosystem continues to set the standard for music production.

What’s Next for Native Instruments?

This launch is just the beginning. Native Instruments has hinted at upcoming advanced features and hardware updates within the NKS framework, promising even greater possibilities for musicians. As the ecosystem grows, users can expect enhanced tools to further connect their creative processes.

Explore the future of music production with Native Instruments and its NKS Hardware Partner Program.
Read more in our online magazine: 😎
https://whatshotinuae.com

Tech

Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: How the UAE is Using Crypto in Real Estate and Fashion

Blockchain technology has become synonymous with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, but its potential stretches far beyond digital currencies. The UAE has embraced blockchain’s versatility, pioneering its use in sectors such as real estate and fashion. These innovative applications are transforming industries, enhancing transparency, and redefining how businesses operate in the digital age. Crypto in Real Estate and Fashion is here to stay.

Revolutionising Real Estate with Blockchain

In the UAE, blockchain is redefining the real estate sector by introducing property tokenisation. This process divides real estate assets into digital tokens, allowing fractional ownership that can be traded seamlessly on blockchain platforms. By lowering entry barriers, property tokenisation makes real estate investment more accessible, even to those with limited capital.

One standout player in this arena is Propchain, a UAE-based company tackling issues like high transaction costs and liquidity constraints in traditional property markets. Their blockchain-based solutions allow investors to trade tokens representing portions of real estate assets, bringing unprecedented flexibility to property transactions.

Dubai Land Department (DLD) has also been instrumental in integrating blockchain technology. It uses a decentralised database to record property transactions, lease registrations, and contracts. This approach eliminates intermediaries, reduces fraud, and provides an unparalleled level of transparency for buyers and sellers alike. By streamlining these processes, blockchain not only saves time but also builds trust among stakeholders in the real estate industry.

Crypto in Real Estate and Fashion in the UAE

Transforming Fashion with Blockchain

Blockchain’s impact isn’t confined to real estate; the technology is making waves in the fashion industry too. Leading the charge is the Aura Blockchain Consortium, a global alliance of luxury brands including Dior, Prada, and Cartier. This initiative provides digital identities for luxury goods, ensuring authenticity and traceability throughout the product’s lifecycle.

Through blockchain, consumers can access detailed information about a product’s origin, including the materials used, ethical sourcing, and sustainability practices. This level of transparency is crucial in combating counterfeit goods and aligns with the increasing demand for ethical fashion choices.

Blockchain’s use in fashion is also shaping the resale market for luxury goods. By guaranteeing authenticity and verifying ownership history, blockchain enhances consumer confidence, thereby boosting the value of pre-owned items. This innovation aligns perfectly with the UAE’s luxury retail market, which thrives on trust and exclusivity.

Blockchain’s Wider Implications

Blockchain adoption in the UAE reflects the country’s forward-thinking approach to technology. Beyond real estate and fashion, the nation is exploring blockchain’s potential in healthcare, education, and even public services. These initiatives are part of the UAE’s broader vision to become a global leader in blockchain technology, as evidenced by the Dubai Blockchain Strategy.

The UAE’s openness to blockchain innovation fosters a vibrant digital economy. The government’s regulatory frameworks, combined with a strong focus on infrastructure and technology, provide an ideal environment for blockchain to flourish. The UAE’s push for blockchain adoption not only strengthens its position as a global business hub but also inspires other nations to explore the transformative potential of this technology.

The Future of Blockchain in the UAE

By integrating blockchain into real estate and fashion, the UAE demonstrates how this technology can enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility across industries. The use of blockchain in these sectors is just the beginning; its potential applications are boundless, promising further innovation in the years to come. Whether it’s reshaping property investments or redefining luxury goods, blockchain is set to remain a cornerstone of the UAE’s digital transformation.