Pico is looking for “experienced users” to test the upcoming “Project Swan” headset for at least 10 hours per week after they sign a non-disclosure agreement.
An email from a Pico representative requested an embargo until March 2 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time for a press release linking to an application for a “classified and confidential” program:
“If it is determined during the program that you are unable to meet the aforementioned usage expectations, PICO will collect your device and you will forfeit all compensation from your participation.”
I told the Pico representative over email that I am New York-based if they want to offer a demo and I clicked through the application for the program linked from the press release. I am happy to disclose that I’m married to an Apple employee, which is one the questions asked by Pico in the application. The application, however, doesn’t leave an obvious space to share that I paid full price for the Vision Pro headset I exchanged for my car. My belief in this medium predates my marriage, and I won’t let an employee discount give space for others to question my dedication to Good Virtual Reality.
Am I willing to sign an NDA and give my feedback to Pico without the freedom to report about it to Good Virtual Reality? No. But if Pico representatives want to offer demos of their headset in New York, I’d be happy to give it a try and tell them my thoughts as I have them.
When Apple invited me in 2023 to test out the Apple Vision Pro headset I was not yet married and I was not asked to sign an NDA. I was not asked to fill out a Q&A, nor was I offered a $160 gift card with an additional bounty to report bugs.
In the cases of Apple, Google, and Valve, I was simply invited to try their latest technologies and then I wrote my impressions in public with no obligations to secrecy for any of them.
Other outlets writing about this embargo will undoubtedly lead their articles with the announced specifications for the intended 2026 launch of Project Swan. Here is the text from Pico of the announced architecture:
Project Swan features a new generation of MicroOLED displays with a pixel density approaching 4000 PPI—approximately nine times that of flagship smartphones—delivering an average of 40 pixels per degree (PPD) with a center sweet spot exceeding 45 PPD for text clarity suited to professional workflows. The device introduces a dual-chip architecture, combining custom XR silicon that powers perception and imaging systems with approximately 12 milliseconds of latency and a flagship system-on-chip delivering more than double the CPU and GPU performance compared to the current XR2 Gen 2 platform. Together, these hardware advancements are designed to support smoother visuals, faster responsiveness, and more demanding mixed reality applications.
The latest Pico software promises “spatial multitasking” for Project Swan.
“The input system adapts fluidly to user needs, supporting look-and-pinch gestures, XR controllers, or traditional keyboard-and-mouse setups without switching modes.”
Of all the things included in the Pico release, the most interesting is the promise of “an open-source framework” for “cross-platform apps“ that “run seamlessly across PICO OS, VisionOS, and AndroidXR.”
Those interested in the “Global Early Access Program” can find the application at picoxr.com.
I signed up, will see if they think my experience is worth something to them 😅. But will not send a recipe of every VR headset I own as they asked me to. But send them a selfie with my headset shelf in the background. Hope it's good enough.
I was pretty excited after their video announcement. Seems like they took the best from both Horizon OS and Vision OS. I hope they will release it in the USA this time to get more reach.
I wonder if this means they expect to launch in the US outside of the enterprise supply chain?