The Ultimate Compact Spatial Computing Solution

This setup is about building a real-world usable XR system using modular components, XR glasses paired with devices like the InAir Pod or XREAL Beam Pro to create an immersive experience similar in concept to the "Apple Vision Pro", but in a way that is:

• Far more portable

• Much less expensive

• Socially usable in public

• Flexible depending on your workflow

Rather than relying on a single all-in-one headset, this approach focuses on combining the best parts of different devices to achieve a balanced experience. 

• XR Glasses Comparison (Real Use Differences) 

XREAL Air (Original / Nreal)

• 1080p per eye

• Lower brightness and smaller field of view

• No onboard processing for stabilization

In practice, these feel like a first-generation experience. They still work, but:

• Dimmer image

• Less immersive

• No true screen locking without software

They rely heavily on apps like Nebula, which is no longer well supported making them less viable today.

XREAL Air 1S (Key Standout)

• ~1200p per eye

• ~52° field of view

• Built-in chip for stabilization and tracking

• Native 2D → 3D conversion

This is where the experience changes significantly.

The onboard chip allows:

• Rock-solid screen locking

• Minimal jitter or tearing

• A display that feels like a real physical monitor in space

Compared to software-based solutions, this is noticeably better. It works consistently across devices like:

• MacBook (even older M2 systems)

• Samsung DeX on phones

For productivity and stability, this is currently the strongest option.

VITURE Luma Ultra

• Similar resolution and field of view

• Multiple cameras for spatial tracking

• Relies on external software (SpaceWalker)

On paper, it should compete directly, but in real use:

• More screen tearing and flicker

• Less smooth tracking

• Frequent crashing (Mac + mobile)

• Audio inconsistencies

Because it depends on software instead of onboard processing, the experience varies by device and often feels unstable compared to XREAL 1S.

Spatial Tracking & 6DoF

• XREAL Air 1S + XREAL Eye:

  • Reliable 6DoF with good lighting

  • Stable tracking due to onboard processing

• VITURE Luma Ultra:

  • Uses multiple cameras

  • Still limited by software performance

Key takeaway:
Hardware-based tracking beats software-based tracking for consistency.

• Setting the Immersive Stage

XREAL Beam Pro

• Built specifically for XREAL ecosystem

• Supports spatial UI and multiple windows

• Can record spatial overlays (useful for demos)

However:

• Performance drops with multiple windows

• Noticeable jitter during video playback

• Limited to ~2 usable windows smoothly

It looks good in theory, but lacks the smoothness needed for real productivity.

InAir Pod (Most Practical Option)

• Works across multiple XR glasses

• More stable overall performance

• Flexible ecosystem support

Limitations:

• Some features not fully implemented on all glasses

• Window system isn’t fully “true spatial” yet on XREAL 1S

Example limitation:

• You can lock a screen in space

• But multiple app windows stay inside that fixed frame instead of spreading across your environment

Despite this, it still delivers the best overall balance today.

Pointer Functionality: The Missing Piece

While neither the XREAL Beam Pro nor the InAir Pod currently offers full hand tracking, both devices do allow you to use them as effective pointer tools. In practice, this means you can navigate and control apps using a virtual cursor, so, in some cases, it actually works even better than hand gestures. You point with the device in front of you, and the cursor moves smoothly on the screen, allowing you to interact with your virtual desktop.

That said, the lack of hand tracking is a real limitation, especially if you’re looking for something like Apple’s Vision Pro, which has advanced hand gestures. Right now, the VITURE Neckband Pro is the only one offering hand tracking, and from what I’ve heard, it’s pretty good though still not on par with the Apple Vision Pro.

Onboard 3D Cameras

Another note: the XREAL Beam Pro, with its onboard 3D cameras, does produce impressive color and contrast 1080p side-by-side recording. But despite claims of 60 frames per second recording, it breaks down. In some parts of the file, you get more like 15 or 20 frames per second, which is a real letdown. Even switching to 30 frames per second, you still see lost frames. So, while it sounds great on paper, the Beam Pro’s hardware just doesn’t always deliver that smooth, consistent frame rate, leaving a bit to be desired.

What Actually Matters (Real Insight)

After testing multiple setups, one thing becomes clear:

Smoothness is more important than features

You can have:

• 6DoF tracking

• Multiple floating windows

• Spatial UI

-but if the experience:

• Jitters

• Tears

• Crashes

-it immediately breaks immersion. That’s where the XREAL Air 1S stands out—it consistently delivers a stable visual experience, which is more important than having every feature. 

• Real-World Use Cases

This setup is not just for experimenting, it’s actually usable day-to-day:

Portable Workstation

• Samsung DeX = full desktop environment

• Phone screen becomes trackpad

• Add a foldable Bluetooth keyboard for complete system

Coffee Shop / Travel Setup

• No bulky laptop required

• Fits in a small bag

• Easy to set up anywhere

Content Consumption

• Large virtual screen anywhere

• Built-in 2D → 3D conversion (XREAL 1S)

• Works well for video, browsing, and media

Cost vs Value

Typical setup:

• XREAL Air 1S

• InAir Pod

Approximate cost:

• ~$1,000 USD

• ~$1,300 CAD

Compared to:

• Apple Vision Pro: $3,000–$4,000+

You’re getting:

• A similar concept of spatial computing

• At a fraction of the cost

• In a far more portable form

How Close Is It to Apple Vision Pro?

Similarities:

• Floating UI in space

• Layered windows

• Immersive content viewing

• Optional 3D experiences

Differences:

• Smaller field of view

• No full passthrough immersion

• Less advanced interaction (no eye tracking, limited hand tracking)

Advantages:

• Lightweight and discreet

• Usable in public

• Modular and flexible

• Significantly cheaper

Final Recommendation

Best Overall Setup (Right Now):

• XREAL Air 1S

• InAir Pod

Why:

• Most stable experience

• Best balance of features and usability

• Works across multiple scenarios

Final Takeaway

If your goal is:

• A compact, immersive XR experience

• That you can actually use daily

• Without spending thousands

• And without wearing a full headset in public

This modular approach delivers one of the most practical and realistic alternatives available right now. While it may not surpass high-end headsets in every technical measure, it excels in real-world usability, portability, and affordability, giving you a believable XR workspace wherever you go.

Xreal 1S Unboxing and Use Case Review

This is an unboxing and product-awareness post - not a deep tech review.

I’m far from a dedicated tech reviewer, and that’s on purpose. Years ago, I did more fitness tech, but the review world has become insanely detailed. People invest massive time into specs, lab tests, and comparisons. That’s not really my lane.

What I do like to share are products I actually buy for myself, things I’m genuinely interested in using. If something feels useful, fun, or potentially helpful for day-to-day life, I’ll bring awareness to it. Maybe it’s something you’ll find interesting too.

The Wearable Tech Spectrum (And Why Glasses Are Getting Interesting)

Right now, there are a few different “paths” wearable tech can take:

• Smart glasses with cameras and AI (like Ray-Ban Meta): great video, AI features, and convenience—but no display inside the lenses.

• Simple display-style glasses: usually a small display in one eye. Handy for framing, quick info, maybe navigation, but not something you’d want to use to watch a ton of content.

• Full VR headsets (like Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro): incredible immersion and field of view, but not practical for walking around daily life. You’re not doing your grocery run with a headset on your face.

What’s exciting is where all of this is heading. Eventually, we’ll likely see glasses that combine the best of everything, camera, AI, display, comfort, and practicality, without looking weird in public.

Why I’m Interested in XREAL

If you want a wearable display that still looks like “normal” glasses, X-Real is one of the more interesting options. The model I’m unboxing here is the XREAL 1S, the latest version from a company that originally started as Nreal, then rebranded to XREAL.

I’ve owned earlier versions, including the original XREAL Air (basically the first “Air” generation). At a glance, the new ones don’t look wildly different, but there’s clearly more tech baked in now, as you’d expect after several years of development.

These are essentially display glasses, you plug them into something (phone, computer, console), and you get a massive screen in front of you. Think: your own private theater. Sitting on the couch, it can feel like you’re looking at a 100–200 inch screen.

They aren’t powered on their own. They draw power from whatever device you connect to via USB-C.

The Big Upgrade: Smooth Display and Screen Locking

With my older glasses, the experience was simple: the screen moved exactly with my head. If you turned your head, the whole screen came with you. No smoothing. No anchoring.

To get a more advanced experience, I used the XREAL Beam Pro, which is basically a dedicated device that adds features like:

• smoothing

• screen pinning/locking

• pointer-style interaction

• a more “spatial” interface

It’s essentially an Android-based device with a VR-like interface, not an Apple Vision Pro experience, but definitely more advanced than “just a screen on your face.”

Unboxing the XREAL 1S

The box itself doesn’t have much info on it, pretty minimal. Inside, you get:

• a flat-bottom hard case (nice because it sits stable on a table)

• a USB-C cable

• no power adapter (because, again, these are powered by your connected device)

• Extra nose pads (Small & Large as the Medium ones are on the glasses)

• Manual

When I pulled the glasses out, a few things stood out immediately.

1) Thinner, cleaner screen design

The front section looks noticeably slimmer compared to my older pair. Less bulk, more refined.

2) Auto-tinting lenses

This is a big one. The S1 lenses can electronically tint even automatically

With my older glasses, if I wanted to block out the background for better immersion, I had to attach a physical cover/shade over the lenses. It worked, but it added thickness and felt a bit clunkier. The new auto-tint idea is cleaner and more “future tech.”

3) Audio upgrade

The 1S has Bose speakers built into the arms, which should improve sound quality compared to earlier models.

The “Eye” Accessory and Why It Matters

Along with the 1S, I also have the XREAL Eye, a small camera module that plugs into the glasses through a dedicated port under a cover.

This adds a major capability: 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) tracking.

Here’s the difference in plain language:

• 3DoF = the system knows your head rotation (left/right, up/down, tilt). It can lock the screen in place in a basic way, but it doesn’t truly understand depth.

• 6DoF = the system understands position in space, so the screen can stay anchored even as you move closer, farther, or shift around it.

That matters for real-world use. Example:
If you’re working on text, you can set a comfortable screen size… and then lean in closer to “zoom” naturally. It feels more like a real screen sitting in space rather than a flat image floating with your head.

One note: this type of tracking usually needs decent lighting to work well.

Quick Spec Comparisons (Old vs New)

Just comparing what I’m working with here:

• Field of view: about 46 on the older setup vs about 52 on the new one (as I understand it)

• Resolution: older is 1080p, new is 1200p (as I stated in the video)

• Brightness: about 400 nits vs about 700 nits

• Audio: Bose speakers on the new

• Processing: new has built-in chip features, including 2D-to-3D conversion and screen-locking features without needing the Beam device.

• Ability to add the Eye camera for taking videos and photos, along with 6DoF (six degrees of freedom)

Why Demos Are Hard (And My Plan)

Here’s the problem with reviewing display glasses: you can’t easily show what the wearer sees. There’s no simple “point the camera at it” solution that accurately represents the experience.

The workaround I’m planning is to use the Eye camera and the XREAL Beam Pro's ability to record what I’m seeing, combining:

• what the Eye Camera sees

• what the interface is showing in the glasses

That should make a future video far more understandable, because you’ll be able to see the “real world + the overlays” together.

Final Thoughts (For Now)

This was an unboxing and first look, just getting the hardware out, showing what’s included, and explaining what I’m aiming to use it for.

Next steps for me:

• firmware updates (usually required)

• real-world testing

• practical usage examples (work, media, travel scenarios)

Once I’ve had time to actually use the 1S properly, I’ll come back with a more grounded opinion on whether it’s worth it and where it fits into a realistic “over-40 lifestyle” use case.

For now, I’m going to play with it, set it up, and have some fun with it.

DJI Neo 2 Mule Deer Encounter in Backyard

Recently, I took my DJI Neo 2 drone out for a casual flight around our acreage. With open fields and farmland surrounding us, it’s always a peaceful backdrop. While gliding over the familiar landscape, something special unfolded.

I spotted three mule deer, one mother with her two adolescent offspring. They weren’t tiny fawns but not fully grown adults, let’s call them teenagers. What struck me was their curiosity. As I maneuvered the drone slowly and calmly, they stood their ground—alert but not alarmed. They let me approach relatively closely, observing the drone with a mix of caution and wonder. It was a rare moment of harmony between technology and wildlife.

After a short while, I gave them their peace, flying the drone off and leaving them to their day. It’s always a privilege to interact with nature so closely, even with something seemingly so out of place like the DJI Neo 2.

Watch in 3D

SMP Touchup with Shannon the Ink Barber

I recently visited Shannon - AKA "The Ink Barber" for something I don’t talk about enough: confidence maintenance.

It’s been about 2 years since my last SMP (Scalp Micropigmentation) session, basically a refresh that helps keep everything looking consistent. Years ago (about 9 now), I made a mistake and went with an inexperienced provider and ended up with what’s called pigment “blowout” (too deep in the skin, spreads/migrates). It was frustrating and made me self-conscious.

Shannon helped correct it over multiple sessions, and every time I come in, it gets better because the newer pigment is placed at the correct depth, so it fades evenly and looks natural.

Today’s goal:
✅ Blend out the old migrated pigment
✅ Even out the tone and impressions
✅ Make it look consistent, so nobody would ever know anything was done

We wrapped in about 2–2.5 hours. Skin’s a bit irritated/pink right after (normal), but once it settles, the top and hairline look sharp and clean.

And here’s the angle I want you to take from this (especially if you’re 40+):
Sometimes “fitness” isn’t just gym time. It’s also doing the things that make you feel solid in your own skin, because when you feel confident, you show up differently everywhere.

Also… we talked gym much of our visit. Might have to get Shannon in for an “old man workout session.” 😄