­­­Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses Upgraded to Android 9.0 Operating System Supporting Enhanced Developer Features and Improved Security for Enterprise

Rhea-AI Summary

Vuzix Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI) has announced that its M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses have been upgraded to the Android 9.0 operating system. This update enhances features such as WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, security, and foreign language support, beneficial for enterprise customers. The M400 can now be upgraded over-the-air, while all new units will ship with Android 9.0 pre-installed. Enhanced video recording capabilities include 1080p at 60fps. Vuzix aims to provide an upgrade to Android 10 within a year, indicating a commitment to ongoing support for its products.

Positive

• Upgrade to Android 9.0 improves WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
• Enhanced security features in the new operating system.
• Increased video recording capabilities (1080p at 60fps) enhance usability.
• Better foreign language support, critical for global enterprise customers.
• Commitment to upgrade to Android 10 within the next year.

Negative

• None.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuzix® Corporation (NASDAQ: VUZI), ("Vuzix" or, the "Company"), a leading supplier of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technology and products, today announced that the Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses have been upgraded to Android 9.0 (Android Pie/API 28) operating systems.

The M4000 already ships with Android 9.0 installed. The Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses in the field can now be upgraded from Android 8.1 to Android 9.0 over-the-air (OTA) through an internet connection. All newly purchased units of M400 and M4000 will ship with Android 9.0 factory installed.  Android 9.0 brings with it a series of improved features and functionality for enterprise customers, including improved WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity enhanced security, improved foreign language support, and increased video recording speeds, resulting in additional stability and usability for our enterprise customers.

The Vuzix M400 and M4000, equipped with a 4K 30 frames per second video camera with phased detect autofocusing, can now also deliver 1080p video recording up to 60 frames per second and save recordings directly to the devices' 64GB of on-device memory.  The option of HD video recording to 60 frames per second allows enterprise users to record video and playback in slow motion, a feature that is growing in popularity within the healthcare and medical sector among Vuzix Smart Glasses customers. 

To support the Company's developer community, Android 9.0 allows developers to target API 28 including improved graphics, animations, layout features and neural networks.   Android 9.0 also allows APK signature with key rotation, which allows developers to sign apps with a new certificate by linking the app's past signing certificates to the new one. 

With Vuzix' increasing global footprint, foreign language support is critical for the success of our enterprise customer base.  Android 9.0 allows the Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses to offer better support for foreign languages including Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and German.  

Specifically, for the optically see-through waveguide-based Vuzix M4000 Smart Glasses, Android 9.0 delivers enhanced visual theming that is optimized for an optically see-through display, as well as the ability to record and broadcast photos and videos without an on-screen preview.  This feature allows a totally nonoccluded view of the work environment while providing tight camera framing for the best streaming point of view.

"The introduction of Android 9.0 across our enterprise customer base for Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses ensures that our customers are receiving the best experience possible," said Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix.   "The Vuzix M400 and M4000 are an integral part of the Vuzix M-Series longevity program, and Vuzix is committed to providing ongoing support to ensure that our enterprise customers will receive an upgrade path to Android 10 within the next year and beyond."

About Vuzix Corporation

Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart-Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The Company's products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience, provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality. Vuzix holds 179 patents and patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The Company has won Consumer Electronics Show (or CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2020 and several wireless technology innovation awards among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (NASDAQ: VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK, and Tokyo, Japan.  For more information, visit Vuzix website,  Twitter and Facebook pages.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking statements contained in this release relate to Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses, their Android-based operating systems, improvements and features with Android 9, and among other things the Company's leadership in the Smart Glasses and AR display industry. They are generally identified by words such as "believes," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "should" and similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based upon the Company's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release. The Company's actual results could differ materially due to risk factors and other items described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Reports and MD&A filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

Vuzix Media and Investor Relations Contact:

Ed McGregor, Director of Investor Relations, Vuzix Corporation ed_mcgregor@vuzix.com Tel: (585) 359-5985

Vuzix Corporation, 25 Hendrix Road, Suite A, West Henrietta, NY 14586 USA,
Investor Information – IR@vuzix.com www.vuzix.com

 

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SOURCE Vuzix Corporation

FAQ

What new features does Android 9.0 bring to Vuzix Smart Glasses V400 and M4000?

The update includes improved WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, enhanced security, better foreign language support, and increased video recording speeds.

Are Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses being upgraded to Android 9.0?

Yes, Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses can be upgraded from Android 8.1 to Android 9.0 over-the-air.

What is the significance of the Android 9.0 upgrade for enterprise customers?

The upgrade enhances usability, security, and connectivity, which are critical for enterprise applications.

When will Vuzix M400 and M4000 receive an upgrade to Android 10?

Vuzix plans to provide an upgrade to Android 10 within the next year.

What video recording capabilities do Vuzix M400 and M4000 now offer?

They can record video at 1080p up to 60 frames per second, allowing slow-motion playback.