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Microsoft's  HoloLens, which projects digital objects onto real world surfaces, is often considered the next big platform for the augmented reality (AR) market. However, the developer version of HoloLens still costs $3,000, and Microsoft still hasn't set a timeline for its consumer release.That delay has left the door open for smaller companies to launch innovative new AR devices. One such company is Leap Motion, a start-up that specializes in hand-tracking technologies for the AR market. The company has raised $100 million since it was founded in late 2010, and it recently launched a prototype reference design headset called Project North Star.

               Project North Star looks bulkier and less elegant than the HoloLens, but the prototype sports dual 1,600 x 1,400 LCD displays running at 120 hertz with a 100-degree field of view, and includes hand-tracking sensors. Leap Motion's hand-tracking sensors recognize human hands, and can project digital controls onto a user's fingers and read gestures.The setup sounds pricey, but Leap Motion claims that it can be built for under $100 at scale thanks to the simplicity of its optical system. The company doesn't plan to commercialize the headset yet, but its technology could shake up the AR headset market for companies like Microsoft.

Why was the HoloLens delayed?

                  When Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens in early 2015, tech enthusiasts were floored by its holographic demonstrations of Minecraft and other 3D applications. Microsoft's subsequently introduced "holographic" features for Windows 10, indicating that the HoloLens could eventually replace the mouse or keyboard.In 2016, Microsoft launched the development kit version of the HoloLens, which cost $3,000. A "Commercial Suite", which includes enterprise features, costs $5,000. Last year, reports indicated that Microsoft wouldn't launch a new version of the HoloLens until 2019, and it wasn't clear if the update would be aimed at mainstream users. Microsoft reportedly delayed the new version so that it would seem like a significant generational upgrade over the original.

                 Meanwhile, Microsoft partnered with several hardware partners to launch cheaper "mixed reality" headsets focused on the AR/VR market. These headsets feature similar controls as the HoloLens, and could train mainstream consumers to use the higher-end AR device when it finally launches.

                         

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               Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has also made a list of AR-related acquisitions, and leaked patents indicate that it's developing an AR-headset that could be paired with iPhones. The tech giant's ARKit software also lets developers easily create AR apps for iOS devices.  Apple is rumored to be developing its own Augmented Reality (AR) headset independent of its existing mobile offerings, running custom parts and software. The company is said to be targeting a late-2019 to early-2020 launch for the headset. 

Bill Gates Quote(Source):

 Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other.