I follow someone who gets quite a bit of inside information, and gets to meet lots of companies in the tech world.
2017 - 2018 is going to be big years for mixed reality.
What you have to remember is most of these companies work in large elements of secrecy.
This person receives large amounts of inside information. Microsofts hololens is well documented to have FOV problems, be too heavy and they are doing the right thing refining this device.
But they are working on cheaper mixed reality solutions through partners that will hit the market next year.
Some have doubts if Hololens will ever get a consumer release.
If the ceo says the hololens is 5 years away from a consumer release then he's doing the right thing not trying to push a product out when it is nowhere near ready for consumer adaption.
I think the truth is many competitors have took a differen't approach in the tech they have used and have found a balance of getting a better FOV and weight before Microsoft.
Microsoft were pretty much early in the game of producing a mixed reality headset, truth is others who have come in after have found different components and techniques.
Worth noting the same ceo said mixed reality will be brought to consumers in 2017 when it was announce it will be selling products made by partners.
2017 has also been a year mentioned for a suprise magic leap roll-out. They have been employing a lot for mass production which is a move a company will make only when they are getting to the stage to produce products in mass pending a launch.
My view is 2017-2018 are massive years for mixed reality. The problem is with the hololens as a product, not mixed reality as a tech
Microsoft are working very hard getting companies to produce content for their device, once it is released there will be lots of content for consumers to choose from. The same can be said of magic leap, they have sealed some pretty big contracts within the sports industry and big movie companies. They hired a really well renowned game developer or wizard as they like to refer to him.
Every single person who gets their hands on magic leaps headset got to sign a disclamer form. Nothing gets out publicly unless they want it to.
As said lots of this stuff is happening behind the scenes.