Nick’s Note: My colleague Jeff Brown has the ears of important people in Silicon Valley. He’s seeded over 70 private, early-stage tech companies… And he’s a formal advisor to eight tech startups.
Lately, Jeff’s been following the launch of Apple’s newest iPhone. When it’s released next week, the iPhone 8 will have some cool, new features. Today, Jeff reveals which types of companies will benefit the most from these upgrades.
By Jeff Brown, editor, Exponential Tech Investor
On July 6, 2016, a small software company released a game called Pokémon Go.
Seven months later, the game had made a world-record $1 billion in revenue.
Pokémon Go is a gaming app. You can download it on your tablet or smartphone.
The goal is to find and capture virtual creatures called Pokémon (short for pocket monsters).
Pokémon Go was so popular, it crashed Google’s servers several times… in the 24 hours after its launch.
The game had 130 million downloads in just its first month… It’s added a half-billion users since its launch.
In fact, the game holds five Guinness World Records…
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Most revenue grossed by a mobile game in its first month
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Most downloaded mobile game in its first month
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Most international charts topped simultaneously for a mobile game in its first month (downloads)
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Most international charts topped simultaneously for a mobile game in its first month (revenue)
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Fastest time to gross $100 million by a mobile game
Here’s why I’m telling you about one of the biggest fads of 2016…
The technology that made Pokémon Go so popular is called augmented reality (AR). And AR will be the next major trend in consumer electronics.
Tech giant Apple is already moving forward with plans to add AR to its next big product.
On September 12, Apple is expected to release the latest and most advanced version of the iPhone: the iPhone 8.
The phone will have major upgrades. Last week, I told you that one of those upgrades would likely be wireless charging.
This feature will allow you to charge your phone without cables or plugs. You’ll be able to just set your smartphone near a wireless router to charge it.
Another upgrade will be 3D sensing technology. This is the same technology used to create Pokémon Go’s AR.
In a moment, I’ll show you a simple way to play this trend. But first…
Mixing the Virtual and Real Worlds
In Pokémon Go, you view the real world through your phone screen, with virtual monsters projected into the world around you.
These monsters blend seamlessly into your surroundings. That’s why they call this technology augmented reality (or sometimes “mixed reality”).
It mixes the real and virtual worlds. Here’s a screenshot of what it looks like:
Pokémon Go features “virtual“ monsters in the “real” world
A special type of 3D sensing technology creates augmented reality. It’s called vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).
VCSEL uses infrared to “illuminate” whatever is in front of the smartphone’s camera. The smartphone can then create a 3D image.
The technology allows for some cool applications. For example, facial recognition.
VCSEL technology will allow facial scanning
Here’s the important thing to know…
By adding VCSEL, the iPhone 8 will allow for a completely new set of AR applications like Pokémon Go.
This is just the tip of the iceberg…
As regular readers may know, Apple is a trendsetter in the smartphone space.
The moment that Apple releases 3D sensing as a feature, the rest of the mobile phone industry will follow.
Some forecasts for Apple’s fourth-quarter 2017 iPhone shipments are coming in at around 90 million units. And each of them will likely have 3D sensors.
In 2016, Apple’s rivals shipped 1.27 billion smartphones. That’s a massive market for AR.
And the floodgates are about to open…
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A Growing Market
In 2017, the market for 3D imaging sensors was about $400 million. It’s forecast to reach $6 billion by 2022.
The biggest winners will be companies that supply sensors to smartphone makers like Apple.
If you want exposure to this trend, consider the VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH).
SMH holds many key chip suppliers to the smartphone industry, including Nvidia, Intel, and Texas Instruments.
It’s a simple way to play the new wave of augmented reality and 3D sensing technology.
Regards,
Jeff Brown
Editor, Exponential Tech Investor
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CHART WATCH
Bitcoin Continues Its Epic Rise
By Nick Rokke, analyst, The Palm Beach Daily
Bitcoin’s run is still going. The cryptocurrency has surged 358% this year.
Bespoke Investment Group compared the rise in bitcoin with other bubbles such as the tech market in the late 1990s.
As you can see in the chart below, bitcoin has crushed them all…
Tech stocks rose a bit more than 1,000% during their bubble. Bitcoin is already up more than twice that.
Here’s the thing… We think bitcoin still has more room to run.
If you haven’t already, we recommend you buy bitcoin. You only need a small portion to get started.
—Nick Rokke
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
If you missed America’s “pot stock mania” that averaged 29,000% peak gains, don’t worry… Here’s your SECOND CHANCE to become a Marijuana Millionaire…
You can start with this $0.58 “Penny Pot Stock” that’s set to soar. But you must act before October 31, 2017. That’s when Canada votes to legalize marijuana.
Learn more about this urgent announcement right here.
