KnightSight

Install KnightSight for Ray-Ban Meta glasses

The glasses app isn't on the App Store yet, so for now you build it onto your own iPhone with Xcode. It takes about 20 minutes the first time and costs nothing.

1What you need

You only need the Mac for installing. During a game, everything runs on the iPhone.

2Prepare the glasses

  1. In the Meta AI app, update the app and the glasses' firmware.
  2. Turn on Developer Mode for the glasses: in the Meta AI app, open Settings → App Info and tap the version number 5 times. This lets apps that aren't on the App Store use the glasses' camera.

3Get the code

Open Terminal on the Mac and run:

git clone https://github.com/Stashm10/meta_chess.git
open meta_chess/ios/MetaChess/MetaChess.xcodeproj

No Git? Download the ZIP, unzip it, and double-click ios/MetaChess/MetaChess.xcodeproj. The first time, Xcode downloads Meta's glasses toolkit; wait until it finishes.

4Sign the app with your Apple ID

  1. In Xcode, open Xcode → Settings → Apple Accounts (called Accounts in older versions) and sign in with your Apple ID.
  2. In the left sidebar, click the blue MetaChess project, then the MetaChess target, then Signing & Capabilities.
  3. Set Team to Your Name (Personal Team).
  4. Change Bundle Identifier to something only you use, for example com.yourname.knightsight. Each Apple ID needs its own, so the original one won't work for you.

5Install it on your iPhone

  1. Connect the iPhone to the Mac with the cable, unlock it, and tap Trust if asked.
  2. On the iPhone, turn on Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode. The iPhone restarts. (The option appears only after the iPhone has been connected to Xcode once.)
  3. In Xcode, choose your iPhone at the top of the window, then press ▶ Run (or ⌘ R).
  4. The first time, the iPhone won't open the app yet. Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management, tap your Apple ID under Developer App, and tap Trust. Then open KnightSight from the home screen.
Every 7 days

With a free Apple ID, the app stops opening after 7 days. Connect the iPhone and press ▶ Run in Xcode again; it takes a minute.

6Connect and play

  1. Open KnightSight and tap Connect glasses. The Meta AI app opens; allow KnightSight, and you're sent back. You only do this once.
  2. Sit at the board with the glasses on, and tap Start. The chip turns green: Camera on.
  3. Set up the starting position, tap New game, and look at the whole board for about 3 seconds. KnightSight learns your board and works out which side you play.
  4. Play. On your turn, the best move is spoken quietly in the glasses, for example “Knight to f3”. Tap Repeat to hear it again.
  5. Tap Pocket to black out the screen and save battery, then put the phone away. Tap the screen to wake it.

The app needs an internet connection: it loads the same play page as this website and runs it on the phone.

7If something goes wrong

Xcode says “Failed to register bundle identifier”
Someone already uses that Bundle Identifier. Change it to something more personal and press ▶ again.
“Untrusted Developer” on the iPhone
Trust your Apple ID under Settings → General → VPN & Device Management (step 5).
The chip says “Update needed”
Tap Update glasses and update the firmware in the Meta AI app.
The chip stays on “Not found” or “Starting…”
Check that the glasses are on, connected in the Meta AI app, and that Developer Mode is on (step 2). Then tap Stop and Start.
It never says “Ready” after New game
Look at the whole board from a bit higher, with even light, and make sure the pieces are in the starting position.
No voice in the glasses
Tap ⓘ → Test voice. If you hear nothing, check that the glasses are the phone's audio output in Control Center, and turn the volume up.
“Couldn't load KnightSight”
Check the phone's internet connection and tap Try again.

Building the app is allowed for your own personal, non-commercial use only. See Terms & copyright.