Tag: Mixed Reality

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Some Apple employees reportedly aren’t sold on its mixed reality headset

Apple’s often rumoured virtual reality/augmented reality (AR/VR) headset has been in the works for years, but some employees at the company reportedly still don’t think it’s ready.

According to a recent report from The New York Times, several Apple employees have left the project because they’re skeptical of the mixed reality (MR) headset’s potential for success, with its rumoured pricey $3,000 USD (about $4,000 CAD) cost a primary concern.

Apple is expected to finally reveal its upcoming headset at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June, though there’s also a possibility its keynote and release could be pushed back again. While skepticism regarding entering a new product category is expected, The Times report notes that some Apple engineers even question the utility of the MR headset and are concerned that it lacks the killer app required to push the device.

“Some internal skeptics have questioned if the new device is a solution in search of a problem,” writes The New York Times. “Unlike the iPod, which put digital songs in people’s pockets, and the iPhone, which combined the abilities of a music player and a phone, the headset hasn’t been driven by the same clarity.”

The report goes on to say that despite these concerns, the mixed reality headset is still scheduled to launch in June and that “manufacturing is underway.” The device was also reportedly recently demoed to several Apple executives at the company’s Steve Jobs Theatre in California.

Leading up to the mixed reality headset’s release, several rumours have appeared about the device, including its ski goggle-like design, a Digital Crown-like dial that allows you to move in and out of VR, and swappable battery packs.

Source: The New York Times Via: MacRumors

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Apple’s VR plans could include xrOS and realityOS platforms

Earlier this week reports emerged that Apple renamed its rumoured mixed reality headset platform to xrOS instead of realityOS.

Now, 9to5Mac‘s sources indicate that both names currently exist internally at Apple, with one being based on iOS (realityOS) and the other utilizing macOS (xrOS) as its foundation. It’s unclear what both platforms’ purpose will be or if they’ll be released to the public.

There’s a possibility that one operating system could reference Apple’s rumoured AR glasses, and the other is focused on its headset. Further, back in 2021 reports emerged hinting that Apple’s first mixed reality headset could be powered by an iPhone. Perhaps there are two versions of Apple’s AR/VR headset, including one that operates independently and another that requires the power of the iPhone.

Apple’s mixed reality headset has been in development for several years and is rumoured to cost about $3,000 USD (roughly $3,736 CAD), putting it in line with Meta’s high-end Quest Pro VR headset, which costs $2,299 in Canada. The headset is rumoured to feature a high-quality design focused on comfort, dual 4K displays and iris scanning technology.

Source: 9to5Mac

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Apple’s long-rumoured mixed reality headset will run on new ‘xrOS’

If countless rumours are accurate, Apple’s virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headset will launch this Spring. Now, for the first time in several months, we’re starting to learn more about the device’s operating system.

According to Bloomberg’s often-reliable Mark Gurman, Apple’s mixed reality headset will run on a new operating system called “xrOS.” In the past, this operating system has been referred to as ‘realityOS,’ but it appears Apple has changed its name. Gurman says that the XR in xrOS stands for “extended reality,” which makes sense given the tech giant’s rumoured productivity goals for the headset.

Gurman goes on to say that Apple’s Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Notes and Apple News teams are involved in the project, hinting that the company has plans to launch its headset with several of its core apps. However, will anyone want to actually create a Keynote presentation inside a virtual reality headset? Probably not.

Bloomberg says that the trademark for xrOS has been filed by a shell company called Deep Dive LLC.

Apple’s mixed reality headset has been in development for years and is rumoured to cost $3,000 USD (roughly $3,736 CAD), putting it in line with Meta’s high-end Quest Pro VR headset, which costs $2,299 in Canada. The headset is rumoured to feature a high-quality design focused on comfort, dual 4K displays and iris scanning technology.

It’s unclear when the headset will finally release, but most rumours point toward early 2023.

Source: Bloomberg Via: 9to5Mac

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Apple’s mixed reality headset could be announced in January 2023

The reveal of Apple’s often rumoured augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) headset could be just around the corner.

According to a tweet from often-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the tech giant’s headset might be shown off as soon as January 2023. In a translated tweet, Kuo says that Apple only plans to manufacture 1.5 million units in 2023, and that the company plans to hold a media event to build investor confidence in the device.

Below is a full translated excerpt from Kuo’s tweets about Apple’s mixed reality headset (via 9to5Mac):

“However, this investment theme has not become a clear market consensus due to doubts about innovative user experience and low shipments of less than 1.5 million units in 2023. Apple may announce the AR/MR headset as soon as January 2023. This media event is expected to reduce investors’ concerns about innovative user experience and low shipments in 2023, and enhance their confidence in the headset’s outlook.”

Kuo goes on to say that Apple’s mixed reality headset aims to be the tech giant’s “next revolutionary consumer electronics product after the iPhone.”

Previous rumours have hinted that the headset will be powered by Apple’s M1 or M2 chip and that it features dual 4K screens and multiple 3D sensors. The price is tipped to be in the $3,000 USD (roughly $3,736 CAD) price range.

Back in late May, rumours circulated that Jony Ive, the tech giant’s former chief design officer, was still involved in the AR/VR headset project and that this resulted in several complications tied to its development.

Apple is also rumoured to be working on a pair of AR glasses that are set to release several years after its mixed reality headset.

Source: @mingchikuo Via: 9to5Mac

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Apple’s VR headset reportedly delayed to Q2, 2023

We were bummed that Apple didn’t give us a sneak peek of its virtual reality headset at its Worldwide Developer Conference 2022 (WWDC). Now, we’re even more disappointed to learn that the rumoured launch date of the headset has been pushed even further.

According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, instead of launching in the first quarter of 2023 (as he has mentioned in the past), the headset will now release in the second quarter of next year, prompting us to believe that WWDC 2023 will focus on Apple’s entry into the virtual reality, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) market.

Kuo attributes the delay to lockdowns in Shanghai that have interrupted and slowed down product development. Kuo also states that pre-orders for the headset would go live in the second quarter of next year, and it will be available to purchase before WWDC 2023.

From what we know so far, Apple’s AR/VR headset is rumoured to feature dual 4K displays, several 3D sensors and a price tag in the range of $3,000 USD price tag (roughly $3,736 CAD). Some rumours also point to the headset being powered by the tech giant’s M1 chip.

Source: @mingchikuo

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Jony Ive is reportedly still involved with Apple’s AR/VR headset project

It looks like Apple’s former chief design officer is still involved with the tech giant’s often-rumoured augmented reality/virtual reality (VR/AR) project.

According to a new report from The Information, Apple opted to shift directions towards a standalone headset powered by its own chip instead of it being paired with a base station. The report indicates that the base station version of the headset featured overall better graphics.

The report goes on to state that Mike Rockwell, the Apple executive in charge of the project, assumed that the base station version of the headset would be more popular with the tech giant’s leadership team. However, Apple’s top executives preferred the less powerful standalone version. Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, reportedly also put his support behind the standalone version of the headset.

This decision to ditch the ethered headset project was made back in 2019, and in the years since, Apple’s VR/AR headset team has encountered several issues tied to chips, cameras and avatars, says the report. Rockwell and Apple’s team reportedly have not been able to surpass Meta’s various headsets, including the Oculus Quest 2, in terms of visuals.

The Information says that several executives blame Ive for the device’s shortcomings since he pushed the headset away from its focus on creatives and professionals and towards being a portable device. Finally, the report mentions that a FaceTime-like chat app with photorealistic visuals failed to impress Apple’s executive team because the avatars fell into the uncanny valley and that the initial version of the headset won’t place an emphasis on gaming.

Ive reportedly continues to consult on the mixed reality (MR) headset’s design despite leaving the company back in 2019. A report from earlier this week stated that Apple’s VR/AR headset project is close to release and that the headset has been demoed for the company’s board of directors.

There’s a possibility we could finally catch our first glimpse of Apple’s VR/AR headset project at WWDC in June.

To read The Information’s full report, follow this link.

Source: The Information

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Conflicting reports emerge about the alleged demise of Microsoft’s HoloLens 3

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/hololens

Earlier this week, a report from Business Insider detailed divisions among Microsoft’s HoloLens team and sourced claims from insiders that the HoloLens 3 project (codenamed Calypso) had been cancelled.

In response, Alex Kipman, a ‘technical fellow’ at Microsoft and overseer of the company’s Mixed Reality division, refuted the claims on Twitter. A follow-up report from Business Insider cited more insider sources backing up the original claim, with one going so far as to call Kipman’s claim “complete bullshit.”

The original Business Insider report included information from over 20 current and former Microsoft employees and outlined divisions among the HoloLens team about whether to pursue hardware or software. The report claimed that Microsoft cancelled HoloLens 3 in mid-2021 and that the company’s recent partnership with Samsung caused rifts and drew resources away from HoloLens.

Kipman responded to the report by writing on Twitter: “don’t believe what you read on the internet.” He claimed HoloLens was “doing great” and pointed out that before Microsoft shipped HoloLens 2, reports claimed the company cancelled the project.

Business Insider followed up with a new report (via Windows Central) that countered Kipman’s claims. A source with direct knowledge of the product roadmap told Business Insider that “In no uncertain terms, Calypso was cancelled.”

“All of the people who were working on it have been distributed to other programs or have left the company. Microsoft might take the HoloLens 2 and put lipstick on a pig for another release,” the person said.

However, the cancellation isn’t necessarily bad news. According to the Business Insider report, Calypso was intended to be a “full-self-contained computer,” but the cancellation allowed Microsoft to refocus, specifically on the Samsung partnership and a potential cloud-based mixed reality device.

The device built in partnership with Samsung, dubbed ‘Project Bondi,’ is a set of screens in a headset and relies on a Samsung phone to act as the computer, unlike the HoloLens devices. That would be more in-line with the mixed reality and augment reality headsets competitors are working on — for example, Apple’s long-rumoured virtual reality headset will likely rely on an iPhone.

Ultimately, the future of HoloLens remains unclear. There seems to be no HoloLens 3 on the horizon, and Microsoft’s future headset plans appear to be moving away from the HoloLens models entirely. It’s possible the new headsets will use the HoloLens name, but I think that’s unlikely given the different foundation.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: Business Insider Via: Windows Central, (2)

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Google is working an augmented reality headset codenamed Project Iris

Google is reportedly working on an augmented reality (AR) headset codenamed Project Iris, according to The Verge.

Citing sources familiar with the project, the publication says that Google is working on releasing Project Iris in 2024. However, Google has only started to ramp up production of the device. It’s also unclear if the project will feature Pixel branding. The Pixel smartphone team is reportedly involved in working on some aspects of the AR headset’s hardware.

Google’s upcoming device is rumoured to use an outward-facing camera that blends computer graphics with a video feed from the real world, creating a mixed reality world. Further, “Google’s strategy is to use its data centers to remotely render some graphics and beam them into the headset via an internet connection,” according to the report.

Project Iris will not feature a glasses form factor, but rather ski goggles, says the report. Additionally, the headset is rumoured to feature an unspecified custom Google processor based on the tech giant’s Tensor chip, and will run on a version of Android.

Google has been very secretive with Project Iris. According to The Verge’s report, Google employees need special keycard access and must sign non-disclosure agreements before seeing the headset. There are currently 300 employees working on the project, but hundreds more will reportedly be added.

According to often-reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple’s often-rumoured augmented reality headset has been pushed beyond its initial 20-22 release window. The headset is rumoured to feature dual 4K displays, several 3D sensors for inside tracking and a roughly $3,000 USD (approximately $3,763 CAD) price tag.

Source: The Verge

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Concept renders give us a glimpse of what Apple’s rumoured mixed-reality headset might look like

Ian Zelbo, an illustrator who visualizes concept gadgets and turns them into renders, has released detailed images of what Apple’s often-rumoured mixed reality headset might look like.

Conceptualized with information obtained through this report from The Information, the renders give us a look at what the mixed reality headset might look like when released.

A quick look at the renders reveals that the headset takes some of its design elements from Apple’s AirPods Max, including the blue headband and the seamless, soft-cornered display, along with an Apple Watch band-like clasp lock button.

From what we know so far based on information obtained by credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the headset will weigh roughly 300-400g, with a “significantly lighter” 2nd-gen version featuring better battery life and a faster chip releasing later in 2024. Kuo also states that the headset will feature four 3D sensors for hand-motion tracking instead of traditional physical controllers.

Further, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the headset will be revealed in 2022 during WWDC, with a release in 2023.

Apple’s AR headset will cost in the range of $3,000 USD (roughly $3,883 CAD).

Image credit: Renders by Ian

Source: Renders by Ian Via: 9to5Mac

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Apple’s mixed reality headset could launch in early 2022

Apple’s often-rumoured mixed reality headset could release in early 2022, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an often-reliable source of leaks.

In his latest PowerOn newsletter, Gurman says that Apple’s AR/VR headset will be expensive and that it includes high-end components and features. He goes on to say that it’s possible the rumoured device could be revealed as early as next year and that it will be able to handle “high-quality” VR titles.

Rumours regarding Apple’s mixed reality headset have swirled for several years at this point, with some speculation pointing to it featuring a pair of 8K displays and a price in the $3,900 USD (about $3,852 CAD) range. In a sense, rumours surrounding Apple’s mixed reality headset paint a picture of a device that sounds like a higher-end version of the Oculus Quest 2.

Along with a more traditional AR/VR headset, Apple is also rumoured to have plans to launch augmented reality glasses “years down the road,” according to Gurman’s newsletter.

With rumours surrounding Apple’s AR/VR ambitions appearing so frequently, it’s almost certain that there’s at least some level of truth to them. However, what remains unclear is when we’ll actually catch our first glimpse of the device.

Source: Bloomberg