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Apple

Apple To Launch AR Headset in 2022 with Smart Glasses To Follow in 2023, Report Claims (mashable.com) 37

Posted by msmash from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.
According to a report by The Information, Apple is planning to launch an augmented reality (AR) headset in 2022, followed by a sleeker pair of AR glasses in 2023. From a report: While we've heard loads of similar reports over the years, this one -- if accurate -- is different. First, The Information claims that Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about the project at an internal gathering of as many as 1,000 Apple employees, which is an uncommonly large number. Second, the report contains loads of details, not only about the AR headset/glasses hardware, but also about Apple's plans and ideas about the concept of wearable augmented reality devices.

First, the headset. It's code-named N301 and will be a virtual reality and augmented reality hybrid. On the outside, it will look like a "sleeker" Oculus Quest, with cameras mounted on the outside (important for AR, which must include a way to view reality in order to mix virtual elements into it). It will be lightweight and comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time, the report says. Inside, the headset will have a high-resolution display and 3D-mapping capabilities, as well as the ability to detect humans. Perhaps the more interesting gadget of the two are the AR glasses, which are code-named N421. These will be meant to worn all day, meaning they'll have to be slimmer, lighter and more comfortable than the headset. Apple's current prototypes are essentially sunglasses with "thick frames" with the electronics stuffed inside, the report says -- perhaps (my guess) something similar to Snap's Spectacles.
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Apple To Launch AR Headset in 2022 with Smart Glasses To Follow in 2023, Report Claims More

Apple To Launch AR Headset in 2022 with Smart Glasses To Follow in 2023, Report Claims

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  • will already be preparing their patent infringement law suits.
    After all... this is Apple and they have more money than some countries /s /s /s

    • If they are smart they will leverage their patent portfolio sharing agreements with Microsoft. Microsoft for sure has a full deck of the appropriate patents.

      • If they are smart they will leverage their patent portfolio sharing agreements with Microsoft. Microsoft for sure has a full deck of the appropriate patents.

        Forgetting, of course, that Apple has been shipping AR in iOS for about the past 3 or 4 years, and now has potentially BEELIONS of user and developer-hours logged on it, developing software and hardware for it, etc.

        IOW, I don't think Apple has to leverage anyone's patent portfolio on this subject.

  • I really feel like the problem holding back VR/AR is the ridiculousness of using it today. Noone wants a huge heavy headset strapped to their head (or/and a pile of cords everywhere).

    Having a VR system as light as a pair of sunglasses would change everything. But the resolution will have to be good (enough), as will its processing power.

    Apple might be the one company able to miniaturize the tech enough and make it simple enough to get ordinary people interested.

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Apple are probably waiting for microLED displays.

      • That would be extremely difficult to do at an affordable price point for most vendors,

        this was pretty much the reason nobody was making a high resolution (for the time) capacitive touch screen device when the iphone came out. it wasn't that the tech didn't exist, it was that everyone assumed nobody would pay for it. Apple has a good instinct for knowing when people will cough up for something slick, and how to produce an ad campaign that drives people to do so.

    • > the ridiculousness of using it today. Noone wants a
      > huge heavy headset

      I think the bigger problem is the hipper-than-thou nerd haters. Google Glass was neither particular huge nor heavy. It was dorky-looking, and the total depndancy on a nearby android phone was a hinderance. But otherwise, it was actually some pretty cool kit... definitely a very early alpha of what smart glasses could become, but it would have had a lot of potential. What Apple really has to do here, is figure out a way to neu

  • Time to be revolutionary and create a new space about 6 years after it already existed... About par for Apple!
    • Umm, create? I think you underestimate Apple. They are going to _invent_ a new space 6 years after it's already existed, just like they 'invented' large phones after they had already been out for years and they had been telling everyone they really wanted small phones.

    • Time to be revolutionary and create a new space about 6 years after it already existed... About par for Apple!

      Except their's will work, won't require a tethered Cray X-MP1 (although I wouldn't be surprised if the first generation or two offloads heavy-lifting to a nearby iPhone or pocket-sized "ARPak"), won't make you look ridiculous, won't make you nauseous or have neck cramps, and will have reasonable battery life.

  • ... when your virtual reality toys aren't produced by real slaves in a real police state powered by really dirty coal.
  • Intel shut down the only viable AR head set to date. Having to watch the world through a camera is a non starter.

  • Finally (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Inside, the headset will have a high-resolution display and 3D-mapping capabilities, as well as the ability to detect humans.

    And to sort those humans into two categories : Sarah Connor and not Sarah Connor.

  • I instantly had a mental image of a helmet with a rifle on top.
  • Anything I would want to do 3D requires peripheral vision.
    Call me when holodecks arrive or maybe something like what Gordy wears in ST (and just as unobtrusive and light).

    • Anything I would want to do 3D requires peripheral vision.

      Call me when holodecks arrive or maybe something like what Gordy wears in ST (and just as unobtrusive and light).

      Yeah, but the image-quality of Geordi's (Gordy, hah!) visor is pretty sucky IMHO.

  • Glassholes Apple style? (Score:3)

    by balbeir ( 557475 ) on Monday November 11, 2019 @05:55PM (#59404714)
    What are these AR glasses wearing people going to be called? ARsholes?

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