Nearly 15 years after the iPhone led the smartphone revolution, Apple is collecting the pieces for what it hopes will become its next business-changing device, eyeglasses that blend the digital world with the real world.
Apple is collaborating with Hollywood executives to create content for its upcoming augmented and virtual reality glasses, according to a report from The New York Times.
According to the report, Jon Favreau is just one of the directors involved, tasked with delivering a mixed reality experience based on Prehistoric Planet, the Apple TV Plus series filled with dinosaurs he produced.
But we may not be able to immerse ourselves in a Jurassic-like landscape anytime soon. In line with a previous report from Bloomberg, the New York Times says that Apple’s glasses may not be released until 2023 due to battery life and performance issues.
The newspaper reported that some employees have left the company due to concerns about developing a product that could change the way people interact with each other. These sensitivities have increased within the company amid growing public concern about children’s screen time.
The mixed reality device may not appear at the company’s annual global developer conference, as Apple is focusing on the software side.
During the conference, Apple plans to unveil software tools that allow applications to add new camera and audio functions. This lays the foundation for a hands-free interface so that customers can navigate using their headset.
Apple eyes its first eyeglasses as its next flagship product
Apple has not yet confirmed the existence of the headset. But it is likely that the device will be able to offer immersive virtual reality experiences, as well as virtual overlays designed to look like they are part of the real world.
Numerous leaks and rumors have also given us a near-complete view, from the unrestricted look to the Mac-level processing power.
But there have been indications that the company may be preparing the device for an official announcement, although that may not happen at WWDC.
The RealityOS name was spotted in a brand file for wearable computers, which is presumably the operating system the headset uses. It was also reported last month that the company’s board of directors had obtained a trial for the mixed reality glasses.
The planned headset spurs Apple into an emerging competition to determine the future of mixed reality. Microsoft, Google and Meta are in different stages of software and hardware development. It aims to create environments in which digital 3D images and the physical world coexist.
The company’s development of virtual reality content and software tools is central to creating experiences that give a future purpose to the headset.
Its last major new product, the Apple Watch, launched with nearly 3,000 apps. But the clock struggled because tech reviewers said few of these apps were useful.
Similar shortcomings have damaged Meta’s VR headset, whose sales last year exceeded 10 million, as it is viewed by many as a gaming device.
