The long-awaited Apple AR / VR headset could see the light of day this spring. This is according to an article he wrote bloomberg That also shows a whole host of leaked features, as well as what the interface will be like and how the headset might actually work.
Rumors about the headset have been circulating lately, but this set of leaks gives us a very realistic picture of how the headset actually works. These include advanced hand tracking that looks like it won’t need any controllers, the ability to see your Mac’s screen, an iOS-like interface and new FaceTime virtual meeting features.
The article mentions that the headset could be called the “Reality Pro” and would cost $3,000. Some of the features that Apple will include to set its headset apart from the likes of the Meta Quest 2 and PSVR 2 will be hand and eye tracking capabilities and advanced FaceTime-based video conference and meeting rooms.
Hand and eye tracking will obviously be one of Apple’s main selling points for this device. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported something similar in the past about Apple testing features like hand tracking and gesture control.
Apple’s “Reality Pro” VR/AR headset: Key points
- Apple’s new mixed reality headset will likely be called the Reality Pro and cost $3,000.
- The device will feature a 3D version of the iPhone operating system, dubbed xrOS, with hand and eye tracking.
- Virtual meetings are a big selling point, with FaceTime calls that realistically display your face and body.
- The design will reportedly be similar to the AirPods Max with a Digital Crown to switch between AR and VR modes.
- Other use cases include watching video, gaming, and using the headset as an external display for your Mac.
- A large external battery may be required which provides up to 2 hours runtime.
The article goes on to explain how this technology works. It looks like the headset will have a whole host of sensors on the outside that will work in conjunction with sensors inside the headset that will be able to read eye movement. This will allow the user to select an item just by looking at it. To open the selected item, the user will have to pinch the index finger and thumb together. For comparison, in other headsets this function is implemented by manual controllers.
One of the big questions about Apple’s VR/AR headset has been how the company will be able to use both virtual reality and augmented reality together. Mark Gurman explains that the headset will have two high-resolution screens that support AR pass-through mode.
This apparently means that users will see the real world through the glasses, and Apple will also offer prescription options to users who need them. Switching between augmented and virtual reality will take place via a digital crown, confirming the reproduction of information (Opens in a new tab) about a similar feature.
Another “core feature” would be immersive video viewing, which is not new to VR hardware but with it users will be able to “feel like they’re watching a movie on a giant screen in another environment, like a desert or outer space.” For enhanced audio, it’s likely that The headset pairs with Apple’s AirPods.
FaceTime will be able to present a default avatar to the user. These may not be in the form of Memoji but will reportedly be a “realistic” rendering of the user’s face and body.
Another notable feature is that the Mac’s screen will be visible to users in virtual reality. Your Mac’s controls will still be your Mac’s trackpad, mouse, or keyboard.
It was reported earlier that Apple was working on an “air typing” feature for its headphones, but now Gurman says that it may not be ready for launch. Users will be able to use Siri to enter text along with the iPhone, iPad or Mac keyboard.
The operating system that supports the headset could be called xrOS, which is something we’ve heard in the past again. It will contain apps like Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, and Calendar and will have an app store for third-party apps.
In terms of the hardware on the device, there will be a variation of the M2 chip and a processor dedicated to graphics and mixed reality experiences that can be called a “reality processor”. The battery will be discharged in the user’s pocket so there is no chance of it overheating near someone’s face. It will also have a cooling fan and will keep the headset charged for two hours straight.
The front of the headset will have a curved screen and will be made of aluminum, glass and cushions – apparently, it will be similar to the Apple AirPods Max.
Like most VR headsets, games can be a big part of the third-party apps we’ll see. Apple is also working on health tracking features, but it’s not clear if they will launch with the first version of the headphones.
This could be Apple’s first launch of a new category since 2015, when the Apple Watch debuted. The company has reportedly had a team of 1,000 people working on the headset for the past seven years, and it could finally launch this year. If it’s not in the spring, Gurman says the iPhone maker could announce it at WWDC in June and then launch it later in the year.
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