The rumour mill is in overdrive – reports are rife that Apple’s top echelon of bosses have previewed a mixed reality headset.
According to Bloomberg, the company’s top executives – made up of eight directors and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, tried out a version of the device last week.
The report quoted people with knowledge of the matter who said the tech giant has also ramped up development of its rOS – or reality operating system – the software powering the headset.
The headset would combine virtual and augmented reality and reportedly features advanced processors, not unlike what powers Apple’s Mac machines, and ultra-high resolution screens.
We got:
Ear pod
Air pod
Air pod Pro MaxApple’s AR/VR headset better be called the eye pod.
— ??????
(@Thrilluwu) May 18, 2022
Bloomberg went on to report that Apple is also working on stand-alone augmented reality glasses – which could overlay digital information and images on top of the real world – “for release later this decade.”
But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing – supposedly, the device has been hit with several challenges during development, including technical issues like overheating.
Bloomberg had earlier reported that the headset was expected to launch in 2020 before being hit by multiple delays.
But the fact that Apple’s board of directors could have previewed the mixed reality headset suggests the tech giant could launch it soon.
As CNBC noted – the Apple Watch was previewed in the third quarter of 2014 and released a year later.
Bloomberg says Apple’s mixed reality headset could be unveiled by this year and a consumer version launched by 2023.
Earlier this year, the Information said they saw internal Apple images of a late-stage prototype, which would feature a curved visor attached to the face by a mesh material.
It’s unknown how much the headset would cost – some suggest it could retail for US$3,000, which would be about the price of two new iPhones.
In comparison, Meta is also expected to launch its own mixed reality headset aimed to be used in professional settings and could retail for about US$800.
*Featured image from Apple
