Apple Allegedly Partnering With Carl Zeiss for Augmented Reality Glasses

[elmaco]

"but previous rumors have suggested Apple is working on a set of smart glasses that would connect wirelessly to the iPhone and display images and other information to the wearer."

My God I hope these are light weight, looks like ordinary glasses and have battery that last the whole day. It must not be the bulky crap we have seen from Meta, Microsoft and Magic Leap.

If they are sleek, Apple will own the AR market, like they did with smart glasses and tablets. The stock should explode.

Probably wise to tie to the iPhone initially (before the are dedicated smart glasses apps), but should be sufficient with a key ring that provides uplink, computational capacity and power. No need for separate screen, if you can see it on your glasses.

 

[VTPete]

Apple and augmented reality could be smart, but only if Apple enables the developers to be able to use the technology. Since there are currently zero Apple supplied SDKs, developers turn to third parties like Vuforia, Wikitude, etc. I've tried them all and they lack integration with UIKit... An Apple supported technology base for us developers (that's free to license) would be very, very compelling. Currently you can expect to pay $1,000 in license fees along for a third party solution.

So, Apple COULD do something interesting here, but if they think the future is a bunch of people walking around city streets with special glasses on watching pop-up ads overlaid on static billboards (or building facades, or manhole covers), then they're making the same mistake the "3D TV is the future" people did. No one wants that!

Augmented reality would be a huge hit at gaming parties where you could play a live version of Dungeons and Dragons with the interactive depth of a Dejarik. I can list a half dozen other killer apps that would be possible.

But Tim, you need to get the developers involved. Stop saying you're going to do it and just DO IT. Contact me and I'll help you!

 

[PortableLover]

Forget AR, the next big thing is a smart connected hair brush and toaster oven.

Probably right. Already have silly smart fridges

 

[jeremiah256]

It's a smart and relatively inexpensive move for Apple. My guess is, the first version will be conservative. No camera or microphone, to avoid privacy issues. No sound out option. Sound indicators will be replaced by Taptic responses. Apple will go for subtle and concentrate on context and minimize distractions. No reading of email or Twitter, they'll focus on enhancing your experience. The only internal sensors may be light (brightness control) and proximity (it's on your face).

- Maps (walking or biking speeds only)/Find My Phone/Find My Friends: Taptic response to turn plus an arrow and maybe a quick indication (via color) of how long to the next waypoint. Maybe a indication of the next bus or train to catch if it notices you are near a train or bus stop. Green flashing dot when you are within sight of your destination.

- Reminders: will be just a notification, no reading of details, go to your device for that. Taptic prompts with a quick visual reminder of the subject and how long until it starts or that you are now at the location where you can take care of business.

- Phone calls: Flash of caller's ID that will fade within a few seconds.

- Time: Displays at optional intervals or if tapped, then quickly fades

- iBeacon: Expanded service with stores, sports, events, etc.

They will not be pushing the iGlasses/Apple Glasses/AppleVision as the next big thing, but like Nike products, as a option for those interested.

 

[elmaco]

Does Apple truly believe AR is the future that the masses will embrace? Are they banking on some sort of distopian Trump world where we live underground wearing visors to escape reality? AR is cool for sure, but to invest so heavily in it seems like a reach.

Apple should invest billions in AR.

If they can get a two year head start they will make tens of billions. The ROI will be outstanding. Smart glasses will be the next platform, but for it to succeed, the glasses must be:

- light weight
- have battery for a whole day
- look like ordinary glasses

If these requirements can't be met, they should not release a product, instead they must invest and research more.

The glasses don't have to support fancy 3D objects floating around in space, 2D will do, but the smart glasses must have camera and be able to analyse what they see, like hand gestures.

 

[iMule]

I'm sure Apple uses Zeiss CMMs to check their CNC machined parts. That's what we use where I work.

 

[skellener]

$600. iPhone - check
$450. Apple Watch - check
$700. Apple AR Glasses - check
$0. money left over to go outside somewhere and use Apple products - check
-------------------------
Stay home and watch Netflix - check.

 

[utsava]

Last to the party isn't innovating.

First to the party isn't innovating either.

 

[PortableLover]

What about people who already have glasses?

 

[wigby]

Too bad they won't have any MBPs, Minis, or Mac Pros that can render high resolution VR content.

Only developers need access to powerful PCs to render content like that. Apple's A series CPU and GPU are the best in the mobile industry. That might not be where the VR industry is right now but AR is all about mobility and in a few years, no VR system will be tethered.
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I really hope this isn't true. Apple should focus on it's current product lines before taking on another. Tim has proved he can't handle it's current product lines, and he constantly forgets to up-date them!

Maybe one of the Apple employees on this forum can put a post-it up on his computer screen that Apple has a product called Mac Pro that they should update! Also, maybe put another that dongles are stupid

Could you imagine Tim's half ass attempt at a VR goggle?

Do you really think Apple is interested in the Mac? They have been merging their mobile and desktop lines with mobile getting all the regular innovation and the desktop getting sporadic updates at best. I would take AR glasses over a withering Mac line any day.

 

[s1m]

I love this idea - not having to look down at the screen in my car to see what the next song is would be great. Seeing who a call is coming from again without looking at the screen removes distractions when driving. I am sat looking at my computer screen now - getting notifications from other devices whilst looking at this screen would in fact be less distracting.

Adding augmented reality would be great but I think would need much greater processing power than Siri uses. I imagine looking at a building, the screen on my glasses highlights the shape of the building and tells me about it. I think the possibilities for information provision are limitless.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I think this would look nice.

 

[Pootmatoot]

VR and AR is going to be a core functionality in the coming decades... this stuff can't be 3rd party.

Apple needs to get competency in-house.

 

[rp2011]

I call bs. The last thing Apple needs is stupid vr glasses. And why Carl Ziess?
If anything an aftermarket snap-on lens.

 

[Appleaker]

Cook is the master of ambiguity and disinformation. Anything Apple is suspected of doing turns into a race to market for everybody else.

I'd settle for super-quick conventional charging.

I'd prefer both types of charging. And it looks like we may be getting that.

And yes, that's been very clear in the past and most recently with Apple Watch causing Samsung and others to join in the smart watch game that only a few other companies were in.

 

[yaxomoxay]

 

[Charles50]

Apple has been working on AR concepts since the mid-80s, during the Sculley era. Sorry for the blurry video. As I recall it, this woman is supposedly deaf and uses the Apple glasses to display speech-to-text including translation from French.

 

[Pootmatoot]

"but previous rumors have suggested Apple is working on a set of smart glasses that would connect wirelessly to the iPhone and display images and other information to the wearer."

My God I hope these are light weight, looks like ordinary glasses and have battery that last the whole day. It must not be the bulky crap we have seen from Meta, Microsoft and Magic Leap.

If they are sleek, Apple will own the AR market, like they did with smart glasses and tablets. The stock should explode.

Probably wise to tie to the iPhone initially (before the are dedicated smart glasses apps), but should be sufficient with a key ring that provides uplink, computational capacity and power. No need for separate screen, if you can see it on your glasses.

Unless Apple have a shed load of secret projects... the sheer breadth of foundational work Microsoft has been doing for years risks Apple becoming total also-rans - much like Microsoft was against Apple and phones.

 

[MNJohn]

Apple's "augmented reality" is that it can not continue to be an industry leader without introducing new products of the same caliber and innovation that it did so under Jobs. Failure to update its iconic desktop computer line and substituting new Apple Watch bands for real new products doesn't cut it.

 

[Sedulous]

At least Apple chose a partner that can actually make good optics. Samsung's VR gear optics are horrendous.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

A word to the wise, Apple: under no circumstances should Robert Scoble be allowed to know about, see, handle, or possess any Apple AR product until he has signed an ironclad contract to never, ever even mention wearing it/them in his shower.

 

[macTW]

This could be very exciting for sports - a sportswriter or fan could view active stats and information for any player they look at (given a widespread acceptance of this and sensors in the jerseys).

 

[Soccertess]

Only developers need access to powerful PCs to render content like that. Apple's A series CPU and GPU are the best in the mobile industry. That might not be where the VR industry is right now but AR is all about mobility and in a few years, no VR system will be tethered.
[doublepost=1484014647][/doublepost]

Do you really think Apple is interested in the Mac? They have been merging their mobile and desktop lines with mobile getting all the regular innovation and the desktop getting sporadic updates at best. I would take AR glasses over a withering Mac line any day.

As I type this to you, I use a mac laptop, streaming something for my kid via chromecast, and editing several documents for work using multiple programs.

Don't forget the reason Apple survived the last time Jobs left was because of Microsoft, and having their productivity apps available on the mac platform. Tim can't forget about productivity, and it's why microsoft is rising again.

AR glasses aren't for productivity, it's like saying a Playstation 4 Need for Speed car is better than my real car. Sure it's faster, but that gaming car isn't getting me to work and bring home the dough!

 

[usarioclave]

Finally, the X-Ray glasses I've been looking for!

 

[lunarworks]

glassOS coming!

LOL Apple and VISION, doesn't go together lately!

Love your sig:

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." — Benjamin Franklin