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Apple CEO Tim Cook Hints at AR/VR Headset: 'Stay Tuned and You'll See What We Have to Offer'

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CEO Tim Cook this week did an interview with China Daily, where he once again commented on on the future of augmented reality and hinted at Apple's work on an AR/VR headset.

apple-ar-headset-concept-2.jpeg
Render via designer Ian Zelbo​

Cook said that Apple is excited about the opportunities available with augmented reality, which is not too far off from prior comments that he's made, but he went on to say that people should "stay tuned" to see what Apple has to offer.
I am incredibly excited about AR as you might know, and the critical thing to any technology including AR is putting humanity at the center of it. And that is what we focus on every day. Right now, as an example, we have over 14,000 ARKit apps in the App Store, which provide AR experiences for millions of people around the world.

I think despite that, we're still in the very early innings of how this technology will evolve. I couldn't be more excited about the opportunities we've seen in this space and sort of stay tuned and you'll see what we have to offer.
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Though Apple has not confirmed its work on an AR/VR wearable device, rumors have been circulating about it for years now. Apple's headset is expected to offer mixed reality technology, with a curved visor and soft mesh that fits against the face. It will be lighter than other headsets on the market, and will use an Apple Watch-like strap to hold it in place.


The headset is rumored to feature two 4K micro-OLED displays, 15 camera modules, powerful processors equivalent to the M-series chips, eye tracking capabilities, hand gesture support, and spatial audio. When it launches, the headset could cost somewhere around $3,000.

Apple is expected to debut the headset as soon as next year, and has already been demoing it to board members, suggesting it is getting closer to being finished.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Hints at AR/VR Headset: 'Stay Tuned and You'll See What We Have to Offer'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/06/22/tim-cook-hints-at-ar-vr-headset/
I've been very under whelmed by having LiDAR on my iPhone. I've tried Apps supporting it and they're ok but nothing that makes me feel that the LiDAR is a must have feature. I wouldn't miss it if it was dropped. What percentage of iPhone owners would?
Tim's comment:
"we have over 14,000 ARKit apps in the App Store, which provide AR experiences for millions of people around the world."
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makes me think that we're paying for hardware on our iPhones to allow Apple to nurture an early AR App eco-system.
 
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Interesting to note that Zuck commented recently that he believes the real usefulness of the metaverse is like 15 years away… can’t wait. Not.
 
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Seoras said:
I've been very under whelmed by having LiDAR on my iPhone. I've tried Apps supporting it and they're ok but nothing that makes me feel that the LiDAR is a must have feature. I wouldn't miss it if it was dropped. What percentage of iPhone owners would?
Tim's comment:

makes me think that we're paying for hardware on our iPhones to allow Apple to nurture an early AR App eco-system.
Click to expand...
The LIDAR in the pro models contribute to more accurate Night Mode photography.
 
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Seoras said:
I've been very under whelmed by having LiDAR on my iPhone. I've tried Apps supporting it and they're ok but nothing that makes me feel that the LiDAR is a must have feature. I wouldn't miss it if it was dropped. What percentage of iPhone owners would?
Tim's comment:

makes me think that we're paying for hardware on our iPhones to allow Apple to nurture an early AR App eco-system.
Click to expand...
The LiDAR sensor often gets in the way of taking acceptable photos. If the intended subject is behind a window (such as through a car or plane window), the phone frequently gets totally confused about where to focus and seemingly tries to focus on the glass. Many photos have been missed due to this.
 
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HorstBockman said:
The LiDAR sensor often gets in the way of taking acceptable photos. If the intended subject is behind a window (such as through a car or plane window), the phone frequently gets totally confused about where to focus and seemingly tries to focus on the glass. Many photos have been missed due to this.
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We've been experiencing this with IR autofocus for the past 20 years too. So while LiDAR should be an improvement, you're not describing anything new either.
 
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Pleased that Cook spoke of AR, rather than VR. Gives me hope that will be the major thrust of Apple's device and applications. And that it will be glasses (data-linked to one's iPhone) rather than goggles.

So much potential in that space. No doubt in my mind Apple will nail the physical device, and there will be a lot of very useful AR apps available on launch day.
 
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I hope it will not be a heavy helmet, but glasses through which you can see the real world and notifications from the iPhone, etc.
 
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