Apple Purchased Akonia Holographics, a Company That Makes Lenses for AR Glasses

[MacRumors]

Apple has purchased a startup that makes lenses for augmented reality glasses, reports Reuters. The acquisition lends further evidence to rumors suggesting Apple is developing an augmented reality headset.

Akonia Holographics, the startup that Apple bought, advertises the "world's first commercially available volume holographic reflective and waveguide optics for transparent display elements in smart glasses."

The displays that it makes are said to use the company's HoloMirror technology for "ultra-clear, full-color performance" to enable the "thinnest, lightest head worn displays in the world."

Apple confirmed the purchase to Reuters with the statement that it uses when it makes an acquisition: "Apple buys smaller companies from time to time, and we generally don't discuss our purpose or plans."

Akonia Holographics was founded in 2012 by holography scientists who focused on holographic data storage before moving on to develop displays for augmented reality glasses, according to the company's website.

It's not clear when exactly Apple purchased Akonia Holographics, but sources that spoke to Reuters suggested the company had become "very quiet" over the last six months, indicating the acquisition may have been made in the first half of 2018.

Multiple rumors have suggested Apple has a research unit of hundreds of employees working on AR and VR and exploring the ways the emerging technologies could be used in future Apple products.

Apple is said to be exploring several prototypes, including a powerful AR/VR headset with an 8K display for each eye and a set of augmented reality smart glasses with a dedicated display, a built-in processor, and an "rOS" or reality operating system. Rumors indicate that Apple's first AR or VR product could come out in 2019 or 2020.

Apple's purchase of Akonia Holographics is its second recent AR/VR related acquisition. In November 2017, Apple purchased Vrvana, a company that developed a mixed reality headset called Totem.

Article Link: Apple Purchased Akonia Holographics, a Company That Makes Lenses for AR Glasses

 

[Marcos1]

iGlass confirmed.

 

[jeremiah256]

Only advantage of being old? The initial models of AR glasses are going to look wack, but elder-me won't care. Mixed reality headgear, cargo shorts, Tom Jones Vegas tour tee-shirt, knee high black socks, Birkenstocks, and fanny pack? Hell yeah! Now get off my (virtual) lawn!

 

[asdavis10]

AR will be huge. Imagine watching tennis or golf and stats or overlays are shown. Or technicians getting dynamic schematics based on what they are working on. Or in the medical field. The application of a seamless AR wearable is almost endless besides as a fashion accessory. Apple can make this a utility application/device.

Based on Apple's R&D spending, there shouldn't be a reason why they couldn't be first and do it well. This would easily add $500B to their market cap.

 

[Aussi3]

We will see what happens with this purchase.

 

[tito2020]

AR will be huge. Imagine watching tennis or golf and stats or overlays are shown. Or technicians getting dynamic schematics based on what they are working on. Or in the medical field. The application of a seamless AR wearable is almost endless besides as a fashion accessory. Apple can make this a utility application/device.

Based on Apple's R&D spending, there shouldn't be a reason why they couldn't be first and do it well. This would easily add $500B to their market cap.

It has been tested by other companies

 

[DCJ001]

We will see what happens with this purchase.

We will see, in augmented reality, what happens with this purchase.

 

[Baymowe335]

AR is the future and Apple is going to own this market too.

 

[charlituna]

iGlass confirmed.

seems like it. but will be AR, VR of even perhaps one of each. they could start with an AR based personal HUD and in a couple of years add VR similar to the Oculus Go

 

[falainber]

AR is the future and Apple is going to own this market too.

Good AR needs good AI. Siri is not so good.

 

[scrapesleon]

Holographic FaceTime lol

 

[fullauto]

Such a personal style choice. It will be hard to find what, maybe 3 different designs that will satisfy everyone.

Personally the only style of (Sun)glasses I wear or would wear, gotta be square frames and thick arms like -

Make those in space grey or black with clear lenses and I’m sold.

However the previous MCK rumor noted P3 style like -

No way.

 

[Abazigal]

Obligatory plug.

https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2017/7/27/apple-glasses-are-inevitable

Not a question of whether Apple will sell their own AR glasses, but when.

 

[Tech198]

AR will be huge. Imagine watching tennis or golf and stats or overlays are shown. Or technicians getting dynamic schematics based on what they are working on. Or in the medical field. The application of a seamless AR wearable is almost endless besides as a fashion accessory. Apple can make this a utility application/device.

Based on Apple's R&D spending, there shouldn't be a reason why they couldn't be first and do it well. This would easily add $500B to their market cap.

It is seamless, but only based only if the info you want, is provided. This may be good, but i never dive into anything unless i know 100% it will be huge... Apple, same thing

 

[Baymowe335]

Good AR needs good AI. Siri is not so good.

Where do you get that logic?

1) There is no good AR now, particularly mass market
2) AR doesn’t necessarily need your definition of AI
3) Siri and/or Apple can take a huge step in AI before release.
4) There is no good AI now either...even Google sucks beyond mundane tasks

 

[Glideslope]

iGlass confirmed.

Bah, Apple Pro Goggle.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

AR will be huge. Imagine watching tennis or golf and stats or overlays are shown. Or technicians getting dynamic schematics based on what they are working on. Or in the medical field. The application of a seamless AR wearable is almost endless besides as a fashion accessory. Apple can make this a utility application/device.

Based on Apple's R&D spending, there shouldn't be a reason why they couldn't be first and do it well. This would easily add $500B to their market cap.

Bless, you're so naive; Imagine watching tennis or golf and advertisements based on data sharing are shown. Still the future looks bright.

 

[Scooz]

White glasses. Finally.

 

[allenvanhellen]

Good AR needs good AI. Siri is not so good.

This is why the Watch does not come close to living up to its potential.

 

[Guy Clark]

Zero innovation. We have the money. Hell lets just buy it instead. The signature of modern Apple. Sad.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

AR will be huge. Imagine watching tennis or golf and stats or overlays are shown.

Imagine watching a sport that doesn't require AR and overlays to make it interesting.

 

[Icaras]

iGlass confirmed.

Yep. But it will more likely use the “Apple” or “Air” monikers.

 

[truthertech]

Good AR needs good AI. Siri is not so good.

Siri isn't the sum total of Apple's AI, not even close to it.

 

[roxics]

AR will be bigger than the smartphone once it hits its stride (i.e. glasses the size of regular eyeglasses with a lot of resolution and control). Though I imagine the smartphone might stick around in the pocket for a while, the way the PC tower hides under the desk the monitor sits on. Then the Apple watch will do that work. Eventually though, that processing will probably be cloud based, located at an Apple server farm or some home server we keep at home or a combination of both.

Eventually walking into an Apple store is going to be like walking into any fancy eyeglass store. They'll probably have tons of different designs you can try on, maybe have teamed up with various other designers.

Also 3D movies will make another comeback because people will already be wearing stereoscopic glasses most of the day anyway.

 

[RogerWilco]

AR -- the quadraphonics of the 21st Century. The technology will be adopted by a tiny group of true believers, cause endless industry and consumer debates resulting in multiple "standards", and in the end it will be forgotten.