Apple Store App to Offer Augmented Reality Shopping Feature on Your iPhone

[MacRumors]

A future version of the Apple Store app will offer an augmented reality feature that allows customers to point their iPhone toward a product like a Mac in an Apple Store and instantly receive more information about pricing and specifications in an overlay on their screen, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his newsletter this week, Gurman said Apple has been working on the feature since at least 2020 and has been testing it at stores in recent months, but it's unclear when it will be made available to the public. He said Apple plans to release an accompanying API for developers so that other retail stores could use the feature too.

"If the service debuts in the near future, it would be one of Apple's most significant AR-related launches to date — and a taste of what's to come with the headset," wrote Gurman, in reference to Apple's long-awaited AR/VR headset expected to launch this year.

Article Link: Apple Store App to Offer Augmented Reality Shopping Feature on Your iPhone

 

[DocMultimedia]

So Mark Gurman thinks we'll need $3k glasses while debating which Mac to buy?

I continue to wonder exactly what these will really productivity be used for.

 

[Basic75]

A nice gimmick, but I don't expect it will lead to widespread adoption of AR. The killer app is still missing. Who knows whether it will ever arrive?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Sorry but I like to shop for Apple products with my naked eyes. I don't need a screen telling me about some spec's. 👁️👁️

 

[1557750]

Coming soon, an AR Genius to help resolve your technical issues…

 

[Marbles1]

A nice gimmick, but I don't expect it will lead to widespread adoption of AR. The killer app is still missing. Who knows whether it will ever arrive?

This:

and:

Both fairly dystopian but I'm sure we'll see some of this in the future.

 

[anthogag]

A guy can walk into an Apple Store wearing the Apple goggles and not get funny looks...I am just browsing🤩

 

[compwiz1202]

So Mark Gurman thinks we'll need $3k glasses while debating which Mac to buy?

I continue to wonder exactly what these will really productivity be used for.

Yes this and what is big enough to warrent this? Maybe if the make an actual TV or will they make the iCouch?

 

[citysnaps]

So Mark Gurman thinks we'll need $3k glasses while debating which Mac to buy?

I continue to wonder exactly what these will really productivity be used for.

No. He didn't make that claim. Why exaggerate?

It's about using your iPhone with the App Store app to point at a Mac to get more information about the product.


"I continue to wonder exactly what these will really productivity be used for."

There's a lot of easy to find information out there on the internet about AR.

 

[m.x]

This:

and:

Both fairly dystopian but I'm sure we'll see some of this in the future.

You beat me to it. I also had the first one in mind when I read the article. It still haunts me as I really fear we're on our way to that reality.

 

[contacos]

But … you are like already at the store? Why

 

[citysnaps]

But … you are like already at the store? Why

Perhaps a customer would like and benefit from easy to access information about an Apple product they're considering purchasing?

 

[bollman]

AR/VR is at best a solution looking for a problem.
We are still waiting for the killer app.
Well, the Watch did take off without it, unless you count peoples obsessiveness over numbers regarding to health and fitness.

 

[NEPOBABY]

This:

and:

Both fairly dystopian but I'm sure we'll see some of this in the future.

Please don’t fall for these embarrassingly bad videos. Contact lens AR is a scam with concept videos only.

We aren’t going to see everything on the streets and shops turning into an AR mind trip.

Some AR apps will be loud, crazy and obnoxious. The best will be subtle and clean, otherwise it will be a turn off.

Good UI design matters in all software.

 

[vegetassj4]

So, when I go to the Apple store I can use AR of my iPhone to shop for AR goggles to see my avatar in the Apple store looking at my iPhone in AR which is shopping for AR goggles which is displaying my AR iPhone that my avatar is holding? lim𝑥→±∞𝑓(𝑥)=lim𝑥→±∞𝑎𝑛𝑥𝑛

 

[CarAnalogy]

To be clear this is not about using the AR glasses to shop. This is about pointing your iPhone at a product and, presumably using the Apple Store app, getting specs about it.

It seems entirely pointless because there's a paper sign next to all the displays. At most just add some QR codes.

But it does make me think of a shopping app for the AR glasses to shop from home. Not exactly a killer app but I see why Apple would like the idea.

 

[m.x]

AR/VR is at best a solution looking for a problem.
We are still waiting for the killer app.
Well, the Watch did take off without it, unless you count peoples obsessiveness over numbers regarding to health and fitness.

But the first watch wasn't priced at $2000-3000 - I know that's the developer version, but I can't see how they bring it down to reasonable levels (even $999 would be way to expensive for the average consumer). And this time the relation to developers is not the best, this was different when the Apple Watch was released. The way Apple treats developers I'm extremely skeptical that there will be a huge app catalog in the near future.

 

[Simmias]

AR on phones and tablets remains utterly useless. The use case described here would be just as well served by a QR code that pulls up the product page on Apple.com.

Cook’s pushing AR on the iPhone over the last 5 years, while obviously a move to lay the groundwork for the headset, remains the most egregious example of Apple violating its core principle of starting with the user experience instead of the technology. The backwards logic around AR has been “we have a cool technology. What can we do with it?” Instead of “we have an experience we want to create or a problem to solve, how can we use technology to do it?

I hope that the upcoming headset will finally makes AR useful. Even so, everything leading up to it has been an embarrassing attempt to find utility for a technology that has none on current devices.

 

[now i see it]

They’re still struggling to find some significant use for it (AR) after all these years. And this is the best they’ve come up with.

 

[Sweeney196788]

A future version of the Apple Store app will offer an augmented reality feature that allows customers to point their iPhone toward a product like a Mac in an Apple Store and instantly receive more information about pricing and specifications in an overlay on their screen, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his newsletter this week, Gurman said Apple has been working on the feature since at least 2020 and has been testing it at stores in recent months, but it's unclear when it will be made available to the public. He said Apple plans to release an accompanying API for developers so that other retail stores could use the feature too.

"If the service debuts in the near future, it would be one of Apple's most significant AR-related launches to date — and a taste of what's to come with the headset," wrote Gurman, in reference to Apple's long-awaited AR/VR headset expected to launch this year.

Article Link: Apple Store App to Offer Augmented Reality Shopping Feature on Your iPhone

This isn’t new this has been happening since 2022 in Apple Stores. Could do that in the uk Glasgow store for over a year now. You point your phone to a product or hold it near a product and the web symbol appeared giving you AR view and more information on product they even had the QR codes on the desk during Covid in which you scan the code and it gave you the AR view and information on your phone.

 

[NEPOBABY]

They’re still struggling to find some significant use for it (AR) after all these years. And this is the best they’ve come up with.

At home it works, in a shop it is a gimmick but at least a good way to advertize what it does.

At home you could be watching television. Then suddenly your wife pauses the film and you wonder why. So she points her phone or puts on the AR glasses and on the television she can find out what her favorite actress is wearing in that scene. She likes the jacket and now she can bring up product details.

Then she can buy the jacket right there or bookmark it for later and you carry on watching the film.

This feature can work without AR also, so it is just an option if you want a 3D model to appear.

The film title will have a little logo on the info page to say if it has items in the movie that you can purchase.

 

[jz0309]

Really??? That’s what AR on the iPhone is good for?
All these made up use cases for AR…

 

[code-m]

But … you are like already at the store? Why

The article says using an iPhone, maybe down the road one can use the AppleGoggs but not quite there yet. People have the option to purchase the AppleGoggs and where it where their deem fit.

One possible option with this on an iPhone would be to point at a device and see what questions or concerns you have and if it’s a good fit for your needs. Maybe even interact with it by asking questions or using an X-Ray mode to see the internals in real-time. Sounds gimmicky to some but neat addition to others. Rather than interact with an employee who might be poorly trained, informed or having a bad day or whatever you can get information on the device and possibly questions that other customers may have had prior to making a decision. Once you have made a decision purchase with ApplePay and pickup at an AppleStore locker with a code.

No front end employee or less of them equals less pay and benefits and no unions for Apple to worry about also less theft and employee discounts and uniforms etc.

 

[Quake1028]

Great idea, let's make Apple Stores MORE chaotic by encouraging everyone to have their faces in their phones.

 

[BrownyQ]

... but why though? The information about the product is printed right next to it?

Or displayed on it? Am I missing something?