Apple's Augmented Reality Glasses Again Rumored for 2021 Launch

[MacRumors]

Apple's rumored augmented reality glasses will launch in 2021, with "small-volume" production expected to start in the first half of the year, according to paywalled information shared by DigiTimes.

Apple to roll out AR glasses in 2021

Apple is expected to roll out its augmented reality glasses in 2021, according to sources at related suppliers, which are gearing up to kick off small-volume production for the device in the first half of the year.

The full report will not be published until tomorrow and the brief excerpt offers no further information, but it comes on the heels of an extensive report earlier this week from Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser detailing what he has heard about the glasses.

Prosser says the glasses will be called "Apple Glass" and start at $499, with prescription lenses available for an additional cost. In line with previous rumors, he says Apple Glass will rely on a paired iPhone for most of its functionality, allowing the glasses themselves to be as slim and light as possible.

According to Prosser's sources, Apple's original plans involved unveiling Apple Glass at the annual iPhone event in September or October, but restrictions on in-person gatherings could push the debut back to a March 2021 event. Either way, Apple was said to be targeting a late 2021 or early 2022 launch, which lines up with today's report from DigiTimes.

Article Link: Apple's Augmented Reality Glasses Again Rumored for 2021 Launch

 

[yaxomoxay]

"Hey Siri, show everyone's names."
"Showing everyone naked."

 

[IPPlanMan]

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.

 

[nfl46]

I’m definitely looking forward to this. Depending on how they look, I will add my prescription to them.

 

[AyeKay15]

Will this turn me into Samus Aran so I can fight the coronavirus?

 

[calzon65]

Would be nice for test "crib notes".

 

[yaxomoxay]

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.

Who knows. It certainly makes us closer into making some Black Mirror episodes a reality.

 

[AyeKay15]

Apple needs to incorporate a scanning technology into these similar to the Scan Visor that Samus has in Metroid Prime. It will give clues to everything and tell us what is needed to get rid of coronavirus completely

 

[WannaGoMac]

Eyeglasses are fashion and look different depending on the face. I am curious how people will feel wearing the exact same eyeglasses as everyone else. Even if they have 20 frames, that's not much selection...

 

[Cosmosent]

Perhaps Cook & Co are NOT following what many in Sports, especially Colleges / Universities here in the States, have figured-out / realized.

That the best window of opportunity is mid-Summer thru mid-Nov, BEFORE the next (Seasonal) Virus Season kicks in !

If they miss the mid-Nov point, their next opportunity will very-likely be this time next year.

This assumes, of course, that AAPL wants to promote it to the Press at the Announcement.

 

[The Cappy]

It's hard to get too excited about the potential for a device without a camera. Google showed us the creep-potential for that, and I think they ruined it for everybody to come.

I think of AR glasses and I think of William Gibson's Virtual Light. Not gonna happen without a camera.

 

[slimejester]

Even if Gen 0 is just a gimped proof of concept iPhone accessory, this is the next big thing.

 

[fokmik]

After the real big leakers , now digitimes jump the boat...what digitimes does, everyone can....just to copy paste the others...

 

[Mr. Awesome]

These are going to be incredibly cool.

 

[AngerDanger]

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.

Me neither, but seeing as how the product hasn't even been released yet, that's expected.

We're currently at the "Why would Apple release an MP3 player? Those are terrible and clunky" point of product speculation, but we lack the benefit of hindsight.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

Will this turn me into Samus Aran so I can fight the coronavirus?

Yes to Samus, but you can only fight the Mother Brain and Space Pirates.

 

[Sasparilla]

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.

That's really the big thing, is coming up with compelling use cases. For the general public this is where VR stumbled and AR has so far.

It might be relatively low use cases - like replace your sunglasses so you get your messages etc. while you're driving and throw in maps etc.. But so far nobody has come up with anything - it'll be interesting to see what Apple has for its expected uses. Would not be surprised to see it delayed beyond 2021.

 

[neoelectronaut]

These are gonna be great in a few years once the price comes down a bit and the tech has really matured.

I'm hopeful that one day between my watch and now glasses I won't need to carry around a phone at all.

 

[jumanji]

contact lens or GTFO

 

[Ultramove69]

I want this in a monocle

 

[AppleTO]

I still don’t really understand what these glasses will do for people.

I’ve seen the social networking possibilities and honestly it’s disturbing. One obvious use, which probably won’t happen because it’s creepy, is using them as a camera. Maybe watching video on them would work out well? I guess that would somewhat depend on the pixel density/quality. I’ve seen images everywhere of them showing GPS and directions. That’s interesting but not much of a selling point...

 

[tedwill]

Westworld season 3 covered this. It wasn't good.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'm hopeful that one day between my watch and now glasses I won't need to carry around a phone at all.

And I guess you're gonna yell at Siri all day instead of typing on a phone?

 

[nutmac]

What exactly will these glasses "augment"? I don't understand the selling point here at all.

Great question.

My guess is that it will more or less replicate AR feature on iPhone and iPad, with sensors (perhaps LIDAR) capturing hand gestures for interaction. And always on microphone for Siri. Beyond that, it probably will have a camera (same focal length as human eyes, or around 22mm) and maybe bone conduction earphones.

The battery life is likely to be not great, so I don't think Apple Glass can be used as a full time display for iPhone. And since hte display is projected, it probably won't be great for video especially outdoor.

I think most apps will resemble Apple Watch.

 

[Eorlas]

yes, that's awesome and all but:

where, pray tell, is the apple tv