Apple's 'realityOS' for Rumored AR/VR Headset Referenced in Source Code

[MacRumors]

New references to "realityOS," the AR/VR operating system that will run Apple's rumored mixed reality headset, have been found in App Store upload logs and Apple open source code this morning.

Concept render based on purported leaked information by Ian Zelbo​

Apple is working on at least two AR projects that include an augmented reality headset set to be released in late 2022 or 2023, followed by a sleeker pair of augmented reality glasses coming at a later date.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the headset will feature two M1-style Apple silicon chips providing Mac-level computing power, and offer an innovative experience with seamless switching between AR and VR modes.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1491287584672460800

The AR/VR headset is expected to run a new operating system, previously referred to as "rOS," which stands for Reality Operating System. Just as tvOS runs Apple TV, macOS runs Macs and watchOS runs Apple Watch, "rOS" is expected to power Apple's AR headset. First unearthed by Bloomberg in 2017, the AR/VR operating system is internally codenamed "Oak."

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1491266972226490368

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple wants to create an App Store for the headset, with a focus on gaming, streaming video content, and video conferencing. It has been described by Bloomberg as an "all-encompassing 3-D digital environment" designed for gaming, media consumption, and communication.

However, Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset could be delayed until 2023 after being beset with issues during the development process, according to Bloomberg. Rumors initially suggested that Apple's AR/VR headset would come out at some point in 2022, perhaps at WWDC in June, but there are still development issues that Apple needs to overcome.

(Thanks, Matthew!)

Article Link: Apple's 'realityOS' for Rumored AR/VR Headset Referenced in Source Code

 

[bollman]

Video conferencing with a AR/VR-headset on? Wow, that will be interesting for other participants . Or, they want everyone to have a headset on and meet in a Virtual environment?
Well, solution looking for a problem.

 

[brio]

I do hope a great effort will be made on VR gaming.

 

[and 1989 others]

What did people think they were developing the AR/VR headset with?

At some point they need to start integrating it into the wider eco system. Hardly the discovery of the decade.

 

[Sydnxt]

That's as clear as it gets

 

[MacHiavelli]

'Concept render based on purported leaked information by Ian Zelbo'

Based on ski goggles, circa 1976.

 

[jayducharme]

Maybe RealityOS will be for AR and they’ll have FantasyOS for VR. ?

 

[alpi123]

Imagine the Apple Events with that headset

 

[aries81]

I do hope a great effort will be made on VR gaming.

somehow I doubt that is going to happen.

 

[Smartass]

somehow I doubt that is going to happen.

If they dont give any effort into bettering VR Porn or gaming, then whats the point?

 

[iZac]

Built for realityOS

Experienced in realityOS

I can see this as being a shorthand Apple would love people to use, just using “reality”

Wonder if that means the headset will be called Reality?

 

[MrCrowbar]

somehow I doubt that is going to happen.

iOS is a good platform for gaming, powerful hardware, big market share, established ecosystem.

Honestly, Apple could totally do a fancy version of Gear VR. Pop in your iPhone pro in front of fresnel lenses, use the phone's accelerometer and cameras for position tracking, face tracking and pupil tracking (only rendering at full resolution where your eyes are actually looking saves tons of computing power).

That with the ARM based chips... the hardware is pretty much there already, just package it differently, 2 OLED displays in front of your face, cameras looking outward, one camera and Face ID sensor looking inward, M1 processor, battery and a slow fan (so your head doesn't heat up too much) in the back and you're golden for pretty hardcore VR gaming. Just add controllers with Taptic Engine and integrate the Apple Watch to ease up on the jump scares if your heat rate looks too high.

Apple would just provide tech demos and a store and developers would make games.

 

[aries81]

iOS is a good platform for gaming, powerful hardware, big market share, established ecosystem.

Honestly, Apple could totally do a fancy version of Gear VR. Pop in your iPhone pro in front of fresnel lenses, use the phone's accelerometer and cameras for position tracking, face tracking and pupil tracking (only rendering at full resolution where your eyes are actually looking saves tons of computing power).

That with the ARM based chips... the hardware is pretty much there already, just package it differently, 2 OLED displays in front of your face, cameras looking outward, one camera and Face ID sensor looking inward, M1 processor, battery and a slow fan (so your head doesn't heat up too much) in the back and you're golden for pretty hardcore VR gaming. Just add controllers with Taptic Engine and integrate the Apple Watch to ease up on the jump scares if your heat rate looks too high.

Apple would just provide tech demos and a store and developers would make games.

all valid points there. However IF their focus was on gaming, they would have looked more into it quite a while back, and especially with the M1/M2 there would be loads of possibilities there...however nothing has surfaced (yet?).

 

[GubbyMan]

Video conferencing with a AR/VR-headset on? Wow, that will be interesting for other participants . Or, they want everyone to have a headset on and meet in a Virtual environment?
Well, solution looking for a problem.

Meta tried that during the last OculusConnect FacebookConnect MetaConnect. Hopefully full body tracking, face tracking and eye tracking as well as more general refinements to Horizon will make this less awkward.

 

[pauloregan]

Strange name as it's the opposite of reality.

 

[djcerla]

Strange name as it's the opposite of reality.

More like UnrealOS.

Oh wait…

 

[scott Lashville]

New references to "realityOS," the AR/VR operating system that will run Apple's rumored mixed reality headset, have been found in App Store upload logs and Apple open source code this morning.

Can't wait for this, it should come out soon!!!

 

[anton_usa]

I wish Apple had chosen C++ as their development language instead of Swift. Swift is awful and so much of their work is already done in C++.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This pretty much confirms it exists. I hope Apple pulls it off and it's not delayed till 2023.

 

[canadianreader]

Strange name as it's the opposite of reality.

At some point many users won't be able to unplug from the system. Welcome to DystopiaOS 1.0

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Looking forward to it. My hunch is that this will still be announced at a live event this year, but won’t be available to consumers until next year. Hey, I’m just looking forward to finally seeing a live Apple event once again!

 

[canadianreader]

This pretty much confirms it exists. I hope Apple pulls it off and it's not delayed till 2023.

Once you try Reality it'll be very hard to go back to reality

 

[_apple_apple_]

I wonder if this confirms the product name based on past patterns:
- Apple TV => tvOS
- Apple Watch => watchOS
- iPad => iPadOS
- Mac => macOS

Based on the above, I would guess:
- Apple AR/Glasses => Apple Reality (AR)
- Apple VR/Headset => Apple Reality Max (AR Max) (based on AirPods Max)

Apple has always been about lifestyle and people, so I can understand wanting to get away from the word 'virtual' and all of its negative baggage.

 

[Mikehuddd12]

I hope it will be great! But I’ve been burned by too many first generation Apple products before. Sorry Apple I’m not interested until version three or four.

 

[syklee26]

When are we gonna see CarOS by the way?