Apple's Smart Glasses With In-Lens Display May Feature Two Modes

[ThailandToo]

Tim wants his AVP to be a hit but nobody wants to block out the world with a few pounds strapped to their face. Remember the rumors were employees said it wasn’t ready? It isn’t what users want. Tim isn’t a product person. The glasses were always the end goal but better to ship something that is usable than a dream future product that will be small enough in ten years. Apple Glasses should be out now. Seriously, Tim cannot see what customers want and runs AAPL like a financial company building off Steve’s ideas. When Steve’s vision is not used, the product fails. Apple Watch was Steve’s vision also. I am sure he had planned out so many things. Shareholders and Tim are the only ones who benefit with Tim in charge.

 

[novagamer]

Exactly as I said here yesterday: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ent-is-seemingly-paused.2468903/post-34215555

“If Apple releases an update to Vision Pro I expect this implies they will continue work on VR in a reasonably-funded capacity with the intent to deliver a future product in some form. Whether that's AR glasses with occlusion…”

Look at me, I’m an analyst

 

[JOLoughlin]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he was told a future version of Apple's smart glasses may be able to run a full version of the visionOS operating system when they are paired with a Mac, and then switch to a more lightweight, mobile-friendly interface when they are paired with an iPhone.

Sounds silly, Not true. Anymore than people hope macOS will run on iPadOS. Has Gurman actually used visionOS/Vision Pro? Unless Apple ships true augmented reality glasses that are a real spatial computer with ≥70º waveguide displays AND have dimming features (look to augmented reality products/lab kits like Magic Leap 2 or Meta’s Project Orion). This makes no sense.

Odds are they are prototyping things internally and just getting something up and running and simulating. This won’t be a product/feature.

There is a possibility Apple will do more with macOS doing remote rendering for visionOS. visionOS 26 & macOS 26 supports that but what Mark is describing is either false or not the full story or he is misunderstanding what is going on. visionOS is a spatial operating system meant to run on spatial computers. visionOS is also designed to be a virtual reality and mixed reality (meaning passthrough augmented reality and augmented virtuality) operating system NOT designed for a portable seethrough waveguide based operating system/platform for seethrough augmented reality, let alone non-spatial glasses which is what “smart” glasses are typically defined as. Apple’s “smart” glasses (whatever “smart” means) could be spatial true augmented reality glasses (akin to Meta‘s Project Orion or Snap’s Spectacles) but again you run into so many issues with visionOS not being designed for a seethrough display system, with limited FOV and scenario of use (portability where ever you go in the world).

 

[novagamer]

Sounds silly, Not true. Anymore than people hope macOS will run on iPadOS. Has Gurman actually used visionOS/Vision Pro? Unless Apple ships true augmented reality glasses that are a real spatial computer with ≥70º waveguide displays AND have dimming features (look to augmented reality products/lab kits like Magic Leap 2 or Meta’s Project Orion). This makes no sense.

Odds are they are prototyping things internally and just getting something up and running and simulating. This won’t be a product/feature.

There is a possibility Apple will do more with macOS doing remote rendering for visionOS. visionOS 26 & macOS 26 supports that but what Mark is describing is either false or not the full story or he is misunderstanding what is going on. visionOS is a spatial operating system meant to run on spatial computers. visionOS is also designed to be a virtual reality and mixed reality (meaning passthrough augmented reality and augmented virtuality) operating system NOT designed for a portable seethrough waveguide based operating system/platform for seethrough augmented reality, let alone non-spatial glasses which is what “smart” glasses are typically defined as. Apple’s “smart” glasses (whatever “smart” means) could be spatial true augmented reality glasses (akin to Meta‘s Project Orion or Snap’s Spectacles) but again you run into so many issues with visionOS not being designed for a seethrough display system, with limited FOV and scenario of use (portability where ever you go in the world).

I strongly suspect this is a long-term goal. Think more 2030 than 2026. I believe we’ll get a ‘lite’ version within 1-2 years with only AR features, maybe a Vision Pro update and / or successor, and then possible convergence eventually.

Probably a product line split with pro glasses that are thousands of dollars and a pair that is AR only for sub $1k, or a remote chance they’ll keep Vision Pro as a VR headset and offer the AR/VR model in the middle with the AR only at the low end.

Their R&D work on Spatial Computing is still very valuable for AR, but I don’t think they would have taken the direction they have if they had any intention on abandoning the immersive aspect entirely. I believe this is a place that rumors and speculation is way off.

 

[klasma]

Apple's smart glasses may be able to run a full version of the visionOS operating system when they are paired with a Mac, and then switch to a more lightweight, mobile-friendly interface when they are paired with an iPhone.

Given that the upcoming entry-level MacBook will have an A19, that seems inconsistent.

 

[OverTheHill]

If they made these with Oakley in a Razor version I’d be all over it for my bike rides, but meh.

 

[novagamer]

Given that the upcoming entry-level MacBook will have an A19, that seems inconsistent.

It’s about the context, not the technology of the attached system.

Immersive occlusion only makes sense in an environment where you’re focused on computing, not fully mobile.

 

[EM2013]

Can't wait for the masses and (desperate for clicks and views) content creators to have the ability to take undercover, hands-free, high-resolution photos and videos of just about anyone (and anywhere) without their consent. Sure, people do that now with their smartphones, but this makes spying even easier, especially as technology advances and these glasses will just look like regular glasses with cameras you can't see from a short distance.

Considering what an unchecked social media and their trillion dollar company's algorithmic control did to the human mind and spirit over the last decade (plus), and where it took us, in addition to unregulated and rapidly growing AI, and on top of the continuation of out of control consolidation of corporate power and wealth, I can't wait see what Smart Glasses technology does to take us further down this spiral.

Now, get off my lawn!

I don’t understand the purpose of the smart glasses other than people recording other people, which I’ve already seen on ig

 

[Rychiar]

Apple fumbled betting on the Vision Pro, which is probably why these glasses are coming late. Imagine if Apple didn’t cut out the VP2. These glasses would be even more delayed.

or they could actually use their billions and make more than one product. voice assistant glasses with no display are not very complex....

 

[Rychiar]

"Our VR platform totally failed, but please, developers, invest in our AR platform, this one will be super-successful, we bet!"

nothing about their VR platform failed except they were too greedy to sell it at a loss like meta did

 

[VulchR]

Can't wait for the masses and (desperate for clicks and views) content creators to have the ability to take undercover, hands-free, high-resolution photos and videos of just about anyone (and anywhere) without their consent. Sure, people do that now with their smartphones, but this makes spying even easier, especially as technology advances and these glasses will just look like regular glasses with cameras you can't see from a short distance.

Considering what an unchecked social media and their trillion dollar company's algorithmic control did to the human mind and spirit over the last decade (plus), and where it took us, in addition to unregulated and rapidly growing AI, and on top of the continuation of out of control consolidation of corporate power and wealth, I can't wait see what Smart Glasses technology does to take us further down this spiral.

Now, get off my lawn!

My thoughts exactly - the privacy implications of this are huge. I have a visual aid called MyEye that will speak aloud text it 'sees' with a camera when one pushes a button. It works fairly well, but the idea is to attach this thing to one of the arms of a pair of glasses. Aside from not wanting to look like a Borg, it just takes too much energy to explain to concerned strangers that the camera is for text recognition and some very primitive object recognition (like approaching doors). Imagine trying to explain with Apple glasses 'oh yes, and it can take and store pictures'. Paranoid types (like me) would be concerned about control of the device when it is just sitting on a table (phones are usually pocketed when not in use). At a minimum there should be a hard-wired LED that flashes a warning if the cameras on the device are taking pictures (I actually think this should be true of all digital cameras by law). I understand that there is no expectation of privacy in public, but cameras keep getting smaller and so the activity of taking pictures has changed. It used to be if you did street photography it was obvious by the camera, camera bag, and possibly tripod. People could gracefully exit the picture if they saw you setting up. Now you just never know when somebody is taking your photo and frankly it is getting a little creepy, not to mention annoying as tourons in my town stop abruptly on the pavement/side-walks and take photographs of the buildings and monuments, obstructing everybody else's path.

 

[JPack]

or they could actually use their billions and make more than one product. voice assistant glasses with no display are not very complex....

Apple has billions because they’re focused and aren’t chasing every niche product.

V2 will have a display.

 

[klasma]

It’s about the context, not the technology of the attached system.

Immersive occlusion only makes sense in an environment where you’re focused on computing, not fully mobile.

There is little reason why an iPhone couldn’t furnish a vieionOS like interface in whatever environment one chooses to use it in. The iPhone can be used in any context.

 

[Rychiar]

Apple has billions because they’re focused and aren’t chasing every niche product.

V2 will have a display.

v2 having a display is pathetic. v1 should have a display or they might as well give up now. Or release V1 the second they have a remotely intelligent Siri.

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

It has to match what the Meta Displays can do...which i fully plan on buying a pair THE MOMENT I CAN...the launch of those things is horrific. You can only buy them by appointment and they dont have any stores near me that make appointments and the ones that do are 100 miles away and are sold out... the whole thing is a cluster f!

Apple...match what meta is doing but within the apple ecosystem and you got yourself a sale from me day one (or as soon as i can afford one)

 

[novagamer]

There is little reason why an iPhone couldn’t furnish a vieionOS like interface in whatever environment one chooses to use it in. The iPhone can be used in any context.

Sure there is, more devices = more profit! .

And driving etc. would cause a lot of complications. I wouldn't ever expect that functionality to work with anything other than a Mac. Time will tell!

 

[klasma]

Sure there is, more devices = more profit! .

Yeah, my point is they won’t be able to justify it on technical grounds, now that they are mixing M and A chips indiscriminately.

And driving etc. would cause a lot of complications.

It won’t stop people from placing their MacBook on the passenger seat.

 

[MichaelAdam]

I don’t see the initial product without a lens …

 

[richinaus]

It has to match what the Meta Displays can do...which i fully plan on buying a pair THE MOMENT I CAN...the launch of those things is horrific. You can only buy them by appointment and they dont have any stores near me that make appointments and the ones that do are 100 miles away and are sold out... the whole thing is a cluster f!

Apple...match what meta is doing but within the apple ecosystem and you got yourself a sale from me day one (or as soon as i can afford one)

match something crap? why on earth would they do that? It's like saying they should have matched the vision pro to the Quest 3.

 

[Downundermac]

Is anyone in the tech world asking why we need so many devices when all the research says we need to cut back massively on screen time to naturally balance our dopamine levels, etc? A wearable device literally on/in your face when you are engaging with the real world seems extremely intrusive and I’ll hopefully never go there. Surely it’d be better if Apple focused on a future where people used fewer, higher quality (and more repairable) devices. I see the iPhone pro, MacBook and iPad Pro product lines as helpful for business and productivity in everyday life. Everything else is just a ‘nice to have’ non essential.

 

[Pupi]

I'm not holding my breath. 2028 seems like the earliest. They are far behind on pretty much everything. Under Tim Cook Apple is a mess. Apple Car, a bust. Vision Pro, not a product but a proof of concept that you can buy. Mac Pro, missing in action. A pretty sad state of affairs IMHO.

Yeah, if we ignore all his massive successes, and there are a lot of them, his other things weren't as successful. Very deep bro.

 

[wanha]

"Paired to a Mac" - so when you're at home near your Mac? What use case is that for? Watching movies? And an iPhone is not capable of providing that experience? I mean the same iPhone chip that supposedly goes into a low end Mac?
This does not make sense to me... but then again, this is Gorman ...

They would offer a Vision Pro-like spatial computing interface with the Mac

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I simply MUST get that newsletter. The quality of guessing here at MacRumors is of too high a quality, I need the really fanciful made up stuff that only Bloomberg can provide! Power Me ON!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yeah, if we ignore all his massive successes, and there are a lot of them, his other things weren't as successful. Very deep bro.

If you exclude the successes, all Tim Cook has done has been a failure.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Kind of shocked how is Apple behind in development. Where Meta needs separate control band, Apple could have already used massive user base of Apple Watch to develop more gestures. Considering how many people already wear dioptric glasses, this project makes much more sense to me than some VR headset.

Apple’s always behind, that’s nothing new.