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Apple's Struggles With Long-Rumored AR/VR Headset Detailed in New Report

MacRumors said:


The Information's Wayne Ma today published a lengthy report detailing technical and leadership challenges that Apple has faced during development of its long-rumored AR/VR headset, which is currently expected to be announced by the end of 2023.

apple-ar-headset-concept-1.jpeg

Apple headset render created by Ian Zelbo based on The Information reporting​


For example, the report claims that Apple's team working on the headset, led by former Dolby executive Mike Rockwell, regularly had to fight to get help with the project from other parts of the company. As of mid-2017, the team also worked out of office buildings in Sunnyvale, California that were several miles away from Apple's headquarters, which allegedly "helped preserve the group's invisibility to the rest of Apple."The report adds that the team considered swappable batteries for the headset that would enable users to wear it for up to eight hours per day, but the idea was eventually scrapped due to the complexities involved. As of 2021, the headset had a battery that could last "several hours, in line with similar products," according to the report.

The full report outlines many other challenges and is a worthwhile read for those interested in the development of Apple's headset.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Takashi Mochizuki, and Debby Wu previously outlined issues that Apple has faced with the headset, ranging from overheating to camera and software challenges. Gurman said the headset will be powered by two chips, with at least one on par with the M1 Pro chip in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

The Information last year shared a render of Apple's supposed headset based on a "late-stage prototype" that it viewed. The report claimed the headset would have a curved visor with a soft mesh material, swappable headbands, and dual 8K displays. There may even be a third display, according to display industry consultant Ross Young.

Article Link: Apple's Struggles With Long-Rumored AR/VR Headset Detailed in New Report
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Ready Player One (seriously only one player will be able to afford this)
 
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This just in: developing cutting edge technology under intense secrecy is challenging.

In other words, nothing new for apple and yet they somehow managed to revolutionize phones and own the tablet and smartwatch markets by doing things this way, so ?‍♂️
 
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a "solution" in search of a problem ...
yes, there are use cases: gaming, learning, remote trouble shooting and such, but nothing for your average consumer, and the thought of a "meta verse" is creepy
 
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"...that would enable users to wear it for up to eight hours per day."

I wouldn't wear one for eight minutes. Maybe when they become more lightweight and resemble AR glasses.
 
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Marbles1 said:
So it won't be for gaming, since apple are awful at gaming. So what will it be for? Design work? browsing reddit on a giant screen?
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That’s what I’ve been saying. There hasn’t been a single rumor about the controller setup. If there are no controllers, there’s no way this thing is even partially geared towards gaming. A lot of games would work with hand tracking alone, but not most of them. That’s the biggest portion of VR/AR currently. It’s more niche to use it for work.

I will say that the rumored specs sound nice, but unless it can be used with SteamVR and has controllers, I don’t want it.
 
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jz0309 said:
a "solution" in search of a problem ...
yes, there are use cases: gaming, learning, remote trouble shooting and such, but nothing for your average consumer, [...]
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When smartphones still looked like the Blackberry and had physical keyboards, people said the same about the iPhone. Actually, also the original iPod was received with doubt, that only a handful of customers wanted such a device. The list goes on with the Apple Watch and the AirPods.

If we learned one thing about Apple it's that they really know how to (re)define a market and then sell desirable products to it.
 
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julesme said:
"...that would enable users to wear it for up to eight hours per day."

I wouldn't wear one for eight minutes. Maybe when they become more lightweight and resemble AR glasses.
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You don't know how "lightweight" they are, or will be once Apple releases them.
People seem to wear their over ear headphones all day, so...
 
Apple’s troubles with new products is concerning to say the least. It shows a lack of leadership and bureaucracy running amok at Apple. Apple Car and AR/VR glasses… products even relatively low tech companies like GM and Facebook have been able to produce with a modicum of success is out of reach for the once innovative Apple.

Apple seems to be rotting from the inside out, as happened under another bean counter that was similar to Tim Cook in both demeanor and approach to business… John Sculley.
 
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Dan in MD said:
Ready Player One (seriously only one player will be able to afford this)
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It’s likely not geared towards just ‘gamers’. That’s probably a very small segment of Apples demographic, where as this product evolves, it will expand into the professional and entertainment industry. There’s so much we don’t know of the future capabilities.
 
GhostOS said:
"And we think you're gonna love it."
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Judging from Apple's latest successes, people will love it.
Except for the AirPods which were an overnight hit, there is this typical adoption curve where initially quite some people are like "what do I need this for, this is stupid". Only some early adopters will buy the version 1. Happened with iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch. Once the product is refined, the market grows. Then comes the peak, where the market becomes saturated and cannibalisation occurs.
 
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nt5672 said:
No replaceable battery is the new Apple, looks like cost now overrides functionality. Time to get rid of Cook, just like they did to Ive. Tech is tech, and non-tech leader is just not acceptable.
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That started with Jobs. Were you advocating his replacement back then?
 
Not surprised. Developing and launching a high tech-product such as AR glasses will always be messy with issues and dealing with problems along the way. It's just the way it is when you're breaking new ground.

No need to get chumed-up about what's being leaked.
 
Even inside Apple there seem to be skepticism about this. What problem is this trying to resolve?

Apple II/Macintosh - desktop computing itself didn’t seem to have a defined purpose, but solution for desktop publishing/graphic design/illustration. Certainly as a communication and information resource with the rise of the Internet and to do so in real time; it proved it’s worth. Now we rarely send mail, we shop online a lot etc.

iPod - Having 8,000 CDs and not being able to make a custom playlist was just not a feasible direction. Immediate sense.

iPhone - Easy to carry communication tool, maps, email and other forms of real time communication and access to information on the go. Made sense.

iPad - Prove that for the vast majority of users, a big hulking Mac or PC was not needed. This is the computer I in fact spend most of my time using.

Watch - Not obvious at first, but notifications and not having to always reach for your phone is convenient. Fitness benefits and at least helps you to be a little bit cognizant of your health.

Airpods - Convenient, wireless and nice companion to existing devices like the iPhone and the Mac.

AR device - Just not seeing how wearing a visor all day is gonna help me enjoy my world and be more productive.
 
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Again, maybe it's me, but VR seems like a solution in search of a problem, even if Apple implements it. And if it's a $2K headset, or even a $1K headset, where is the thousand-dollar problem it's solving?

And I say that as someone with an Oculus Rift gathering dust.
 
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Mr. Dee said:
Even inside Apple there seem to be skepticism about this. What problem is this trying to resolve?

Apple II/Macintosh - desktop computing itself didn’t seem to have a defined purpose, but solution for desktop publishing/graphic design/illustration. Certainly as a communication and information resource with the rise of the Internet and to do so in real time; it proved it’s worth. Now we rarely send mail, we shop online a lot etc.

iPod - Having 8,000 CDs and not being able to make a custom playlist was just not a feasible direction. Immediate sense.

iPhone - Easy to carry communication tool, maps, email and other forms of real time communication and access to information on the go. Made sense.

iPad - Prove that for the vast majority of users, a big hulking Mac or PC was not needed. This is the computer I in fact spend most of my time using.

Watch - Not obvious at first, but notifications and not having to always reach for your phone is convenient. Fitness benefits and at least helps you to be a little bit cognizant of your health.

Airpods - Convenient, wireless and nice companion to existing devices like the iPhone and the Mac.

AR device - Just not seeing how wearing a visor all day is gonna help me enjoy my world and be more productive.
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This is the thing I’ve been asking for years. Outside of maybe gaming, it just seems like tech companies trying to make something big because it benefits them rather than benefiting the user. It’s like 3D tvs all over again.
 
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I don’t get the point of this headset. It feels like a product Apple is doing because they think they have to not because they feel like they’re solving a problem or brining a better solution to the market.
 
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jz0309 said:
a "solution" in search of a problem ...
yes, there are use cases: gaming, learning, remote trouble shooting and such, but nothing for your average consumer, and the thought of a "meta verse" is creepy
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You could say exactly the same thing about the iPhone and the Macintosh/Apple II.

Solutions in search of problems. At least that's what people thought. They were proven wrong, and Apple will prove people wrong again here.
 
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