Gurman: Apple Still Plans to Announce AR/VR Headset at WWDC Despite Recent Uncertainty

[MacRumors]

Apple still plans to announce its long-rumored AR/VR headset during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Sunday newsletter, Gurman said Apple will also unveil the headset's xrOS operating system.

Apple headset mockup by Ian Zelbo​

"The showcase at WWDC, the Worldwide Developers Conference, will likely include the headset itself, but also its onboard xrOS operating system, accompanying services, and — perhaps most critically — a software development kit and platform that will let developers write new types of apps," wrote Gurman, in his weekly "Power On" newsletter.

Last week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the headset was pushed back by an additional one to two months to the mid-to-late third quarter of 2023. Kuo said the delay added "uncertainty" to whether the headset would be announced at WWDC this year, but Gurman is still confident the device will be unveiled then.

Apple CEO Tim Cook alluded to the headset in a recent interview, saying that AR could "greatly enhance people's communication" and "connection."

Apple announced that WWDC 2023 will take place from June 5 through June 9, with sessions, labs, and other content to be made available online for free. There will also be an in-person component in the form of a "special day" at Apple Park, where randomly selected developers and students can watch the keynote and State of the Union videos together, meet teams at Apple, take part in evening activities, and more.

Article Link: Gurman: Apple Still Plans to Announce AR/VR Headset at WWDC Despite Recent Uncertainty

 

[sorgo †]

I can't wait for this to be announced so that we can stop talking about it!

 

[senttoschool]

VR is perpetually 10 years away from being good. Maybe in 2033.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

At this point, it's basically a dead-on-arrival product. I don't think it will be as revolutionary as Apple first introduced the iPhone in 2007. But bring it please so we can stop talking about it and Apple can move on to other things.

 

[xxray]

Even if mass production gets pushed back, if Apple is planning any kind of release in the next year, it pretty much has to debut at WWDC 2023 if Apple wants to start getting developers on board.

 

[usersince86]

Will be very interesting to see what Apple debuts at WWDC 2023, if anything.

(I think I'll save my $3K for a vehicle downpayment though...)

 

[macsplusmacs]

Let's go!

May not sell well at first, but maybe that's a good thing until devs figure out all the possibilities and the price comes down over time.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Apple's biggest issue in the short term, even if the product is best of class. Is how to deal with lazy reporters that upon seeing sales numbers < the iPhone, will immediately fire up the echo chamber and start the "fail" "apple is doomed" mantra.

Long term there is something huge to AR IMO.

Can apple hold on until we get there in the face of possible headwinds like this?

Think Different.

I'm long on Apple VR.

Almost wrote Apple RV there which I would not be long on.

Pictured: Not Rumored Apple self-driving RV

 

[mystery hill]

I want them to announce it soon so we don’t have to see that mock-up image anymore.

 

[JohnApples]

At this point, it's basically a dead-on-arrival product. I don't think it will be as revolutionary as Apple first introduced the iPhone in 2007. But bring it please so we can stop talking about it and Apple can move on to other things.

People said this about the AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, iPod… (for real, go search the MR archives)

You’d think after Apple’s numerous successes that people would stop preemptively declaring products DOA or “flops”, yet here we are once again.

 

[Andrish80]

VR is already dead. not even apple can you do something about it the metaverse is ******** like 3d tvs, there are no killer apps, it's not fun even worse if it costs more than an iphone or like an iphone . if it reaches the sale, it finally fails and they start inventing something more interesting

 

[karranz]

This is going to be a massive fail. Tim has to learn the hard way why Steve and & co. put so much attention to product development and design. Anyway this is going to be funny, can’t wait.

 

[macsplusmacs]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1451923036450574342

 

[Andrish80]

People said this about the AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, iPod… (for real, go search the MR archives)

You’d think after Apple’s numerous successes that people would stop preemptively declaring products DOA or “flops”, yet here we are once again.

no the market for people with one thing on their faces is not like phones, watches or other things they are misfits from silcon valley, the real world is something else . It's a idea born in the Sicoln Valley bubble and it's a freaking crap.

 

[Ion-X]

Cool, so I'll be unable to afford this in 2023 instead of being unable to afford it in 2024!

 

[Realityck]

At this point, it's basically a dead-on-arrival product. I don't think it will be as revolutionary as Apple first introduced the iPhone in 2007. But bring it please so we can stop talking about it and Apple can move on to other things.

It all depends how they approach this. Initially they been showing AR examples with iOS maybe iPadOS. He could certainly show off a prototype as a DTK.

 

[BGPL]

The silver lining here, Apple unveiling this AR/VR headset is going to drive innovation in this field, even if it is half-baked. It will push Meta to put up a better product that also supports AR and not just VR, and hopefully it will cause another big name to step up. Lots of potential.

 

[erikkfi]

Release it already so we don't have to look at this mockup anymore.

 

[macsplusmacs]

It all depends how they approach this. Initially they been showing AR examples with iOS maybe iPadOS. He could certainly show off a prototype as a DTK.

They should SELL it as a Developer Kit / Developer only.


Would make things clear from all angles.

Let's the Devs do the marketing till we get to a sub $1000 device.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

People said this about the AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, iPod… (for real, go search the MR archives)

You’d think after Apple’s numerous successes that people would stop preemptively declaring products DOA or “flops”, yet here we are once again.

Never said it will be a flop product but the market is niche and the starting price will be overly expensive. All the products you mentioned the prices were alot lowered and affordable.

 

[Ion-X]

They should SELL it as a Developer Kit.

Would make things clearing from all angles.

Like charging NBA players $8 a month for the privilege of bringing millions of visitors to Twitter? Yes, that will work well.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Like charging NBA players $8 a month for the privilege of bringing millions of visitors to Twitter? Yes, that will work well.

No. like devices like the Apple mini Dev Mac that sold only to devs to spur Apple Silicon compatibility.

You are conflating different things.

 

[Realityck]

Never said it will be a flop product but the market is niche and the starting price will be overly expensive. All the products you mentioned the prices were alot lowered and affordable.

The key fact is creating content that this device could utilize. Selling hardware is inconsistent without the other.

 

[Bogstandard]

They should SELL it as a Developer Kit / Developer only.


Would make things clear from all angles.

Let's the Devs do the marketing till we get to a sub $1000 device.

I believe the boss is making the company do just this.
Joe'n'Jane Q Public be devving Siri and this new product to keep the stockholders happy.

Apple Homekit is expanding to become "Apple Homework" 😁

 

[vertsix]

VR is perpetually 10 years away from being good. Maybe in 2033.

That's what we said in 2013 with Oculus.