Kuo: Apple's AR Glasses to Launch in 2020 as iPhone Accessory

[MacRumors]

Apple's first rumored head-mounted augmented reality device could be ready by the middle of next year, according to a new report out today from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Economic Daily News [Google Translate]).

A fanciful mockup of digital glasses via TechAcute​

According to Kuo, Apple's AR glasses will be marketed as an iPhone accessory and primarily take a display role while wirelessly offloading computing, networking, and positioning to the iPhone.

Designing the AR glasses to work as an iPhone accessory is also expected to allow Apple to keep the glasses slim and lightweight, rather than trying to pack in all the processing hardware into the one device.

Kuo believes Apple is aiming to begin mass-producing the glasses as early as the fourth quarter of this year, although he admits the timeframe could be pushed back to the second quarter of 2020.

Back in November 2017, Bloomberg reported that Apple was developing an AR headset and aimed to have it ready by 2019, although the company could ship a product in 2020. The report said the headset would run on a new custom operating system, based on iOS, and dubbed "rOS" for "reality operating system."

Apple has been exploring virtual reality and augmented reality technologies for more than 10 years based on patent filings. The company is also rumored to have a secret research unit comprising hundreds of employees working on AR and VR, exploring ways the emerging technologies could be used in future Apple products.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has talked up the prospect of augmented reality several times, saying he views AR as "profound" because the technology "amplifies human performance instead of isolating humans."

Article Link: Kuo: Apple's AR Glasses to Launch in 2020 as iPhone Accessory

 

[fokmik]

So we can have an special look in September, since Apple always present a new product with at least 6 months before the release

 

[danieleilertsen]

Sceptical. How can the tech be there?

Look what MS released? hololense 2. not very impressive, and the price tag. jesus

And also Magic Leap, not very impressive at all.

How can Apple possible create something that is ready for mainstream 2020? Also, carmack said AR is 3 - 5 years behind VR in regard of pure tech. VR is not ready for mainstream yet, and the displey tech etc etc with screen door is not very impressive. Not sure how apple can pull this off?

Also, what happend to: Its not about being first, its about being best?

 

[robinp]

It's going to be a huge ask to get the general public to wear anything even vaguely resembling the mock up. Cameras on glasses like this is just going to make people behave really weirdly (understandably) around people wearing them. That's assuming they are something that even looks good in the first place.

It will be interesting to see what Apple does with this really really hard design challenge.

 

[Sasparilla]

I'll be really impressed if Apple has anything in the AR field released in 2020. For true high end AR ($$), it just doesn't look like the tech is there nor will it be there in 2020.

That said, the market seems to be divided between all out expensive, rather unimpressive AR (MS hololens, Magic Leap) and very basic low end AR (Google Glass now in its 3rd revision). Perhaps there is space in the middle there for something useful, that can grow in capability over time - just replacing your sunglasses at first.

The use of tying it to the phone is key - let these high powered smartphones do the thinking (otherwise you need another computer pack to think for the AR). I'd like to see Apple here, they'd be one of the only vendors not wanting to monetize the user as a live advertising sink or live data mine, but 2020 seems like a stretch. Regardless, I'll have the money ready when they do.

It's going to be a huge ask to get the general public to wear anything even vaguely resembling the mock up.

Fortunately the mockup was created by someone other than Apple - they wouldn't have the camera sensor blaring out like that and opaque lenses? Right, not. My guess is they'll go for something to replace our sunglasses (with prescriptions), that looks like sunglasses - they may even partner with some sunglasses vendor(s). But we'll see.

 

[sflomenb]

Do not like. How would this work for those of us with glasses? Would they be able to use your prescription? I doubt it.

 

[frou]

According to Kuo, Apple's AR glasses will be marketed as an iPhone accessory and primarily take a display role while wirelessly offloading computing, networking, and positioning to the iPhone.

Presumably the glasses won't have a cable running from the phone, so what high-bandwidth low-latency video transmission technology would be used?

 

[StellarVixen]

Sceptical. How can the tech be there?

Look what MS released? hololense 2. not very impressive, and the price tag. jesus

And also Magic Leap, not very impressive at all.

How can Apple possible create something that is ready for mainstream 2020? Also, carmack said AR is 3 - 5 years behind VR in regard of pure tech. VR is not ready for mainstream yet, and the displey tech etc etc with screen door is not very impressive. Not sure how apple can pull this off?

Also, what happend to: Its not about being first, its about being best?

How??? How, you ask?

That's the Apple for you, they seem clueless and absent, and then they pop out of nowhere and show the competition how it should be done.


And then... everyone returns to their drawing boards.

 

[44267547]

Perhaps this rumor indicates the AR glasses was what Cook was referring to with his letter to investors regarding products that will ‘blow your mind’.

https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/01/tim-cook-apple-investors-meeting/amp/

 

[danieleilertsen]

That's the Apple for you, they seem clueless and absent, and then they pop out of nowhere and show the competition how it should be done. Then everyone returns to their drawing boards.

You got a point. And Apple is just amazing about releasing quality stuff.

I hope you are right, but how can they release stuff when the tech is nowheare neare to be ready? MS realeased a headset costing over 3000 dollars, and its not even out?

I just hope they understand that its better to wait 3 - 5 years, get those 8k pictures on each eye, and then bam, hit the market running.

 

[EvilEvil]

Yet another Apple accessory to make you look like a douchebag:

 

[nwcs]

One day, actual reality will be cool again.

 

[Quu]

I have my doubts that normal people will be willing to wear it on their face unless it looks exactly like a normal pair of spectacles or sunglasses.

 

[GaryMumford]

So we can have an special look in September, since Apple always present a new product with at least 6 months before the release

6 months... More like 18 months (AirPower)

 

[StellarVixen]

I have my doubts that normal people will be willing to wear it on their face unless it looks exactly like a normal pair of spectacles or sunglasses.

(2015)

I wonder who's gonna wear that thing on their wrists, it looks ugly...

 

[BvizioN]

Apple always present a new product with at least 6 months before the release

Or much much longer
[doublepost=1552049544][/doublepost]

6 months... More like 18 months (AirPower)

Assuming it is not vapourair and coming this month!

 

[tevion5]

When someone finally does this right, we could be looking at a tech shift as big as the iPhone/smartphone.

 

[danieleilertsen]

When someone finally does this right, we could be looking at a tech shift as big as the iPhone/smartphone.

i agree. but 2020 is way to earlie. Hololense 2 cost over 3000 dollars, and its not even out.

 

[Khedron]

The image is just a mockup but IMO anything similar to that "3rd eye" design is unacceptable.

You'd effectively be walking around pointing a camera in everyone's face.

 

[xnu]

Just put one engineer on the Mac Pro. Just one.

 

[hortod1]

Apple CEO Tim Cook has talked up the prospect of augmented reality several times, saying he views AR as "profound" because the technology "amplifies human performance instead of isolating humans."

Go to the coffee shop of your choice and look around: two people - presumably friends - at the same table, earbuds in and on their phones. Or a restaurant - parents on their phones and kids with an iPad. Don’t see how tech has done anything BUT isolate humans.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

About the looks of Apple's (presumed) AR Glass.
Just remember that folks are merrily happy with the look of the "magical" AirPods hanging off their ears.

The douche-bag look is in!
And, then, there is no doubt that Apple's AR Glass will be a home-run/s

 

[scalia1441]

Sceptical. How can the tech be there?

Look what MS released? hololense 2. not very impressive, and the price tag. jesus

And also Magic Leap, not very impressive at all.

How can Apple possible create something that is ready for mainstream 2020? Also, carmack said AR is 3 - 5 years behind VR in regard of pure tech. VR is not ready for mainstream yet, and the displey tech etc etc with screen door is not very impressive. Not sure how apple can pull this off?

Also, what happend to: Its not about being first, its about being best?

What is the purpose, other than "wow, that's ***** cool!"

Just sounds like more demoware, like, well, AR Kit. Looks fantastic on stage during keynotes, but then when users get ahold of it, we get.....AR calculators and an AR mode in Carrot Weather.

 

[tevion5]

i agree. but 2020 is way to earlie. Hololense 2 cost over 3000 dollars, and its not even out.

I agree it seems too soon. The product that really sells it cannot be a big chunky expensive block. It needs to be light and affordable. That tech could be many years off.

 

[Ghost31]

It's going to be a huge ask to get the general public to wear anything even vaguely resembling the mock up. Cameras on glasses like this is just going to make people behave really weirdly (understandably) around people wearing them. That's assuming they are something that even looks good in the first place.

It will be interesting to see what Apple does with this really really hard design challenge.

“Can’t believe apple is seriously expecting people to wear watches again when people can use their phone to tell time. Just what in the hell are they thinking??” - people from 2015

Calling it now. Because nobody has any vision, everyone under the sun is going to already call it a stupid product before it’s even announced. Then it’ll debut and people will love it, while it’ll have its haters as well saying it’s stupid and pointless. “Who is seriously gonna wear glasses all the time?”

Then it’ll get popular and really refined and everybody else’s will copy them and we will get to a point a few years from now where we can’t believe we never had ar.

Sci fi movies imagine this for years. Holographic displays and graphics and being able to manipulate objects. And we all think it’s the coolest thing ever. Think minority report. Think iron man. Think tron. Think about not even needing a tv in your house because you can put a giant display and pin it to your wall in your glasses. Think about how interactive the environment can be. Meeting people and seeing information floating over their heads about who they are and how you know them. Or shared experiences with multiple glasses.

This could be a game changer the world over if it’s played right. But all anyone can say is “who’s gonna wear glasses all the time?”