One thing all the renders get wrong

[giggles]

I can’t believe it took me 2 years to notice, but literally all the renders of Apple’s upcoming headset (including the “beloved” render from Ian Zelbo used in every article) are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the headband as it’s depicted in the original sketch from The Information.

In the sketch (made by someone who had a chance to look at ACTUAL photos of a late stage prototype) the headband is ASYMMETRICAL, namely:
- uninterrupted on the right side
- open on the left side

The left side looks like it can be opened to strap on the headset like a watchband. But the opening should ONLY be on the left side! It makes no sense to have that watchband-like system on BOTH sides! Yet all the renders contain that mistake.

The uninterrupted right side of the headband could host the power cable to the round magnetic connector for the external battery. So it could be pretty important functionally for it to be uninterrupted, it’s not just aesthetics.

tldr: stop looking at flawed renders (symmetrical headband) and take an harder look at the original sketch from The Information (asymmetrical headband). And if a render artist is reading this, please make the next render right!

 

[giggles]

Now with pictures:

 

[giggles]

By the way you can read about flexible speakers here:

Apple Invents Flexible Speakers designed for future iDevices, Macs and their XR Headset in Particular

Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to a new flexible speaker design that could be supported in future Apple devices including XR Headsets, iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.

www.patentlyapple.com

 

[terminator-jq]

Nice catch! Thanks for sharing that. It will be interesting to see what the final device looks like. This may set the standard for future VR headsets in the same way Apple did with the iPhone. Gotta wonder if Apple will keep the single band or if they will add a vertical band for extra support.

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

They also forgot that most people have a nose.

 

[izelbo]

I can’t believe it took me 2 years to notice, but literally all the renders of Apple’s upcoming headset (including the “beloved” render from Ian Zelbo used in every article) are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the headband as it’s depicted in the original sketch from The Information.

In the sketch (made by someone who had a chance to look at ACTUAL photos of a late stage prototype) the headband is ASYMMETRICAL, namely:
- uninterrupted on the right side
- open on the left side

The left side looks like it can be opened to strap on the headset like a watchband. But the opening should ONLY be on the left side! It makes no sense to have that watchband-like system on BOTH sides! Yet all the renders contain that mistake.

The uninterrupted right side of the headband could host the power cable to the round magnetic connector for the external battery. So it could be pretty important functionally for it to be uninterrupted, it’s not just aesthetics.

tldr: stop looking at flawed renders (symmetrical headband) and take an harder look at the original sketch from The Information (asymmetrical headband). And if a render artist is reading this, please make the next render right!

Hey there! thanks for this. I remember when I was making that I noticed how it wasn't symmetrical and honestly just assumed that it was a quick sketch and the person drawing failed to accurately depict the design, but what you're saying makes a bunch of sense. Making a new concept now exclusively for 9to5mac, and I will keep this in mind, thank you! Quick question, I assumed that the button was more like the button on AirPods Max then the crown would be separate, do you think that makes sense or should I just go with a crown on the left? I like the idea of the MagSafe cable, I'll definitely talk it over and see if I can get any clarification.

 

[giggles]

Hey there! thanks for this. I remember when I was making that I noticed how it wasn't symmetrical and honestly just assumed that it was a quick sketch and the person drawing failed to accurately depict the design, but what you're saying makes a bunch of sense. Making a new concept now exclusively for 9to5mac, and I will keep this in mind, thank you! Quick question, I assumed that the button was more like the button on AirPods Max then the crown would be separate, do you think that makes sense or should I just go with a crown on the left? I like the idea of the MagSafe cable, I'll definitely talk it over and see if I can get any clarification.

Hi!
Thanks for the response and kudos for your renders 👍🏻
You're right about the button on the left side, my mistake, the Jan-3-2023 report from The Information specifically states that the digital crown is on the right side (i.e. the far side not seen in the original sketch). So what we see on the left side has a good chance to be a flat Airpods Max style button, you're right. And we know there's a crown on the right side (I can't pinpoint where exactly would Apple put it, but it has to be easy to reach for and probably kinda symmetric to the location of the flat button on the opposite side). From that same Jan-3-2023 report we've been made aware of the MagSafe cable, and I can't think of another place (both on the front goggles and on the headband) for the MagSafe connector to be located. Connecting the MagSafe cable to the front goggles at all times would feel and look goofy, and future models will be slimmer so there will be even less space for a MagSafe connector. So we're left with the headband. Where else on the headband could the Magsafe connector be located if not on that round thingy? And definitely on the left side: that's the side the user will reach for both for unfastening the headband and for operating (docking/undocking) the MagSafe cable. It's less confusing to have both functions on the left side.

Anyway, I've made a new Skitch-doodled illustration to correct my mistake about the digital crown:

 

[giggles]

Imagine the cringey marketing shots if the magnetic cable was to be connected to the front face-mounted section of the headset...nope, the MagSafe connector has to be on the headband. Also it's specifically stated in the Jan-3-2023 report from the Information, as reported by MacRumors: "A waist-mounted battery, connected via a magnetic, MagSafe-like power cable to the headset's headband."
Where exactly on the headband? I personally can't think of another location other than that round thingy.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

One possible purpose of dual adjusters, is fitment over a range of sizes.. I’m just talking mechanical engineering here, not based on rumors… will there be a range of removable headband sizes, or one-size-fits-most? If it has the battery and speakers and MagSafe in it, I don’t think it would make sense to include a half-dozen of them in the box. As pictured, though, there’s VERY little apparent room to adjust the size.

 

[giggles]

One possible purpose of dual adjusters, is fitment over a range of sizes.. I’m just talking mechanical engineering here, not based on rumors… will there be a range of removable headband sizes, or one-size-fits-most?

May I point you to this patent:

Apple has won a patent for an HMD with an Adjustable Mechanism that will provide users with a customized facial fit

Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to a future Head-Mounted Display device and more particularly, an adjustment mechanism that will provide users with a customized facial fit.

www.patentlyapple.com

An internal spool would make your external adjusters not necessary.

Of course it’s just a patent and we have no indication that it will work this way, but..maybe.

If it has the battery and speakers and MagSafe in it, I don’t think it would make sense to include a half-dozen of them in the box. As pictured, though, there’s VERY little apparent room to adjust the size.

Battery - We have no indication the small buffer battery will be hosted in the headband. We haven’t even heard about the buffer battery at all actually, that’s just a theory of mine because I can’t believe Apple would let you suddenly kill your xrOS work session every time the Magsafe cable is accidentally disconnected from
the headband. Unless the Magsafe connection is really, really strong and hard to disconnect by accident. (or maybe they could disallow/allow it to disconnect via software? Just like the hinge unlock on the Microsoft Surface Book)

Speakers - not particularly costly

Magsafe receptacle - not particularly costly

“Half a dozen of them” - they don’t include half a dozen bands with the Watch, but they let you pick among dozens when you order.

 

[terminator-jq]

I’m glad to see another person bring up the idea of a “buffer battery” of some sort. If the rumors are true about Apple using a waste mounted battery pack, then it must connect to the headset via:

- MagSafe (most likely)
- USB-C
- Some other proprietary connector

All of which have the possibility of getting accidentally yanked out. We’ve also seen several reputable sources say that users will be able to “hot swap” to another battery pack to extend usage. This means the headset must have the ability to suspend a users session while swapping battery’s (or reconnecting the battery) and continue seamlessly as soon as battery connection is restored. Having the headset completely loose all power of it gets disconnected would be completely unacceptable.

 

[zarmanto]

I'm by no means a designer, let alone an Apple designer... but as a matter of practicality, it seems to me that a second matching metal button on the right side would be a more ideal place to connect that MagSafe battery cable. This would reduce the length of the internal cable and eliminate a potential early failure point induced by the cable being repeatedly bent and unbent when opening/closing that clasp on the left. It would also allow the product designers a bit more freedom with respect to the rear portion of the strap; they wouldn't need to account for electronics and/or cabling, freeing them to simply do whatever makes the most sense to maximize the adjustability and comfort of the strap. Additionally, you wouldn't be required to disconnect the battery pack in order to unclasp the headset's strap, as you would with the depicted versions herein.

Anyway, those are just some of my random thoughts, which may or may not make much sense outside of the safe confines of my own head; make of them what you will.

 

[zarmanto]

... Making a new concept now exclusively for 9to5mac ...

Did you ever finish making that revised concept image? I went over to 9to5mac and browsed around for a bit, but perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places, because I couldn't find anything.

 

[giggles]

Battery - We have no indication the small buffer battery will be hosted in the headband. We haven’t even heard about the buffer battery at all actually, that’s just a theory of mine because I can’t believe Apple would let you suddenly kill your xrOS work session every time the Magsafe cable is accidentally disconnected from the headband. Unless the Magsafe connection is really, really strong and hard to disconnect by accident. (or maybe they could disallow/allow it to disconnect via software? Just like the hinge unlock on the Microsoft Surface Book)

ding ding ding we have the answer

The headset will have two ports: a USB-C connectorto handle data and a new proprietary charger. The charging cable that goes into the headset has a round tip that inserts magnetically. In order to prevent the connector from falling out during use, you rotate it clockwise to lock it in. The cable itself connects to the battery pack, and those two pieces aren’t separable.

The pack, which should power the headset for about two hours, looks like Apple’s iPhone MagSafe battery pack. It’s about the size of an iPhone but thicker. The pack is designed to be charged via USB-C and will be powered up using the same adapter included with the MacBook Pro.

(from this week’s Power On)

 

[giggles]

Ian’s great new render for 9to5mac finally gets this right….unfortunately The Information just leaked the hard left/right temples and that the Magsafe puck will attach to a temple…so my “smart headband” theory in this thread is completely wrong. Oops.

 

[izelbo]

Ian’s great new render for 9to5mac finally gets this right….unfortunately The Information just leaked the hard left/right temples and that the Magsafe puck will attach to a temple…so my “smart headband” theory in this thread is completely wrong. Oops.

LOL I'm actually not sure what they mean by temple as they talk about the speakers on the temple?

 

[giggles]

LOL I'm actually not sure what they mean by temple as they talk about the speakers on the temple?

I've updated the sketch based on the new information about the hard temples:

 

[kkee]

I’m glad to see another person bring up the idea of a “buffer battery” of some sort. If the rumors are true about Apple using a waste mounted battery pack, then it must connect to the headset via:

- MagSafe (most likely)
- USB-C
- Some other proprietary connector

All of which have the possibility of getting accidentally yanked out. We’ve also seen several reputable sources say that users will be able to “hot swap” to another battery pack to extend usage. This means the headset must have the ability to suspend a users session while swapping battery’s (or reconnecting the battery) and continue seamlessly as soon as battery connection is restored. Having the headset completely loose all power of it gets disconnected would be completely unacceptable.

A swappable small battery unit in a thin futuristic shape can be attached magnetically to the side of band without using the cable connection to the battery pack. With portable charger charging one pack while using another you are practically having unlimited power.