Everything we know about Apple's VR headset... so far
25th January, 2023 at 10:02 pm by Flynn
- Apple's mixed reality headset, "Reality Pro," is set to launch in 2023 with an "iOS-like" interface and many functions available on the iPhone and iPad.
- The headset will have a major selling point of eye and hand-tracking, using external cameras to analyze user's hands and eyes for control.
- The headset will have the ability to switch between augmented reality and virtual reality, with a pass-through mode for AR and a control knob for switching.
- Video conferencing will be a focus, with FaceTime-based video chatting and meeting rooms, and a dedicated App Store for third-party content.
- The headset is expected to be priced around $3,000, with demonstrations and tests available at dedicated areas in Apple Stores after launch.
Apple's mixed reality headset, which is said to be named "Reality Pro," is expected to launch in 2023, and rumors about the device are starting to pick up. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, the headset will have an "iOS-like" interface that will include many of the functions available on the iPhone and iPad. The headset will also be able to serve as an external display for a connected Mac, allowing users to see their Mac's display in VR and control it with a physical keyboard and trackpad/mouse.
Eye and hand-tracking will be a major selling point for the headset, with Apple using external cameras to analyze a user's hands and eyes. This means that the wearer will be able to control the headset by looking at an on-screen item to select it and then using gestures to activate it. Unlike other headset options, Apple will not rely on a physical controller.
The headset will be able to switch between augmented reality and virtual reality, with augmented reality overlaying virtual objects on the real world and virtual reality being an entirely virtual environment that shuts out the wearer's surroundings. A pass-through mode will be used for augmented reality, and switching between AR and VR will be done with a Digital Crown-like control knob.
Video conferencing will also be a focus for the headset, with Apple adding FaceTime-based video chatting capabilities and meeting rooms. A user's actual face and full body will be rendered in virtual reality for interactive meetings, with the realistic avatars available for one-to-one chats. FaceTime with multiple participants will use less detailed icons like Memoji.
The headset will have a dedicated App Store for third-party content and will include apps like Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts, and Calendar. Siri will be able to be used for text input, as will an iPhone, ’iPad, or Mac keyboard. However, an air typing feature is not expected to be ready for launch.
Overall, the headset is expected to be a game-changer in terms of design and features, and it is expected to be priced around $3,000. Apple is also expected to reveal the device in the coming months, with demonstrations and tests available at dedicated areas in Apple Stores after launch.
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