Apple is said to be working on apps for nearly everything it offers for the iPhone for its anticipated mixed-reality headset ahead of its rumored launch at WWDC 2023.
It’s been stated that the headset could be the main focus of the conference. The device is expected to provide Apple customers with virtual and augmented reality experiences or a combination of the two.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has begun working on a launch library of apps that will run on the device, suggesting that the unit is in the final stages of preparation. Sources have indicated that it will include services for watching sports, new iterations of Apple’s current iPad capabilities, gaming, fitness, and collaboration tools.
The device is also said to offer access to millions of existing apps through a new 3D interface. Along with apps from third-party developers, Apple is working on optimized versions of Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Stocks, Weather, Mail, and more. Apple is also said to be working on a headset-compatible version of Apple Books that will let customers read in virtual reality in addition to the company’s core app and a camera app that can snap pictures via the headgear is also being tested.
Other significant ports include a wellness app that will assist wearers in their meditation with a collection of peaceful pictures, noises, and voice-overs, likely similar to the Mindfulness app on Apple Watch, and a version of the Fitness+ service, along with the Freeform collaboration app. The Freeform app will let users work on virtual whiteboards together in mixed reality.
FaceTime may also be a primary feature that will generate 3D versions of users in virtual meeting rooms.
Finally, the headset will offer the ability to view sports on the device. Apple already offers games from Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball on Apple TV+, and virtual reality might provide a more immersive experience for those services.
I dial on the headband will allow viewers to choose between virtual and augmented reality modes, similar to the digital crown on the Apple Watch. Users will be immersed in their apps when using VR.They will also experience the real world around them similarly to ARKit experiences on iPhones and iPads if AR is enabled. It’s also rumored to run multiple apps simultaneously, each floating inside the 3D interface.
Sources have also indicated that users will be able to control the headset using their hands and eyes. In one instance, they may squeeze their fingers to pick things and navigate menus after detecting where people are looking. The headset is also rumored to offer an in-air virtual keyboard that can be connected to a physical keyboard as well as offer access to Siri’s voice control as a means of controlling the headset.
As mentioned before, it’s thought that the first version of the headset will retail for around $3,000. The launch date has yet to be specified, and it’s thought that Apple may be scaling back production.
It’s also thought that the overall design and perhaps size of Apple’s debut headset would be similar to ski goggles. Each eye reportedly has a 4K OLED display, while an outside panel displays the user’s facial emotions for the headset.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Bloomberg