Apple is good at keeping its up and coming technology’s a secret from the general public, however, the company’s alleged mixed reality headset appears to be the worst-kept secret in tech, and a fresh story from The Information (it’s second this week) is jam-packed with details regarding the device’s rocky development.
Apple’s decision to use a separate headgear is one of the most notable aspects of the story. Apple had yet to determine whether to pursue a more powerful VR headset that would be linked with a base station or a standalone headset. Mike Rockwell, Apple’s AR/VR chief, reportedly preferred the version with the base station. The solo product was chosen by Apple officials. In 2020, Bloomberg published similar information.
That choice has had long-term effects on the development of the headset. “By the time the decision was made, the device’s multiple chips had already been in development for several years, making it impossible to go back to the drawing board to create, say, a single chip to handle all the headset’s tasks,” The Information reported. “Other challenges, such as incorporating 14 cameras on the headset, have caused headaches for hardware and algorithm
engineers.”
Apple still keeping John I’ve as a consultant for the project’s design
Jony Ive remained to consult on the project’s design even after his official departure from Apple, according to the story. I’ve “preferred” a wearable battery, such as that offered by Magic Leap. Other prototypes, according to The Information, placed the battery in the headset’s headband, and it’s unknown which will be used in the final design.
The headset was purportedly shown to Apple’s board of directors last week, indicating that a public unveiling is imminent. However, it is possible that it will not be introduced until later this year, and it may not hit shop shelves until 2023, so we may have to wait a bit to try it. Apple is working on a pair of AR spectacles that appear like Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses, but according to The Information, they’re “still several years away from release.”
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