After the Apple AR/VR headset has repeatedly haunted the rumor mill in recent years, the rumors are becoming more and more intense and concrete. Recently it became apparent that Apple will announce the device in spring 2023. Today there is probably the most extensive information – if it is correct – about the Apple “Reality Pro” headset. Eye & hand tracking should take on a special focus.
Mark Gurman updates on Apple Reality Pro
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has his say and shares his latest insights into the Apple Mixed Reality Headset. The Apple insider reports that Apple’s Technology Development Group, a team of more than 1,000 people, has spent the last seven years working on the first version of the AR/VR headset. The Reality Pro headset will cost around $3,000 at launch, which is about twice as expensive as competing products from Meta and Co.
It goes on to say that eye and hand tracking should be a key selling point. Using external cameras, the Apple AR/VR Headset will be able to analyze the user’s hands while using internal sensors to read the user’s eyes. written in German
The headset has multiple external cameras that can analyze a user’s hands, as well as sensors within the body of the connected one to read the eyes. This allows the wearer to control the device by looking at an item on the screen – whether it’s a button, an app icon or a list item – to select it.
Users will then pinch their thumb and forefinger together to activate the task — without having to hold anything. The approach differs from other headsets that rely on hand controls.
iOS-like interface
My headset should have a Digital Crown (like the Apple Watch or AirPods Max) to allow the user to toggle between the virtual and real worlds. The user interface should look familiar to iPhone users. There should be a home screen with app icons and customizable widgets. Apps include Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts and Calendar, and the headset will have its own app store for third-party content. Siri can be used for text input, as can an iPhone, iPad, or Mac keyboard. Apple is also working on a feature that will allow users to type on a virtual keyboard. However, this function should not yet be available at the start of sales.
Video conferencing will be a focus, with Apple FaceTime-based video chat capabilities and meeting rooms being added. A user’s actual face and full body are rendered in virtual reality for interactive meetings, with realistic avatars available for one-to-one chats. FaceTime with multiple participants uses less detailed icons like Memoji.
Apple is working on VR content with partners like Disney and Dolby. In addition, Apple TV + series and films should be updated to harmonize with the headset. Apple’s goal is to provide viewers with the experience of looking at a simple screen in an environment such as a desert or space.
The AR/VR headset can also serve as an external display for the Mac. Users can see their Mac’s display in virtual reality, but still control the computer with their trackpad or mouse and physical keyboard.
As has been rumored in the past, the device should have an extra battery that should be as big as two iPhone 14 Pro Max. This is to protect against overheating. Nevertheless, there should also be prototypes with an internal battery.
, iOS-Like Interface, External Display for Mac, Eye & Hand Tracking and More › Macer Head
