Apple may debut it’s MR headset in June 2024
The headset had remained a rumour for quite some time until the project was confirmed last year. The debut of the device which is already predicted to be Apple’s next biggest source of revenue after phones, is said to be taking place at the WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference).The product has been in the works since 2015 and its launch has been through a rocky series of delays. It was originally scheduled for January 2022, however some obstacles encountered caused it to be delayed to June of 2024. A project as big as this needs brilliant minds behind the scenes.
Dan Riccio, the former Vice President of hardware at Apple who’s an eminent figure in the company has been said to be majorly involved in the creation of the MR headset which has reportedly been code-named N301 within the company.
So what exactly caused such delay?
This question still remains shrouded in mystery, however, there have been speculations about what the reason could be. Hardware is a major challenge, especially because of how sophisticated it’s supposed to be, including the recently released M2 chip, high definition 4K Virtual Reality displays, and complex camera settings. Sci-fi like interfaces are also an obstacle, users are supposed to pinch and control 3D visuals with accuracy.
What to expect?
The MR device uses a new OS called XR OS (XR stands for extended reality) which provides a 3D version of all possible i-phone apps. MR (mixed reality) is a blend of VR(Virtual Reality) and AR(augmented reality). This technology makes it possible for virtual characters and
objects to interact with our real world, for example placing a virtual book on a real table.
The headset is reported to have been equipped with many new features including dual micro OLED display , battery connected via MagSafe like power cable to its headband. The main medium of control are hand tracking and voice control.
Within Apple , this project has faced many mixed reactions.
While some are skeptical about the project because of how high cost MR is, and how previous projects of this kind by Meta and Microsoft have had trouble going mainstream due to their incredibly high costs, others believe that this product might be a game changer with increased accuracy and lower cost.
