The first Apple mixed reality headset is predicted to be released in 2023. It has been reported that the company has decided on a new name for the platform, “xrOS,” rather than “realityOS” or “rOS,” which Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman interprets as a sign that the release is imminent. The term “eXtended Reality” (XR) is used to describe headsets that can support both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) (Augmented Reality). While virtual reality immerses users in an entirely simulated world, augmented reality adds digital layers to the real world. While some headsets, like the Meta Quest 2, combine virtual reality and augmented reality, others, like the HoloLens and Google Glass, are dedicated to the latter.
Sony, who is already accepting pre-orders for the PSVR2, is also a major player, along with rivals Valve and HTC. Since the Apple Watch’s debut in 2015, this will be Apple’s first foray into a previously untapped market. Although it wasn’t the first smartwatch, Apple’s Wearables, Home, and Accessories division has become extremely profitable, with net sales surpassing those of the iPad and coming close to those of the Mac in the most recent quarterly report.
According to Gurman’s report, the headset will come with its own app store and its own versions of Apple’s core applications, such as Messages and Maps. In addition, there will be a VR-based version of FaceTime and other tools for collaborating in the virtual world.
Apple’s iPhones and iPads equipped with LiDAR can take a 3D scan of their surroundings and place virtual objects within that scan, giving the company a leg up in the augmented reality field. There were rumors floating around that the XR headset would incorporate LiDAR as well. Apple trademarked the names Reality One and Reality Pro a few months ago, suggesting that they will be used for the headset. Although it’s possible that Apple will eventually return back to calling its software platform “realityOS,” it’s not yet clear whether the titles will change with the new OS branding.
