Everything We Know About Apple Glass
The fact that Apple is currently working on developing AR enabled glasses is one of the worst kept secrets in the technology industry. As far back as 2015, Apple has been stealthily working behind the scenes on Apple glasses and has filed a multitude of patents that signal what the hardware and accompanying software will do and how they’ll work. In June 2017 Apple launched its augmented reality SDK, ARKit which provided developer and business accessibility to hundreds of millions of existing compatible devices. In 2019, Apple started pushing the augmented reality story with increased vigour and it quickly became a key feature of their company demos and keynote sessions. All of these things point towards the launch of Apple’s augmented reality glasses and they may be set for release sooner than you might think.
Apple Augmented & Virtual Reality Headsets
Bloomberg recently reported that Apple is working on two separate pieces of extended reality hardware, an AR enabled set of glasses and a fully immersive virtual reality headset. The Virtual Reality headset, according to specific patents, will be similar in look and feel to the Oculus Quest VR headset, but will utilise a glossier design that leverages lightweight materials and components to deliver maximum comfort for the user. It’s estimated that the Apple VR headset will retail somewhere in the region of $3000.
Apple has been pushing the capabilities of its Lidar scanning technology very hard. Lidar scanning technology was baked into the iPad Pro and iPhone 12 models that were announced last year and it’s clear from looking at the technology that Lidar is one of many technological building blocks Apple has been secretly working on to pave the way for a mass-market augmented reality heads up display.
There was speculation that Apple would announce the launch of Apple Glass in 2020, but
the pandemic is said to have slowed supply chains and forced them to push the launch date back. Some analysts are also suggesting that Apple Glass actively went into manufacturing and production at the tail end of 2019, with Apple set to make an announcement for launch in 2021 and that Apple Glass will finally be available to buy some time in 2022. Rumours are suggesting that Apple Glass will retail somewhere in the region of $500.
What can we expect to see from Apple Glass?
In terms of product specifications for Apple Glass, patents would suggest we can expect to see dual high-resolution 8k displays and eye tracking technology that will enable the user to read extremely small text and possess the ability to visualise other people standing in front of and behind virtual objects that appear in the heads up display. Apple Glass will also possess the ability to map and detect edges, surfaces and room dimensions with a greater degree of accuracy than any other AR heads up display available in today’s market, including the Microsoft HoloLens. The headset is said to be equipped with a chip that would be faster than the M1 processor that’s baked into Macs that were launched in 2020.
When it comes to new product launches with Apple, it’s not uncommon for formal launch announcements to be made many months in advance of the product being available in store to the general public.
One of the biggest challenges when developing a new AR heads up display is managing the trade off between performance and design. The Microsoft HoloLens is renowned for delivering impressive performance, but lacks the design and feel of a consumer friendly HUD. Similarly, many of the more stylish looking AR HUDs lack the processing power to be suitable for mainstream adoption, both consumer and enterprise.
Apple Glass is said to utilise what’s referred to as a hybrid fresnel lens design that will encompass three stacked lenses for each eye all manufactured from lightweight plastic. The reason for this particular design approach is to address the difficult balancing act between performance and design. This will enable ultra short focal lengths and deliver enhanced optical performance, whilst delivering a sufficiently wide field of view (FOV) and ensure the glasses are as lightweight and stylish as possible.
Of course this is all speculation and whilst it’s suggested that both the AR and VR headsets are in late stages of prototyping, things could change. Apple may decide to change its course of direction or drop one or both products entirely, although this is unlikely given the level of investment to date and the importance of extended reality to Apple’s business in the future. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, has made no secret of his love of the technology and the crucial role he sees it fulfilling in the future for consumers and businesses alike. Tim Cook also recently suggested that the company has a number of products in development that will blow consumers away. It’s hard to imagine that he’s not referring directly to an Apple AR and/or VR headset.
Other than patents filed there have been adjacent activities that would suggest Apple is poised to transform the XR space. Apple has been very active in terms of acquiring AR and VR technology companies and has made a number of key hires in this space. Apple recently hired one of the top employees at NASA called Jeff Norris. Jeff Norris is the founder of the innovation office at NASAs jet propulsion lab and is said to be leading the development of Apple Glass with a 1000 strong team, consisting of some of the best XR talent in the world.
In Summary
It’s very likely that Apple will make an announcement surrounding the launch of Apple Glass and an as yet untitled VR device some time this year. Recent activity around patent filings, XR related acquisitions and strategic hires all point towards the imminent launch of Apple branded HUDs that could literally transform the face of the computing industry forever. If this is to be the case, we could expect to see these devices becoming available to consumers and businesses before the end of 2022.
