A few months ago Apple hinted that their very first AR device is in development. It could be released as soon as 2020. Quanta, one of the assembly partners of the augmented reality device, has hinted that it could be on the market no later than 2020. This is a whole year sooner than the projected date which could mean that users could have a taste of Apple’s AR technology sooner than expected. The headset will be equipped with a transparent lens that will allow the user to see through along with interact with the immediate environment.
This is not the first headset to be created by a giant tech company. Google Glass had some success in the enterprise industry a while ago. It hasn’t taken off as well as the company anticipated it would. This is where Apple will probably get most of their sales. The Apple headset will also be equipped with unique features like the use of head gestures, a touch panel along with voice commands that can be given to Siri. The device, which is currently still under codename “T288” will open up new possibilities for a company like Apple.
The features of the Apple headset will be similar to those found in the iPhone or iPad. It will also be retailored to create a unique AR experience for the wearer. Some of the basic functions that experts are envisioning are the use of GPS, Maps, and Street View for an interactive navigational experience. There might even be advanced directions guiding you to where you want to go. You might ask Siri to guide you to the closest McDonalds and a pathway of arrows will light the way right in front of your eyes.
Apple also enjoys inter-connectivity features on all its platforms so you will probably be able to integrate the Apple headset with an Apple device. Much like the Apple Watch that connects to the phone or the tablet, the headset might also be equipped with the same function. You might be able to access notifications on the lens from your other devices.
At the moment it is still very hard to put a figure on the Apple headset and it will also be difficult to say how much consumers will end up paying for it by the time it is released. Google Glass was deemed to be too expensive for the general public to use. That is why it has found its way into the enterprise industry. The Microsoft Hololens is currently priced at $3,000. It has had some success but this is not something that you see every day. Experts note that if the device is priced at less than $1,000 it would be more popular in the AR headset market. Apple, on the other hand, has never been known to drop their prices, but only time will tell. Hopefully, over the next few months, Apple will release more information about their headset.
