“Apple CEO, Tim Cook, set the cat amongst the pigeons last night when he confirmed the company is working on augmented reality (AR),” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld. “‘We have been and continue to invest a lot in this,’ he said. “’We are high on AR for the long run, we think there’s great things for customers and a great commercial opportunity.'”
“Look and you’ll see that Apple has a great infrastructure for third party AR/VR,” Evans writes. “Not only are there around a billion actively used iOS devices, but most of these are already using 64-bit processors, which are available in iPhone 6, 6S and iPhone SE series devices, and the latest iPads. Its platforms are set to become even more powerful later this year with iPhone 7.”
“Those processors deliver more than enough horsepower to fully exploit iOS’ hardware-accelerated graphics API, Metal, as well as core technologies such as QuickTime, OpenGL, OpenCL, Core Audio, Quartz Composer, Core Video, Core Animation. Add great camera technologies and superior displays and you can see why Pokémon GO players have become addicted to iOS.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, as Evans explains in his full article and the trail of related articles below attests, Apple’s work in virtual and augmented reality hasn’t exactly been a well-kept secret.
SEE ALSO:
Apple acquires Flyby Media; assembles large team of virtual and augmented reality experts – January 29, 2016
Apple hires leading virtual reality researcher – January 22, 2016
Apple is building a virtual reality supply chain with disruptive potential, new research shows – November 19, 2015
Analyst: Apple team exploring virtual reality/augmented reality – August 31, 2015
Apple exploring a new reality with purchase of Metaio – June 3, 2015
Apple patents perforated augmented reality display that you can see and hear through – May 29, 2015
Apple acquires augmented reality company Metaio – May 28, 2015
New Apple haptics patent application reveals diamond-layered trackpad that simulates wood, other textures – April 23, 2015
Apple granted U.S. patent for hybrid VR head-mounted display – February 18, 2015
Apple is working on VR user interfaces and gaming; looking for Oculus and Leap experts – February 10, 2015
Apple granted patent for display-based speakers for iOS devices – January 13, 2015
Apple granted a patent for devices with a transparent display – November 18, 2014
Apple’s new iPhones, iPads could feature haptic displays – June 30, 2014
Apple patent application reveals personal display headset invention – May 8, 2014
Apple patent application reveals wildly intelligent multi-tiered haptics system – May 3, 2012
Apple continues to tweak Apple TV video headset accessory – April 10, 2014
Apple patent application reveals sapphire flexible transparent display devices created with Liquidmetal – December 19, 2013
Apple granted knockout patent for head-mounted personal display – December 10, 2013
iGlasses: Apple granted patent for head-mounted augmented reality displays – July 5, 2012
Apple files patent application for haptic feedback touch-based user interface – March 22, 2012
Anyone remember Quicktime VR?
Virtual reality, you’d be able to walk through 3D buildings on your computer. I checked it out, an art museum had a tour.
Bring it on.
Don’t shoot me, but does anyone else go online shopping for supermarket delivery? It’s a horrible and time consuming process, isn’t it? (It gets easier as they learn more about you, I guess). But wouldn’t it be much easier to just put your Apple Headset on an wander round virtual shelves, just grabbing what you want and sticking it into your basket? That’s probably not as sexy as pokemon, but got to be a probability really.
It depends on the store and stuff, but I was hoping that Quicktime VR would do that right on a regular computer.
It goes back to the operating system concept, the interface.
1. CLI: Command Line interface.
2. GUI: Graphic user interface. This is basically what we have still. It’s flat, on the computer system it’s still a “desktop” idea. Well desktops are flat.
3. OUI: Object user interface. This is still a dormant idea, I hope Apple gets it sooner or later.
It’s ironic that applications like Apple or Google maps can map the world and streets, but on one has done the same for their stores. Going in a 3D virtual expression of the store, or access the cameras that could be installed for live time views and selection.
Nope most of the on line shopping I’ve done or seen is flat… fill in the form that’s on the desktop. It shows a lack of 3D thinking.
“Add great camera technologies and superior displays and you can see why Pokémon GO players have become addicted to iOS.”
Actually, the reverse is true. Those people were already using iOS. Then they started playing PGo. iOS does not need PGo to be useful and addictive.
Woohoo Apple has invested augmented reality! Wonder what those tech copycats Google and Microsoft will do when they see it.
Comparing Apple’s current AR tech in use by consumers with that offered by Google and Microsoft, anything Apple comes out with will appear to be ‘copying’, at least initially.
It’s nothing new for other manufacturers to get to market in some form before Apple gets to market with their refined product.
There were plenty of MP3 players before iPods, but the iPod became so ubiquitous that it was adopted as the generic name for other MP3 players. Similarly there were plenty of smartphones before the iPhone, but while the iPhone was generally derided for being different to all those previous smartphones ( which used keyboards ). It only took a very short time for all smartphones to look and function like an Apple iPhone.
Others might do it quicker, but Apple does it right.