“Recently things haven’t been going very well for Apple Inc. stock investors. In the past three months, Apple stock tanked 14.4%. Mr. Market hasn’t liked the ‘iPhone’ maker very much these days because prospects of the iPhone just don’t look that bright anymore,” Jing Pan writes for Profit Confidential. “Even though the iPhone might not be as hot as before, there’s something else that the company has planned for the future.”
“That thing is going to be in the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) industry,” Pan writes. “In January, Apple’s chief executive officer, Tim Cook, was asked whether he believes VR is a geeky niche or something that could go mainstream. ‘I don’t think it’s a niche,’ he said. ‘It’s really cool and has some interesting applications.'”
“Last year, Apple was granted a patent for a head-mounted display that works with the iPhone. The user would be able to insert an iPhone into the headset and use it as a VR device. The patent suggests that the device could be controlled by a remote,” Pan writes. “On Tuesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple another patent, with the title ‘Peripheral Treatment for Head-Mounted Displays.’ …Based on the images, it’s pretty clear that the technology described in the patent could be used to develop a VR/AR headset.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We shall see. Literally.
SEE ALSO:
Apple seriously ramps up their secret Virtual Reality project – January 30, 2016
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
Having trouble breathing?
Yea. All those record breaking sales profits and quarters must mean he is terrible. /s
Apple has always bought companies/technology that gave them an edge, you dingleberry….
I think Apple will initially go the route of augmented reality – it’s just more practical that can be used in everyday life.
First we’ll have ear buds will also be chock-fulla-sensors that may also be used to augment reality in some ways.
Then, they’ll sell glasses with lenses that double as displays… it’ll connect to an iPhone. You’ll be able to order lenses in your prescription (or no prescription) and be able to choose different frames, they’ll be sold exclusively through Apple’s retail outlets.
First of all – even state of the art VR on the oculus rift still makes me dizzy as hell and I am the last person to get seasick. When apple moves into a market niche it takes off. Apple is not going to harm its brand by making millions of people feel nauseous. That said, if Apple can make VR that does not make me nauseous, they will kill it in this niche.
That is basically what this patent is describing: Part of the dizziness issue is because current VR headsets do a poor job addressing the periphery. Apple seems to have solved this issue, and, like you said, if the motion sickness is solved then they will kill it in this market.
VR eill go the way of 3D tvs, i.e. barely anyone would want it anymore. People should just get out more, go to theatre (real 3D) or the forrest (real reality) and get a dog or a cat (you can touch it)!
I’m the guy who *does* get seasick, has been treated for vertigo, and can’t ride roller coasters anymore. But I have no issues with 3D movies (other than just flat not liking them) and tried a friend’s Olulus once with no ill effects.
I don’t know what the difference is, but I do hope Apple has it figured out. 🙂
You’re holding it all wrong…don’t be so vigorous 🙄
Apple will never be valued for anything except high iPhone sales. Talk about any other Apple product bringing value to shareholders is simply ridiculous.
This is the year a bunch of companies (at least 2 dozen) attempt to get noticed for their VR gear. Beware the Christmas quarter!
Then most of those companies drop dead.
2017 is when VR gets sorted down to the few that provide something affordable with killer apps/games. I fully expect Apple to wait until then.
Yup. Apple doesn’t do it first (normally), they just do it right.
They’ll wait longer than that. VR isn’t typical technology that eventually yields to processing power and coding wizardry. It’s a so-called Hard Problem because it seeks to infiltrate part of your vital nervous system. It must not hurt you in the process. And it must model how your particular way of seeing works, which is not uniform across humanity, particularly gender — and until it can do that, it likely won’t be vetted and certified for research, exploration, or training.
Apple will wait until it can hammer out real-world VR applications useable by practitioners of medicine and science, not just by 18- to 35-year-old male gamers proficient with virtual guns and swords. Even though I love those lads, and they inhabit an exciting niche market, Apple is thinking bigger.