“2016 will unquestionably be remembered as the year Virtual Reality made a meaningful entrance to the tech world,” Steffen Reich writes for iDownloadBlog.
“On October 13, Playstation joined the fray, releasing the arguably most consistent and yet affordable VR experience with Playstation VR,” Reich writes. “If early numbers and reviews are anything to go by, this could be the product to help the technology cross the consumer chasm once and for all and attract mainstream interest.”
“Once submerged in the world of VR – and this comes from someone whose only exposure to the technology so far is limited to a shoddy $15 Google Cardboard set – it quickly becomes evident that the potential of VR is that of a sleeping giant,” Reich writes. “So what is Apple’s 2016 grasp on the development widely met with praise across the tech world? Well, for all we know Apple does not plan to take part in it. Tim Cook has been quite vocal about the company’s stern focus on Augmented Reality instead, which by some is conceived of as less socially isolating… But here’s the deal, this criticism does only hold water if you have already made the mistake of pitting the two schemes against each other, if you do not understand that they are thriving on two very contrasting premises: for all its virtues, Augmented Reality will never be able to deliver one of the key selling points of VR: Escapism.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If VR is a transformative as some suggest, don’t worry: There is no way Apple is going to miss it.
As the trail of related articles below attests, Apple’s interest in both virtual and augmented reality is apparent.
SEE ALSO:
Apple CEO Tim Cook: ‘We are high on Augmented Reality for the long run’ – October 14, 2016
iPhone 7 Plus is the starting point of Apple’s major push into augmented reality – September 28, 2016
iPhone 7 Plus proves Apple is gearing up for augmented reality – September 27, 2016
What iPhone 7 says about Apple’s future augmented reality plans – September 19, 2016
Apple needs to forget chasing Snapchat and go after the Augmented Reality industry – August 25, 2016
Tim Cook publicly confirms Apple has augmented reality plans – July 27, 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