Get ready for the hype train, because it’s preparing to head out of Cupertino (again).
Next year is shaping up to be a busy …
Get ready for the hype train, because it’s preparing to head out of Cupertino (again). Next year is shaping up to be a busy one for Apple, if rumors are to be believed, filled with new technology that may be on par with tentpole moments like the first Macintosh introduction in 1984, the first iMac in 1999 or the iPhone in 2007. This time, the key item will stretch Apple into a new territory: AR/VR glasses. This project, one of Apple’s most ambitious in years, is rumored to encompass augmented reality and virtual reality. AR overlays computer information on images of the real world, while VR places a screen so close to your eyes that your brain is tricked into thinking you’ve been transported to a computer-generated world. It’s like the difference between Microsoft’s $3,500 HoloLens and Meta’s $299 Quest. HoloLens is being used to help technicians in the field share information as they’re doing inspections and repairs at oil giant Chevron. Quest, meanwhile, is known for its hit immersive games and experiences, like the time-bending puzzle game Superhot and the action game Star Wars: Vader Immortal. Most of the leaks and rumors have focused on the headset’s specs, such as its ultra-fast wireless networking and the super-detailed visuals a source told CNET it’s expected to have. But many questions still surround Apple’s headset, beginning with its name – maybe iGlass? Its release date is a mystery as well. It was said at one point to be slated for 2020 but now has been pushed to next year, according to sources who spoke to Bloomberg and other analysts. And we still don’t know what using iGlass will be like and whether it’ll be sold as somewhat of an accessory, like the Apple Watch and AirPods. Analysts and industry experts say Apple’s sleek software, combined with the App Store and online services like the music streamer Spotify, help keep the company ahead of its rivals. „The reason everyone always looks to Apple is yes, there’s the well-designed hardware, but there’s also the power of the app ecosystem,“ said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies. Read more: Smart glasses could arrive in 2022, but will still need a lot of work As if releasing a new product line isn’t enough, Apple’s likely got other major updates in its pipeline as well. The company’s said to be working on next-generation chips for its Mac computers, a highly anticipated redesign of its popular MacBook Air and Mac Pro professional desktop computer, and a new look for an upcoming iPhone 14 as well. But it’ll be the iGlass that likely gets the most attention as one of the company’s most important product launches in years. Apple’s success with new products has largely come from their connection to the iPhone, analysts say, noting that the iPad tablet benefited from the existing App Store when it arrived in 2010.
