FaceTime calls with realistic avatars?
Mark Gurman, the journalist of Bloomberg specialist in the Apple universe and often well informed offers this evening a new batch of predictions. Cupertino might thus equip its AR / VR headset with some features that, according to the firm, can make it attractive to the general public.. In his freshly bricked crystal ball, our dear Gurman saw FaceTime calls featuring realistic avatars (face and body) of the two interlocutors (this functionality would indeed be limited to two people, group calls would not benefit from it). This choice would allow the helmet to stand out from the cartoon universe of the Metaverse of Meta.
A 3D interface, immersive videos and a virtual monitor for Mac
Apple’s headset would have a fully 3D xrOS interface resembling that of iOS, with apps like Safari, Photos, Mail, Message, Apple TV, with the ability to watch videos on a giant virtual screen in a immersive environment -desert, space- including some content designed by partners such as Disney and Dolby, as well as a dedicated App Store. The cameras would analyze the user’s hands in order to point to icons, apps and virtual objects while the internal sensors would take care of eye tracking (the selection might also be done by looking at an element of the interface while validating using the thumb and the index finger). Interactions might be done via Siri, an iPhone, an iPad, or the keyboard of a Mac, and Apple is working on the possibility of typing in the air on a virtual keyboard. A wheel close to the digital crown of the Apple Watch would to quickly switch from VR to an augmented reality display where the virtual elements of the virtual universe would be displayed in the real environment of the user. Apple seems to have high hopes for the appeal of this feature.
A wired external battery with two hours of autonomy
Apple would have designed a wired external battery in the format of two stacked iPhone 14 Pro Maxwhich the user might slip into his pocket, in order to release less heat, to offer a lighter helmet and two (small) hours of autonomy. However, the man also evokes prototypes with an integrated battery and which would charge in USB-C (like the competition). Another interesting point, already offered by competitors with more or less success, the helmet would make it possible to display the monitor of a Mac in virtual reality, with, one imagines, a comfortable definition, and the possibility of using the physical keyboard/mouse combo. Finally an UltraWide screen from Apple?
It will take a lot to make a $3,000 helmet attractive
Apple expects to sell one million headphones in first year. Remember that rumors agree on a very high price, around 3,000 dollars. We bet that at this price, the experience will have to be particularly interesting and successful to achieve this objective. Indeed, apart from the realistic FaceTime calls in VR and the totally virtual keyboard, the experiences mentioned are already available from competitors, at a much more affordable price (admittedly with a quality still a bit fair, for example for the virtual monitor).
While power shouldn’t be an issue with an onboard M2 chip and a dedicated graphics coprocessor called Reality Processor
, Apple will have to offer really attractive content and a use that makes users want to use their headphones every day. (the 2 hours of autonomy would then be a brake), and not just a few minutes from time to time to impress the gallery, before carefully placing the helmet in a corner. The challenge is up to the army of engineers and the mountain of cash from Apple. It remains to be seen whether it will be raised with panache.
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