After Facebook, Apple seems ready to take on the dangerous virtual reality market. As reported by the US site Bloomberg, which is generally well informed on the subject, the company has set a presentation date for its highly anticipated virtual reality headset. The product should be unveiled during its annual developer conference, which is held every year in June. Apple expects a commercialization at the end of 2023.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has been working on this product since 2015, when it launched its latest totally innovative product, the Apple Watch. In recent weeks, however, Apple has reportedly faced some difficulties in both software and hardware, with technical issues related to the earbuds’ battery life, but especially with the sensors.
no metaverse
To function, the helmet would have no controllers. The user could interact with his virtual environment by pinching two fingers, the thumb and the index, thanks to outward-facing cameras. Very precise eye movement tracking will also be used to help you navigate within the interface, for example to select an app to open.
As Bloomberg recalls, Apple plans to recreate a fully 3D environment, inspired by the iPhone interface and incorporating the main applications of its smartphone. Apple hopes to entice users with immersive video conferencing and video streaming features.
At the moment, US media sources evoke a sale price of 3,000 dollars (probably more than 3,000 euros in Europe). A very high price that would be explained by the nature of the essential components for the operation of the helmet, starting with its processor and its two 4K screens that will be placed in front of each eye.
Information to be taken with a grain of salt: Apple has been suspected in the past of leaking very high prices, so the finally announced (lower) price seems more affordable.
For now, it remains difficult to know how Apple intends to seduce customers into paying for this luxury product, while Facebook, with a product of the same nature, is still unable to convince. If we do not know the strategy adopted by Apple, we know what the company does not want to do: at the end of 2022, Tim Cook, the head of the company, expressed his disinterest in the very vaporous concept of the metaverse.
Source: BFM TV
