Developers will be able to apply for Vision Pro dev kits

Apple is gearing up for its next big leap into the world of spatial computing with the introduction of the Vision Pro. Developers eagerly awaiting their opportunity to prepare apps for the device will be able to apply for dev kits.

Vision Pro is Apple’s first leap into spatial computing. However, without access to the hardware, developers face significant challenges in building and testing their applications for the platform. 

While specific details about the...

6 June 2023 | Developer

Apple registers ‘xrOS’ trademark ahead of WWDC

Apple has filed a trademark in New Zealand for ‘xrOS’ ahead of the company’s annual WWDC conference next month.

The wordmark filing all but confirms the official name of the operating system for its highly anticipated headset, along with the font and styling that will accompany it.

The discovery of the ‌xrOS‌ wordmark was made by Parker Ortolani, who spotted the registration with the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office.

Unsurprisingly, Apple will...

16 May 2023 | Metaverse

Further details emerge about Apple’s first AR/VR headset

Apple is set to launch its first AR/VR headset this year and we’re starting to get more details about what to expect.

We’ve known for some time that the mixed reality headset is set to pack M2 and H2 chips, adjustable lenses, two 4K displays, a 120-degree field-of-view, and feature more than 10 external and internal cameras to offer a seamless transition between VR and AR.

As expected with such hardware specs, the headset won’t be cheap. Expectations put the cost...

4 January 2023 | App Stores

Apple may unveil its mixed reality headset in January

We could finally see Apple’s much-anticipated mixed reality headset in just a couple of months.

According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to unveil the headset early next year. The headset is expected to offer a seamless transition between virtual and augmented reality.

Unlike efforts from Meta, Apple has reportedly designed its mixed reality headset for short stints of communication, content viewing, and gaming. The metaverse is...

15 November 2022 | Gaming

Kuo: Don’t expect Apple’s mixed reality headset at WWDC 2022

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says not to expect Apple’s anticipated mixed reality headset at WWDC 2022.

Kuo’s comment arrives after a trademark filing for ‘RealityOS’ – Apple’s OS for its mixed reality headset – was uncovered. The filing suggests an official announcement of the headset is getting close, but Apple isn’t quite ready for the grand reveal.

https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1531518877498490880

As with any current hardware launch,...

1 June 2022 | iOS

Kuo: Apple will launch its AR/VR headset next year with ‘Mac-level’ power

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple’s long-rumoured AR/VR headset will debut next year with “Mac-level” power.

A research note from Kuo seen by MacRumours suggests the device will feature two processors to support its capabilities.

One processor is said to be similar to Apple’s debut in-house silicon, the M1. This chip will handle the device’s more demanding tasks.

A second, lower-end processor will be used to handle sensor...

26 November 2021 | Gaming

WearOS rocketed from ~4% of the smartwatch market to 17% in Q3 2021

WearOS got the booster shot it needed from the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4.

Google’s smartwatch operating system has struggled for years to gain traction against not only the might of Apple’s WatchOS but also rival platforms from the likes of Huawei, Fitbit, Amazfit, Garmin, and even Samsung.

Samsung was an early supporter of WearOS but eventually gave up on the platform and switched to its own Tizen-based alternative. Earlier this year, a surprise joint...

22 November 2021 | Platforms

Developers can finally release their own Tiles for Wear OS

Google continues to remind us that it hasn’t forgotten about Wear OS and will now allow developers to release their own Tiles for the wearable platform.

After years of relatively minor updates, many people wondered if Google was giving up on wearables. Then, in May, Samsung announced that it was ditching Tizen for its upcoming Galaxy Watch 4 and would be joining forces with Google to reboot and co-develop Wear OS.

Naturally, long-suffering fans have been given a spark...

11 August 2021 | API

Google CEO teases ‘significant’ announcements at I/O 2021 as some normality returns

Google CEO Sundar Pichai told investors this week to expect “significant product updates and announcements” at this year’s I/O developer conference.

Pichai said the company’s product releases are returning to their normal pace now that employees have adjusted to working from home.

Google is allowing employees to return voluntarily from next month and is expanding its remote working policy to allow for working from overseas for more than 14 days a year if they...

29 April 2021 | Android

Google looks set to finally release the Tiles API for WearOS

Google appears to be gearing up to finally release the Tiles API for its WearOS wearable platform.

Compared to Apple’s WatchOS, developments for WearOS are so few and far between that it often feels that Google has given up.  However, it’s clear Google hasn’t fully thrown in the towel when it comes to its wearable platform.

In 2019, (yes, 2019…) Google announced ‘Tiles’ for WearOS. Tiles are essentially widgets which offer glanceable information to the...

5 January 2021 | API