It seems that Apple's metaverse is getting closer and closer: realityOS is in development and new references to Apple's first visor are being discovered every day. It is likely that Apple may offer a compelling vision for avatar-based virtual business meetings in the future. All the rumors seem to be heading in this direction.
Indeed, it appears that Apple is working on an operating system called "realityOS," which Apple sometimes abbreviates as "rOS." We know this because references to "realityOS" and "rOS" have been discovered in pre-release iOS 13 builds, a GitHub repository, and even in App Store loading logs. The GitHub repository also alludes to a realityOS simulator, presumably for developers.
The Cupertino-based company uses "Reality" in the registered trademark for two AR development tools called "RealityKit" and "Reality Composer." And the company usually names its operating systems after their associated hardware platforms. For example:
- Apple iPhone: iphoneOS (now shortened to iOS)
- Apple Watch: watchOS
- Apple iPad: iPadOS
- Apple Mac: macOS
- Apple TV: tvOS
So, we expect:
- Apple Reality: realityOS
Last week, Apple showed its board of directors the prototype of its mixed reality visor, which has reportedly entered a pre-launch phase. This is according to Bloomberg, whose sources speak of a device that is not yet ready for commercialization, let alone a presentation at the developer conference, WWDC 2022, which starts June 6, 2022.
The news, however, is likely confirmation of Apple's finalizing work on its first visor, with which the company is expected to launch itself into the metaverse scenario, following the already well-laid plans for Meta.
Some rumors indicate that Apple's visor may not debut until late 2022 or even later. The product could reach store shelves by 2023. Investors have high hopes for Apple's VR/AR visor, as it will mark the Cupertino company's entry into an entirely new product category.
Recent news is that the "magnificent 8" who make up Apple's board of directors (+ Tim Cook) got a close look at the prototype virtual reality (VR) headset/visor developed by the company's engineers. The product could already be on the market by the end of 2022.
It is since 2015 with the Apple Watch that the Cupertino company has not released a new "hardware," and let's remember that Apple makes 80% of its revenue from hardware (52% of the total with iPhones alone).
This is not the first time the U.S. giant has unveiled technologies to the board that it will only later bring to consumers. In the first half of 2011, the board had previewed the potential of Siri, the intelligent assistant debuting on iPhones only in October of that year. Bloomberg says Apple has accelerated the development of RealityOS, or rOS, the operating system that would run software on board the virtual and augmented reality viewer, which according to Bloomberg tipster Mark Gurman and Apple expert analyst Ming- Chi Kuo, the company plans to make official only in late 2023, probably close to the fall iPhone 15 unveiling event.
Previous investigations have detected "traces" of rOS in early beta versions of iOS 13, the iPhone operating system announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 3, 2019. A few days ago, The Information website claimed that members of Apple's board of directors got to try out several prototype visors, as early as 2016. The report makes it clear that these were very immature devices, made mainly to obtain funding for the final project.
Do you think that Apple will be a leader also into VR/AR hardware in future?
What’s your point of view about Metaverse?
They have to actually announce it first for me to know for sure. If it’s not on Apple.com, it’s not a sure thing. I worked for them for 8 years and saw so many rumors come and go. Some came to light, but many did not. So I am extremely careful to speculate on anything they do. But if they are getting into it, which wouldn’t shock me, I really hope they do it right. The innovation has really been lacking since ole Timmy boy took over… We will just say I am not the biggest fan of Mr. Cook.
What did you do at Apple? It was a good experience?