While Apple has not often been the inventor or entirely new technologies, it has been at the forefront of making complex technology accessible and desirable. And this seems to be its vision for mixed reality. Mixed reality sits between virtual reality (think of what people used in movies like The Matrix and Ready Player One) and augmented reality which overlays live data onto real time images. Mixed reality will enable you to toggle between the two modes – at least that’s what we think Apple is aiming for.
In a recent newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the 100 most senior execs at Apple met at the Steve jobs Theater to see a demo of the new device. But unlike most product demonstrations, this one was apparently the full dog and pony show, much like the unveiling of a new product at a major event such as the upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) that is expected in June 2023.
Apple has always thrived when it has looked at what others have done with an emerging technology and applied its own take on how it could work, often eschewing what seemed like the conversional wisdom of the time.
The Mac, in its various incarnations, has largely avoided the boring beige box that dominated the world of other computing platforms. The iPod was a completely different take on portable music. The iPhone reimagined what a smartphone could be, leading to the eventual failure of industry mainstays such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and others. The iPad revolutionised tablet computing and the Apple Watch changed what we expected from smartwatches.
Could Apple do the same with mixed reality?
It would take a courageous person to bet against them. With around $200B in the bank, Apple has the resources to patiently research and refine the hardware and software needed to make mixed reality work. And, unlike almost every other large tech company, it has not laid off any workers, suggesting that it not only weathered the pandemic more successfully than others but is ensuring it has enough people on hand to not only create a new product category but also sell and service it.
This won’t be without challenges. Apple will need to build a headset or glasses that can accomodate a massive variety of different heads as well as differing levels of vision. For example, I am very shortsighted. Will I be able to adjust the headset to work for me?
Cost is also a factor. The speculation is that Apple’s mixed reality device will cost around USD$3000 – that’s around $4500 for us. And the device will require an iPhone, presumably running a reasonably recent version of iOS.
Avoiding the Apple Watch ‘problem’
When the first Apple Watch was released it was not a great product. It lacked some features we all take for granted today such as integrated GPS and water resistance. And it was terribly slow. t was like a dumb terminal for an iPhone. Its processor was slow and most watchOS apps did their heavy lifting on a nearby iPhone and passed information back and forth.
And don’t get me started on battery life.
It took until the Apple Watch Series 3 before the Apple Watch was a great product. Apple can ill afford to release a below par product with its first foray into mixed reality.
Version 1 of this new product will need to be nothing short of ready.
Mixed reality will need new apps
There are some great use-cases out there for mixed reality already. Gaming is an obvious play with Apple sure to be working with leading developers that are already engaged with its Apple Arcade platform. And I’m sure its productivity apps, the iWork suite, will be ready to go as well.
As developers get on board, they will create a rich and thriving marketplace. But Apple will need to get the hardware right and ensure it has a robust developer framework in place so new apps come to the market quickly.
The hardware is important but it’s the apps that will drive usage.
If Apple does enter the world of mixed reality then it will need to ensure Version 1 is ready to go and not a glorified public beta.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.