Technology giant Apple reportedly does not intend to follow Meta (formerly Facebook) and other tech companies in their metaverse push — instead, the company’s “mixed reality” headset will be focused on shorter periods of gaming, communication, and content consumption.
“I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to — like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future — is off limits from Apple,” said in a newsletter Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg reporter who has a history of accurate reporting on Apple’s product plans. He did not reveal his sources.
Despite all the buzz surrounding the headset, Gurman is convinced it would not be suitable for metaverse usage as it is not designed for long periods of usage. Instead, the mixed AR/VR (augmented reality / virtual reality) headset would be intended for “bursts of gaming, communication, and content consumption.”
“Here’s one word I’d be shocked to hear on stage when Apple announces its headset: metaverse,” he said.
Apple is said to be slated to unveil its headset by late 2022 or early 2023, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It is expected to be similar to Facebook’s Oculus Quest VR headset. In February 2021, The Information detailed that the headset will be equipped with “more than a dozen cameras for tracking hand movements and showing video of the real world to people wearing it, along with ultra-high-resolution 8K displays and advanced technology for eye tracking.”
While details remain largely unclear, experts argue that the headset may run between USD 1,000 and USD 3,000.
Arguably, “metaverse” has been tech’s buzzword for the last couple of months. While there are numerous definitions to this term, here is how Meta defines it, for instance:
“The “metaverse” is a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you. You’ll be able to hang out with friends, work, play, learn, shop, create and more. It’s not necessarily about spending more time online — it’s about making the time you do spend online more meaningful.”
Aside from Facebook’s metaverse move, some other tech companies have also expressed interest. For instance, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, revealed in early November that the company is “creating an entirely new platform layer, which is the metaverse.”
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