Concept imagines Apple's 'iPhone 8' with Siri-based augmented reality
A new set of concept renders for Apple's "iPhone 8" -- sometimes known as the "iPhone X" or "iPhone Edition" -- envisions the device making use of augmented reality technology to let Siri and widgets connect with the outside world.
In images by Hungarian designer Gabor Balogh, shared with AppleInsider, the phone would by default display a translucent version of what's behind it whenever it's raised, using the rear camera. Holding down a virtual Home button would make the rear view clear, and let users issue Siri commands based on what they see, akin to a realtime, built-in version of Google Goggles visual search.
In a basic example, Siri could identify landmarks and present details. Contextual widgets would appear next to the Home/Siri button, offering options like the camera or Facebook.
Tapping on a Maps icon, though, might start navigation, whether by foot or public transit. Balogh even suggests being able to point a phone at a family member and see their Health data shared via iCloud, though the security implications of such a feature make it a highly unlikely possibility.
The concept also envisions augmented reality support in third-party apps like Facebook, suggesting it could let people watch the same event from different viewing angles.
Balogh's design is based on some of the most common rumors surrounding the "iPhone 8," which are that it will use an edge-to-edge OLED screen, replacing a physical Home button with a virtual one, or possibly a "function area."
Apple is also known to be investing heavily in technologies like machine learning, facial recognition, and of course augmented reality. In fact CEO Tim Cook has admitted the company's interest in AR on several occasions, for instance calling it "huge" in a recent interview.
At the same time he claimed there were "things to discover before that technology is good enough for the mainstream," which may make an AR-capable iPhone in 2017 far less likely.
Separate rumors have suggested that Apple is working on an AR headset which could ship in 2017 or 2018. That would presumably take a path similar to devices like Google Glass or the Microsoft HoloLens, albeit with an Apple spin.
Apple is expected to unveil the flagship, redesigned "iPhone 8" --?along with a lower end "iPhone 7s" series --?this September, its usual iPhone product launch timeframe. It has been suggested that the 10th-anniversary handset could cost more than $1,000 due to the new design and advanced technology.
In images by Hungarian designer Gabor Balogh, shared with AppleInsider, the phone would by default display a translucent version of what's behind it whenever it's raised, using the rear camera. Holding down a virtual Home button would make the rear view clear, and let users issue Siri commands based on what they see, akin to a realtime, built-in version of Google Goggles visual search.
In a basic example, Siri could identify landmarks and present details. Contextual widgets would appear next to the Home/Siri button, offering options like the camera or Facebook.
Tapping on a Maps icon, though, might start navigation, whether by foot or public transit. Balogh even suggests being able to point a phone at a family member and see their Health data shared via iCloud, though the security implications of such a feature make it a highly unlikely possibility.
The concept also envisions augmented reality support in third-party apps like Facebook, suggesting it could let people watch the same event from different viewing angles.
Balogh's design is based on some of the most common rumors surrounding the "iPhone 8," which are that it will use an edge-to-edge OLED screen, replacing a physical Home button with a virtual one, or possibly a "function area."
Apple is also known to be investing heavily in technologies like machine learning, facial recognition, and of course augmented reality. In fact CEO Tim Cook has admitted the company's interest in AR on several occasions, for instance calling it "huge" in a recent interview.
At the same time he claimed there were "things to discover before that technology is good enough for the mainstream," which may make an AR-capable iPhone in 2017 far less likely.
Separate rumors have suggested that Apple is working on an AR headset which could ship in 2017 or 2018. That would presumably take a path similar to devices like Google Glass or the Microsoft HoloLens, albeit with an Apple spin.
Apple is expected to unveil the flagship, redesigned "iPhone 8" --?along with a lower end "iPhone 7s" series --?this September, its usual iPhone product launch timeframe. It has been suggested that the 10th-anniversary handset could cost more than $1,000 due to the new design and advanced technology.
Comments
One thing the iPhone 8 will not...it will not look like a run of the mill Samsung. Which is what most of these mockups look like.
How many years of symmetric iPhones has there been? Well, 10 years of iPhone, but left-right symmetry in landscape oriented Apple devices go back decades. For reasons, some PC laptop makers center the trackpad along the space bar, resulting in the trackpad not being centered on the laptop palm rests. And not to mention all those "workstation" laptops with numpad monstrosities. All Apple laptops have keyboards and trackpads that are left-right centered about the laptop. Every single iOS device in existence has left-right and top-bottom symmetry with the display. Every single one.
Yet, what, 90% of the mockups don't have the display centered. WTF? The only way the display won't have top-bottom symmetry is if the device is only to be used in portrait orientation. Not going to happen.
Just because the FB app mockup shows the bottom function bar to be unlit doesn't mean there's an inherent asymmetry. Would the UI need an artificial unlit forehead in that situation? But you're right in that the artist depicts the top status bar as a dead zone without a display—that tiny section skews the display's top/bottom symmetry a little bit.
If there is an "edition", its will merely be a gussied up 7s in nicer case like the Watch "Edition" models.
I'm going with "iPhoney McPhoneFace."
Man, is that ugly. Forget the asymmetry, I'm more concerned about that bottom row around the "virtual" home button. It really doesn't look good. Looks kind of Android-y.
And, as big a fan as I am of AR, something about that first image doesn't seem right.