Mixed-reality headset will be main focus of WWDC 2023

AppleInsider

Apple is still planning to make its mixed-reality headset the main launch of WWDC 2023, a report claims, with a probable release by the holidays.

A render of a potential Apple headset [AppleInsider]

Apple's long-rumored VR and AR headset has been dogged by delays and issues, with an appearance at the summer's WWDC potentially in doubt. In a Sunday report, it seems that Apple will go ahead with the high-profile introduction.

In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman writes that the headset will be "the star of the show," complete with its xrOS operating system and software development kit.

Gurman is told Apple will have a "clear story for developers" in how they will want to use it, and will spend a lot of the conference showcasing its custom App Store and tools.

As for when the headset will reach the public's hands, Gurman reasons it should be out "in time for the holidays," since it won't go on sale "for several months," giving developers time to make experiences for it.

Gurman's report goes against analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's claim that Apple wasn't "optimistic" about its headset launch in March, suggesting that an announcement at WWDC was doubtful.

Read on AppleInsider

JamesCude

Ming doesn’t know what he’s talking about on this one…

DAalseth

It would make sense. Release the dev kit this year and get devs working with it. That way software will be ready when it’s released this fall, or next winter, or maybe fall of 24…

22july2013

If true, Apple might do what they did when they announced Apple Silicon was coming soon:

To receive a DTK, developers needed to sign up for a one year membership to Apple's Universal App Quick Start Program, at a cost of US$500.[13][6] The membership to this program came with a couple of benefits, such as code-level technical support, access to one-on-one labs with Apple engineers and a license to use a DTK made available by Apple, effectively giving access to the DTK on a loan basis.[14]
The device had to be returned to Apple one year after joining the Universal App Quick Start Program, "or as otherwise earlier requested by Apple".[15] Several conditions of use were attached, including restrictions against disassembling the computer, running unauthorized benchmark tests, or using it for work other than transition-related software development.[3][15]

avon b7

Well, the hardware side obviously needs client side software so WWDC was always going to be the launchpad even if there is no finished product ready to go.

From announcement to client-side hardware deployment is anyone's guess but end of year does seem like quite a short stretch.

I'd wager there will be other intermediate devices to be announced alongside the reveal. Maybe network related. 

That said, let's not forget that when ARkit got the big upgrade a few years ago, Apple's most future looking phone at the time (iPhone X) was not supported. I'm sure there will be early adopter interest but many will wait until XR has a decent platform and more importantly, content available for it. 

tht

Not sure what's up with the media reporting of both Gurman and Kuo here. It seems obvious that Apple is going to announce this goggles product with it shipping at least 6 months later. Hard to believe that this wasn't going to happen this way. Apple does this with new types of hardware products with no threat of an Osborne effect, or, they will announce products that don't matter to their bottom line 6 like the $5000 Mac desktops, $5000 displays, or a niche accessory.

They both probably know of specific parts going into the goggles, like 2" OLED displays, goggle shaped ribbon cables, lens parts, who knows what else. They are just waiting on one their suppliers get the "go" order for mass production. When that happens, 3 to 4 months later, the product can be assembled, with 1 to 2 months after that for shipping to customers. There's surely trial production and assembly for all the risky parts. So, the trick is figuring out what is trial production for this or that part, or it's the real deal. So lots of guessing from Kuo and Gurman on "go" time.

Why would Apple wait for WWDC in June instead of doing it in March? Or July? Or September? There probably is a sense (a set of metrics) within Apple for when the product can ship to end customers. They are just waiting on when the critical milestones for shipping within 6 months is reached. Haven't gotten their yet.

9secondkox2

It’s like anything else. If Apple really wants to do glasses, they need to get developers on board first to make it compelling. 

At the very least, they can get folks all in on XR with iPhone/ipad/Watch, etc. an Apple Watch in your lenses? Cool. The headset thing doesn’t really seem like the way to go though. 

genovelle

tht said:

Not sure what's up with the media reporting of both Gurman and Kuo here. It seems obvious that Apple is going to announce this goggles product with it shipping at least 6 months later. Hard to believe that this wasn't going to happen this way. Apple does this with new types of hardware products with no threat of an Osborne effect, or, they will announce products that don't matter to their bottom line 6 like the $5000 Mac desktops, $5000 displays, or a niche accessory.

They both probably know of specific parts going into the goggles, like 2" OLED displays, goggle shaped ribbon cables, lens parts, who knows what else. They are just waiting on one their suppliers get the "go" order for mass production. When that happens, 3 to 4 months later, the product can be assembled, with 1 to 2 months after that for shipping to customers. There's surely trial production and assembly for all the risky parts. So, the trick is figuring out what is trial production for this or that part, or it's the real deal. So lots of guessing from Kuo and Gurman on "go" time.

Why would Apple wait for WWDC in June instead of doing it in March? Or July? Or September? There probably is a sense (a set of metrics) within Apple for when the product can ship to end customers. They are just waiting on when the critical milestones for shipping within 6 months is reached. Haven't gotten there yet.

I believe the WWDC timing is because they need as many developers on board as possible. They see this OS as the next generation computer interface and want to lay a proper foundation. The original watch OS was just extending apps already on the iPhone and the original iPhone only offered Web Apps at release. These devices didn’t require the same level of developer support initially so they could be announced before the conference. 

genovelle

9secondkox2 said:

It’s like anything else. If Apple really wants to do glasses, they need to get developers on board first to make it compelling. 

At the very least, they can get folks all in on XR with iPhone/ipad/Watch, etc. an Apple Watch in your lenses? Cool. The headset thing doesn’t really seem like the way to go though. 

The headset is the vehicle that begets the glasses down the road. It is the step required to further development of the technology required for the glasses with a mass produced device. Even in limited quantities, partners learning how to manufacture them at scale will help increase efficiency. Any success Apple can garner will bring the copy cats and hopefully kick start the market like they did for tablets. 

This will help drive costs down and make their true goal more affordable. 

9secondkox2

genovelle said:

9secondkox2 said:

It’s like anything else. If Apple really wants to do glasses, they need to get developers on board first to make it compelling. 

At the very least, they can get folks all in on XR with iPhone/ipad/Watch, etc. an Apple Watch in your lenses? Cool. The headset thing doesn’t really seem like the way to go though. 

The headset is the vehicle that begets the glasses down the road. It is the step required to further development of the technology required for the glasses with a mass produced device. Even in limited quantities, partners learning how to manufacture them at scale will help increase efficiency. Any success Apple can garner will bring the copy cats and hopefully kick start the market like they did for tablets. 

This will help drive costs down and make their true goal more affordable. 

No. That’s not the way Apple does things. That’s a Microsoft path. If apple did that and it didn’t sell well, there would never be glasses. It would be seen as an unfavorable market. 

Apple Watches everyone else, sees if there’s something there, quietly toils away on perfecting the product until they have an “aha!” Moment that ensures success, then they took some more, perfect the product, then develop a killer marketing plan, then announce to acclaim and anticipation. 

Everyone ELSE does headsets. They suck. They don’t sell appreciably and don’t fit in with a healthy lifestyle. - the antithesis of Apples ethos. 

Apple doesn’t need to put out crap in order to gain the capital needed to develop something awesome. That’s asinine. 

The watch didn’t start as some junk piece. Neither did the iPhone or ipad. 

Everyone else has done the headsets. Apple has gleaned from that. They don’t need to jump into the scuba gear with screens inside market. Nobody wants that. If the story is true, even Apple’s own executive team thought the headset concept sucked. I can’t imagine Apple thinking it’s ok to put a helmet on someone that then has a Fanny pack for power. Might as well create a whole iron man suit. 

What’s more likely is that Apple has two teams: a headset team and a glasses team. And they are competing for a launchable product. 

The glasses team wins. It’s the only way this concept becomes a winner. 

Whether it’s glasses, sunglasses, or a combination, people would buy it because they’d buy glasses or shades anyway. Then they’d pay more for the technical capabilities that unobtrusively fit in with their lifestyle. Just like the phone and watch. Everyone has a phone, might as well be the iPhone. Most have a watch. Might as well be the Apple Watch which greatly expands on simply telling time. The glasses fit that same ethos. A headset is just a dweeb project that won’t go anywhere.