Apple headset factories rumored to be in 'final sprint' with WWDC announcement expected

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited April 2023
Apple's supply chain is rumored to be in the final mass production preparatory stages of the long-rumored Apple AR headset, with a "final push" underway to finalize techniques and assembly procedures.

A render of the possible headset from AppleInsider
A render of the possible headset from AppleInsider


A supply chain report claims that Foxconn subsidiary GIS has a production line fired up for the lens assembly for the headset. The lenses are then, in turn, provided to a company called Lixun for assembly.

Wednesday's report from the Economic Daily News also claims that volume production will start later in the second quarter, which began on April 1, and will proceed into the third quarter.

If the report is accurate, it's not clear that it means that the headsets will ship in significant volume in the wake of WWDC. Instead, early production may be for developer kits, as Apple did for the PowerPC shift to Intel, and then again from Intel to Apple Silicon.

Apple has been rumored for some time to debut -- but not necessarily ship -- the headset during the 2023 WWDC. At the same time, Apple is said to launch a software development kit and a Mac-based headset simulator at the event to help developers create new apps and services for xrOS, the supposed name for the headset's operating system.

A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties. And, to help with Mac-based productivity, the headset is rumored to be usable as an external monitor for a connected Mac.

The headset will also apparently be able to run "hundreds of thousands" of current third-party iPad apps available from the App Store. A rumor claims that developers may need to make "minimal modifications" for compatibility, but many may need "no extra work" to run.

The first-generation unit may cost as much as $3000. Apple is said to have up to three models in various stages of development.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,417member
    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties.
    This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me, if true. Curious to see who/what they got on board and if they are indeed "top-tier".

    And, to help with Mac-based productivity, the headset is rumored to be usable as an external monitor for a connected Mac.
    I wonder if this will offer full wired VR support on Mac, if so that'd up the value of these quite a bit. 
    edited April 2023 watto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 7
    beowulfschmidtbeowulfschmidt Posts: 2,134member

    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties. And, to help with Mac-based productivity, the headset is rumored to be usable as an external monitor for a connected Mac.

    The first-generation unit may cost as much as $3000. Apple is said to have up to three models in various stages of development.


    That first part is good to hear, from my standpoint anyway.  But I'm gonna have to see the price to say more.

    My Valve Index is about the maximum price I'm willing to pay for such a thing, and that came complete with everything (except the PC) that I need to play.  If the Apple product is in that neighborhood (minus the Mac that will no doubt be required), and the games are as good as Half-Life: Alex, Skyrim VR, Elite Dangerous, Beat Saber, STAR WARS: Squadrons, and the like, then it'll be worth a look.  However, given that I already have all those games, along with a high end PC and an excellent head set, it's gonna have to be really good to make me switch.

    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 7
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,727member
    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties.
    This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me, if true. Curious to see who/what they got on board and if they are indeed "top-tier".

    And, to help with Mac-based productivity, the headset is rumored to be usable as an external monitor for a connected Mac.
    I wonder if this will offer full wired VR support on Mac, if so that'd up the value of these quite a bit. 
    I'm a 100% Apple guy since 1977, but I use a very high-end PC for games.  IMHO, unless it is RDR2, GTA V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin's Creed, and so on are on board, this is marketing smoke.  Not to mention MSFS 2020 is never going to be on macOS, sadly.
    edited April 2023
  • Reply 4 of 7
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,319member
    Would like to see x-Plane on stage with MR headset, physical controls but no additional screens other than maybe an iPad mini knee board.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 7
    blurpbleepbloopblurpbleepbloop Posts: 197member
    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties.
    This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me, if true. Curious to see who/what they got on board and if they are indeed "top-tier".


    Definitely! Rumor has it that the visor will support Monument, Sneaky Sasquatch and, in a big team up with Microsoft, we will see Minesweeper. /s
    edited April 2023
  • Reply 6 of 7
    beowulfschmidtbeowulfschmidt Posts: 2,134member
    MacPro said:
    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties.
    This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me, if true. Curious to see who/what they got on board and if they are indeed "top-tier".

    And, to help with Mac-based productivity, the headset is rumored to be usable as an external monitor for a connected Mac.
    I wonder if this will offer full wired VR support on Mac, if so that'd up the value of these quite a bit. 
    I'm a 100% Apple guy since 1977, but I use a very high-end PC for games.  IMHO, unless it is RDR2, GTA V, Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin's Creed, and so on are on board, this is marketing smoke.  Not to mention MSFS 2020 is never going to be on macOS, sadly.
    xPlane 10 and above are available for Mac, as I recall.  It's not as photo-realistic as MSFS, but it's pretty damned good.  Of course, like you, I play on a fairly high end Windows PC, because that's where all the hardware and games I like actually work.
  • Reply 7 of 7
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,323moderator
    A big focus on gaming is expected, complete with "top-tier titles" from third parties.
    This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me, if true. Curious to see who/what they got on board and if they are indeed "top-tier".
    The easiest would be Resident Evil Village as it's already ported and there's also Resident Evil 4 Remake that can be ported to Mac:



    Minecraft is probably easy to support too. Games also don't need to surround the player, they can just display in a 3D box so instead of looking at a 2D screen that is flat when moving side to side, the player is looking at a 3D box with depth e.g fish tank view.

    For games there would need to be a good control setup. While they can have hand tracking from the headset, something tactile would be good to have too. Typical VR controls are very bulky like the other components:



    A minimal hand strap would suffice, possibly with a button or touch pad on the end for the thumb to press. This would allow extending the hand flat while keeping hold of the controller:



    A normal controller has 2 analog sticks (clickable), 4 action buttons, 2 menu buttons, 4 triggers. Most of this can be replicated with a minimal touch setup. A set of VR controllers here sets it up this way:





    8 separate finger presses on the touch surface give 8 buttons and there would be a touch surface/button at the thumb. The taptic engine can feel like button presses like the Magic trackpad.

    For interacting with video and web content, it wouldn't need controllers, the hand tracking would be enough but the controllers would give more accurate input, especially for entering text.
    watto_cobratenthousandthingsfastasleep
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