Apple announced that it would add Memojis to its virtual reality or VR and augmented reality or AR headsets to give its users a great FaceTime experience.
SharePlay is expected to provide a communal experience in the digital world.
Apple VR and AR Memojis
Apple Insider reported that there had been rumors and speculations about the tech giant's headset frame and how it will have a premium head-mounted display. This type of display can provide users with new VR and AR experiences.
Apple may lean on concepts that it already uses in its products and services using the headset for communications.
As FaceTime for video calling needs a camera, making a video call using the headset may not be a good prospect.
During the "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, reporter Mark Gurman wrote that Apple could work around VR and AR issues by using Memojis.
Also Read: Apple Introduces First VR Headset Design, Features and Price
In the newsletter, Gurman stated that Apple users could be in a VR conference room with a couple of other users. He added that instead of seeing the actual faces of users, all that can be seen are the 3D versions of them, also called Memojis.
Just like the iOS version of Memoji, the system is set to give a lifelike experience. It is expected that the headset will be able to determine the user's facial expressions in real-time.
Aside from FaceTime, Gurman also mentioned how VR and AR headsets could be used for group entertainment. He suggested the heavy use of SharePlay in the new realityOS for users to experience movies, music, and games together.
The mention of realityOS came days after discovering code references in App Store upload logs, indicating rumors from 2017 about realityOS may be true.
The Apple AR headset is expected to launch this year or next year, with a price range of $2,000 or more. The new headset is expected to be more advanced than previous AR products.
It is maybe a standalone product that does not need a host device, and though it would be a VR headset, by construction, there would be an AR passthrough using cameras.
Rumors have also suggested that the headset will have 8K-resolution displays, chips that could outperform the M1 Pro and M1 Max, and use hand tracking together with eye-tracking for control within apps.
Apple's VR and AR Plans
According to ZDNet, the tech giant has been working on this headset since 2015, and its launch would be the first major product announcement since the first-ever Apple Watch.
Apple entering the AR headset market as a tech company does not come as a surprise, especially since the market has been taking off for the past few years.
According to Grand View Research, the VR headset market was around $7.81 billion in 2020 and is expected to increase to 28.2% every year until 2028.
Moreover, the increase in demand for gaming consoles is another reason why the industry is growing. The Apple VR technology has vast potential to be used in a broad range of applications, like industrial prototyping, medical training, and education.
Related Article: Apple's AR, VR Headset is Coming, But Would Require an iPhone Connection to Work and Fully Function
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Written by Sophie Webster
