Apple Inc has postponed a planned introduction of its first mixed-reality headset from around April to June, according to people familiar with the matter, marking the latest setback for the tech giant’s next big initiative.
The iPhone maker is now aiming to unveil the product at its
annual Worldwide Developers Conference, said the people, who asked not to be
identified because the plans are confidential. Apple made the decision to delay
the launch earlier this month after product testing showed that both hardware
and software issues still needed to be ironed out, they said.
The debut of the headset has been a long time coming, with
Apple working on the technology since around 2015. At one point, the company
aimed to introduce the product in June of last year, before pushing back the
introduction until around January 2023. It was then shifted to spring before
the latest postponement.
The device, which melds virtual and augmented reality, would
vault Apple into its first major new product category since the company began
selling smartwatches in 2015. That could help bolster growth following a recent
slowdown, but it’s still an uncertain market and Apple plans to charge around
US$3,000 for the new product – a daunting price tag.
Dan Riccio – Apple’s former hardware chief, who now helps
oversee the mixed-reality project – has become increasingly involved in the
endeavour in recent weeks as the company looks to resolve remaining issues, the
people added. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
Apple’s earlier plan was to unveil the product in early
spring at a launch event aimed at consumers. It could then provide more
extensive details and development tools to third-party software developers at
its annual June expo, known as WWDC. Now the company is aiming to debut all
aspects of the device at that conference. The product would then go on sale
later in the year.
The timing could always change again, but the Cupertino,
California-based company is intent on bringing the device to market by the end
of 2023 if possible. It’s meant to be a centrepiece of Apple’s new product
line-up during an otherwise modest year. The company is introducing a larger
MacBook Air, new Mac Pro desktop and updates to the iPhone, but there won’t be
significant changes to its watch, AirPods or iPad.
Apple’s mixed-reality headset will feature a new operating
system, dubbed xrOS internally, that features a 3D-like view of an iPhone
interface, complete with apps like Messages, Mail, Safari and TV. The device –
code-named N301 – will allow for more advanced virtual videoconferencing, with
realistic avatars, as well as immersive video streaming. It will also include
an App Store like Apple’s other core products.
The hardware itself has been challenging and pricey to
develop, partly because of its sophisticated components. It includes a
Mac-grade M2 chip, a pair of 4K virtual reality displays, and an extensive
array of cameras to enable augmented reality.
Developing the product’s interface also has been a complex
undertaking. Users will be able to look at items to select them and pinch their
fingers to launch apps – and perfecting this sci-fi-like approach has taken
time.
Apple has been working to fix issues with sensors on the
device to enable the hand and eye control mechanism. It’s also trying to strike
a balance between battery life and performance. During development, the company
made the decision to offload the device’s battery to an external pack that
would sit in a user’s pocket.
Within Apple, there have been concerns that the headset will
be too costly and suffer the same fate as Meta Platforms Inc devices, which
have been slow to go mainstream. Some engineers involved in the project worry
that Apple is jumping into a still-nascent market without a true game changer.
Others believe that the initial device will set the stage for future successes,
a path followed by the Apple Watch.
The company is already eyeing a cheaper version – with less
pricey and powerful components – for release as early as 2024. At the same
time, Apple has indefinitely postponed work on stand-alone augmented reality
glasses, which would be less cumbersome but require technological
sophistication beyond what’s currently available.
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