Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is working on “a range of augmented and virtual-reality devices” based on a new 3D sensor system. He says the first device will be a 2020 iPad Pro.
“A new iPad Pro for release as early as the first half of 2020 will feature a new module with two camera sensors, up from one on the current model, and a small hole for the 3-D system, letting people create three-dimensional reconstructions of rooms, objects and people,” Gurman writes. “The Cupertino, California-based technology giant also plans to add the sensor to new high-end iPhones later in 2020, along with 5G networking capabilities, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.
He adds that Apple is targeting 2021 or 2022 for the release of a combination VR and AR headset focused on “gaming, watching video and virtual meetings,” with a lighter weight set of AR glasses “coming as soon as” 2023. His predictions are in line with a new report from The Information.
Bloomberg also reports the following: “Apple has about 1,000 engineers working on the AR and VR initiative, which is led by vice president Mike Rockwell, Bloomberg News has reported. The multi-disciplinary team is part of Apple’s hardware engineering division, but has its own leadership with executives who have worked on Apple’s gaming software system, earlier iPhone hardware, software engineering and manufacturing.
The team also has ex-NASA engineers, former game developers and graphics experts. It is based in a nondescript area of Sunnyvale, California, not far from Apple’s main campus in Cupertino.”
