Disappointing news for those who adore innovative gadgets. Apple has decided not to release a pair of augmented reality glasses that would have needed a connection to the Mac. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has reported this exclusive news, along with a comprehensive explanation of how the device was intended to function. According to Gurman’s insights, the project faced numerous compromises that ultimately made it unappealing.
The Apple Glasses continue to be a much-anticipated product among tech enthusiasts, yet this Mac-dependent hardware seemed less than promising based on its developmental trajectory. It was anticipated that Apple wouldn’t unveil or ship this hardware until at least 2027.
Mark Gurman provides insight into the cancellation of this project:
Apple Inc. has called off the project to develop cutting-edge augmented reality glasses designed to connect with its devices, representing yet another challenge in its pursuit of creating a headset suitable for average consumers.
The company dropped the program earlier this week, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. The now-abandoned product was intended to resemble standard glasses but included integrated displays and required a connection to a Mac, according to these sources who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information. An Apple representative chose not to comment.
Consumers are looking for augmented reality smart glasses they can wear anywhere instead of being restricted to their desks or laptops. Apple is aware of this, which is why the project initially sought to leverage the iPhone for computing power instead of the Mac, but that solution was not viable for Apple.
Nevertheless, Gurman highlights several innovative technologies that Apple was aiming to incorporate into the tethered smart glasses.
The N107 device was equipped with sophisticated projectors capable of presenting information, images, and video directly in the field of vision for each eye, akin to augmented reality glasses being researched by Meta and other companies. Even though the project has been canceled, Apple continues to develop foundational technologies that could potentially be employed in AR glasses in the future, including custom microLED-type displays, as reported by Bloomberg News this week.
The company’s plans included lenses that could adjust their tint based on the user’s activities, which would indicate to bystanders whether the individual was available and approachable or busy engaging in computing tasks.
Nonetheless, requiring a tethered computer remains too considerable a challenge to create a successful product. For more details, read Mark Gurman’s full article at Bloomberg.
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