Report: Apple's next VR and AR operating system has a new name

Enlarge / A first demo of augmented reality by Apple, using a smartphone instead of a headset. Apple
Apple's mixed reality headset is still on track for an unveiling sometime next year, and its future operating system has a new name, according to a report on Thursday .

Bloomberg claims the name of the operating system has changed from the previously leaked "realityOS" to "xrOS". XR stands for extended reality, sometimes also called mixed reality, a catch-all term commonly used to refer to both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), as well as experiences that combine aspects of both.
In reports and leaks so far, Apple's next upcoming headset is said to be an XR, not strictly a VR or AR, although there are also rumors of a device focused on the AR that would be launched later. The headset is slated for a launch next year, although it has been delayed several times before and may be delayed again.
Bloomberg cites people familiar with the matter as saying that Apple has started referring to the software as xrOS internally. Additionally, a front company called Deep Dive LLC has registered trademarks for the brand in certain regions. The filings specify that the trademark relates to "head-mounted displays" and "virtual reality and augmented reality experiences".
Apple has used fictitious companies like this before to register trademarks before the product was revealed.

Not much is known about xrOS except that it will include XR versions of many well-known Apple apps such as FaceTime, News, Notes, Maps, and Messages. Apple is also working on some form of mixed reality world, perhaps similar in some ways (but certainly not all) to Meta's Horizon Worlds and the widely hyped metaverse concept popular with many startups and venture capitalists. /p>
As for the hardware, it is believed to have multiple sensors inside and out and a very high resolution screen compared to most competing devices. It will run on a chip related to the M2 found in recent Macs. Some reports have said it looks a bit like ski goggles, suggesting it could be a smaller, less bulky headset than the Meta Quest or many other current VR headsets.

Technology Dec 3, 2022 0 64 Add to Reading List

Report: Apple's next VR and AR operating system has a new name

A first version augmented reality demo by Apple, using a smartphone instead of a headset.

Apple's mixed reality headset is still on track for an unveiling sometime next year, and its future operating system has a new name, according to a report on Thursday .

Bloomberg claims the name of the operating system has changed from the previously leaked "realityOS" to "xrOS". XR stands for extended reality, sometimes also called mixed reality, a catch-all term commonly used to refer to both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), as well as experiences that combine aspects of both.

In reports and leaks so far, Apple's next upcoming headset is said to be an XR, not strictly a VR or AR, although there are also rumors of a device focused on the AR that would be launched later. The headset is slated for a launch next year, although it has been delayed several times before and may be delayed again.

Bloomberg cites people familiar with the matter as saying that Apple has started referring to the software as xrOS internally. Additionally, a front company called Deep Dive LLC has registered trademarks for the brand in certain regions. The filings specify that the trademark relates to "head-mounted displays" and "virtual reality and augmented reality experiences".

Apple has used fictitious companies like this before to register trademarks before the product was revealed.

Not much is known about xrOS except that it will include XR versions of many well-known Apple apps such as FaceTime, News, Notes, Maps, and Messages. Apple is also working on some form of mixed reality world, perhaps similar in some ways (but certainly not all) to Meta's Horizon Worlds and the widely hyped metaverse concept popular with many startups and venture capitalists. /p>

As for the hardware, it is believed to have multiple sensors inside and out and a very high resolution screen compared to most competing devices. It will run on a chip related to the M2 found in recent Macs. Some reports have said it looks a bit like ski goggles, suggesting it could be a smaller, less bulky headset than the Meta Quest or many other current VR headsets.