Gurman: Apple's headset will likely cost $2k and have two CPUs

https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/16/apples-ar-vr-headset-could-be-priced-above-2000-feature-m1-pro-like-performance/

by ekovarski • 5 years ago

49 59 5 years ago

judge2020• 5 years ago

These rumor mills are tiring, especially when talking about pricing. If it ever comes out, we'll have concrete pricing and feature information.

anshumankmr3• 5 years ago

Whatever they do, they must not call it iSight. It’s a painfully bad pun.

ksec• 5 years ago

I think they just call it "AR", Apple Reality. Your life inside Apple.

anshumankmr3• 5 years ago

Your life inside Apple

That sounds dystopian.

I would rather it just be called Apple VR since it is nowhere near being truly "real".

zepto• 5 years ago

They already used the name iSight for a webcam.

Synaesthesia• 5 years ago

Yeah but they've reused names before.

kemayo• 5 years ago

Obviously this will be eyePods.

dzhiurgis2• 5 years ago

Or is it eyePads?

Lately they've been using Air prefix, so maybe LightSpecs?

spiderice2• 5 years ago

When is the last time they've introduced a new product with the "i" prefix? I thought that was pretty much dead.

Regardless, there is 0% chance they call it iSight.

anshumankmr3• 5 years ago

New product? Every year essentially (the latest iteration of the iPhone, iPad etc.)

New product category? Not sure, but I hope it has been a while.

egman_ekki• 5 years ago

iSigh any better?

BossingAround4• 5 years ago

iSight Max sounds like something for the elderly :))

folmar• 5 years ago

Seems like a great market - AR-augument those details you now miss due to worse hearing and sight.

BudaDude• 5 years ago

As much as I want a premium vr headset , 2k will be a bit steep. With the Occulus starting at $300 , Apple really needs to go under 1k if they plan to compete .

agd• 5 years ago

I believe this will be a pro/development tool rather than a general consumer device (which is rumoured to come later).

dzhiurgis2• 5 years ago

But what are you going to develop with it?

anttiai• 5 years ago

AirPods Max is priced at $549. VR would be well above 1k

fnord77• 5 years ago

Back when Magic Leap was at the top of the hype cycle, a friend of mine did some napkin calculations to see what kind of computing power their headset would need to do what they were claiming they could do. The result was way out of the league of any known mobile processor at the time. I think closer to dual desktop GPUs of that era at least.

So this article is saying two M1 Pro CPUs. Ok, let's say that's sufficient. The batteries required to power two M1s are going to be pretty big. Not sure anyone is going to want all that weight (and heat!) on their head.

Maybe 5 years from now processing speeds and power consumption will be sufficient.

grumpyprole• 5 years ago

Is Google going to have another stab at VR? I tried my 'cardboard' recently and none of the Google apps have been updated and some don't work any more (e.g expeditions). I don't understand why they put so much effort in originally and then just give up.

bryanrasmussen• 5 years ago

I don't understand why they put so much effort in originally and then just give up.

It is the Google way. If it doesn't take off for the moon in a short time and become self sustaining they let it die. Google basically has the parenting instincts of a fish with millions of eggs.

nikanj• 5 years ago

Google has abandoned a project? I’m Jack’s complete lack of surprise

heavymark• 5 years ago

While there maybe a 2K version, I would be very surprised if that were the starting point. Rather like their other products they will offer higher-end versions. There is a lot of tech going into these that will make the base price a bit high since most people we consider this an accessory like a watch that's for fun, rather than something required like a phone or computer. I'm sure Apple will be able to condition people to a higher price point but for it to take off, will need to be low enough that enough people will buy it at the start. 2K no matter what it does would seem too high for an entry price when competitors are $300 even if this is drastically better. Think they'd need a sub 1K version.

spiderice2• 5 years ago

when competitors are $300

Something tells me Apple doesn't consider Oculus quest much of a competitor. The Quest is 99.99% used for gaming. Essentially nothing else. I doubt gaming will even be much of a focus for the Apple headset.

vineyardmike• 5 years ago

It’s totally a competitor. The quest is now being marketed for work. The new Horizon Workrooms has great reviews for people holding virtual meetings.

Besides, what other stahndslone headset is being shipped in any real volume but the quest? Meta has hinted at future AR updates to the quest so that should compete even more with apples goals.

Nokinside2• 5 years ago

Assuming the Apple headset has similar features and quality as Varjo XR-3 ($5,995.00) + better ergonomics, I will definitely consider buying it for that price.

https://varjo.com/

bwb• 5 years ago

ditto, super interested in what can be done with this one :)

ryanmarsh4• 5 years ago

Thinking apple would ship a first version that maxes out in hw specs shows a lack of historical understanding of apples past behavior.

Given their history we can expect: nice form factor, minimal features, easy to use, minimal specs, priced higher than what the specs would suggest

Nokinside2• 5 years ago

I don't think low specs work with VR/AR market. IMHO technology is still not good enough and still developing.

mandeepj• 5 years ago

Apple is more leaning towards AR than VR - a device useful for prolonged usage like ~10 hrs a day. So, chances of a headgear are very low. It'll be more like RayBan glasses offered by FB or spectacles.

andrewstuart• 5 years ago

VR makes my physically ill.

Even thinking about it now makes me feel unwell.

berberous• 5 years ago

What have you tried?

Try a high end headset, like the Valve Index, make sure your setup never glitches, and never move in a way that your body is not (eg walk and look around your move, do not run or strafe with a joystick).

The above should generally minimize any nausea for those with poor VR legs (like me).

I also think this will get markedly better over the next 2-3 gens as headsets improve.

BossingAround4• 5 years ago

I think OP's referring to nausea.

VR triggers migraines for me. Playing games on PSVR that is. I think there's some hope for you (potentially) that better tech will make you less nauseous.

For me, it's highly unlikely that new tech will bring any improvements as I'd think it's the bright light shining right into my retina (when I'd love nothing more than a e-ink monitor without any backlight for my daily work).

Nevertheless, I'm keen to try. I'm super keen on something like glasses, with some AR displayed on top of the glass rather than the light shining into my eyes.

poulsbohemian2• 5 years ago

What never makes sense to me in the rumor mill is that given Apple's historical track records, do we really expect them to release a headset that is so bulky and similar to every other attempt at a headset? Apple's whole schtick is the way they take what other people have tried and then refine it into some completely unexpected form factor. If they ever do a "headset" I'd expect it to be something wire thin or even some kind of micro add-on to glasses that they sell as a fashion statement.

CarVac• 5 years ago

The Airpods Max is significantly heavier than the competition while being the same form factor...

poulsbohemian2• 5 years ago

Sure - but that's a fairly niche product whereas the common belief is that whatever AR / VR type product might be coming in the future will be in line with the iPhone in terms of being an every day, every person type experience. You'll note too that the other members of the AirPods line up are a smaller form factor and move a lot more units.

fnord123• 5 years ago

Apple Reality

Surely any AR from Apple should be the Reality Distortion Filter. :)

Shadonototra• 5 years ago

it should look like glasses

if it looks like a giant face mask like the VIVE or the other one from facebook, then it'll flop, meaning it will stay as a niche market

VR/AR should be an evolution of glasses, not a downgrade, not something else

Something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R95olc9iQE4

I'd buy this instantly, and i don't even wear glasses

msk-lywenn2• 5 years ago

The UI directly on the glass would be a big mistake, it would obviously be impossible to read. There's one funny thing to do with a hololens headset: you take in front of you and look into the holographic displays, then slightly move your head. It really looks like there is something far from the display levitating in space. A true hologram is quite amazing. Even though hololens ones are 2D, think a floating photograph, they can change the distance the "photograph" is from the display and there's one per eye so it still feels close to the 3D effect you'd expect.

msk-lywenn2• 5 years ago

I don't know who designed the mockup at the top of the page, but it must be some alien form with a nose right in between the eyes!

gjsman-1000• 5 years ago

I'm hoping it will be called iGlass. ;)

BossingAround4• 5 years ago

I give you the iEye

gasps

spzb• 5 years ago

iSee what you did there

Bombthecat• 5 years ago

Iview?

Isee?

sockaddr• 5 years ago

Maybe they'll recycle the iSight brand?

GeekyBear• 5 years ago

It's handy to remember that the rumor mill says that Apple has two AR hardware projects going.

A high end/developer focused set of goggles as well as consumer focused AR glasses.

Apple's AR/VR headset will be followed by an augmented reality product, which rumors have been calling the Apple Glasses. The Apple Glasses will be more of an everyday wearable product than the headset, as they will resemble traditional glasses.

https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/apple-glasses/

vmception3• 5 years ago

Why would I want this by the way?

I don't mind cheaper headsets as impulse purchases to just wait for better games and experiences to come out. But at this price I need to feel like I'm missing something and don't feel that way, am I missing something?

codezero• 5 years ago

It's hard to say without the product actually being released, but I use a lot of Apple devices, and my main way of consuming media right now is my Apple TV. I'm in the market for upgrading my TV and I'd sooner pay Apple $2k for a headset than Samsung for a large form TV running Android, subsidized by adware. I'd enjoy seeing such a device also replace my Xbox and PC for gaming.

vmception3• 5 years ago

I see, for now doesnt appeal to me and it doesnt have to, will just watch without fomo then

covercash• 5 years ago

Robert Scoble has been saying it’s more of a home theater & computer monitor replacement. So instead of a 4k HDR 80” screen and accompanying surround sound, you get one of these. Instead of a Pro Display XDR, this headset will provide you with a virtual display that is just as good if not better.

He also has been saying there is some insane tech partnership with the NFL to bring an immersive viewing experience to the headset.

vmception3• 5 years ago

It could only be a replacement for people that only used home entertainment systems alone

For a family it requires 4x of these at $8,000

Or just the additional form of entertainment alongside existing home entertainment

endisneigh• 5 years ago

Is there any reason why even right now you can't put all the tech in a pair of glasses and have all the processing in a power bank sized device you put in your pocket, connected via USB-C or other cord?

ohazi• 5 years ago

Magic Leap's ML1 headset [0] works like this, but you still end up with a decent amount of heat-generating stuff on your face.

The "power pack" is the power bank sized thing with the battery and a smartphone caliber motherboard (ARM application processor and a mobile GPU).

There are around half a dozen cameras on the headset, and the GPU is too taxed generating content visuals to do real-time localization and eye tracking. Even if you had enough bandwidth to get all the frames down the cable, it would still be a difficult problem to solve on the GPU while still meeting latency requirements. So instead, there's a dedicated "vision processor" on the headset that processes all of the camera inputs and sends the localization results to the GPU. This vision processor chip gets quite hot.

The projectors themselves can also get pretty hot, especially if you need to crank the brightness up. Difractive optics have a lot of losses, unfortunately...

[0] I worked on parts of ML1 at Magic Leap, but no longer work there.

Gurman: Apple's headset will likely cost $2k and have two CPUs

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