Apple may launch an augmented reality headset running a custom OS by 2020
Just as tvOS powers the Apple TV, macOS runs on Macs and watchOS runs on Apple Watches, "rOS" will power Apple’s AR headset. Geoff Stahl, formerly a software manager for games and graphics at Apple, is one of the directors of the "rOS" software group.
An Apple patent application showing a possible look for the rumored headset
Apple engineers are said to be currently prototyping a range of applications for use in AR, reportedly using HTC Vive headsets for testing them. According to the Bloomberg report, the company is also working on a device similar to the Gear VR that uses an iPhone, although it is being built for internal testing purposes only.
It is not yet known how users will control or interact with the AR projections, but Apple is reportedly experimenting with head gestures, Gear VR-style touch panel input, and Siri voice commands, among others. The range of AR apps that are currently being prototyped is said to include mapping and texting applications, as well as more advanced tools, such as virtual meeting rooms and 360-degree video playback.
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source: Bloomberg
