Apple reportedly working on AR headset codenamed ‘T288’ for launch in 2020
A new report from Bloomberg claims Apple is internally developing a top-secret AR headset codenamed ‘T288’ for launch in 2020, a product that would run a a new ‘rOS’ operating system based off of an iOS core.
The headset would be an extension to the ARKit introduced earlier this year at WWDC. Details of the capabilities of the Apple AR Headset are limited, however it’s believed the device could have its own display and processor, with the company pursuing a “very aggressive” timeline with the project, seeking to develop the technology necessary by 2019 in order to hit the market by 2020.
Apparently employees working on the AR headset are scattered across the company’s campuses in Cupertino and Sunnyvale, with Geoff Stahl (Director of Software, Technology Development Group at Apple) said to be a key part of the “rOS” development team.
It’s believed Apple is experimenting with a number of ways users will be able to interact with the headset, including a touch panel for navigation, as well as using Siri voice controls and head gestures.
Bloomberg notes that “with the headset at least two years away, Apple wants to make it easier for developers to bring new AR features to the iPhone. To that end, the company plans to release a new version of ARKit software tools as soon as 2018.”