Apple open-source code references ‘realityOS’

A reference to realityOS has been spotted in Apple’s open-source code.

RealityOS is the operating system that Apple is widely expected to use on its upcoming mixed-reality headset. However, it may end up being named xrOS (a reference to “extended reality”) when it reaches consumers’ faces.

This week, Apple posted various bits of code on GitHub with numerous references to realityOS:

https://twitter.com/aaronp613/status/1636096450097721344

Apple’s...

16 March 2023 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

‘Metaverse’ is a contender for Oxford’s Word of the Year

“Metaverse” is among the leading three contenders for Oxford’s Word of the Year (WotY). 

The metaverse is an unsurprising inclusion for WotY—not everyone understands it, but most will have at least heard the term.

Facebook changing its company name to Meta towards the end of 2021 undoubtedly led to increased awareness of the metaverse. Over the last year, the word has been thrown around a little too easily.

There is still some confusion around what...

23 November 2022 | Applications

Apple’s AR glasses may not debut until 2026

A leading analyst has claimed that Apple’s first augmented reality (AR) glasses may have slipped two years to 2026.

“We now expect the AR Glass to be postponed to 2025-2026, due to design issues,” wrote Haitong International Tech Research’s Jeff Pu in an email to MarketWatch.

Just five months ago, Pu said that Apple’s AR glasses could be announced in 2024.

Back in 2013, Google Glass showed the world an exciting vision for a ubiquitous future of...

8 November 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Zuckerberg believes Meta’s duty is to promote an open metaverse

During yesterday’s annual Meta keynote, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his belief that the metaverse must be open.

Zuckerberg called out closed ecosystems—a clear dig at Apple, without mentioning the company directly.

“Closed ecosystems focus on tight control and integration to create unique experiences and lock-in, although most of that value ends up flowing to the platform over time,” explained Zuckerberg.

“Open ecosystems create value and grow through...

12 October 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Nreal brings its Air AR glasses to the US, now with iOS support

Nreal has launched its Air augmented reality glasses in the US, and now they play nicely with iOS.

The company’s Nreal Air glasses have been available in the UK since May. When it launched, the glasses featured Android support and could mirror the screens of laptops but anyone in the Apple ecosystem was left out of the AR party.

Nreal is shipping a new adapter for its US launch that offers mirroring for iOS devices. Users of Android devices will still have access to...

28 September 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Analyst claims Apple’s mixed reality headset is delayed

The much-anticipated mixed reality headset from Apple is to be delayed, according to a leading analyst.

Apple is rarely first to any new technology but will bide its time, watch the early mistakes of rivals, and then launch a product that’s often a lot more polished. Many are, rightly or wrongly, of the opinion that most new technologies aren’t truly ready for mainstream adoption until Apple throws its $2.7 trillion weight behind it.

While AR/VR headsets like those...

13 April 2022 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Smart factories could provide a £6.3B boost to UK manufacturing by 2030

A report from Vodafone suggests that 5G smart factories could provide a £6.3 billion boost to UK-based manufacturing by 2030.

One of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledges is to “level up” across the entire UK and end the disproportionate investment in the capital. Time will tell whether that’s just a political soundbite or something actually substantial.

The report suggests that investment in 5G-powered manufacturing could have the biggest impact in the...

27 July 2021 | 5G