Oliver Haslam on November 14, 2022, 3:59 pm

Apple’s AR/VR Headset Nears Launch As Development Wraps Up

Apple’s rumored AR/VR headset looks to be nearing a launch following a new report that claims the software the headset will run is already seeing development begin to wrap up.

Writing in his weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that development of the RealityOS operating system is “wrapping up” with Apple expected to announce the product in 2023.

The report also goes on to say that Apple is beginning to hire new people that will work on headset content, including games.

A few job listings indicate that Apple is ramping up its work to bolster the device with content. The company is searching for a software producer with experience in visual effects and game asset pipelines who can create digital content for augmented- and virtual-reality environments.

Other job listening’s suggest that Apple is trying to here someone to work on a video service with 3D content, specifically for virtual reality and the new headset.

Other job openings and moves of existing talent suggest that Apple is also working on some sort of virtual environment that will be used in a similar way to Meta’s Metaverse. That would allow people to use productivity apps in a 3D world, likely while holding meetings.

You will work closely with Apple’s UI framework, human interface designers and system capabilities teams—pushing you to think outside-the-box, and solve incredibly challenging and interesting problems in the 3D application space.

Apple has also reportedly pulled in talent from the iWork team as well as a former manager who worked on the Apple Car project before leaving the company.

The same newsletter also notes that Yaniv Fur, someone who oversaw Apple’s iWork suite of apps, is now involved in the headset — again pointing to a productivity focus for the headset.

Apple is expected to announce the new headset in 2023 with a price as high as $3,000. It’s expected to have around 14 camera built in and sport two 8K displays, among other things.