Reports say Apple will soon release its Mixed Reality glasses. I believe this could be a major turning point for the technology's success. This topic is very interesting to me, and I was already planning to write about it. The news inspired me to start a newsletter series about the trends, market, and future of Mixed Reality. This technology will change our daily lives faster than we think. Like all amazing new tech, Mixed Reality offers huge chances to improve our lives. It also creates new markets for tech giants competing hard to gain new users.

The way innovators, companies, and users interact with this tech will completely change our lives in the next 10 years. We have mostly talked about Virtual Reality and how it differs from Augmented Reality. So, let me quickly explain the VR, AR, and MR concepts so we are all on the same page :)

Virtual Reality - the user interacts with a completely computer-made world.
Augmented Reality - the user interacts with digital images placed on top of the real world.
Mixed Reality - the user interacts with digital objects that have a sense of space and can interact with the real world around them.

*simply put, Mixed Reality is Augmented Reality on steroids 😀

1. Introduction - The Importance of Apple's MR Headset for Mass MR Adoption

I generally like Apple, but for this series, I will be completely objective. I am a bigger fan of immersive technologies like AR, VR, and MR in general. I care more about their success than the success of any single company.

Let's look back in time for a moment:

I first tried VR over 8 years ago, in the spring of 2015. I remember riding a virtual gondola and feeling genuinely sick within 20 seconds. Back then, almost nobody knew about virtual reality, except for a few engineers or “geeks” like me. In the spring of 2016, the first VR glasses for consumers came out. They had some flaws, but the amazing experience they provided made those issues seem small.

Their biggest downside was the high price. Their biggest plus was that they did exactly what they promised. They let people experience something magical and seemingly impossible at that moment. The rest is history. This year, the 3rd generation of consumer VR glasses is expected, in a product line of 5 models. After Zuckerberg, or The Zuck, renamed his company to Meta, everyone has heard of the technology and a metaverse. Still, most people have not tried VR for themselves. I have a similar feeling now about Mixed Reality, much like 2016 was for VR glasses. The technology is much better, and maybe the “magic” can finally happen. This magic is the feeling of being truly immersed in the experience. It’s when your brain accepts digital objects as a natural part of your real world, not just a cheap trick.

Back to the present:

According to the latest industry rumors, Apple is expected to reveal its long-awaited Mixed Reality headset. This will happen at the Worldwide Developer Conference 2023 on June 5. This should finally end speculation about whether they will be a major player in next-gen tech products. Apple is known for making user-friendly, high-quality products, which supports the belief their glasses can create this "magic." Their recent purchase of chip maker Arm gives them the tech know-how to create more powerful mobile chips than rivals. However, we still have to see if the company's innovative spirit is as strong as it once was. I believe this MR headset will answer that question. Also, not many consumers will pay premium prices for minor improvements. With an expected price between $1500-$2500, that’s at least a good sign 🙂

Overall, Apple's successful entry into the MR market will help establish and grow the industry. It will encourage other tech giants to join the race and consumers to explore this new frontier.

2. Alleged Technical Specifications

Rumors about Apple's MR headset specs point to a high-quality product. The device is said to feature two 8K displays for a crystal-clear and immersive experience. The expected field of view is 120 degrees, and eye-tracking will allow for easy interaction. In addition, multiple cameras will be used for tracking hand movements. It is also claimed that Apple will use the powerful M2 chip with 16GB RAM. This would provide strong processing power for complex MR apps to run smoothly. However, these specs are just rumors. We should take them with a grain of salt until an official announcement is made. Personally, I would be surprised if the device is that powerful, but I would be very impressed. Even if it meant the price would be closer to $3000 than $2000.

3. What could we do with Apple's MR glasses?

What will we be able to do with these mixed reality glasses? And why would they be different from others on the market? Apple's MR glasses promise two separate operating modes. One is for Virtual Reality and the other is for an advanced Augmented Reality. This dual-mode option is not currently available on the market. Imagine moving holograms in your living room or working with colleagues in a virtual workspace. The possibilities are huge and could revolutionize entertainment, work, and social life. Apple's skill in creating smooth user experiences and a large app ecosystem could deliver a simple and slick MR experience. This would unlock countless possibilities for everyone.

This is a list of alleged functionalities:

iPad apps adapted for mixed reality: Calendars, Contacts, Files, Home Management, Mail, Maps, Messages, Notes, Photos, Reminders, Music, News, Stocks, and xn--d1ay.
FaceTime: the conferencing service will generate 3D versions of users in virtual rooms.
Freeform collaboration app: will allow users to work together on virtual whiteboards while in mixed reality.
Work apps: Pages word processing apps, Numbers spreadsheets, and Keynote slide decks, as well as iMovie and GarageBand for video playback and xn--80andih6b.
Apple TV: integration of the function into Mixed Reality.
Apple Books: integration of the function into Mixed Reality.
Fitness+ content: will allow users to exercise physically using MR apps.
Siri: integration of the function into Mixed Reality.