Rumors about new Apple products are heard all the time. The vast majority of them, however, belong to ranges of devices that have been established on the market for years. It is due to the above that, when speculation arises around a completely new hardware or software proposal, those from Cupertino attract even more reflectors. This is precisely what is happening with realityOSthe supposed operating system that will give life to Apple’s mixed reality glasses (augmented reality + virtual reality).
The Apple Glasses, as they are known in the world of rumor mills, have been making noise for quite some time. It is a fact that Apple is working on this device and we are getting closer to knowing it. In fact, during the WWDC 2022whose inaugural conference will take place next June 6 at 7:00 p.m. in Spain and 12:00 p.m. in Mexico, we could have the first glimpse of Apple’s vision in this field. Not to the device as such, but to RealityOS.
What is RealityOS? With the launch of a new family of devices, Apple usually introduces an operating system whose purpose is to take full advantage of the capabilities of the hardware. The Mac gave rise to what we know today as macOS; the iPhone to iOS and the Apple Watch to WatchOS, to mention just a few examples. Exactly the same thing will happen with augmented reality glasses.
However, RealityOS will be very different from the rest of Apple’s operating systems, since it will be the first to interact largely with elements of the real world. It is also true that we do not know too much about it, because so far Apple has managed to keep its secrets very well. Despite this, we can rely on multiple reliable reports, as well as patents registered by the company itself, to find some relevant details.
iOS, the basis of RealityOS
During 2017 it was the first time we heard of an Apple operating system totally dedicated to augmented reality. Mark Gurman, the most reliable source when it comes to future apple products, assured that the software will be based on iOS.
This is important in many ways. Firstly, because the platform that gives life to the iPhone is already robust enough today. Not only for users, but also for developers. Facilitating the development of applications on a mixed reality device will be key to imagining experiences that offer something different from what Apple will offer natively. Therefore, RealityOS will have its own app store —perhaps not launch, mind you.
Another reason why Apple would have opted for iOS as the basis for RealityOS is because the first, for a long time, reached a level of near-seamless integration with hardware of the iPhone. Why is this important? Because Apple’s mixed reality glasses require powerful hardware to be able to meet two proposals that are very different from each other.
It is common to see that some people confuse virtual reality with augmented reality; however, each one proposes something different. Virtual reality puts you in a fictional digital world, such as a video game or the much talked about Metaverse. Augmented reality, on the other hand, is a virtual layer that is added to enrich the real world. Apparently, Apple’s first steps in this sector intend to cover both technologies.
Entertainment and much more
Virtual reality can be harnessed in many ways. In terms of entertainment, the clearest example is the video game. It is this industry where the technology found its first niche of enthusiasts, a niche that today continues to rely on the growth and evolution of VR. Without going any further, Sony is preparing the launch of the PlayStation VR2, while Oculus and Valve continue with their own devices.
RealityOS would also facilitate the display of video content, such as movies or series through the most popular streaming services. Of course, adapted to a virtual world so that the experience varies compared to seeing them on television. Can you imagine a simulated cinema?
The work environment can also be greatly benefited with virtual reality and augmented reality. You could hold meetings in a more interactive way through a vitamin version of FaceTime, for example. The possibilities are vast and the imagination of Apple engineers, not forgetting that of developers, will be the limit.
Powerful hardware to make it possible
Thus, RealityOS must be able to display experiences within virtual worlds, but also to interact with real elements. At first glance, it seems like a lot of processing power is needed, right?
There are two rumors about how Apple is going to manage such an important task in its headset. One indicates that will support the iPhone for it to handle a good part of the processing. Consequently, it would not be completely independent. Do you remember the dependency that existed between the first Apple Watch and the iPhone? Well, something similar could happen with the viewfinder.
However, Ming-chi Kuo, who among his reporting history has many hits on new Apple products, said that the viewer will integrate a processor whose performance is similar to that of the M1 chip. Yes, the same SoC that we currently find in some Macs and iPads. With this component, of course, it would not be necessary to resort to the connection with the iPhone.
RealityOS, the great “surprise” of the WWDC?
In recent days, the chances of meeting RealityOS during the WWDC 2022 keynote have increased. The most convincing proof is that, in December 2021, Apple applied for the registration of the trademark “RealityOS” on the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Application expires next June 8two days after the opening keynote of WWDC 2022.
Another curious point is that they did it through a company called Reality Systems LLC, whose address has already been used by Apple to register trademarks related to macOS. Coincidence? WWDC 2022 is just around the corner and it’s very likely that we’ll get our first look at RealityOS.