Apple has apparently not only set its sights on the new iPhone 8 scheduled to be released this year. Recent news says that the tech giant is seriously considering to finally enter the augmented reality industry.
A Facebook post by Robert Scoble revealed that Apple and Carl Zeiss AG are working on a partnership that will revolve around the AR technology. Scoble was at the CES 2017 when he got wind of the partnership. He was talking to a certain Zeiss employee manning the company's booth at the tech tradeshow when the latter confirmed that they are indeed working with Apple on smart glasses that have augmented and mixed reality capabilities. The Zeiss worker also confirmed that the wearable device may be announced within the year. Scoble also figured out that this was the reason why the Zeiss presentation did not include any device related to augmented reality.
Apple Insider noted that Apple CEO Tim Cook did show some interest in augmented reality when he said that the company is "high on AR for the long run". Cook also stressed that the company is investing on the tech because they consider it a "great commercial opportunity".
Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is also aware of Apple's intentions to become a player in the AR industry. He noted, however, that the company is taking "baby steps" which lead him to estimate that Apple's AR glasses will take 1 to 2 years to become reality.
Apple is a known game changer in the field of technology. Its iPhone line paved the way for smartphones to become an everyday thing. With Lenovo and Asus getting dibs on AR tech in smartphones courtesy of Google Tango, Apple's next big move may be concentrated on developing its own line of AR glasses. However, integrating AR and possible VR tech in its iPhones is always a possibility.
