According to Piper Jaffray’s analyst Gene Munster, Apple could possibly be working on its own augmented reality technology. The analyst has heard whispers of Apple working some kind of augmented reality device from within the industry.
Apple had acquired a German startup called Metaio earlier this year, which had more than 171 patents related to augmented reality technology to its name. These patents would put Apple at the 11th position in terms of number of augmented reality related patents held, though it is still behind the likes of Google, Samsung and Microsoft who have already displayed what their virtual reality headsets are capable of to the public.
Munster also points that the technology of PrimeSense, a company that Apple acquired in 2013, could be used in a VR headset from the company. The analyst first believed that the PrimeSense sensors would be used by Apple in the Apple Television, but after being proved numerous times about it, finally agreed that it is not coming to the market anytime soon.
Since audio also plays a key part in augmented reality, Apple recently hired a lead engineer from Microsoft’s HoloLens team. The engineer, Nick Thompson, had previously worked at Apple for 7 years as a senior engineering manager. He was responsible for the audio system found inside the Macs released in early 200s and the first-generation Apple TV.
There is no concrete evidence to confirm that Apple is indeed working on a augmented reality related product, but with the sheer number of patents and startups that it has acquired in this field, it does seem unlikely.
[Via Business Insider]
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