Developers will be able to apply for Vision Pro dev kits

Apple is gearing up for its next big leap into the world of spatial computing with the introduction of the Vision Pro. Developers eagerly awaiting their opportunity to prepare apps for the device will be able to apply for dev kits.

Vision Pro is Apple’s first leap into spatial computing. However, without access to the hardware, developers face significant challenges in building and testing their applications for the platform. 

While specific details about the...

6 June 2023 | Developer

Apple opens ‘Activities’ sign-ups for WWDC 2023

Apple has opened sign-ups for ‘Activities’ which enable remote developers to actively participate in this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) festivities. 

Apple introduced WWDC Digital Lounges in 2021, providing developers with the opportunity to engage in online discussions with Apple engineers and designers. This year, the experience returns for WWDC23, renamed simply as Activities.

Developers can now register on the Apple Developer website to...

31 May 2023 | Developer

Apple registers ‘xrOS’ trademark ahead of WWDC

Apple has filed a trademark in New Zealand for ‘xrOS’ ahead of the company’s annual WWDC conference next month.

The wordmark filing all but confirms the official name of the operating system for its highly anticipated headset, along with the font and styling that will accompany it.

The discovery of the ‌xrOS‌ wordmark was made by Parker Ortolani, who spotted the registration with the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office.

Unsurprisingly, Apple will...

16 May 2023 | Metaverse

Google tool helps developers create XR experiences

Google has released a tool called Immersive Stream for XR that makes it easier for developers to create mixed-reality experiences.

Earlier this week, the company held an event where it demonstrated a new “immersive view” in Google Maps that uses advances in AI and computer vision to fuse billions of Street View and other images to create a detailed 3D model of locations. Impressively, it even works indoors to allow users to check out a venue like a restaurant before they...

10 February 2023 | Developer

Linux Foundation launches Open Metaverse Foundation

The nonprofit Linux Foundation has launched the Open Metaverse Foundation (OMF) to promote an open metaverse.

Current participating organisations of the OMF include the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, Futurewei, GenXP, Hyperledger Foundation, LF AI, LF Edge & Networking, Open Voice Network, Open Wallet, and Veriken.

When discussing the metaverse, it’s important to consider the history of the web.

The original vision for the web was a decentralised...

19 January 2023 | Blockchain

Further details emerge about Apple’s first AR/VR headset

Apple is set to launch its first AR/VR headset this year and we’re starting to get more details about what to expect.

We’ve known for some time that the mixed reality headset is set to pack M2 and H2 chips, adjustable lenses, two 4K displays, a 120-degree field-of-view, and feature more than 10 external and internal cameras to offer a seamless transition between VR and AR.

As expected with such hardware specs, the headset won’t be cheap. Expectations put the cost...

4 January 2023 | App Stores

Game development legend John Carmack quits Meta

Legendary game developer John Carmack has quit his executive consultant position at Meta.

Carmack, the co-founder of id Software and lead programmer of gaming classics including Doom and Wolfenstein, posted a scathing letter detailing his decision:

This is the end of my decade in VR.

I have mixed feelings.

Quest 2 is almost exactly what I wanted to see from the beginning – mobile hardware, inside out tracking, optional PC streaming, 4k (ish)...

20 December 2022 | Gaming

Apple may unveil its mixed reality headset in January

We could finally see Apple’s much-anticipated mixed reality headset in just a couple of months.

According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to unveil the headset early next year. The headset is expected to offer a seamless transition between virtual and augmented reality.

Unlike efforts from Meta, Apple has reportedly designed its mixed reality headset for short stints of communication, content viewing, and gaming. The metaverse is...

15 November 2022 | Gaming

Kuo: Don’t expect Apple’s mixed reality headset at WWDC 2022

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says not to expect Apple’s anticipated mixed reality headset at WWDC 2022.

Kuo’s comment arrives after a trademark filing for ‘RealityOS’ – Apple’s OS for its mixed reality headset – was uncovered. The filing suggests an official announcement of the headset is getting close, but Apple isn’t quite ready for the grand reveal.

https://twitter.com/mingchikuo/status/1531518877498490880

As with any current hardware launch,...

1 June 2022 | iOS

Tim Sweeney: The App Store is a ‘disservice’ to developers

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has continued his company’s fierce criticism of Apple and called the App Store a “disservice” to developers.

In an interview with Financial Times, Sweeney explained his reasoning behind taking Apple to court.

The long-running feud between Epic and Apple is the result of the latter’s infamous “walled garden” mobile ecosystem that many see as anti-competitive.

While Google has faced similar criticisms, its relatively open approach...

26 May 2022 | App Stores