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Apple is reportedly struggling to get its mixed reality headset project off the ground due to both technical and leadership issues.
Rumor has it that the iPhone maker is working on a high-end headset that combines both augmented and virtual reality features. A new report from The Information describes However, some of the difficulties Apple is facing in developing the device are revealed. For one thing, the group working on the headset is reportedly isolated from the rest of Apple. CEO Tim Cook reportedly visits the team "rarely" and hasn't actively participated in the project. Former Dolby executive Mike Rockwell, who leads the team, has had to fight to gain support from other parts of the company.
The development takes place in Apple Park
The team working on the project is also said to be based in offices in Sunnyvale, several miles from Apple Park. This has helped keep the project "invisible" to the rest of Apple. Apple has been working on the project for years. In 2016, the company gave Apple board members a brief look at early versions of the device. At the time, most of the prototypes were improvised—including variants based on the HTC Vive or running Microsoft Windows. Former Apple design chief Jony Ive also had reservations about the project, rejecting the idea of a dedicated VR headset because such devices "alienate users from other people by cutting them off from the outside world, make users look unfashionable, and have no practical use." The hesitation to develop a full-fledged VR headset led to the idea of a mixed-reality device.
Apple AR/VR headset could be released late next year
Other challenges during development included working with the headset's battery technology. Team members wanted to incorporate replaceable batteries into the wearable so users could wear it for hours. However, this idea was scrapped, and the headset is now said to have a battery that lasts "several hours." Now, sources claim that the device could likely launch in the second half of 2023. Interestingly, this isn't the first report to shed light on Apple's apparent issues with the headset. Bloomberg has previously reported complications with the wearable, ranging from camera problems to overheating issues. (Image: Rendersbyjan)
