Gurman: Apple focusing on xrOS instead of iOS 17 - BGR

With Apple’s upcoming Mixed Reality headset acceptable to beryllium unveiled this spring, a study by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman successful his Power On newsletter shows that the Cupertino steadfast is focusing connected the xrOS bundle alternatively of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.

The xrOS volition powerfulness the Mixed Reality headset. According to Gurman, Apple has already shared the instrumentality with a “small fig of high-profile bundle developers for testing, letting them get started connected third-party apps.”

On Apple’s part, 1 exertion for the Mixed Reality headset could beryllium an Augmented Reality acquisition successful Apple stores, which volition archetypal beryllium disposable for iPhones. The writer explains that “the thought is that customers could constituent their iPhone toward a product, and a graphic would overlay connected the surface to get much accusation astir pricing and specifications.”

Last month, Gurman said the upcoming xrOS bundle stands for extended reality and volition connection “new versions of halfway apps and volition enactment with a bundle improvement kit that 3rd parties tin usage to make their ain apps and games.”

Apple mixed world glasses render – beforehand view. Image source: Ian Zelbo

The Information besides shared a fewer tidbits astir this upcoming xrOS software. The Mixed Reality caput volition chiefly beryllium utilized for videoconferencing with virtual conversations conducted with integer avatars, arsenic Apple doesn’t expect games to beryllium a superior usage case. In addition, immoderate teams astatine Apple are moving connected AR acquisition contented and iPhone apps moving successful an overlaid 2D format.

That said, this is wherefore Apple presently focuses connected xrOS alternatively of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman says these operating systems whitethorn person “fewer large changes than primitively planned.” Unfortunately, macOS 13 Ventura, which saw a beauteous insignificant update, volition apt find itself successful the aforesaid concern this twelvemonth with macOS 14, codenamed Sunburst.

With less important changes, Apple is betting that 2023 volition beryllium the twelvemonth – oregon astatine slightest the commencement – of an AR/VR revolution. Let’s spot however the concern unfolds successful the adjacent fewer months.