Tag: apple glass

Apple Secretly Bought Danish Visual Effects Startup

For super secretive Apple, buying a startup is not something new. According to recent reports by a news website, Apple bought image processing software company Spektral for $30 Million. Apparently, they did not disclose the purchase which was made last year. The company is developing a software that can digitally separate a subject from it’s background.

Also Read: ‘Apple Glass’ Could Be A Reality Soon As Apple Buys AR Centric Longmont

Apple had introduced ‘Portrait Lighting’ last year which separates a subject and makes the background dark. There seems to be a correlation between the two but we are not entirely sure what they have planned for the future. The unique technology of Spektral is based on state-of-the-art machine learning and computer vision techniques. It can process images as well as video. The software can cut out people from a video in real time on a smartphone. It also promises to provide high quality detail.

Spektral had created a technique called cutouts which they used in their software. The company was known by the name of CloudCutout at the time. This software negates the need for green screens and creates a mixed reality for the users. The news website also reports that the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer Toke Jansen now lists Apple as his employer. The company website suggests that the software provides a flexible trade-off between quality and computation time.

Apple’s interest in augmented reality in the recent years has become extremely interesting. It has been pushing developers to create augmented reality apps for it’s iPhones and iPads with ARKit. Some Apple analysts have also hinted that some kind of augmented reality glasses might also be on its way. It can arrive as soon as 2020. Apple’s smart-glasses have the codename “T288”.

October 11, 2018
‘Apple Glass’ Could Be A Reality Soon As Apple Buys AR Centric Longmont

Apple has confirmed the acquisition of a startup that ‘focuses’ on making lenses for Augmented Reality glasses. Reports of the deal had been around for a while, however a Senior Apple Executive confirmed it on Wednesday. The move strengthens recent rumours about an upcoming ‘Apple Glass’ similar to the Google Glass.

Apple acquired Longmont and Colorado-based Akonia Holographics. “The technology allows for thin, transparent smart glasses that display vibrant, full- colour, wide field-of-view images.”, according to Akonia. The news entirely hints at the fact that the tech giant is planning to enter the domain of wearable AR devices which enhance daily experiences. The company Akonia, also has more than 200 patents related to holographic systems, according to its website.

Also Read: HMD Global Acquires PureView Trademark

Augmented Reality:

Augmented Reality superimposes images on real-world scenarios, making it more interactive and informative. This was seen in the immensely popular game Pokemon GO which used AR extensively. Similarly, Apple might be planning to use Akonia’s holographic technology to project information on to the lenses of wearable glasses.

Apple’s Big Move :

This isn’t the first time it has acquired a smaller company. Back in 2013, it bought a small Israeli company which specialised in making 3D sensors. The Face ID feature in the iPhone X launched last year, used similar technology and 3D sensors. Apple does pick up smaller firms which showcase promising technology and takes that technology to the testing grounds. Many of the features available in various Apple products could have been at on point of time, the prime focus of a small company.

However, the purchase of the company doesn’t really confirm the development of a new device. According to a senior executive at Apple, “Apple buys smaller companies from time to time, and we generally don’t discuss our purpose or plans”. Regardless, most analysts point out the fact that an ‘Apple Glass’ is actually in development and we could see it for ourselves by the year 2020.

August 30, 2018
This Is What The Apple AR Glasses Might Look Like

A Dutch-based designer has come up with a concept render for the Apple AR Glasses. The concept images are very realistic, which showcases the aesthetics and the function of the glass. Unlike the Google Glass, Apple AR Glasses looks like regular sunglasses with Apple logo on both sides of the frame.

Google was the first company to release a pair smart glasses. However, owing to its unusual appearance and intrusive features, it failed to take off. Intel recently came up with a concept called Vaunt, which uses retinal projection technology to project an image directly on your eyeball. One of the main features of the Vaunt is how simple they look. Unlike the Google Glass, it will be hard to notice these smart glasses in a crowd. Also, they aren’t as intrusive either, since there are no cameras to secretly record footage.

Intel’s new smart Vaunt Glasses. Image courtesy: Verge

Even Snapchat came with Spectacles, which comes with a dedicated camera to record videos. The Snapchat Spectacles also have a glowing LED ring, which notifies that the user is recording a video.

If Apple does launch the Apple AR Glasses, it has to be minimalistic. The glasses cannot have an in your face design, like the Google Glass. The renders reveal that the Apple AR Glasses will look close to regular spectacles. If the design is anywhere near the final product, the Apple AR Glasses could be a success.

Features of Apple AR Glasses:

According to Martin, the Apple AR Glasses uses a micro-projected to project the images on the lens. So, the Apple AR Glasses user will be able to see real-world information and the smart information from glass simultaneously.

These glasses will be based on Augmented reality, rather than the virtual reality. With the help of smart glasses, the user will be able to check phones battery percentage, network reception and notifications with a blink of an eye. Like Apple Watch, the Apple AR Glasseses are expected to support wireless charging using Qi-wireless compatibility.

The glass frame is expected to feature sensors like camera, GPS, and light sensor. There will be complete Siri integration with all the functionality. The Glasses are also expected to feature dual speakers, which can transfer the sound to the user directly.

These Glasses will be powered by Apple’s rOS, which will be based on iOS, with a battery efficient chipset. The rOS stands for reality operating system, focused on AR capabilities.

GBH Insights analyst said:

While this has been a late entrant from an AR/VR perspective, we believe Apple AR Glasses will be the next step in the wearable category for Apple.

Conclusion:

So far, there have only been rumours about this. Some reports claim that the Apple AR Glasses might start shipping as early as 2020.

February 20, 2018