Apple’s xrOS Operating System: What We Know So Far

Andy Shephard -

According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Apple is expected to unveil its mixed reality (MR) handset project in the near future, possibly as early as this spring. The report also suggests that Apple has settled on a name for the operating system that will power the product: xrOS. This news follows previous reports that Apple has been working on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) products, including AR glasses and possibly contact lenses in the future.

The report also notes that heads of engineering for several core apps, including Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Notes, and Apple News, are involved in the project. This suggests that Apple is bringing in core app teams to complete the headset experience before its debut. In addition, the report suggests that Apple has changed the name of the operating system internally from “rrealityOS” to “xrOS”.

While the final name for the platform may still be changed to “realityOS” or another name, the xrOS label is currently being used internally. The report also points to a shell company called Deep Dive LLC that is reportedly trademarking the operating system name around the world. The shell company links back to another shell company, but it is likely that Apple is behind it.

Overall, this news suggests that Apple is making significant progress on its MR projects and is moving closer to a potential unveiling. As AR and VR technology continues to advance, it will be interesting to see what other products and innovations Apple has in store for the MR industry.

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Apple has a long history of experimenting with and developing mixed reality (MR) technology. In 2013, Apple acquired a company called PrimeSense, which was known for its work on 3D sensing technology. This acquisition was seen as a potential sign that Apple was interested in exploring MR technology, as 3D sensing is a key component of many MR systems.

In 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave an interview in which he discussed the potential of AR technology and hinted at Apple’s interest in the field. Cook said that AR has the potential to “amplify human performance instead of isolating us”.

Since then, there have been numerous reports and rumors suggesting that Apple is working on MR products, including AR glasses and possibly even contact lenses. In 2019, a patent application from Apple was published that described a head-mounted display with advanced features, including eye-tracking and hand-tracking technology.

More recently, in 2020, Apple acquired a company called Voysis, which specializes in natural language processing technology. This acquisition was seen as a potential sign that Apple is interested in using natural language processing for MR products, such as voice-controlled AR glasses.