Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, deftly sidesteps the controversial term during his discourse on Apple's metaverse plans.
The metaverse buzz has been deafening, with tech moguls chattering about this hypothetical digital realm. Surprisingly, amidst this cacophony, Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, managed to maintain a composed silence. During Apple's recent earnings call, Cook finally voiced his thoughts, speaking in familiar terms about innovation and AR apps, but avoided the buzzword that's been on everyone's lips - the metaverse.
Cook's choice of words resonates with Apple's traditional stance. The company is known for avoiding blindly following trends and instead, prefers to wait for technologies to mature before diving in. Apple's past embracement of AR is a testament to this strategy. Cook, dubbed the "AR fan number one," has consistently shown an interest in the technology.
While Apple is undeniably drawing closer to the metaverse by developing advanced AR and VR tech, it's yet to adopt the term itself. This isn't unusual for Apple, which has historically opted for its own branding, as if suggesting that "AppleVerse" might quickly replace "Metaverse."
The metaverse, as described in Neal Stephenson's sci-fi novel "Snow Crash," envisions a future where digital and physical worlds merge through AR, VR, and mixed reality. After Facebook's rebranding to Meta, the topic has gained considerable attention among the tech elite. However, it remains a distant dream, with experts predicting a large gap between current capabilities and the metaverse's ideal scenario.
According to an Intel lead, the metaverse would require a 1,000-fold improvement in computational efficiency and significant upgrades to the internet's infrastructure. Despite the challenges, Apple is reportedly working on a VR headset, although it's unclear if this gadget will be marketed with metaverse-related buzzwords.
In an analysis by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the upcoming AR headset will not aim to create a fully virtual world akin to the Oasis in "Ready Player One." Instead, it will cater to shorter activity sessions, marking a significant stride toward a more integrated digital reality.
Enrichment Insights:
- Apple's VR headset, named Vision Pro, was released in the US in Feb 2024 and expanded to other regions by July 2024.
- The release date for Apple's AR glasses is still under speculation, with predictions ranging from 2025 to 2027.
- The company is currently focusing on the Vision Pro headset, having shelved its plans for advanced AR glasses that would connect to iPhones and Macs due to poor performance in executive reviews.
- Apple faces significant technical challenges in developing AR glasses, with experts suggesting that their launch might be at least four years away.
Cook's silence on the metaverse during Apple's earnings call seems to indicate the company's preference for innovation in AR apps, rather than jumping on the buzzword bandwagon.Staying true to its traditional approach, Apple is reportedly developing advanced AR and VR technology, but has yet to embrace the term 'metaverse' publicly.Instead, Apple might be subtly hinting at a potential shift towards an 'Appleverse,' suggesting a branded take on this digital realm.Despite grappling with technical challenges and the need for significant computational efficiency, Apple is reportedly working on a VR headset, although it remains unclear if the product will utilize 'metaverse'-related marketing buzzwords.
