Apple has acquired a startup called Spaces. The company has a team that specializes in Virtual Reality (VR). Apple may want to work with the company on the Apple Glass.
Apple acquires VR startup ‘Spaces’
The acquisition has been announced by the Protocol website and has now been confirmed by Apple. Spaces started in 2016 as a project for animation maker DreamWorks and also created a virtual reality for theme parks and theaters.
However, due to the coronavirus, this is not used and the company struggled. Spaces shifted its focus to video calling and created animated avatars for Zoom, among others. In any case, the company had a hard time keeping it afloat. Spaces previously indicated that it was ‘going in a new direction’.
Possible collaboration on Apple Glass
Apple does not want to say why the company was taken over. Still, it is possible that the VR team at Spaces will work with Apple on the Apple Glass. Apple has reportedly been working on the augmented reality (AR) headset for some time, although the Cupertino company has not yet confirmed this itself.
However, multiple rumors indicate that the AR glasses are coming, and Apple is getting help with the process from multiple companies. For example, Apple would also work with game developer Valve to make the AR glasses. The valve itself has already made VR glasses before, but no AR glasses yet. The same goes for Spaces.
More about Apple Glass
It is still unclear when we can expect the Apple Glass, but rumors indicate that it will be presented together with the iPhone 12 this fall. Still, it may well be that Apple is still waiting for the announcement. The fact that Apple is now acquiring a VR company seems to indicate that Apple is not that far in the production process, and is still in the development phase.
Regardless, Apple’s first smart glasses seem to be really on the way. Rumors have been buzzing for years, and Apple insider Jon Prosser has since leaked information about the design, suggested retail price, and features. The Apple Glass would probably get a LiDAR scanner , with which depths can be registered. This is ideal for using augmented reality. The same sensor can be found on the iPad Pro 2020 .
