There are quite a few companies investing in virtual reality and augmented reality lately, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, HTC, and Samsung. One name missing from that list is Apple, but a new report claims that Apple is looking into VR in secret.
A new report from the Financial Times claims that Apple has a large team of employees working on a virtual reality, including building prototype headsets. Apple has recently made some VR-related deals, like its acquisition of Flyby Media, a group that worked with Google on Project Tango. Apple also recently hired Doug Bowman, a well-know VR researcher. The Cupertino firm is said to be seeking even more acquisitions to help it complete its project.
Details about Apple’s hardware plans are still pretty vague. It’s not even clear if Apple plans on creating a virtual reality headset like Samsung Gear VR, or if it’ll create an augmented reality device like Microsoft’s HoloLens. It’s also unknown if Apple will ever end up releasing a VR/AR headset of any kind of if it’ll end up simply scrapping the project.
Apple hasn’t made any announcements about having an interest in VR, but CEO Tim Cook did say earlier this week that he thinks VR is “really cool” and that it has “some interesting applications.” That said, it’s no surprise to hear that Apple may be experimenting with VR in secret. Apple is a major player in computing, and so with all of the interest that we’re seeing with VR lately, it’d be weird if Apple didn’t at least look into making a VR device of its own.
