Apple’s Next Move in VR?
We all love VR, don’t we? The immersive feeling which we get when we see the huge mountains or the drowning feeling when we see an underwater world video in our headsets at high resolution, it all is just so damn impressive! VR is one such technology which makes us believe technology has come so far from what it was just a decade ago. On the other hand, it makes us wonder what other miracles will we witness in the next few years!
When VR first became mainstream, starting from Google Cardboard which initially supported just 720p resolution (mind you, the phones used to get so damn hot even at that resolution). And look now, 4K VR headsets are like hotdogs, each and every VR seller has one! Some companies even offer customized 8K VR headsets for professional use! Mobiles which felt like a hot pan at 720p, now run 4K and possibly 8K too, without breaking a sweat! Isn’t that simply impressive!
Applause to all those tech guys who worked days and nights so that we peasants could witness such a magical experience sitting at our homes, using nothing but a mobile! Thank you from heart!
Coming to the point…
Tech giant Apple recently confirmed that it acquired NextVR. The Virtual Reality startup provides sports and other content for VR headsets. The new Apple acquisition helps Apple’s development of VR and AR headsets along with software and content to go with it. The startup also provides the content to several existing VR headsets. Facebook Oculus, HTC and Lenovo are some of the companies which make the several.
Apple has had ambitious plans for virtual reality for a while now. Hence, we heard of this deal in reports months ago. A report from 9to5mac also suggested the acquisition of NextVR was worth $100 million. NextVR has patented technology that can upscale video streams. It uses this technology to support high-quality video streams of music and sporting events to VR headsets. The company owns a total of over 40 patents. The startup officially shut down this week. The NextVR website also says the company is now “heading in a new direction”.
What I think this means?
This is a sign of beginning of a new phase for Apple as well as the VR industry. Apple last month also acquired Dark Sky, and purchase of a VR startup this month definitely means something. Although all we can do is speculate till things are official, majority of the stuff that Apple plans is known to people due rumors and leaks.
Personally speaking, I think this move is directly in line with Apple TV. A new Apple TV is due for a refresh. With release of new iPads in March, iPhone SE 2020 in April and new MacBooks a few days ago, it is a safe bet to say new Apple TV is also coming soon. Apple may team up with NextVR to make VR headsets for Apple (it’ll be hilarious if they call it iVR) and use Siri to just command it “Hey Siri, play [some vr content] on my iVR” and boom! Seamlessly connect these 2 things and you get a best experience of any VR headset till date (shamelessly copying Tim Cook style).
These speculations seem to be in line with most of the things Apple is doing in past few months. I hope I am not wrong.
Cheers!
