Apple flips the script: scraps cool project for Mac
Augmented reality is a field that’s always changing, and Apple has been diving headfirst into its development. But not all their ideas end up becoming real products. Case in point: the AR glasses for Mac, a super ambitious project that sounded cool, but sadly won’t see the light of day.
According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple decided to scrap the AR glasses because their engineers ran into too many technical roadblocks. Bummer, right?
### AR glasses that never made it to the market
Apple had big plans for these glasses – they were supposed to be light and sleek, just like regular glasses, but with the added bonus of showing digital info in the real world. Sounds awesome, but it turns out they needed some crazy efficient hardware to make it work.
### Technical challenges that led to its cancellation
One big issue was the battery – making it powerful enough would’ve made the glasses way too heavy. And forget about adding a front screen to show your eyes, that was a no-go too. Apple spent years trying to develop the right lenses and projectors, but they just couldn’t crack it.
### The future of augmented reality at Apple
Even though the AR glasses got the axe, Apple isn’t giving up on augmented reality. They’re still going all in on the Apple Vision Pro, making it better and cooler than ever. And rumor has it, when the tech gods smile upon us, Apple will try again with more user-friendly AR glasses.
So, while Apple hits pause on their AR glasses dream, Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is charging ahead with their own fancy glasses project, code-named “Orion.” Production costs are crazy high right now, but they’re aiming to launch a commercial version in 2027 – the same year Apple had set their sights on for their canceled glasses. Let the AR race begin!
