Valve, Apple's partner for the upcoming augmented reality headset?

Apple is preparing an augmented reality headset, according to rumors that have been heard regularly in recent months, and even in recent years. The Californian firm has invested in augmented reality with ARKit for iOS, since the 2017 iPhone and iPad and version 11 of the mobile operating system.

Tim Cook has always said he is interested in technology and its development potential, which is why the possible project of augmented reality glasses made by Apple has always remained possible. But until now, little information has been heard on this subject. Only a few patents have been made public from time to time, which may refer to augmented reality technologies.The one noted very recently by Patently Applenotably mentions a pair of Apple augmented reality glasses with transparent screen.

© Patently Apple

It was only a few hours ago that finally tangible information could be read on the subject. The DigiTimes newspaper haspublished a very interesting reportabout a potential partnership between Apple and Valve.

Indeed, according to the source, Apple has partnered with the very important video game publisher Valve, also manufacturer of a virtual reality headset, the Valve Index. The goal of this alliance would be the design of a new augmented reality headset.

The latter, as DigiTimes specifies, would not be released before the second half of 2020. It would involve subcontractors loyal to Apple, such as Quanta Computer, but also Pegatron. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst generally well informed about the world of tech, even expects the new product to arrive in the first half of next year, with a production launch before the end of 2019.

This partnership with Valve would follow Apple's abandonment of the design of the augmented reality headset in-house. The Apple firm reportedly dissolved its teams dedicated to the project last spring to concentrate on other of its work. In reality, the Californian company would not have abandoned the idea and would have gone looking for an external partner to help it achieve its goals.

And it would therefore be Valve which would have been chosen to accompany Tim Cook and his engineers in this augmented reality adventure.

Next year could therefore be rich in new products for the Californian firm, with this expected augmented reality headset, but also theobject tracker, the subject of several rumors in recent weeks, among other new iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs, of course.

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.