Apple CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams have allegedly been pushing to launch the AR/VR headset this year, despite the design team cautioning that the device is not yet ready.
Apple's CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams, have reportedly been pushing to release the company's rumored first-generation mixed-reality headset this year, despite opposition from the design team.
As reported by the Financial Times (via MacRumors), which cites unnamed former engineers involved in the development of the AR/VR headset, there was significant pressure to deliver the product.
Although the industrial design team allegedly cautioned that the device was not yet ready enough for release and wanted to wait several years for a more advanced AR glasses product, Apple's operations team was eager to launch an early version of the product.
This version apparently takes the form of a VR-focused headset resembling ski goggles and is set to enable users to engage in various interactive activities such as doing AR workouts, having FaceTime calls with virtual avatars, and watching 3D videos.
As per the report, Tim Cook supported Jeff Williams' decision to launch an early version of the product with more limited capabilities, despite objections from the company's designers. Former Apple engineers who have spoken to the FT described this situation as the "huge pressure to ship" the mixed-reality headset.
Apple has been reportedly developing its mixed-reality headset for approximately seven years, a much longer development period than its flagship iPhone product. The headset is expected to be priced at around $3,000 and is expected to sell only about one million units in its first year on the market.
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