An Apple Vision Pro Patent Filing With The Device Name ‘eyePod’ Suggests That Work On The Mixed-Reality Headset Began 16 Years Ago, But Production Will Halt Soon

Product or feature patents for cutting-edge technology are often filed years in advance, so it should not be surprising that a filing called ‘eyePod’ from 2008 managed to slither its way to the surface around 16 years later. However, what is surprising about this patent filing is that the device in the picture looks awfully similar to the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro, suggesting that the company and its team may have been working on the headset more than a decade and a half ago. Unfortunately, things did not turn out how Apple wanted it to because a previous report said that the head-mounted wearable’s production will halt by the end of 2024.

The display technology required to make the Apple Vision Pro a reality did not even exist back in 2008, but it provided little advantage now because of the lack of sales

The patent filing was reported by Macworld’s Dan Moren, with the original piece written by Aayush Arya on November 7, 2008. It is unclear why Moren was reminded of this patent, but we get a clearer picture of how long the Apple Vision Pro dream was realized. Details of the patent are mentioned below, with the report also stating that just like most of the company’s patents, it is possible that this one never sees the light of day. Fortunately, Apple bucked this trend and materialized the AR headset, albeit at an expensive price.

“A recently uncovered patent, filed by Apple in February, reveals that they may be working on a wearable display that can simulate the experience of being in a virtual environment with the help of intelligent sensors. Apparently, these sensors will be able to detect movements of the head and even the eye, adapting the video accordingly to make the wearer feel like he’s actually in a real environment.”

What is incredible about the filing is that the front visor looks remarkably identical to the curved shape of the Apple Vision. Readers should be reminded that this display technology did not exist back then, but even 16 years into the future, the launch barely did enough to convince customers to undertake a $3,499 purchase. As the presence of the Apple Vision Pro gradually reduces in retail stores in the U.S., analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has some terrible news to share concerning a more affordable version of the headset.

Apparently, the production timeline of the affordable Apple Vision Pro has been delayed to beyond 2027, with an immediate successor said to arrive in 2025 with the company’s new M5 chipset, along with a host of new features like Apple Intelligence support. Kuo states that the delay of the low-cost version is due to the lack of successful use cases needed so customers can justify a purchase and that it is not just a pricing issue. Perhaps when the platform supports more apps, we should see more interest generated for this category.

News Source: Macworld