Apple’s interest in augmented reality (AR) is pretty well known, and so far their efforts have largely been relegated to mobile through apps and features found in iOS. However if the rumors are to be believed, Apple is said to be developing its own AR glasses/headset, and now it looks like the company’s latest acquisition is only serving to fuel those rumors.According to a report from Reuters, Apple is said to have acquired a company by the name of Akonia Holographics who advertises themselves as being the “world’s first commercially available volume holographic reflective and waveguide optics for transparent display elements in smart glasses.”
Apple has since confirmed that they have acquired the company in a boilerplate statement to Reuters, which unfortunately tells us nothing about their plans for them. “Apple buys smaller companies from time to time, and we generally don’t discuss our purpose or plans.” That being said, this is actually not the first time we’ve seen Apple acquire companies that have done work related to AR.
Several years ago they acquired Metaio, and just last year they also acquired another company that makes AR headsets called Vrvana. As to when we will see the fruits of Apple’s labor remains to be seen, but analysts have pegged it for a possible 2020 or 2021 launch.
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