Earlier in January, the CEO of mobile device manufacturer HTC had said that her company’s future lay at least as much in virtual reality as in smartphones.
Advertisement
But given Apple’s global footprint, it was Cook’s extensive commentary on the conference call about just how hard things have been for the company in the current economic environment that turned heads.
With a rich experience in the fields of both virtual and augmented realities, Bowman is definitely an asset to Apple. This type of device could allow consumers to scroll through applications without obscuring visibility of the real world.
Apple has built its brand on doing a few products very well, and it would no doubt bring its penchant for premium builds to a VR headset, which, while good for Apple, could be just as good for virtual reality. It’s impossible to know for sure, but here are three possible scenarios.
Regardless of Apple’s actual intent with VR tech, their hiring of Bowman is a huge get for the company. But don’t expect to hear anything official until Apple is good and ready. They’re all fascinated with virtual reality.
The researcher, Doug Bowman, had been a professor of computer science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and director of its Center for Human-Computer Interaction.
Cook said the Apple “had our best quarter by far for the Apple TV” following the introduction of a new version that now supports more than 3,600 apps, and said Apple Watch sales also swung to a record.
Now, Apple comes across as a secretive firm when it comes to adopting new technologies, revealing little or no public initiatives, but analysts thought it was unlikely for the company to not take part in the growing virtual reality sector. Only once it has figured out the answers to those questions – now with the help of Bowman – will Apple decide when it will step into this technology segment.
Advertisement
“It certainly feels, however, like virtual reality might finally become real”, he says. Revenue is paltry when compared to the iPhone, but it’s home to arguably Apple’s more innovative and interesting products.
