Apple Inc. plans to launch the iPhone with a more powerful 3D camera next year, which will boost the company's momentum for augmented reality, according to sources close to the project.
The three-dimensional, rear-facing, long-range camera is designed to scan the environment and create real-world three-dimensional reconstructions. He will run about 15 feet from the device, people said. This contrasts with the current 3D camera system on the iPhone, which targets users and operates at distances of 25 to 50 centimeters to enhance the face recognition feature of Apple Face ID.
Apple's new system uses a laser scanner, instead of existing dot projection technology that does not work as well over long distances, according to people who asked not to be identified to discuss non-specific features. Published. This is one of many new features, including a more advanced third camera, improved photo capture tools, and a more powerful chip, which Apple plans to include in future generations of iPhones, said people.
The 3D laser camera would enhance augmented reality on the iPhone, allowing a deeper perception of the depth and placement of virtual objects. People have said that it could also help the phone take pictures that better capture the depth. Apple has been in talks with Sony Corp. about sensor tests for the new system, said one of the people.
While virtual reality plunges the user into a digital environment, the AR overlays visuals and data to a real-world view. Use cases include looking at a building and displaying details of the structure next to the image, or listing the repair instructions of a mechanic when working on a faulty machine. It was said that his call to the mass market went beyond virtual reality, and Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke of his prospects.
The camera of the iPhone 2020 may well be the prelude to an AR headset that Apple has been preparing since 2020. A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment on the company's plans, which could change.
Previously, Apple had decided to place the new 3D camera system on the back of the high-end iPhones this year, but this had been delayed, said people who knew him well. However, the technology giant based in Cupertino, California, doubles the camera's capabilities for its phones.
For 2019, Apple expects the successors of the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max, whose code name is D42 and D43, as well as an update for the iPhone XR, said, people. People have said that the biggest new high-end iPhones would have three cameras in the back, and that other phones could also come up with the updated system.
Cameras have become one of the most important features of a saturated smartphone market. The best photos are a compelling reason for people to update their phone, especially when other new features are harder to design or too difficult to appreciate for most customers. Apple pioneered improvements to the smartphone camera, which over the years has been complemented by additions such as Portrait mode. Competitors tried to catch up. Samsung Electronics Co. has launched phones equipped with four outdoor cameras at most last year.
The iPhone still generates the majority of Apple's revenue, although device sales dropped last year due to a less frequent increase in the population. This caused a drop in inventories that eliminated more than $ 300 billion of the company's market value since October. Newer models with more powerful cameras could spur updates and revive Apple's growth, making these next iPhones the most critical of years.
A third camera on the back of the iPhone 2019 will help the camera capture a wider field of view and expand the zoom range. It will also capture more pixels, so Apple software could, for example, automatically repair a video or photo to fit a subject accidentally cut from the original plan, according to people familiar with the plans. The company is also planning an enhanced version of its Live Photos feature, which sets the video before and after each shot in the photo. The new version will double the duration of the video by three to six seconds.
According to one of the interviewees, the 3D laser camera could debut in an update of the
Apple iPad Pro currently scheduled for spring 2020. Apple should not launch a major update for the iPad this year. The line is updated during the second semester. In the past, Apple released important new features on the iPad before the iPhone, including 4G Internet connectivity in 2012.
Apple is also testing some versions of this year's iPhone range which includes a USB-C connector instead of the Lightning port used in iPhones since 2012, which indicates that the company is considering a possible change, according to one of the people who switch to USB-C would make the new models compatible with the chargers used for hundreds of other devices, such as Android phones.
People have said that this year's iPhone models will include an updated Apple processor and will use an updated Face Sensor ID to unlock the device and approve payments. Otherwise, phones will look like current models and larger changes are expected from 2020 to accommodate 5G network capacity plans, reported Bloomberg News last year.
Beyond iPhones, Apple plans to launch this spring an updated version of its iPad at a lower cost with a screen of about 10 inches and a faster processor, according to sources close to the plans. This device should retain the Lightning port, according to one of the people. People are also preparing a new, cheaper iPad mini, their smallest tablet that has not been updated since 2015, people said.
Apple's next operating system update, iOS 13, will include a dark-mode option that makes it easier to see at night and enhance Car Play, the company's vehicle software. There will also be specific updates for the iPad, such as a new home screen, the ability to review multiple versions of the same application, such as web browser pages, and improvements in File Management. The company will also integrate two new services, including a magazine subscription service and their efforts with original video content, through this year's iOS updates.
Every year since 2012, Apple launched its latest iPhone in September. The only exception was the launch in November of the
Apple iPhone X in 2017.
The iPhone still generates the majority of Apple's revenue, although device sales dropped last year due to a less frequent increase in the population. This caused a drop in inventories that eliminated more than $ 300 billion of the company's market value since October. Newer models with more powerful cameras could spur updates and revive Apple's growth, making these next iPhones the most critical of years.
A third camera on the back of the iPhone 2019 will help the camera capture a wider field of view and expand the zoom range. It will also capture more pixels, so Apple software could, for example, automatically repair a video or photo to fit a subject accidentally cut from the original plan, according to people familiar with the plans. The company is also planning an enhanced version of its Live Photos feature, which sets the video before and after each shot in the photo. The new version will double the duration of the video by three to six seconds.
