More Apple Rumors And Leaks: iPhone Fold, AR Headsets, iPhone 12 Molds

[RAMROD 117,333]

1.) iPhone Fold

 

Leaker of the moment Jon Prosser has posted a series of tweets about a 'foldable' iPhone currently at the prototype stage - but those inverted commas are important because he says it isn't really foldable in the usual sense.

The prototype, Prosser says, has two separate displays connected by a hinge, whereas the traditional foldable phone, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, is more like a single display that folds in the middle. That sounds a bit underwhelming, but he clarified in a later tweet that the two displays form a coherent whole when put together: "Even though they're two separate panels," he writes, "when the displays are extended, it looks fairly continuous and seamless."

 

2.) iPhone 12 molds leak

 

These pictures were all leaked by the Twitter account JinStore — you can find the full collection of them here.

As you can see from the leaked iPhone 12 molds, there’s a big design change afoot. Where the iPhone 11 continued a smooth and round trend, Apple’s next device will have much squarer sides, creating an almost retro-futuristic look.

Which isn’t a huge surprise.

When we rounded up the iPhone 12 rumors, one of the common reoccurring themes was the move to this iPhone 4-esque design. And this latest iPhone 12 mold leak adds more fuel to this fire.

 

3.) Apple VR

Apple is reportedly aiming to unveil a headset with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) capabilities next year, with a plan to release the device in 2022.

Though plans may still change, the AR/VR headset may be announced next year, Bloomberg reported, citing Mike Rockwell, the leader of Apple’s Technology Development Group, at an all-hands meeting last fall. The secretive division, which is said to be devoted to AR and VR, is also planning to roll out AR glasses by 2023 at the earliest according to the report.

Apple’s AR/VR headset will come with ultra-high-resolution screens, which “will make it almost impossible for a user to differentiate the virtual world from the real one,” according to the report. Making the experience more realistic is a cinematic speaker system, according to people who have tried out prototypes of the device. The headset will also have its own App Store, which will be gaming-focused, the ability to stream videos, and the capability of serving as a communications device for virtual meetings.

Prototypes of the N301 are said to look like a smaller Oculus Quest, Facebook's VR headset, with a mostly fabric body but less plastic than the Quest. Apple's engineering teams are reportedly still testing the device on different head shapes to find the ideal fit, and the company hasn't settled on pricing.

Apple wants the headset to have its own App Store "with a focus on gaming and the ability to stream video content, while also serving as a sort of super-high-tech communications device for virtual meetings." Siri will control the headset, although it is also reportedly being tested with a physical remote.

The N301 headset appears to be only one of Apple's ongoing AR/VR projects. The other is said to be a pair of AR glasses codenamed N421, with current prototypes said to resemble high-priced sunglasses with "thick frames that house the battery and chips." Ive, who left Apple last year after almost three decades at the company, is said to have preferred the concept of the N421 glasses.

Apple's augmented reality headset is expected to be released in 2022 followed by the sleeker pair of augmented reality glasses coming in 2023. You can read the full Bloomberg report here, and for everything we know on Apple's AR/VR plans, be sure to check our dedicated roundup.

 

4.) New MacOS Name

According to MacRumors, the most likely candidates for the next version are Mammoth, Monterey and Skyline. Apple has applied for trademark protection for these names, suggesting that they will be used for upcoming versions of macOS. (It applied for a fourth, Rincon, but this has since become inactive.)

Mammoth might sound more palaeontological than geographical, but it may refer to Mammoth Lakes or Mammoth Mountain, a popular outdoor area in Sierra Nevada. Or it could refer to the hirsute pachyderm; who knows. In any case, the US Patent and Registration Office approved the trademark as early as 2019.

Other related brands that Apple has registered over the years include Diablo, Miramar, Redtail, Condor, Grizzly, Farallon, Tiburon and Shasta. These, however, are not believed to be in the running for this year's version of macOS.

 

 

Sources:

https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/06/16/rumor-apple-working-on-foldable-iphone-with-separate-but-seamless-screens/

https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/06/15/leak-iphone-12-molds-pro-clown-notch-lidar-design/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/apple-ar-vr-headset-2022-launch/

https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/19/apple-ar-vr-headset-2022/

https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac-software/likely-names-macos-1016-3790540/

[River 127,839]

noo please noo folded phone ewwwwww

[Woohoo 6,534]

it's evolving... only backwards 

[RAMROD 117,333]

2 minutes ago, River said:

noo please noo folded phone ewwwwww

 

1 minute ago, Woohoo said:

it's evolving... only backwards 

 

Don't hate it just yet, damn!

 

[River 127,839]

Just now, RAMROD said:

 

 

Don't hate it just yet, damn!

 

it looks like something that I would break

I was a big fan of shell phones, but ew touchy and screeny folded phone are a big naw

[BenG 19,908]

Prototypes don't necessarily mean they're gonna be released. Companies have lots of prototypes so that they don't lag behind competition if something happens to work or sell well.

[GregJA 5,556]

The fold phone they’ve had for years in patent lol

 

[COOOK 76,406]

I was so bummed when the iPhone designs started to look more round... I always loved the square-type look so this is exciting to me 

[RAMROD 117,333]

3 minutes ago, BenG said:

Prototypes don't necessarily mean they're gonna be released. Companies have lots of prototypes so that they don't lag behind competition if something happens to work or sell well.

But we know that already, you're talking like a teacher to a student sksksksk 

[BenG 19,908]

Im still using the 1st gen SE and will be getting the 12. Skipping all the round-edged phones.

[RAMROD 117,333]

2 minutes ago, COOOK said:

I was so bummed when the iPhone designs started to look more round... I always loved the square-type look so this is exciting to me 

IKR, I am too. I looove iPhone 5 design, it is such classic. So I am welcoming this change.

3 minutes ago, GregJA said:

The fold phone they’ve had for years in patent lol

 

Yea. probably they are hesitant sksksks

[Chromatography 10,186]

would love to go back to flip phones.

 

also, i thought apple sued someone at some point for doing the “rounded” look so what gives 

[RAMROD 117,333]

1 minute ago, Chromatography said:

would love to go back to flip phones.

 

also, i thought apple sued someone at some point for doing the “rounded” look so what gives 

Perhaps they saw it is so absic now, they wanna go back to square ish design again.

[BenG 19,908]

5 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

But we know that already, you're talking like a teacher to a student sksksksk 

It wasn't even directed at you

[RAMROD 117,333]

5 minutes ago, BenG said:

Im still using the 1st gen SE and will be getting the 12. Skipping all the round-edged phones.

that is nice.