Apple has mentioned the name of its future mixed reality operating system in its own application. This is the preview version of software for Windows that will soon be able to be used to manage Apple devices as soon as Apple also switches from iTunes to the Apple Music application on the PC. The so-called Apple Devices app was in the Microsoft Store this week as a preview popped up. “Manage Apple devices from your Windows PC,” the description reads. A screenshot shows the configuration of an iPod touch on a PC.
“RealityOS”, “xrOS” and “RealityDevice”
Jailbreak expert @aaronp613 from Havoc Repo took a closer look at the code and then published the first results on Wednesday. According to these, there are various strings in it that point to Apple’s mixed reality hardware, which is expected to be presented in the spring. Both the terms “RealityOS” and “xrOS” appear there – both names that have already been mentioned in the rumor mill for Apple’s mixed reality headset interface. The string “RealityDevice” can also be found. The hardware itself could be called “Reality Pro”.
“xr” stands for “eXtended Reality”, i.e. extended reality – an alternative term for “Augmented Reality” (AR). Currently, Apple – including CEO Tim Cook – always uses the term AR for the technology. Thanks to integrated LIDAR and other functions such as precise motion sensors, the iPhone and iPad have been able to overlay camera images with appropriately placed digital data for years. This should form the basis for the headset, which should even have a rotary wheel for switching between the virtual and physical world.
Self-leak on Windows
First it was said for months that Apple’s new operating system – which will be available alongside iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS – will be called “Reality OS”. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple decided in December to switch to “xrOS”. The fact that “realityOS” is now appearing again does not have to mean anything, strings in programs can also be remnants of an earlier status. Nevertheless, it is astonishing that Apple seems to be leaking itself here – and then of all things in a Windows app.
However, it is logical that the group is preparing to have the headset managed under Windows. Just like the iPhone or iPad, it should also have a not inconsiderable number of PC users who need to update it and reset it if necessary – a local backup is also conceivable. Apple had previously left such jobs to the iTunes app on Windows, which is now being replaced by Apple Music.
(bsc)
