Apple plans a pair of ‘Steve Jobs Heritage Edition’ AR glasses

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Steve Jobs AR Glasses
Apple is planning special edition AR glasses modeled on the specs Steve Jobs wore.
Photo: Sebastian Errazuriz

Apple is working on a special pair of AR glasses that resemble the spectacles Steve Jobs famously wore, white-hot Apple leaker Jon Prosser told Cult of Mac.

Called the “Steve Jobs Heritage Edition,” this limited-edition version of Apple Glass would be round like a classic pair of John Lennon-style glasses. Cupertino would position it as a special edition of the core AR glasses, much like the original $10,000 gold Apple Watch.

Prosser, who runs popular YouTube show Front Page Tech, is fast becoming a top Apple reporter after a recent string of successful revelations. Prosser correctly reported the launch dates of the latest MacBook and the iPhone SE.

“They are also working on a prototype, a Steve Jobs Heritage Edition,” Prosser says in the latest episode of Cult of Mac’s official podcast, The CultCast. It’s “similar to how we had an Apple Watch Edition, like that ridiculous $10,000 gold one when it first came out,” he said.

It’s one of Prosser’s wildest Apple leaks yet. And, as with any info about a product in Cupertino’s secret pipeline, there’s a chance that plans might change. Prosser discusses the Steve Jobs Heritage Edition glasses, and other Apple topics, in more detail on The CultCast, embedded below.

Jon Prosser on Apple Glass

Earlier this week, Prosser released a video filled with details about the Apple Glass project. The high-tech specs will start at $499 (with an additional charge for prescription lenses, if necessary). They will display info on the inside of both lenses, and will operate via gesture controls, according to Prosser. The AR glasses will come with a LiDAR sensor over the right eye for accurate scene scanning. However, they will not feature a front-facing camera. That gels with Apple’s approach to privacy (and should help Apple Glass avoid the Google Glasshole effect.)

Most of the data processing will be performed by a paired iPhone. Apple will show off the AR glasses this fall or in early 2021, according to Prosser. The exact timing depends on the COVID-19 situation.

Steve Jobs Heritage Edition Apple Glass

Apple Glass likely will come in a range of styles. The Steve Jobs Heritage Edition glasses will be a special edition, Prosser claims, like the special Series 0 Apple Watch Edition that was made of gold and cost up to $17,000. He says he doesn’t know whether the Steve Jobs glasses would be made of precious metal. Or if they would cost as much as a good used car.

Prosser says he has seen video of a prototype version of Apple Glass and that “they’re sleek as hell.” Apple’s AR glasses resemble a pair of classic Ray-Ban WayFarers, the iconic frames worn by the Blues Brothers and many others, he said.

The world might not need to wait too long to see Apple’s next wearable. Prosser says Apple plans to show off the AR specs as a “one more thing” reveal at a keynote as soon as this fall.

Apple Glass will run a UI called Starboard that relies on gestures either on the frames of the glasses or in front of them. Apple has long been working on air-based gestures, as seen in the company’s numerous AR patents over the years. The glasses will be able to analyze Apple’s rumored proprietary QR codes. The specs reportedly will come with a wireless charging stand, too.

While Apple could unveil Apple Glass by the end of this year, don’t expect to get them onto your head any time soon. Prosser thinks they will not become available for the public to buy until Q4 2021 or Q1 2022. That translates into a yearlong wait (at least) between the device’s debut and when it ships to customers.

Apple’s PR department didn’t respond to a request for comment.

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