Jon Favreau creating virtual dinosaurs for upcoming Apple AR/VR headset

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Jon Favreau creating virtual dinosaurs for upcoming Apple AR/VR headset
Dinosaurs in augmented reality would look awesome.
Concept: Cult of Mac/Ian Zelbo

Imagine standing in your backyard and looking up at a full-size Tyrannosaurus rex. That’s the possibility raised by a report that Apple asked producer Jon Favreau to turn his Prehistoric Planet docuseries into augmented reality or virtual reality. The project is supposedly for the AR/VR headset Apple will launch soon.

Apple also reportedly recruited other film and TV directors to create content, too.

Apple turns to Hollywood for content for its VR/AR headset

Apple has not actually announced an AR/VR headset yet, but the unveil could come as early as Monday’s keynote at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference. It’s expected to be just the first of many similar products as Cupertino moves toward the augmented reality glasses that could someday replace the iPhone.

But first, Apple must make the initial model a success. And part of accomplishing that is apparently AR dinosaurs.

The New York Times reports that Apple wants to enlist top talent like Iron Man director Favreau for the task.

“Mr. Favreau, an executive producer of Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+, is working to bring that show’s dinosaurs to life on the headset, which looks like a pair of ski goggles and aims to offer virtual- and augmented-reality experiences,” the Times reported.

Other Hollywood directors are making their own AR/VR content for the device, according to the publication.

Apple headset headed to store shelves soon?

When released, the first Apple VR/AR headset supposedly will benefit from a top-tier feature set. Tipsters say it will pack three high-res displays, one of which will be external. It’ll be built around a chip on par with the Apple M1 to power its performance. Many types of sensors will detect the wearer’s surroundings and body motions. And all this will go into a device without as much bulk as its rivals like Meta’s Oculus Quest 2.

The Apple headset supposedly will offer virtual reality and augmented reality. AR overlays computer-generated images or text onto the real world. It’s different from virtual reality, which completely replaces the real world.

Apple could showcase the headset — or realityOS, the software framework that reportedly will support it — during the keynote that opens its annual developer conference Monday.

Interested? Here’s how to watch the WWDC22 keynote.

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