LiDAR

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on LiDAR:

Adorable puppy prosthetics star in new ‘Shot on iPhone’ video

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Adorable puppy prosthetics star in new ‘Shot on iPhone’ video
3DPets uses the Lidar scanner in an iPhone 14 Pro to make a custom prosthetic for Trip the dog.
Screenshot: Apple

The latest “Shot on iPhone” film is the heart-warming story of Trip the dog receiving a prosthetic leg. It came from a company that uses lidar built into Apple handsets to scan his body to make sure it fits.

Watch The Invincibles to see how the process works.

Upgrades might make next-gen iPad Air more ‘Pro’

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iPad Air 4 comes in a range of colors.
The iPad Air 5 could look quite a bit like its predecessor while also getting upgraded features.
Screenshot: Apple

The difference between the current 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro is relatively slim. And now it seems more of the features of the Pro tablet are moving to the Air. Apple is reportedly going to build on the powerful 2020 model with an iPad Air 5 that offers a dual-lens camera and optional 5G. Plus, the tablet is getting a processor upgrade.

These changes would make it a stronger mid-range tablet in Apple’s product lineup.

iPhone 13 may boast 1TB storage, LiDAR on all models

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iPhone 13 might sport a 120Hz display.
This year's iPhone could be a big update for Apple.
Concept: ConceptsiPhone

The iPhone 13 will boast a maximum storage capacity that’s double that of the iPhone 12, claim Wedbush analysts Strecker Backe and Daniel Ives in a new note to clients, seen by Cult of Mac.

Unlike the iPhone 12, which tops out at 512GB, the iPhone 13 could offer up to 1TB. That’s also 62 times the storage of the original iPhone, which topped out at 16GB.

LiDAR Scanner puts iPhone 12 Pro at the forefront of augmented reality

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LiDAR in the iPhone 12 Pro is about more than augmented reality.
LiDAR brings iPhone 12 Pro to the cutting edge of AR.
Photo: Apple

The LiDAR Scanner in the iPhone 12 Pro makes Apple’s new flagship device an augmented reality powerhouse. It enables the handset to make an accurate 3D map of its location into which virtual objects can then be placed.

However, the scanner apparently has been added to the iPhone 12 Pro models in a “build it and they will come” strategy. Apple didn’t show many specific applications demonstrating the benefits of the tech during Tuesday’s launch event for the device.

How to see the huge AR easter egg hidden in Apple’s Oct. 13 event invite

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The invite to the Apple October event 2020 offers an augmented-reality easter egg.
The invite to the Apple October event includes a bit of augmented reality.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Hidden in Tuesday’s invite to the October Apple event is a hint that the company is about to make a big push into augmented reality.

The graphic for the event invite is the Apple logo surrounded by bubbles. iPhone and iPad users can transfer that design to the real 3D world, and put it in motion.

Potential iPhone 12 buyers want faster 5G and a smaller design

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One version of iPhone 12 will be huge.
The iPhone 12 will reportedly offer a 6.7-inch option, but there’s more interest in the smallest version.
Concept: ConceptsiPhone

A survey of current iPhone users found that 41% of them intend to upgrade to the iPhone 12 when it’s released this autumn.

What’s drawing in potential buyers the most is a faster connection via 5G. And there’s plenty of interest in the tiny 5.4-inch model. But survey respondents aren’t much interested in another rumored feature of the iPhone 12: a LiDAR scanner for augmented reality.

iPad Pro’s LiDAR Scanner isn’t accurate enough for 3D printing

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Esper is a proof-of-concept app to demonstrate the LiDAR scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro
The LiDAR scanner in the latest iPad makes a 3D map of its area, as demonstrated by Esper from Lux Optics.
Photo: Sebastiaan De With/Lux Optics

The 3D scanner built into the 2020 iPad Pro is intended for augmented-reality applications. Tests by the developers of the Halide camera app found that LiDAR built into this new tablet is well-suited for scanning furniture-size objects, but not anything smaller.

Lustworthy iPhone 12 Pro concept will hold you over until the real thing launches

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iphone12
So many camera lenses.
Photo: Donel Bagrov

An all-new iPhone 12 Pro concept is out this week, hot on the heels of the latest report that Apple plans to introduce four 5G iPhones this fall.

The beautiful new video concept created by Donel Bagrov and Anton Panton envisions the most drop-dead-gorgeous iPhone we’ve ever seen, with a slick new body design, haptic volume slider, 120Hz refresh rate display and so much more.

We sure hope the 2020 iPhone looks something like this:

iPhone 12 Pro will pack triple camera lens array and LiDAR sensor

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iphone-12-pro
Are you excited about this year's iPhone 12 refresh?
Photo: The Hacker 34

The iPhone 12 Pro could boast a revised camera array on the rear, complete with a LiDAR scanner like the one found on the 2020 iPad Pro, a new image posted online suggests.

The schematic image was posted on Twitter Saturday by leakster @Choco_bit, who has previously shared information about forthcoming Apple launches. The seemingly Apple-produced image reportedly comes from iOS 14, courtesy of the ConceptsiPhone Instagram.

Facebook boxes out Apple on AR displays

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Plessy
Plessy has been at the forefront of micro LED display development.
Photo: Plessy

Apple’s long-rumored augmented reality glasses project may have suffered a serious setback thanks to Facebook.

The social network company reportedly reached a licensing deal with Plessey, a British firm that makes displays specifically for augmented reality displays. Apple supposedly was looking into acquiring Plessey. But Facebook rushed in and struck an exclusive supply deal with the company, effectively shutting out Cupertino.

Boxy iPhone 12 Pro concept packs ProMotion XDR display and PowerDrop

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iphone-12-pro
Would you buy the iPhone 12 Pro if it looks like this?
Photo: The Hacker 34

Another iPhone 12 Pro concept landed on YouTube this week to satiate Apple fans who just can’t wait for the real deal to be revealed this fall.

Created by the Hacker 34, the new iPhone 12 Pro concept offers a couple features not included on the drool-worthy concept we posted yesterday. Armed with a ProMotion XDR display, new quad-camera setup and two-way charging, this boxy concept will have you ready to open your wallet for the 5G iPhone, whenever it actually comes out.

Check it out:

Drool-worthy iPhone 12 Pro concept shows off boxy body and new LiDAR sensor

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iphone 12
Meet the iPhone 12 Pro.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

Just can’t wait until Apple unleashes its new iPhones later this year? Our friends at ConceptsiPhone just published their most beautiful iPhone 12 Pro concept video yet and it looks like it almost came directly from Apple’s marketing department.

The detailed concept video shows off the most anticipated features on the 2020 iPhone lineup, including the new iPhone 4-inspired body in two new colors and LiDAR sensor that was just added to the new iPad Pros that came out last week.

Grab a napkin and get ready to drool:

Top 5 reasons to love the 2020 iPad Pro

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2020 iPad Pro builds on the 2018 model.
2020 iPad Pro has more RAM, a better camera, an innovative LiDAR 3D scanner and other improvements,
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The 2020 iPad Pro takes Apple’s very capable tablet from 2018, improves the specs and performance, and even adds some great features.

I did hands-on testing of the new capabilities and found there’s a lot to love in the latest iPad.

Apple’s ARKit 3.5 offers augmented reality enhanced wih LiDAR 3D mapping

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ARKit 3.5 offers improved people occlusion with its LiDAR 3D scanner.
ARKit 3.5 does a better of job of mixing people and virtual objects in augmented reality apps.
Photo: Apple

ARKit 3.5, the new version of Apple’s augmented reality software, can capture a 3D representation of the world in real time. This feature employs the LiDAR scanner that’s already in the 2020 Pad Pro and expected in some of this autumn’s iPhone models.

And the version of ARKit that debuted yesterday in iOS 13.4 is better at allowing virtual objects to pass in front of and behind people in the scene.

iPhone 12 concept shows camera bump with LiDAR scanner

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iPhone 12 with LiDAR scanner
A LiDAR scanner might be a significant new feature of the iPhone 12.
Photo: svetapple.sk

A major new feature in this fall’s iPhone 12 is rumored to be a LiDAR scanner. A concept artist created a series of images showing what this change might look like.

This scanner would enable the next high-end iPhone models to create an accurate 3D map of their location, greatly improving augmented reality applications.

LiDAR scanner makes 2020 iPad Pro an augmented reality powerhouse

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Look inside the LiDAR scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro
The innovative LiDAR scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro is fast and accurate.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The 2020 iPad Pro is the first Apple computer with LiDAR. This innovation enables the tablet to make an accurate 3D map of its location. Combine it with software improvements and this tablet is, in Apple’s words, “the world’s best device for augmented reality.”

And the LiDAR scanner might be usable for other purposes, as well.

Upgraded Apple Maps backpack rig uses iPhone 11 Pro for image capture

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Have you seen one of these guys walking around your city with an upgraded Apple Maps backpack with iPhone 11 Pros?
Have you seen one of these guys walking around your city?
Photo: Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac spotted an Apple employee wearing an updated data-gathering backpack powered by iPhone 11 Pros on Thursday in Silicon Valley. The wearable rig, presumably used to collect images and data for Apple Maps, looks similar to one seen in 2018. But it features a new hardshell cover — and at least three of Apple’s latest iPhones, apparently used to capture images from the backpack’s sides.

Take a look at how it compares to the old setup:

Apple’s self-driving car sports sleek new sensor array

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Apple car
Apple's self-driving car looks really good.
Photo: The Last Driver License Holder.

Apple made a big update to the design of the sensor array that powers the autonomous functions on its self-driving fleet of cars.

Some eagle-eyed observers in the Cupertino area spotted the new array a couple of times over the last month or so. Instead of having LiDAR and camera sensors mounted on a rack around the car, Apple’s gearheads created a system that’s entirely enclosed. And it looks like they’ve ditched LiDAR in the process.

Watch Apple’s whip drive down the streets of Cupertino.

Apple hires top Drive.ai talent as self-driving startup shuts down

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Drive.ai self-driving car
Drive.ai is dead.
Photo: Drive.ai

Self-driving car startup Drive.ai is reportedly shutting down — and Apple is scooping up the talent.

Drive.ai, which made kits that turn regular cars into self-driving cars, notified the Employment Development Department of California that it was shutting down and laying off all 90 of its employees. Apple was reportedly looking into acquiring the company earlier this month. Instead, Cupertino decided to just hire some of its key employees.

Apple tech could improve visibility in bad driving conditions

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Street at night 2
This could be an important development for an Apple Car.
Photo: j3n53r/Flickr CC

As part of its Project Titan initiative, Apple has invented some smart tech for improving detection of road signs and other vehicles on the road in low visibility situations.

This could ramp up safety in situations such as an autonomous Apple Car driving in foggy, snowy, low light or otherwise hard-to-see situations.

Apple seeks next-gen Lidar sensors for possible Apple Car

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Apple Car might be coming, but will it be special?
Coming soon to a road near you? Maybe.
Photo: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

Apple is reportedly in talks with Lidar makers regarding sensors that could be used for its Apple Car initiative.

A commonly used surveying tool, Lidar measures distances between objects. It works by firing a pulsed laser light, then measuring how long it takes to bounce back. While not exclusively used in self-driving cars, that’s the application the technology is most synonymous with.

Ex-Apple engineers pave the way for next-gen self-driving car sensors

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Aeva
It's like a Lidar crossed with an iPod.
Photo: Aeva

Apple still hasn’t publicly revealed whether it’s working on an autonomous car, but a company started by former Apple engineers certainly is.

Opening up about its plans, startup Aeva has revealed that it is building a smart sensor that will help self-driving cars make sense of the world. And, from its sleek design to its mix of hardware and software magic, it totally looks like the kind of product Apple would design and make!

Apple’s self-driving Lexus gets caught on camera

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Apple Car
Apple's first self-driving Lexus.
Photo: Bloomberg

Apple’s self-driving cars have been spotted in the wild for the first time, giving fans an early peek at the tech that could change roads forever.

The California DMV issued a permit to Apple earlier this month allowing it to test its self-driving cars on public roads. Apple is only registered to drive three Lexus cars around Silicon Valley, but the company is wasting no time in its efforts to catch up to the competition.