Apple’s latest iOS 15.4 beta release contains internal code, including developer APIs for Apple AR and VR, as well as the ability for web apps to give iOS users push notifications.
It’s probable that the first Apple AR headset will be released in late 2022 or early 2023, but it will be supported by iOS. Despite the fact that none of the new functionality is now operational or seems to be enabled, there are indications of such support in the newest beta. Also FEBRUARY: ORION’S NEIGHBORHOOD
According to Maximiliano Firtman, a consultant and developer, there are four “experiments.”
- WebXR Augmented Reality Mode (disabled)
- WebXR Device API (disabled)
- WebXR Gamepads module (disabled)
- WebXR Hand Input Module (disabled)
“It’s not yet clear what the use case of this API for iPhone and iPad is since it works with external devices,” adds Firtman, “and, as far as I know, no VR or AR device is currently compatible with iOS or iPadOS.”
“My best bet,” he adds, “is that this is setting up the environment for Apple’s next goggles or headgear.”
All of them make advantage of Apple’s WebXR implementation. This is an API that allows you to interface with AR and VR devices.
While Firtman does not have any other information on these AR/VR technologies, he does claim that the iOS 15.4 beta offers web push notification for iOS.
“You read that correctly,” Firtman says. “Web Push and Web Notifications, which have been demanded for years, may finally appear in iOS and iPadOS.”
As a result, it is outside of and beyond the capability of iOS apps to deliver alerts. Currently, iOS Safari lacks the capacity to deliver push alerts to users, and the update will enable it for the first time on macOS.
However, in the current beta, both of the two new APIs – “Built-In Web Notifications” and “Push API” – are disabled by default.
The initial version of Universal Control is featured heavily in Apple’s iOS 15.4 beta. This much-anticipated feature will enable Mac and iPad owners to handle both devices at the same time.