Just like that Mariah Carey song, which mysteriously permeated the office speaker this week, it seems way too soon to be talking about 2019 iPhones.
However, just like the office hipster who tries way too hard to ensure everyone knows he loves Christmas in a totally-non-ironic way, incessant iPhone rumours are something we all have to cope with.
According to Bloomberg sources, the 2019 iPhone handsets will feature advanced rear-facing 3D imaging sensor.
The people familiar with Apple’s plan say it’s the next step in Apple’s blossoming ambitions in the augmented reality sector.
The 3D sensors would use a ‘time-of-flight’ approach to capturing the 3D environment, according to the report.
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That approach calculates the time it takes for a laser to rebound off objects in order to create a perception of depth.
Using this tech, the iPhone would be far more capable of placing digital images within real-life environments, as we’ve seen with the Lenovo Google Tango phone.
Different to TrueDepth
According to the report, Apple is already in talks with potential suppliers, but testing is in the early stages.
Bloomberg points out the likes of Infineon Technologies Sony, STMicroelectronics and Panasonic Corp are already building time-of-flight sensors.
That approach differs to the TrueDepth sensor in the current iPhone X, which is used to capture the user’s face.
That system fires 30,000 laser dots at the human face and measures the distortion in order to build a picture.
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Apple’s ambitions in the AR sector are becoming clearer as the month’s pass.
It’s ARKit is now yielding some interesting App Store entries. Meanwhile, design head Sir Jony Ive also recently claimed Apple is “waiting for the technology to catch up” in certain areas.
Many attributed this hint to the rumors AR headset being worked on that could, according to recent reports, succeed the iPhone as Apple’s flagship product.
What’s worse? Playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving? Or talking about 2019 iPhones in 2017? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
