Apple wants a piece of the virtual reality action as well

Virtual reality is one of the newest battlegrounds for technology companies and, as usual, Apple wants a piece of the action. The company has received a new patent for what appears to be its own virtual reality headset. Much like how Samsung’s Gear VR is powered by the Galaxy Note 4, Apple’s virtual reality headset would be powered by an iPhone, although it will use a different technique for keeping it attached to your face. 

Apple has received a new patent for what looks like a virtual reality headset, which operates using an iPhone, much like Samsung’s Gear VR uses the Galaxy Note 4. Described as a head-mounted display system, one of the images shows the housing is based on a pair of glasses, and not a face mask with a strap, like the Gear VR or Oculus Rift. However, Apple makes a point of adding in different methods for keeping it on your face, including straps and oddly, hats. A phone is shown being slipped inside the glasses, indicating the phone’s screen will act as the virtual reality display. Elsewhere, the patent talks about aligning left and right images on the display with the user’s eyes, and an automatic detection mode for switching to a left/right screen setting when the phone is docked with the headset.