iPhone 7 Holds a Clue to Virtual Reality from Apple

13 really cool iOS 10.1 tips and tricks for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

While a vast majority of iPhone buyers have felt that iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were nothing more than upgrades to existing models, there are several clues that show what direction Apple might take for the iPhone of the future.

The most interesting of those is the dual camera on the iPhone 7 Plus variant. But why is this interesting? And what clue does it hold for what Apple might do with future iterations of the iconic smartphone that changed the world?

Why the iPhone 7 Plus Dual Camera is a Big Deal

The depth of field that a dual camera setup can give is just the surface of what I’m going to be talking about. According to Alban Denoyel, the CEO of Sketchfab, a company that deals with 3D technologies:

“Dual camera means depth, and depth means three things.”

And the three things he refers to are the ability to capture a 3D scene, gesture recognition and positional tracking. There’s only one other technology that combines these three elements, and that is Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR).

Denoyel goes on to say that this could mean Apple is providing the hardware base for virtual reality applications. In fact, he says it puts Apple on “equal footing” with Google Tango and Intel’s RealSense, among others in the VR/AR space.

Apple’s Position in Virtual Reality

But the problem is, Apple hasn’t actually stepped into VR. The dual camera is still the first step. Even the depth of field capabilities will only come out as a software update at the end of the year. But it isn’t a new thing for Apple to test something out first before rolling out a related service. Remember the fingerprint sensor that came out a year before Apple Pay was launched?

Apple’s recent acquisition of LinX is suggestive of the company moving into the VR space, however, as is the confirmed acquisition of PrimeSense. On one side is a camera module maker, and on the other is a 3D sensing technology company – both from Israel, coincidentally.

All of these are indications that Apple might soon move into the VR/AR space and take its position alongside companies like Google, Intel, Microsoft and Facebook. But even without taking any more steps in that direction, Apple has opened itself up to VR applications with the dual camera on the iPhone 7 Plus.

The way I see it, Apple has put it out there to see who, if anyone, can create synergies for Apple’s smartphones. This, in turn, will provide a clear line of sight for VR-capability in future iPhones. So even if they don’t move into VR themselves, sooner or later someone is bound to. With over 1 billion iPhones alive and kicking somewhere in the world, this represents a massive business opportunity for startup VR companies.

As for Apple, it’s still a long way to TipperARy.

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