Apple's iCloud Drive file-syncing and storage service is worth using, especially if you're committed to Apple's ecosystem, but it doesn't quite measure up to the competition from Google and Microsoft.
Apple has been rumored to be working on a few alternative-reality devices, including an AR headset, AR glasses, and a colloquially known 'iRing.' While there is little concrete evidence of any devices being created, the newly introduced ARKit 3, as well as several patents released in 2019, it's likely that Apple will step into the AR hardware arena by as early as 2022.
● Rumored 2022 release
● People occlusion
● Holographic elements to correct for field of view
● May utilize iPhone or iPhone-like screen
● iRing may provide movement information to device
Augmented reality — often stylized as AR — is the act of superimposing a computer-generated image into the 'real world,' usually via a smartphone camera and the screen. People often compare AR to VR — or virtual reality. Virtual reality, however, is the act of creating a fully simulated environment that a user can 'step into.'
Current examples of augmented reality are games like Pokemon Go, which features an AR mode that allows users to hunt, photograph, and catch Pokemon via their smartphone's camera. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat use augmented reality filters to encourage users to share pictures and videos.
Apps like Measure are also considered AR based Apps.
Some retailers allow users to preview items in their homes via augmented reality as well.
Introduced in WWDC 2017, ARKit is Apple's software development kit that enables app developers to incorporate augmented reality into their apps. ARKit handles many of the tough tasks associated with AR, including detecting movement and the local environment, simplifying the process for developers to place virtual objects in an everyday scene.
In iOS 13, ARKit 3 was released. ARKit 3 received many notable upgrades over its predecessor. New features included the introduction of people occlusion, or the ability to place objects behind or in front of users as needed.
It also enabled more face track multiple faces, and the ability to place digital objects into complex environments.
A new iOS 14 code leak suggests that there will be a dedicated AR app, codenamed 'Gobi.' The app would use specialized Apple QR codes for displaying content while out shopping. The leak also had details about Find My getting AR functionality for finding lost objects.
Apple has been rumored to be working on an augmented reality headset or smart glasses for some time and has used considerable resources in the field of AR and VR. While Apple has so far declined to publicly offer details of when to expect AR-equipped head-mounted hardware in the future if at all, it is allegedly offering up timelines to employees.
Patents have surfaced as well, suggesting that Apple may be in the early stages of planning how such devices are going to work.
In US patent application number 20190349662, Apple describes an AR headset having a 'device-mount audio mode.'
The design suggests a headset with another device like an iPhone mounted in front of the user's eyes. Similar headsets have existed for some time, with Google Cardboard being a notable example.
'[The headset can be] configured to: determine whether the mobile device is mounted on a head-mounted display (HMD) mount,' says the patent, '[then] transmit an audio signal from the device processor to a wireless headphone; and change an audio mode of one or more of the mobile device or the wireless headphone.'
So when the iPhone is mounted in the headset, the audio can be automatically routed to that headset's speakers. When it isn't, the iPhone's speakers are used instead.
Another patent application, 20190285897, suggests that Apple may be working on a higher-end AR headset that features holographic elements. The patent describes a complex system for displaying an image for the user in an AR headset.
Rather than using a display showing a composite view of the environment and virtual content, Apple proposes the use of a 'reflective holographic combiner' to serve the same purpose, reflecting light for the AR elements while at the same time passing through environmental light.
The benefits of a holographic system are many, but the most significant improvement would likely be the reduction of unpleasant side effects. Both VR and AR have been shown to cause eye strain, headaches, and occasionally nausea.
The holographic elements would allow Apple to correct for depth, seamlessly integrating the projections into a user's field of view. By providing integration, it would help to prevent the usual level of discomfort wearers feel when using similar headsets.
A patent suggests that instead of using a controller or gloves, users could pan around their AR environment using a trackpad.
Apple is investigating the use of multiple holographic elements projected onto the lens for displaying information to the wearer. This system would allow for much smaller and lighter glasses and keep the resolution of the images seen as high as possible.
The AR glasses may not launch until sometime in 2022, at the earliest. At least that is according to long time analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A contradicting report from Jon Prosser claims that Kuo is wrong, stating that the glasses would ship in mid-2021, and that he's seen them.
Prosser continued leaking information about the upcoming wearable, citing their name as 'Apple Glass' with a late 2021 launch for $499. The glasses would take prescription lenses and have no cameras attached, just LiDAR.
Patent application number 20190346938 covers a 'finger-mounted device with fabric.'
Previous patents have shown Apple describing various systems using gloves or gloves with rings on several fingers to detect motion; this filing proposes that one smart ring could provide the necessary motion information.
'The use of wearable devices to gather input for controlling electronic equipment can pose challenges,' says this patent. 'If care is not taken, a device such as a glove may affect the ability of a user to feel objects in the user's surroundings, may be uncomfortable to use, or may not gather suitable input from the user.'
The ring could contain 'components such as force sensors, accelerometers, and other sensors and for haptic output devices.'
'During operation, a user may wear the finger mounted units on the tips of the user's fingers while interacting with external objects,' it continues.
AR is becoming more ubiquitous with the inclusion of a LiDAR system on the new iPad Pro, and even audio AR with AirPods Pro noise cancellation and transparency mode. Expect more devices to bring better-augmented reality experiences soon.
How iOS and iPadOS optimize storage
If your device is low on storage, it automatically frees up space while installing an app, updating iOS or iPadOS, downloading music, recording videos, and more.
To make more storage available, your device can remove some of your items, like streamed music and videos, files in iCloud Drive, and parts of apps that aren't needed. It also removes temporary files and clears the cache on your device. But your device only removes items that can be downloaded again or that aren't needed anymore. Can i download mac app on windows 10 windows 10.
Use your device to check its storage
Go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage. You might see a list of recommendations for optimizing your device's storage, followed by a list of installed apps and the amount of storage each one uses. Tap an app's name for more information about its storage. Cached data and temporary data might not be counted as usage.
In the detailed view you can:
- Offload the app, which frees up storage used by the app, but keeps its documents and data.
- Delete the app, which removes the app and its related data.
- Depending on the app, you might be able to delete some of its documents and data.
If your device is almost full and can't free up space, you might get a Storage Almost Full alert. If you see this alert, you should check the storage recommendations or you need to offload some less-used content like videos and apps.
Content categories
The used content on your device is divided in these categories:
- Apps: Installed apps and their content, and content stored in 'On My iPhone/iPad/iPod touch' directory in the Files app, and Safari downloads
- Photos: Photos and videos stored in the Photos app
- Media: Music, videos, podcasts, ringtones, artwork, and Voice Memos
- Mail: Emails and their attachments
- Apple Books: Books and PDFs in the Books app
- Messages: Messages and their attachments
- iCloud Drive: iCloud Drive content that has been downloaded locally to your device. This content can't be automatically deleted.
- Other: Non-removable mobile assets, like Siri voices, fonts, dictionaries, non-removable logs and caches, Spotlight index, and system data, such as Keychain and CloudKit Database. Cached files can't be deleted by the system.
- System: Space taken by the operating system. This can vary based on your device and model.
Use recommendations to optimize storage
In the Storage section of Settings, your device might offer recommendations for optimizing your storage. Tap Show All to see all the recommendations for your device.
Your screen flashes when the photo is taken.In the Photo Booth app on your Mac, do any of the following:.Turn off the countdown: Hold down the Option key while clicking the Take Photo button.Turn off the flash: Hold down the Shift key while clicking the Take Photo button.Change the flash setting: Choose Camera Enable Screen Flash.Turn off both the countdown and the flash: Press and hold the Option and Shift keys while you click the Take Photo button. When you take a photo, there’s a three-second countdown before the photo is taken. To leave the full-screen view, move the pointer to the green button again, then choose Exit Full Screen from the menu that appears, or click the button.Use Photo Booth in Split View: Move the pointer to the green button in the top-left corner of the Photo Booth window, then choose Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen from the menu that appears. When taking photos or recording a video in PhotoBooth, you can adjust the window size to either full screen to use your entire computer screen, or Split View if you want to work in another app at the same time.In the Photo Booth app on your Mac, do one of the following:.Use Photo Booth in full screen: Move the pointer to the green button in the top-left corner of the Photo Booth window, then choose Enter Full Screen from the menu that appears, or click the button. Best video recording app macbook.
Read the description of each recommendation, then tap Enable to turn it on or tap the recommendation to review the contents you can delete.
Use Finder or iTunes to check the storage on your iOS device
- On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes.
- Connect your device to your computer.
- Select your device in Finder or in iTunes. You'll see a bar that shows how much storage your content uses, divided by content type.
- Move your mouse over the bar to see how much storage each content type is using.
Here's a list of the types of content on your device, and what each type includes:
- Audio: Songs, audio podcasts, audiobooks, voice memos, and ringtones.
- Video: Movies, music videos, and TV shows.
- Photos: Content in your Photo Library, Camera Roll, and Photo Stream.
- Apps: Installed apps. The content of the apps is listed under Documents & Data.
- Books: iBooks books, audio books, and PDF files.
- Documents & Data: Safari Offline Reading List, files stored within installed apps, and app content like contacts, calendars, messages, and emails (and their attachments).
- Other: Settings, Siri voices, system data, and cached files.
About cached files in 'Other'
Finder and iTunes categorize cached music, videos, and photos as Other instead of actual songs, videos, or photos. Cached files are created when you stream or view content like music, videos, and photos. When you stream music or video, that content is stored as cached files on your device so you can quickly access it again.
Your device automatically removes cached files and temporary files when your device needs more space.
If storage on your device differs from what you see in Finder or iTunes
Since Finder and iTunes categorize cached files as Other, reported usage for Music or Videos might differ. To view usage on your device, go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage.
If you want to delete the cached files from your device
Your device automatically deletes cached files and temporary files when it needs more space. You don't need to delete them yourself.
Learn more
App To Measure Storage On Computer Mac Pro
- To reduce the size of your Photo library, turn on iCloud Photo Library and optimize your device storage.
- Optimize your music and videos storage in Settings > Music > Optimize Storage.
- Learn how iOS, iPadOS, and macOS report storage capacity.