Apple is Planning 3D Cameras for Next Year's iPhones; Three Rear Cameras Setup For This Year's Phone; and Dark Mode for iOS 13: Report (bloomberg.com)

Apple plans to launch iPhones with a more-powerful 3-D camera as soon as next year, stepping up the company's push into augmented reality, Bloomberg reported Wednesday. From the report: The rear-facing, longer-range 3-D camera is designed to scan the environment to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the real world. It will work up to about 15 feet from the device, the people said. Apple's new system uses a laser scanner, rather than the existing dot-projection technology which doesn't work as well over longer distances, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unreleased features. That's just one of many new features -- including a third, more advanced camera, enhanced photo-capture tools and a more powerful chip -- that Apple plans to include in coming generations of iPhones, the people said.

[...] For 2019, Apple plans successors to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max -- code-named D42 and D43 -- and an update to the iPhone XR, said the people. The larger of the new high-end iPhones will have three cameras on the back, and other handsets could eventually come with the upgraded system, too, the people said. [...] Apple's next operating system update, iOS 13, will include a dark mode option for easier nighttime viewing and improvements to CarPlay, the company's in-vehicle software.

Comments

3D stuff has never taken hold yet...

[SuperKendall]

It seems to me like most attempts at bringing 3D to the general consumer market are meet with a cool reception...

But I have to say, I have one friend on Facebook who somehow has had an experimental feature toggled on for her Facebook app, and she takes what are essentially slightly shifting 3D photos - and they do look amazing (part of which is that she is also a good photographer and knows how to take advantage of the feature).

Live Photos have a bit of a similar effect but the 3D perspective shift on a still subject, adds a bit of extra zing.

One area I can honestly see this really being great though are for things like eBay where you could better convey a sense of the item. eBay would have to support 3D display features like this though.

So, maybe between augmented/virtual reality gear slowly being accepted by the market, and more 3D gear like this going into widespread consumer devices... maybe we'll finally see significant uptake in consumer interest and use of 3D.