Thread by @beleevens

A different #WhatIfAlpha this time. Apple Glasses have been a rumor for such a long time and I believe we might see a first glimpse what they've been working on at this event.

A short 🧵

https://twitter.com/gregjoz/status/1562477072701800449

1) In this teaser animation, we see a particle cloud. I think they represent devices & an environment. Before we dive deeper, let's go back some time.

It all started in 2019. Apple embedded the U1 chip into the iPhone 11 for the first time.

https://twitter.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1171500353243643904

2) What is the U1 chip? It uses Ultra Wideband technology for spatial awareness — allowing all U1 equipped devices to locate each other.
"It’s like adding another sense to iPhone, and it’s going to lead to amazing new capabilities."

https://twitter.com/BrianRoemmele/status/1171500353243643904

3) Today almost every Apple product has a U1 chip embedded. iPhone, Watch, AirPods, iPads, and AirTags to find lost items – all of them.

The precision? Down to 2cm.

This means you can find any of your devices at almost all times. Handy, right?

4) How does this magic work? All U1 chips in all equipped devices know about each other – even the iPhone of your friend "knows" through a secure, anonymous network in the background that you and your iPhone are also in the room.

5) Without GPS or a SIM card, you can find all your items as long as a single Apple device is nearby. The energy consumption of the U1 chip? AirTags are promised to hold up to 2 years on a single battery.

6) Alright, enough with the tech talk. Why do I think this is relevant? If Apple can basically map out a whole city through all interconnected devices on an anonymous network, they can calculate a particle cloud of the city.

7) What about data privacy, you ask? Apple is building for privacy. Their network does know there is a device, but it doesn't connect it to your personal profile, from what I know. So, while it is a valid point, they're trying to make it as secure and anonymous as possible.

8) Back to the glasses. Why is this hyper location important? When you're walking through a city with Apple Glasses on, they can display hyperlocalized information. Next bus leaving from your stop? No worries, the schedule automatically shows up when you approach the stop.

9) It could even go as far where they can "pin" items on locations and sights down to the cm. They could stick information about a specific statue right onto it – and it stays there.

10/10) In conclusion, I believe we might see the first teaser of Apple glasses during this event.

What do you think? What else could it mean?

cc @BrianRoemmele as usual, thank you for your content. Would love your thoughts on this. 🙏