Apple WWDC is set up to take place on June 5

Apple Inc. has set a June 5 date for a special event where the company will unveil its first major new product since it introduced its smartwatch eight years ago, a mixed reality headset. 

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This year's Worldwide Developers Conference, also known as WWDC in short, was scheduled to start on that Monday, June 6, and run until that Friday, June 9. At its conferences, it usually uses the first day of the conference to introduce its next-generation operating systems and platforms that will run on them. A "full-day experience" will be held this year as part of the conference, which is being held at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California.

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"This year's WWDC conference will be one of our biggest and most exciting events yet, and we can't wait to see as many of you as possible online and in person at this very special event as well," Apple's vice president of developer relations, Susan Prescott, said in a statement.

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The headset, likely to be called the Reality One or Reality Pro, will be at the center of the agenda this time, according to trade publication Trade Algo. The company will also demonstrate the accompanying xrOS operating system that will run on the device as well as a way for developers to develop apps for it.

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Apple's announcement of the conference on its website features artwork depicting the Apple Park campus, but there is no hint at the headset that will be unveiled at the conference. Additionally, Apple plans to announce the next versions of its operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch during the event. Apple TV, AirPods and HomePods are among the products that are typically announced during the conference as well as the new software features. 

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It is likely that Apple's debut of the new device will propel the company into the world of mixed reality, a still nascent category that has cost Meta Platforms Inc. billions of dollars and has so far failed to become mainstream. In order to differentiate itself from rivals, Apple is planning to release a high-end product that may cost around $3,000 and include a number of technologies that have not previously been seen in consumer devices. An array of features will be available in the headset, including a combination of eye and hand control, an onboard App Store, virtual reality-based FaceTime, VR versions of core Apple apps, and immersive video streaming. 

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Apple's product will feature a number of external cameras as well as a blend of virtual and augmented reality. By using this headset, users will be able to either immerse themselves in their content or flick a dial to see what's happening around them while using the headset at the same time. 

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Apple will have to make a convincing case for why its approach to mixed reality is superior to those of other companies since mixed-reality technology from other companies has been slow to catch on. The WWDC could be an ideal stage for such an announcement, given its pro-Apple crowd and the ample opportunity for developers to explore the technology during the week-long conference, which tends to be a pro-Apple event. 

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Apple recently held a series of demonstrations of the new device to what is known as the Top 100, the company's top 100 most important executives, within the first few weeks of this month. 

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Following the postponement of Apple's planned announcement of the headset earlier this year, Apple will be unveiling its first product of the year at this event. It was announced by Apple earlier this year that the company would be releasing a new version of its MacBook Pro as well as an updated version of its HomePod speaker, without holding a live event. Also, the company plans to unveil a number of new Mac products in the coming months, including its first Mac Pro model without Intel Corp. processors and a MacBook Air with a larger screen. 

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Although it may take some time for the mixed-reality headset to gain popularity, it will serve as another platform for Apple developers to sell their apps and content in the near future. It is anticipated that Apple will add several features to the headset that will allow it to integrate with other Apple products, including the Mac and iPhone. The fact that developers may be able to expand their software to run on the new platform may provide an incentive for them to do so. Apple also stands to benefit from the arrangement, as the arrangement opens up an additional revenue opportunity, as it takes a cut of up to 30% on app sales and subscriptions. 

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During the conference, Apple might also lay the groundwork for changes that will be made across its operating systems to comply with the Digital Markets Act and other laws aimed at reining in the power of the company. Trade Algo reports that Apple plans to include an external app store feature in iOS 17 along with enhanced interoperability with third-party services in a future version, according to a report in the publication.