GoKawiilDon’t expect to put Apple’s new smart glasses on your holiday wish list. The company will unveil them at WWDC in June — and not in the fall as previously expected — to give Apple more time to hone a device that has raised widespread privacy concerns, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman said the glasses are likely to go on sale before the end of 2027.
A representative for Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Many people have expressed concerns that smart glasses, such as Meta’s Ray-Bans, are being used to secretly record them in public places like restaurants, beaches, gyms and on the street. Meta has an LED light that turns on to indicate when recording is active, but some wearers are finding ways to remove it without disabling the recording function.
Meta said on a FAQ page about the glasses that it would deactivate cameras if wearers try to remove or block the light. But the light can be hard to see on a sunny day, and technical fixes don’t address when and where recording should be allowed.
Samsung also said it would address privacy concerns with the smart glasses it is developing in partnership with eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
Smart glasses are now prohibited in all New York State court buildings and some courts in California and Wisconsin. They are banned at some comic conventions and in restrooms and casinos on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Instagram said it will remove content and possibly ban accounts that use video taken with smart glasses.
From CNET: Smart Glasses Are Putting Cameras on People’s Faces. Here’s How to Spot Them
Privacy is paramount
In light of privacy concerns raised by smart glasses, Apple’s engineers and designers in the Vision hardware group are prioritizing privacy as they develop the product, Gurman said.
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