Apple's Smart Glasses Delayed, As Engineers Consider Privacy Concerns (digitaltrends.com)
- Reference: 0184708266
- News link: https://apple.slashdot.org/story/26/07/26/2022231/apples-smart-glasses-delayed-as-engineers-consider-privacy-concerns
- Source link: https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/apples-smart-glasses-are-running-late-because-they-dont-want-to-stir-a-privacy-storm/
> Apple could unveil its first smart glasses at WWDC in June 2027, followed by a consumer release toward the end of the year, [2]according to Bloomberg ... Part of the delay reportedly stems from Apple's engineering and marketing teams spending more time refining the product and deciding how to address the privacy concerns...
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> Apple has reportedly considered glasses without cameras, as well as a version where the cameras can analyse the surroundings but cannot record photos or video. Such an approach could still support object recognition, navigation, Siri, calls, and music playback. The company is also expected to favor on-device processing, avoid facial recognition, keep recordings away from AI training, and use a [3]more visible light around the camera .
[1] https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/apples-smart-glasses-are-running-late-because-they-dont-want-to-stir-a-privacy-storm/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-07-26/apple-glasses-may-debut-at-wwdc-2027-privacy-camera-features-versus-meta-ms1v7lta
[3] https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/apple-smart-glasses-might-avoid-the-creepy-reputation-of-meta-ray-bans-with-a-light-trick/
Can you (Score:4, Insightful)
Even address privacy concerns? It's a discrete video camera hidden in glasses. Short of removing the camera I'm unsure how you can.
Re:Can you (Score:5, Informative)
The EU can. Using these things without informed consent from everybody present is a crime. In Germany, even owning them, if the camera is not obvious enough, is a crime. See? Simple.
Re: (Score:3)
Check this "Smart Glasses and GDPR: Why Europe Is Cracking Down on Camera-Equipped Eyewear" [1]https://gdprlocal.com/smart-gl... [gdprlocal.com]
[1] https://gdprlocal.com/smart-glasses-and-gdpr/
Re: (Score:2)
Interesting. Good link with actual explanations.
Re: (Score:3)
You're presumably right but you're not contributing a new argument. This boils down to exactly what the OP liqu1d was already saying: that Apple can't address the problem "short of removing the camera" because nothing else can be conciliated with the (legally-protected) privacy concerns.
> Using these things without informed consent from everybody present is a crime.
There could be some local exceptions where consent is presumed. For example in Spain one does not need a permit for "genuinely filming as a tourist with a handheld camera/smartphone, moving continuously without equipment set
Re: (Score:2)
> There could be some local exceptions where consent is presumed. For example in Spain one does not need a permit for "genuinely filming as a tourist with a handheld camera/smartphone, moving continuously without equipment setup or blocking pedestrian traffic" [1]https://cameracrewspain.com/fi... [cameracrewspain.com]
This is also known as the "panorama exception". AFAIK it exists EU-wide. It requires that the filming is obvious (so smart-glasses do not qualify) and that no person is put in camera focus. This is not a presumption of consent at all. It is a trade-off between two different legal goods and here the legal stance (usually put into local laws) is that under the conditions I just outlined the potential damage to privacy is small enough that the benefits of being able to take a panorama are bigger. Something sim
[1] https://cameracrewspain.com/film-permits-spain-guide/
Re: (Score:2)
It could come with a headband with a large flashing orange light on top which turns on whenever the camera is running.
Smart Glasses are the tools (Score:4, Interesting)
that allow individuals to scrap other peoples realities with out permission.
It was mostly a developer device (Score:2)
> Apple Vision Pro was a hard flop. Why would Apple Glasses be any better?
It was a developer device, that also mined the early adopter community for some early funding and beta testing. It was never really intended for the general market. Developers need access to such a device years before the public oriented version is released.
Just say no (Score:5, Interesting)
Jobs always said that he was most proud of what Apple didn't build. Apple you are better than this, don't do it.
Re: (Score:2)
> Jobs always said that he was most proud of what Apple didn't build.
Jobs 1.0 or 2.0? Because 1.0 got fired and his failing product, the Macintosh, was turned around by putting in some of the things he did not want. Things that Wozniak said should be there.
Re: (Score:2)
Steve Jobs was an asshole, loser, and a moron. I hope he find no peaceful rest. Jobs turned Apple into an overpriced fashion company that happens to have and use tech. And just like ever other overpriced fashion company, I have no respect for the founder, employees, or customers of said companies.
Re: (Score:2)
Microsoft made computing technology popular and ubiquitous, Apple and Google made computing technology, faster, 'smarter', cloud-powered and standardized.
Nah (Score:2)
The delayed it because they're scared it is going to fail just like the Vision Pro did.
Too easy to do means unpreventable (Score:2)
It won't be possible to stop this for long. Cameras are tiny and already you could just have one clipped to your collar. After a while it won't require big chunky glasses to mount one, it will just be ordinary eyewear.
Purely a marketing problem (Score:1)
Go big the other way and show the positives of always recording video with your glasses. I want to tell my glasses to save important events after they happened. “Siri save my conversation with the cop that just pulled me over.” “Siri save that car accident i just witnessed.” “Siri save the moment I met my wife for the first time.” “Siri save my son’s first steps.”
It was a afterthought (Score:2)
It's illuminating that they designed, built, and prepared to sell them, and only then did they stop to think about the privacy implications.
"They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
It's like building a powerful, innovative new type of gun and only then asking, "Hey, what do you think would happen if you shot someone with this thing?"
Apple Glassholes coming (Score:1)
Google then meta. Now apple will unleash the Glassholes!
Re: Apple Glassholes coming (Score:2)
People forgot the second name of Google Glass, and prime use that gave them fame â" "porn glasses"
Without pics, vido, or facial rec; not glasshole (Score:1)
> Google then meta. Now apple will unleash the Glassholes!
Except Apple sells hardware not you. Without pics, video, or facial recognition its not in glasshole territory. I’m sure there could be other social or fashion faux pas, but Apple will be less troublesome than Google or Meta.