5 Crazy Things Apple’s Working on in Secret

We all know that Apple is working on new iPhones, Apple Watches, Macs and other products. But despite the easy-to-guess nature of many of the company’s product releases, the company has many initiatives that are much more secretive in nature.
Beyond its well-known devices, Apple is working behind-the-scenes on other projects that consumers haven’t seen yet. And while some of them are better-kept secrets than others, they’re all projects that Apple hasn’t really publicly acknowledged. Continue reading to learn about five of Apple’s secret projects.
Augmented Reality Headset
Augmented reality is likely to be the future of technology. Apple knows this. And despite the lack of a dedicated visual AR device, the company has made great strides in the AR space. ARKit, for example, turned iOS into the largest AR platform in the world overnight.
But the company is undoubtedly cooking up something bigger. Most tech industry watchers and Apple enthusiasts probably know by now that the company is developing some sort of head-worn augmented-, virtual- or mixed-reality device.
What exactly Apple’s AR headset could look like or what features it’ll have is unclear at this point. Past reports suggest that Apple is developing something to replace the iPhone — a device with its own processing power and App Store. But other more recent reports suggest that the first Apple AR device will be an accessory to an iPhone.
In any case, it’s looking like a certainty that some type of Apple head-worn device is coming. Hints about the system are already present in iOS code, and Apple has been making movies in its supply chain that indicate something massive is coming soon.
Apple Car
When it comes to Apple’s secrets, one of the worst-kept ones has to be Project Titan. If you aren’t familiar, Project Titan is the Cupertino tech giant’s self-driving car project. It’s also one of Apple’s older secret projects, with rumors about it stretching back for years.
The Apple Car project wasn’t had the smoothest ride over the years, however. The endeavor has been plagued by staff restructurings and layoffs, as well as alleged corporate espionage. But despite the road bumps, Apple still appears to be hard at work making something for a vehicle.
That’s where the vagueness comes in. It isn’t clear what exactly Apple is working on in the automotive sphere. While certain reports indicated that the company is just developing the underlying systems for an autonomous vehicle, other rumors suggest that Apple is actually going to make a full-fledged car.
The Apple Car, if it turns out to be a car, is going to come packed with some extremely cool features however, like in-ride virtual reality and keyless operation. As far as when you’ll get to drive one, one renowned analyst says it’s due to arrive between 2023 and 2025.
Satellite-Based Internet
Apple may already provide you with cloud storage, music, TV and even financial services, so why not add cellular connectivity to the list? That may sound far-fetched now, but a recent report suggests Apple may want to replace your carrier — or, at least, bypass it.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has a dedicated team of researchers and engineers exploring different ways of beaming data to iPhones. That team includes “about a dozen engineers from the aerospace, satellite and antenna design industries.”
So yes, Apple may be developing its own fleet of satellites soon enough. In addition to mitigating coverage issues and reducing the reliance on wireless carriers, Apple could use these satellites to increase the precision of location tracking and even help link devices together over a greater distance.
It isn’t clear whether Apple is looking to deploy its own network of satellites, or simply use ground-based receiving mechanisms to link to existing satellite systems. In any case, an Apple satellite endeavor would likely have performance and privacy benefits for Apple users.
Advanced Health Sensors
Apple CEO Tim Cook believes that the company’s biggest contribution to mankind may end up being health. And, looking back at reports of the Apple Watch and iPhone helping to save lives, it becomes pretty clear that health is a priority over in Cupertino — and it may just be Apple’s most meaningful area of interest.
But despite the initial success of health systems on the Apple Watch and the iPhone, it doesn’t look like the company is done in the health sphere yet. In fact, Apple’s healthcare ambitions are likely one of the most exciting endeavors that the company is currently developing.
Take, for example, the secretive fitness lab where Apple has collected more workout data than any entity in history. There are also rumors and patent applications for health-related technology, like a sensor that can “smell” blood glucose levels or an AR headset that could aid those with vision difficulties to see more of their surroundings.
As Apple’s consumer products become more wearable, this will all likely become more important. And while we don’t expect an “Apple Health Center” anytime soon, it’s becoming clear that the company has big plans in the wellness and health industry.
Apple Chips
If you think of massive chipmaking companies, Intel or Qualcomm probably come to mind. But behind the scenes, Apple has quietly become a chipmaking superpower. If you need evidence of that, just look at Apple’s proprietary A-series chips — which regularly outperform their Android rivals.
Apple probably also has other silicon projects in the works. The company is largely expected to transition away from Intel chips for its Macs to some sort of first-party, ARM-based chip. That move could have a range of benefits for users.
There are also reports of Apple developing a first-party smartphone modem chip. In fact, Apple is currently expanding in the backyard of the largest modem supplier in the world: Qualcomm. While the Cupertino tech giant has an agreement with Qualcomm currently, that could always change in the future.
All of these developments make sense. Apple has long tried to reduce its reliance on third-party chipmakers, particularly because of legal and technical problems with those manufacturers. But Apple-produced chips will also likely be more efficient and will integrate better with Apple hardware.