Jun 5, 2017

Apple takes key steps on augmented, virtual reality

Ina Fried, author of Login

Screenshot by Axios

After largely sitting on the sidelines, Apple used its big developer conference Monday to announce it is at last moving deeper into AR and VR.

  • On the virtual reality front, Apple announced it is adding support for Steam, Unity and Unreal to High Sierra, the next version of MacOS
  • As for AR, Apple has long interested it is interesting in the space, but it is finally doing something. Apple is offering developers "ARKit" to make it easier for developers to add virtual objects to real images on the iPhone.

Why it matters: AR and VR are often touted as key next frontiers for computing and Apple can't afford to miss out on the next big thing.

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Roger Stone arriving at his sentencing hearing on Feb. 20. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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Why it matters: The controversial move brings an abrupt end to the possibility of Stone spending time behind bars. He had been scheduled to report to prison on July 14.

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Data: COVID Tracking Project and state health department data compiled by Axios; Map: Danielle Alberti and Naema Ahmed/Axios

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The big picture: The United States' alarming rise in coronavirus cases isn't just due to increased testing — particularly where the number of cases has grown fastest over the last month, Axios' Andrew Witherspoon and Caitlin Owens report.

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 6:30 p.m. ET: 12,389,660 — Total deaths: 557,279 — Total recoveries — 6,830,596 — Map.
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  4. Trade: Trump says he's no longer considering phase-two trade deal with China because the pandemic damaged the two countries' relationship.
  5. 🎧 Podcast: Rural America has its own coronavirus problem.
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