Of all Apple device projects, future eyewear, from mixed reality headsets to smartglasses has been the number one invention-class for patents over the last few years. Patently Apple has covered 349 of their patents, and that doesn't cover related patent categories such as in-air gesturing. We covered an updated Apple patent this morning titled "Virtual Reality System" covering a dynamic focus 3D display as presented in the patent figure below. There are so many HMD related inventions on record that it's almost impossible to guess which technologies the Apple team has chosen for their first HMD device.

(Click on image to greatly Enlarge)

On Tuesday, the tech site The Information posted a report titled "The Inside Story of Why Apple Bet Big on a Mixed-Reality Headset." Yet when I read the line in the report that "Executives testing the headsets are said to have needed a 'small crane' to avoid straining their neck" I passed on covering the story. I highly doubt that Apple's engineering team would have ever presented something that ridiculous. Although I passed on the report, you could always read it here  if you're interested. 

Today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman weighed in on HMD developments. Gurman noted that "Apple Inc. executives previewed its upcoming mixed-reality headset to the company’s board last week, indicating that development of the device has reached an advanced stage.

The company’s board, made up of eight independent directors and Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, convenes at least four times a year. A version of the device was demonstrated to the directors during the latest gathering.

In recent weeks, Apple has also ramped up development of rOS -- short for reality operating system -- the software that will run on the headset. That progress, coupled with the board presentation, suggests that the product’s debut could potentially come within the next several months.

The headset, which combines elements of virtual and augmented reality, is Apple’s next big bet. It represents the company’s first major new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015 and would vault the tech giant into a still-nascent industry. The company is seeking new ways to expand its devices business, which makes up about 80% of annual sales.

It targeted an introduction at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but challenges related to content and overheating have led to potential delays." That likely translates to it's not ready for primetime at this stage...but you never know. For more on this, read the full Bloomberg report (unblocked).