For the past couple of days, we’ve been witnessing the hype around Apple’s Vision Pro with the tech giant launching its $3499 worth of product in a rather flashy manner. 

However, it looks like, Apple has copied the user interface for its AR/VR headset from an Indian startup working on smart glasses since 2020. 

Taking to Linkedin, Rohildev Nattukallingal, founder at Nimo Planet, stated that the newly launched Apple Vision Pro and Nimo, which was launched in 2020, looks familiar. 

“We designed Nimo OS with unique user experiences and interactions. No compromise. At Nimo Planet , a small team is making history. More great things are coming soon, he said. 

Nattukallingal’s of the opinion that each OS have their own reason to put the UI. Which is represents the uniqueness of the OS. “In Nimo OS we came up with the UI which suits best for Spatial Computer. You can not find that in any other OS than Nimo and new Apple visionOS,” wrote hinting on the later copying the former. 

To the unknown, Nimo Planet has been working on the glasses for more than four years, with a core team of 10 people based out of Kerala, India. The startup was expected to ship the glasses to ship in 2023 at the price range of $1300. 

However, what makes Nimo different is that the company is offering almost the same what Apple vision pro is offering, at half of the price range. Nimo however, can be termed as the humble version of Apple vision pro as it doesn’t comes up with the built in speakers or chips like M2 line up, but it does come up with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR1 processor– a processor which can’t be compare with Apple’s M-chip lineup but is ideal for spatial computing hardware. 

Speaking on why he didn’t file for patents if Nimo was the first one in the market, Nattukallingal commented that “We filed patents. But not 5,000.” 

While it is definitely underpowered compared with Apple vision pro, however, it does provide similar user interface of what Apple vision pro is promising. 

By utilising the functionality of a wireless mouse, users can conveniently drag and relocate any desired application to their preferred location. This means that Microsoft Word can be positioned adjacent to PowerPoint, with Slack conveniently positioned on the far left. 

With the introduction of Nimo, an innovative feature, users can effortlessly glance at any of the six virtual screens simply by turning their head. Moreover, users have the option to place helpful widgets, such as a calendar, at the top, while essential settings like Wi-Fi can be easily accessed and adjusted below.

That is exactly what Apple is promising as of now, however, Nimo is far less bulkier than what Apple vision pro is. In fact, it looks better than most of the smart glasses present in the market, if we remove the arms– which as experts have commented, are still chunky. 

Additionally, the arms also support touch inputs and hence can provide ease of access if one have Bluetooth keyboard and mouse paired.  

The company has secured funds from notable angel investors, including Dr. Ritesh Malik, the founder of Innov8, Ravi Linganuri, and a group of angel investors based in the United States. The board of advisors comprises distinguished individuals such as Aneet Chopra, Stephane Kasriel, and the aforementioned Dr. Malik and Mr. Linganuri. Furthermore, the company has displayed its commitment to innovation by filing patents for various aspects, including the operating system, design, and input interface. Currently, the company is actively engaged in raising $4 million for its seed funding round.

The post This Indian Startup has Developed an AR/VR Headset that Looks Better than Apple Vision Pro appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.