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Really nice find!

As only a single result comes up (and that in the App category), I assume this is just a measure taken by Apple to cover it's bases in case VR takes off (though I'm not sure how iTunes for Occulus Rift is going to work).

But of course, Apple might have an entire hardware/software team poking at VR as we speak, and they're just one guy short.

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> ...just a measure taken by Apple to cover it's bases in case VR takes off

I don't think Apple engages in that kind of speculative R&D. It's R&D is directly geared into product development (there are probably arguable edge cases). That's why it's R&D budget is so tiny compared to companies like Googe and Microsoft. I can't see them investing much in a huge, complex and poorly defined area like VR unless thay have some pretty specific ideas in mind.

It's still 4 billion, that's more half a dozen universities (not top tier, but average ones).

Wow you're right, it's shot up a huge amount in the last couple of years! Apple has traditionaly kept a very tight reign on R&D. Frankly it's hard to see how they can expand R&D spending that fast and keep it under tight management control. Interesting.

Could be for accounting reasons though. it might be beneficial to shift some money spent elsewhere into R&D

It's still 4 billion.

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