AR evangelist Robert Scoble believes that Apple will unveil a new user-centric web search engine similar to Google’s, but will not do so until January 2023.
While there have been previous rumors of an Apple-created rival to Google and other search engines, but this is the first we’ve heard of it recently. Scoble, in a series of tweets, has predicted everything he believes Apple is about to launch, from WWDC to next year, his reviving of the search engine rumor was included in the tweets.
While Scoble did not provide and additional details in his Twitter thread, he told TechRadar Pro that he bases this partly on conversations with sources, and partly on deduction.
Scoble also mentioned his expectations for Apple’s VR headset and a “new iPod.” However, he soon walked back expectations with another tweet.
“Consider anything I say about Apple as untrustworthy,” he tweeted. “But it is informed.”
Apple has previously replaced a Google service with its own in-house solution, as it dropped Google Maps, replacing it with its own Apple Maps. However, Apple Maps had a less-than-auspicious beginning.
It should be noted that Apple does have some experience with search engines, as it has an in-house solution that currently powers Siri and Spotlight.
Google is believed to pay Apple approximately $15 million to be the default search engine on the iOS platform, so Apple would lose quite a chunk of money if it replaces Google Search with its own solution.