We sure haven't heard much from Apple since the smart watch reveal. Oh, it is reportedly working on its very own line of automobiles, made some sort of weird wearable banana and mood changing jacket, but other than that, no new big tech reveals. Except last week, we heard a little bit about Apple working to patent a virtual reality device, and this is going to be exciting. It's about time, Apple. Everybody else has done it.

Since details are slim pickins', might as well let you know that, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent in Apple's hands is entitled “Head-Mounted Display Apparatus for Retaining a Portable Electronic Device with Display” (Apple Insider). It's been around since 2008, just a year after the first iPhone was born. So before you think about how Apple is a copy-cat like I did, just remember the company came up with the idea before we saw the likes of Google Cardboard. Speaking of, the device will work similarly to Samsung's Gear VR and Google Cardboard, simply using the iPhone as the display and the working computer. However, a new concept could involve a remote control, similar to the one Apple uses for its TV hardware and service. So, unlike Gear VR, which uses a touch pad located on the headset itself, Apple's device could use a remote to control the on-screen content. Gesture-based controls are also a hidden rumor.

Tech Times suggests that even though Apple has a specific patent for a VR-type device, doesn't mean we should expect to see anything offered from the company anytime soon. It would be cool, though. You know, the ability to watch TV, feature films, and other media in a virtual environment all by using a smartphone you already own? Plus, I have a hard time believing the tech giant wouldn't jump into that market. Let's just see, if it ever happens, just how much Apple would wanna charge for something like this.