Apple introducing a new 'usdz' file format for sharable AR

Apple has unveiled one of the new augmented reality endeavors it plans to introduce in the next big iOS update, iOS 12. Chief among those is a new file format the company is rolling out for ‘Universal Scene Description’ called ‘usdz’.

Apple notes that the new, compact file format is optimized for sharing without sacrificing 3D graphics or animation quality. During the keynote at WWDC 2018, Apple showed off usdz powered applications like a measure utility that allows any iPhone or iPad to accurately measure real-world objects and another tool that showed how the usdz file format allows for the creation of AR environments that can be viewed and interacted with by multiple devices. 

The company notes that it is already working with other major companies to bring usdz support to their own creation tools, and Adobe is already on board to bring native support for the usdz file format to its Creative Cloud suite of apps.