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The HomePod is/was a good product lol! I will never understand the hate it got.

Ditto, I have 4 of the OG HomePod, 2 of version 2 (cant really hear the difference), and more mini's then I can recall. They are everywhere. I like the system more than my Sonos.
 
A follow up meeting? This won’t be a review.

This is straight up advertising.
Yes. A follow-up meeting. The first time, there will probably be lots of questions to answer for the reviewer about this entirely new paradigm of spatial computing. The second time, they'll be able to come in with a base understanding of how to use the device, allowing them to review not only it's capabilities, but also speak to their progression with the learning curve from the first meeting to the second.

This is not "just another VR headset." Apple's going after something completely different here, and trying to ensure that the product is understood as intended. This is critical, as one of the big questions the average consumer is likely to have is "how hard is it to learn?" Imagine the value of a series of reviews saying "it's really fun to use... and by the 2nd time I used it, I already felt at home with the new controls."

To that end, I think this is extremely wise of Apple.
 
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I don't think I've seen any Apple product or any new technology product in general introduced with less hype, interest, or buzz than this.

Still waiting for clarity of what the killer app / key use case for this is. The $3500 price tag is mind boggling to me for a VR headset with some added bells and whistles
I believe the key to the clarity you seek is in the product category they've created for it: "Spatial Computing." This is not created to be "just another VR headset." Apple seems to have an interest in elevating the work we already do on our computers.
 
I understand what you are saying... mostly agree, BUT (you knew that was coming). IF the AVP is a departure from standard AR/VR then might someone who is used to thinking one set way, be fluid enough to think another way? I am coming to this new. I want to know if it's easy to use without years of background. I want to know if it's going to address what I currently do and enhance it. And if there were tools already out there that met this need... where have they been hiding?

I totally agree. What you posted above should also be part of a good and thorough review.

I just don't want reviews to be limited by reviewers without some experience with AR/VR, don't know what it's about or good for, or not understanding the problems it can assist with or solve, and then come to the conclusion its a useless product.

I suspect many reviewers will fall into the above category, and are the ones who most need the guidance Apple is offering with respect to creating a decent and thorough review.

It's astonishing so many people here are against that, and think Apple is instead being shady and part of a conspiracy of some sort to deceive potential customers. But... sadly, that's pretty much the norm here going back many years.
 
It will ‘sell out’ within hours. Apple have perfected FOMO. Nothing shouts success like several weeks/months to wait for delivery.

But of course there will be plenty in a warehouse somewhere.

Standard
 
I kinda trust the Verge and Marcus to give a more balanced review... but they are big enough not to worry about getting blacklisted.
Imagine that, no Verge or MKBHD review... that would be a real red-flag for me.

(iJustine... not so much. lol).
I don’t trust the Verge at all. They’ll do something totally over the top just for clicks. I don’t know if Ars Technica will get a review unit but I think they’d be more balanced.
 
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Never have I seen Apple so insecure about a product they’ve released. Between the strict control over reviews, the quiet non-launch, I’m thinking this will be a bigger flop than the original HomePod.
I think, best case scenario, it's a slow burn. We all know the built-in fan audience, at least the wealthy ones, will buy it. Beyond them Apple needs to do a lot of convincing, especially given Vision Pro's price.

Having what amounts to giant 2D iPad windows floating in the room feels more gimmicky than revolutionary. If developers embrace the platform and create some stunning new interfaces and ways of visualizing and working with our data, I think interest in the platform will grow.

I don't see it as a replacement for the desktop or mobile devices. I use a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone. I prefer each device for certain tasks. Apple has made moving between devices quite seamless. So what are the tasks that Vision Pro will do better and how does it slot in with the rest of the devices I use? I'm waiting for Apple or a third party developer to give me a compelling reason to buy one. So far what I've seen feels gimmicky.

I have no doubt that using Vision Pro for the first time has a definite wow factor. But I also imagine that wow factor will wear off rather quickly if developers don't fully embrace 3D UIs. When the novelty wears off, if all that's left are giant iPad windows floating in the air and an amazing portable/solitary movie watching experience, that feels underwhelming to me. If some third party developers start to blow us away over the next year, however, I think the platform will gain traction.
 


Apple has a detailed plan for Apple Vision Pro reviews, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. YouTubers and members of the media selected for reviews will meet with Apple on January 16 for a hands-on experience, with a follow-up meeting to take place on January 23 to go over the device's features a second time.

Apple-Vision-Pro-with-battery-Feature-Blue-Magenta.jpg

Reviews are set to be published at the end of January, which is just ahead of when Apple plans to launch the Vision Pro.

It is no surprise that Apple plans to have a firm hold on the review process and the experience that reviewers undergo, as it has kept headsets provided to developers similarly locked down.

Apple plans to begin accepting pre-orders for the Vision Pro on Friday, January 19, ahead of when reviews are published. The Vision Pro will then launch on Friday, February 2, with Apple planning to provide in-store demonstrations starting on that day.

Article Link: Apple 'Carefully Orchestrating' Vision Pro Reviews With Multiple Meetings
The saddest thing I have heard is that it will ship with an M2 instead of an M3. This means that Apple's flagship device will be a generation behind all other devices shipped this year and developers will need to target last year's devices for games and other AVP specific apps.
 
The saddest thing I have heard is that it will ship with an M2 instead of an M3. This means that Apple's flagship device will be a generation behind all other devices shipped this year and developers will need to target last year's devices for games and other AVP specific apps.

I keep reading this oft repeated comment and have to chuckle. Look back at all the MR threads that complain there is no real difference between the M3 and M2.
 
What's the point of all this?

If Apple is so insecure about this product maybe they should have cooked it a bit longer
 
So, as usual, you can't get any objective "reviews" from the initial "friends of Apple" batch of "reviewers." In other words, the first ones will only be an extension of Apple Marketing. Real reviews will be posted after these are "in the wild" when people doing the reviewing do not have to bend their real opinions to please Apple


Except what you call "real reviews" are not objective also.

Objectivity as a word is often used by those who want to set themselves apart from groups that they deem tainted, somehow.

But objectivity is a slippery concept. See any psychology textbook for how we humans inevitably have biases.
 
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Apple tightly controlling the review process defeats the purpose of the review process. Obviously it is VERY easy to have a bad experience with this product, and Apple wants to make sure they are holding people's hands through the process. Good products that people actually want don't need that.
 
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Apple tightly controlling the review process defeats the purpose of the review process. Obviously it is VERY easy to have a bad experience with this product, and Apple wants to make sure they are holding people's hands through the process. Good products that people actually want don't need that.
Holding people hands while they are wearing porn goggles? 🤢 lol
Or maybe that’s apples “extra care” 😂


These things are
1: a super charged version of Nintendo wee

2: porn googles
 
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Yes. A follow-up meeting. The first time, there will probably be lots of questions to answer for the reviewer about this entirely new paradigm of spatial computing. The second time, they'll be able to come in with a base understanding of how to use the device, allowing them to review not only it's capabilities, but also speak to their progression with the learning curve from the first meeting to the second.

This is not "just another VR headset." Apple's going after something completely different here, and trying to ensure that the product is understood as intended. This is critical, as one of the big questions the average consumer is likely to have is "how hard is it to learn?" Imagine the value of a series of reviews saying "it's really fun to use... and by the 2nd time I used it, I already felt at home with the new controls."

To that end, I think this is extremely wise of Apple.
I don’t disagree it’s wise but i will say again it's not typical.

hopefully the reviewers don't get clouded by promises of software releases.

You review what is real not what is promised.

Both homepods were/are flops
omg i forgot about the homepod.
 
Apple tightly controlling the review process defeats the purpose of the review process. Obviously it is VERY easy to have a bad experience with this product, and Apple wants to make sure they are holding people's hands through the process. Good products that people actually want don't need that.
Out of curiosity, how did you handle your company's launch of an entirely new category of devices?

It's easy to thrown stones at people attempting something I've never had the insight/intellect/resources/courage to do ourselves. Personally, I'd rather spend my energy cheering on the Crazy Ones and rooting for their success, than tearing them down for trying their best to get it right.
 
Apple will be having a tight control over all the reviews going out. Will not be a very easy to make a purchase decision based on these reviews
 
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