Apple Highlights Developer Reactions to Vision Pro Labs: 'Audible Gasp'

[subjonas]

f course it does, but that wasn’t the point being made. Too many people take what Apple says at face value.

Apple in particular? Ok, even if so, then someone should make this point for every article about Apple marketing, shouldnt they? But they don’t (that I’ve seen) because that would be overwhelmingly obvious and therefore pointless and odd, just as it is here. I could see if the article wasn’t clear that it was marketing, or if the comments indicated that people didn’t realize it was marketing, then it makes sense to bring attention to the biased nature of the information. But the article was completely clear that it’s Apple marketing, from right in the title. And no comments indicated any confusion about that, as probably 80% of the comments so far have been negative or critical. So it’s really just stating the obvious and therefore pointless.
If one still insists that all Apple marketing needs to be pointed out, then one is free to, as tedious as that would be to read. But it would also be a bit disingenuous to claim that purpose, but only single out the marketing for particular products that they dislike.

 

[DarthDon]

Is the Snorkel wireless?

 

[anthogag]

Spatialgasm 🤩

 

[tomtad]

My audible gasp is at the complete lack of excitement for this device. It’s already dead before it’s launched.

 

[Neodym]

Those computers were priced high at the time due to a number of reasons. One was high R&D costs. Another is supply chain and manufacturing inefficiencies. Wasn't the original Apple-1 computer built by hand in Steve Jobs' garage? And they only sold about 175 units in 1976, […]

Or from another perspective: They sold 87.5% of their production batch in a time when most people didn’t even know about computers - leave alone having any compelling use case at the time.

Granted - compared to an Altair 8800 it must have looked like a SciFi dream come true. Still, the target audience back in those days probably consisted only of a few hundred die-hard geeks. Thus I wouldn’t call it “only” …

But typically not on experimental computers.

If a typical woman can spend that much on Accessoires, why shouldn’t a typical nerd spend that amount on an experimental computer?

I’m not sure about full price, but if a blowout sale should happen due to lack of success, pretty sure I’d be tempted as hell to get one as extravagant big screen monitor for my inner nerd :-D

 

[Rychiar]

Well said. I'm also skeptical about the broad utility of AVP. There are definitely use cases for such a device, but they're all quite niche and won't support a thriving third party software market.

I'm also surprised by how disinterested, even hostile, most people I know are towards AVP. I figured my 16 year old iPhone/gaming addict nephew would be incredibly excited about AVP but he think it's "lame". My friend's kids have an Oculus. They never use it and said they aren't interested in VR anymore. It's "lame". I thought AVP might appeal to my aging parents for the big, easy-to-read virtual screens, but neither one is interested. They don't want to wear goggles, for starters. None of my friends is remotely interested in AVP either. Pretty much everyone feels the same way about VR. It's just not appealing.

I'm also not trying to diminish Apple's achievements. AVP is clearly an incredible piece of technology that has managed to excite a very very small number of hardcore techies, but I don't think it's going to move the needle when it comes to the general public's interest in VR/AR. The public is already largely disinterested, which makes the $3500+ price point a massive obstacle. Without a killer, and I mean KILLER, app, I don't see the masses jumping on board.

I’m more excited about the future of VR than any other technology. I just got a quest this past January and am still using it regularly even if it’s just for workouts. Immersive technology is incredible and I can’t wait to see what apple does with it

 

[clive27]

I expect the experience to be only gradually better than with the Quest Pro. Because the pixels of a simulated monitor don’t translate 1:1 to the pixels of the VR displays, you need at least 3-4 times the resolution of the latter to emulate the former at comparable quality. And the AVP is only roughly 4K per eye. In addition, it won’t be comfortable for most people to wear the front-heavy AVP more than 1-2 hours. So, I don’t think it will be able to adequately replace a six-monitor setup for work.

With the Quest Pro, I can see pixels and that makes letters in virtual monitors hard to read. With AVP's retina display, I expect to see the display and no longer be able to see individual pixels anymore. (If that's not true, I agree AVP won't work as 6 monitor replacement)
I have 2K and 4K monitors and I can't see the difference in resolutions between them. So, with my aging eyesight, I hope AVP is a suitable replacement.
I'm also used to a front heavy VR (former Oculus Quest 1 user here). Played games on it several hours straight. But I'm a little worried if my eyes get fatigued from staring at a display 1 inch from my eyeballs. I'll have to experiment.
Even if I can't take it for more than a few hours, if I can use it in my car's backseat while waiting to pick up my daughter, or in the airplane, in hotel, etc, that'll be good enough use-case for me.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The photo for this article is priceless. Two people mocking someone wearing a VP. Love it.

 

[gumbyhw]

This is the reaction of the "early adopter" cohort. They are most likely top be polar (gasp/"sucks"). I know this from my own experience in the VR/AR world over the last decade. And as the book says, early adopters rarely teach you anything useful.

Ironically one way the iphone got around this was to underpromise: "it's a phone, an email machine and a web browser". The original was actually not that great a phone (I typed "crappy" but changed it -- it was better than, say, a Treo) but acceptable, and the other things worked great -- well enough that people put up with the limitations. The same was true of the watch. I had a series 0 which objectively was not a good product, but it had three use cases important for me. It didn't really take off until, IIRC, series 3.

Compare that to the ipad, which just...wasn't enough. I like mine but it took years for me to be interested and it's still a meh product by Apple standards.

Apple is overpromising on this vision quest.

 

[Rychiar]

Every single picture of someone wearing this looks either lame, creepy - or, occasionally, both.

Selling this thing is the biggest job ever facing Apple’s marketing department - and the fact that world class group can’t make this thing seem desirable does not bode well.

It’s the kinda thing ya use at home alone. I don’t think I’d care want it looks like.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I’m more excited about the future of VR than any other technology. I just got a quest this past January and am still using it regularly even if it’s just for workouts. Immersive technology is incredible and I can’t wait to see what apple does with it

If VR ever becomes widely popular (which is a HUGE “if”) optometrists will have a field day. The amount of eye strain this thing is likely to cause is significant.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Compare that to the ipad, which just...wasn't enough. I like mine but it took years for me to be interested and it's still a meh product by Apple standards.

I suppose it depends on use case. Personally, I was wanting an iPad like device from the moment I saw iOS. On the original (and first few generations of) iPhone the screen was just too small to take full advantage of the OS. The “Safari pad” is, in my opinion, the best web browsing experience available for Apple products. As a media consumption device the iPad is hard to beat.

However, as a media CREATION device iPad continues to struggle and largely fail, which is a great disappointment to me as a graphic artist.

Apple is overpromising on this vision quest.

By a country mile.

 

[spaxxedout]

I can order a TV and have it shipped direct to my home easily, unlike a VP.

The VP requires a visit to an Apple Store for fitting - and will be hard to resell if needed.

Agreed. Just saying it’s easier to sell an AVP if needed. It’s a more secured debt I guess?

 

[Surf Monkey]

It’s the kinda thing ya use at home alone. I don’t think I’d care want it looks like.

This is the so-far-unspoken message. It isn’t a social device. It’s an anti-social device. Now, there may be a vast market of anti-social people who really really want to isolate themselves inside an iPhone helmet, but I seriously doubt it.

 

[spaxxedout]

If they do 0% financing with Apple Card, it's tempting. But they probably won't.

I'll hold on to my existing iPad and AppleTV, but I'll replace those with this instead.

Lifestyle of Mac + iPhone + HomePod + Vision headset sounds simpler and about right. The watch and the iPad can go away.

I thought about this too, but seems unlikely with the principal and the rate hikes. But hopefully.

 

[d686546s]

With the Quest Pro, I can see pixels and that makes letters in virtual monitors hard to read. With AVP's retina display, I expect to see the display and no longer be able to see individual pixels anymore. (If that's not true, I agree AVP won't work as 6 monitor replacement)
I have 2K and 4K monitors and I can't see the difference in resolutions between them. So, with my aging eyesight, I hope AVP is a suitable replacement.
I'm also used to a front heavy VR (former Oculus Quest 1 user here). Played games on it several hours straight. But I'm a little worried if my eyes get fatigued from staring at a display 1 inch from my eyeballs. I'll have to experiment.

I'm sure there'll be some who replace their monitors with something like this, I'm just not sure how practical it actually is.

For gaming, the question is 'is it comfortable enough to wear occasionally for a few hours?' Unless you're a really heavy gamer, I'd imagine that's somewhere between 1-5 hours per session. If you don't feel like wearing it, you just don't play.

For work, it's 'is it comfortable enough to wear every day for 6-9 hours,' particularly if you can't afford or don't want to pay a lot of money for this and for monitors. I'm not sure I'd really want to go down that route tbh.

Even if I can't take it for more than a few hours, if I can use it in my car's backseat while waiting to pick up my daughter, or in the airplane, in hotel, etc, that'll be good enough use-case for me.

That's fair, but personally I wouldn't be prepared to pay what they're asking for this.

 

[Abazigal]

Can't wait for all the jokes relating to "gasping about the price"

The more I think about it, the more I believe Apple is making the right call by betting on capability and utility that people crave and therefor be willing to pay a premium for.

This is in direct contrast to companies like Meta who chose to target the low end, but then you get a gimped product with low retention value. I foresee a ton more landfill in the best future if Meta continues to go down this route.

 

[gleepskip]

Agreed. Just saying it’s easier to sell an AVP if needed. It’s a more secured debt I guess?

The AVP is definitely easier to ship, but reselling will be difficult for the foreseeable future. Buyers have to factor in their facial "size" and custom corrective lenses.

 

[jimbobb24]

I have no doubt that the initial reaction is of "wonder", but it still looks extremely dorky to wear.
I highly doubt AVP can get the same iconic status as an iPhone.

It cannot. But neither can the MacBook, HomePod, PowerMac, iMac, Magic Mouse, apple pencil, MacBook Air, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

The iPhone is arguably the best selling most successful electronics device ever created. Expecting any product to reach those heights is near impossible. But if the vision was half as successful as the iPad it would be a runaway success so there is lots of room for success without hitting iPhone status.

 

[Surf Monkey]

It cannot. But neither can the MacBook, HomePod, PowerMac, iMac, Magic Mouse, apple pencil, MacBook Air, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

The iPhone is arguably the best selling most successful electronics device ever created. Expecting any product to reach those heights is near impossible. But if the vision was half as successful as the iPad it would be a runaway success so there is lots of room for success without hitting iPhone status.

But the thing is? Apple and Tim Cook need it to be a massive mainstream success. If there’s no “what’s next” after iPhone Apple is in trouble. That’s why the billions spent on cars and iPhone helmets and so forth.

 

[verniesgarden]

Is the Snorkel wireless?

yes, but requires a dongle and only gets 15 minutes of battery life.

 

[verniesgarden]

But the thing is? Apple and Tim Cook need it to be a massive mainstream success. If there’s no “what’s next” after iPhone Apple is in trouble. That’s why the billions spent on cars and iPhone helmets and so forth.

they don't "need" it to be a success. Apple has so much cash on hand it could run a hundred years without making a dollar.

 

[kkee]

"The first time you see your own app running for real, that's when you get the audible gasp."

I expect that as much. For those who hasn't tried it yet, you may practice your gasp now so when you use it for the first time it is clear and audible.

 

[gleepskip]

they don't "need" it to be a success. Apple has so much cash on hand it could run a hundred years without making a dollar.

You know this, but there's a big difference between our savings accounts (how long you can survive without cash flow) and operating a public company (how fast you want your stock value to approach zero).

 

[El Szomorito]

People didn't need convincing that phones or mp3 players were a good idea. The iPad is the phone you already have, but bigger and better. The AirPods are the better version of wireless headphones, and everyone has headphones. The Apple Watch is probably the odd one out, but it didn't really take off until it was reinvented as a fitness accessory (and doesn't compare in price to the AV).

Are we sure about airpods? I find the best wireless design is the beatsx. And maybe it's just my country, but apple seems to have a 'get free airpods' promotion almost constantly. I'd be curious to see what percentage did actually pay for airpods.