Apple Shares New 'Get Ready' Ad Ahead of Vision Pro Launch

[Timo_Existencia]

The concerns surrounding the impact of products like AR headsets on society are multifaceted and resonate deeply with many. My reluctance towards a virtual reality-dominated future stems from observing the growing disconnection in society, exacerbated by our reliance on technology. For instance, a recent personal experience highlighted this issue vividly: I entered my living room with my 6-year-old son, who had just built an incredible Lego set, only to find our family members engrossed in their iPhones. Despite sharing our accomplishment, it went largely unnoticed, with only my brother-in-law acknowledging it.

This scenario is not isolated. It exemplifies a broader trend where both children and adults become increasingly absorbed in the digital world, often at the expense of real-life interactions and experiences. The prevalence of social media contributes significantly to this issue. It's common to see people prioritizing recording events over participating in them or losing hours to endless scrolling through content from influencers, which offers little substantial value.

This shift in societal behavior can be likened to a gradual intellectual regression, reminiscent of the satirical yet eerily prophetic film "Idiocracy." The introduction of AR headsets could potentially exacerbate this trend, pushing us towards a dystopian society where our connection to reality and meaningful human interactions is further diminished. The prospect of living in a world where we are perpetually tethered to such devices, losing touch with the tangible and authentic aspects of life, is both disheartening and alarming. It raises critical questions about the direction in which our society is heading and the long-term implications of our growing dependence on advanced technology.

The lack you speak of has zero to do with technology and everything to do with a loss of foundational values that prioritize social and communal cohesion. People aren't isolating themselves due to tech; people are using tech to fill the void left by a lack of something that is embedded deep within the human animal: Tribe.

Adam Smith, considered by many the father of market economies, bemoaned the loss of values and suggested that any society that isn't grounded first in a strong set of values would lose itself in a market economy, making everything about money. So, for example, if a family has no strong values, backed by ritual and story, that propels them to spend time engaging together, they will lose themselves to meaningless pursuits. This was true 200 years ago, and true today.

Ironically, my primary hope for the Apple Vision Pro is to help me complete a project I've been working on for 10 years, in which I argue that humanity made a mistake 10,000 years ago when it ceased living in tribes; humans, like all animals, have an ideal size of social group. 150 people or less. (see the Dunbar number).

All tools can be used for good or bad. It's not the fault of the tool if one isn't first grounded in a compelling set of values that prioritize social cohesion.

 

[spazzcat]

I would personally never give such a product to a child. What’s wrong with Lego or even pen and paper? You don’t need to disconnect yourself from others and you remain connected to reality and those in the room.

This hands down beats any phone or VR headset.

(And yes we accidentally burnt the table extension this Christmas. 🤦‍♂️)

Which is good because kids are not suppose to use headsets. Just google is VR safe for kids under 13, you will get a big list of things to read.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Gee I'd love to get ready, IF THE DAMN THING WASN'T SO STUPIDLY OVERPRICED!

Wake me when the consumer model arrives

It's priced appropriately for the tech. All you're saying is that this tech is not a priority for you. Which is fine. But if it were a priority, if you had a use for it, you'd adjust your budget to account for it.

"Affordable" is not a one-size-fits-all measurement. It's an individualized response to needs and desires in a marketplace.

Most people "afford" very expensive things that they prioritize. Like automobiles or vacations or large homes in expensive neighborhoods. It's all a matter of priority.

That you don't prioritize this tech doesn't mean others won't.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

It's priced appropriately for the tech. All you're saying is that this tech is not a priority for you. Which is fine. But if it were a priority, if you had a use for it, you'd adjust your budget to account for it.

"Affordable" is not a one-size-fits-all measurement. It's an individualized response to needs and desires in a marketplace.

Most people "afford" very expensive things that they prioritize. Like automobiles or vacations or large homes in expensive neighborhoods. It's all a matter of priority.

That you don't prioritize this tech doesn't mean others won't.

Yeah about that...

$3500 is a really really REALLY steep asking price, especially since base spec is only 256gb and battery life is less than two hours. Yeah, image quality will be objectively better, it has good eye and hand tracking, but you're asking people to spend $3500 on a headset in an already niche market, a market primarily controlled by Meta that has much more affordable options. Even the BigScreen Beyond is miles cheaper than this and it's image quality is the same as the Vision Pro's.

Everything about the Vision Pro screams paper launch and the consumer model is gonna be the real launch.

 

[navier]

Get greedy

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Yeah about that...

That's too reductive. It's like comparing a Prius to a Tesla. Similar, but not the same.

$3500 is a really really REALLY steep asking price, especially since base spec is only 256gb and battery life is less than two hours.

If I recall correctly, you've been saying it's too expensive even before you knew about the 256 gb spec. Right?

Yeah, image quality will be objectively better, it has good eye and hand tracking, but you're asking people to spend $3500 on a headset in an already niche market, a market primarily controlled by Meta that has much more affordable options.

Apple is not seeking to enter the Metaverse. This is a distinction that should be understood to understand the real differences between the AVP and Meta's products. Apple is selling a stand alone general computer for general computational tasks. Meta is primarily selling a gaming device and a device to get people to interact in virtual worlds.

Even the BigScreen Beyond is miles cheaper than this and it's image quality is the same as the Vision Pro's.

Eye tracking? Mature OS? These items are not the same.

Or then, just buy the BigScreen Beyond and be satisfied.

Everything about the Vision Pro screams paper launch and the consumer model is gonna be the real launch.

It's a real product, right now, for me. Maybe not for you.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

That's too reductive. It's like comparing a Prius to a Tesla. Similar, but not the same.

And the Prius was Toyota's breadwinner, making it one of the top ten most used cars in the world. Same with the Corolla.

If I recall correctly, you've been saying it's too expensive even before you knew about the 256 gb spec. Right?

Because it is. $3500 is a really steep price for a standalone headset when all the other standalones don't even come anywhere close to that

Again, yes Vision Pro is built better than all those other headsets, better image quality and eye and hand tracking, but let's think practically for the average consumer. The average consumer currently does not see why they need to get an XR headset, with most viewing these as toys or gaming devices. Seeing the Quest headsets being $250-500 and the Vision Pro being $3500 gives one a major case of sticker shock

Now you may say "well what about the original iPhone? People said the same thing for that and look at where it is now." Yes people were naysayers about the iPhone, but most who waved it off were other phone makers, namely Microsoft. $500 (or $800 now adjusting for inflation) for an iPhone back then was absurdly expensive, which is why a year later Apple unveiled the iPhone 3G with it's big selling point being it's price cut by over half.

Watch, next year the consumer model Apple Vision will get unveiled and it's starting price will probably be $1500, much lower than the Pro. Currently as it stands the Vision Pro is just overengineered making it a pain to manufacture which is one of the reasons it's so absurdly expensive and why there's not gonna be many units made of it. It's why Apple bought XR manufacturer Mira Labs to figure out quickly how to make these headsets affordable and easier to make.

Apple is not seeking to enter the Metaverse.

Never said that they were. You seem to think just because I posted a Meta headset that instantly means "the metaverse" and you can thank Mark Zuckerburg for that. He singlehandedly ruined the term VR/AR which is why Apple refers to anything VR/AR related as "spatial computing" to distance themselves from that.

This is a distinction that should be understood to understand the real differences between the AVP and Meta's products. Apple is selling a stand alone general computer for general computational tasks. Meta is primarily selling a gaming device and a device to get people to interact in virtual worlds.

Uhh...the Meta Quest headsets can be used as a general computer too. They have web browsers on them and productivity apps, and they recently just got ports of Microsoft Office.

What the hell made you think that they couldn't?

Eye tracking? Mature OS? These items are not the same.

Mature OS? Bruh visionOS isn't even here yet! It's gonna take it a while to get a healthy app library.

It's a real product, right now, for me. Maybe not for you.

You wanna spend $3500 on the Vision Pro go ahead. I'm not stopping you or even trying to. But you're getting very defensive over anyone saying the price is too high (which it is)

 

[Timo_Existencia]

And the Prius was Toyota's breadwinner, making it one of the top ten most used cars in the world. Same with the Corolla.

Sure. Just as the Quest seems to be selling relatively well for Meta. But it doesn't make the Prius and the Tesla "the same thing."

Because it is. $3500 is a really steep price for a standalone headset when all the other standalones don't even come anywhere close to that

Specs are important. The specs the AVP has are important to me.

Again, yes Vision Pro is built better than all those other headsets, better image quality and eye and hand tracking, but let's think practically for the average consumer. The average consumer currently does not see why they need to get an XR headset, with most viewing these as toys or gaming devices. Seeing the Quest headsets being $250-500 and the Vision Pro being $3500 gives one a major case of sticker shock

This device probably isn't for "the average consumer." Yet. I think the AVP could remake the market. We'll see.

Watch, next year the consumer model Apple Vision will get unveiled and it's starting price will probably be $1500, much lower than the Pro.

Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see. The "pro" version of the AVP would likely still exist. Apple has set a standard for itself now with this product category. Eye tracking, hand tracking, hi resolution and low latency are likely aspects of the AVP that Apple will never compromise on. I hope they are able to lower the price for a consumer model. But I'd bet there will always be a Pro model that costs at least $3500.

Currently as it stands the Vision Pro is just overengineered making it a pain to manufacture

I'd say it's perfectly engineered to create a device to launch this category of "spatial computing."

Uhh...the Meta Quest headsets can be used as a general computer too.

"can be used" and built to be used, adequate to be used or even good enough to be used as a general computer are different things. My iphone, which I love, could be used as a general computer too; but the iPad pro is a much better device for that use.

Mature OS? Bruh visionOS isn't even here yet! It's gonna take it a while to get a healthy app library.

Vision OS is largely based on IOS, which is a mature application. On day one, there will be many thousands of available apps. All the Apps I use on a regular basis in the work I do on my Mac will be available on Vision OS. The user interface is identical to or similar to IOS. It IS IOS, just in a different iterations.

You wanna spend $3500 on the Vision Pro go ahead. I'm not stopping you or even trying to. But you're getting very defensive over anyone saying the price is too high (which it is)

The price is too high for people who don't need it or see a use for it. For others, the price isn't too high.

The price of the Tesla Cybertruck, to me, is a joke. But to others? That's relative to their needs and priorities.

 

[tYNS]

OMG.. so awesome... Apple Watch on Steroids... So fun! lolz.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Imagine having crappy depressing weather outside, which is bad for your mental health so you open something like a virtual „Calm“ app and it makes you feel like you are in Hawaii right now (or any place in the world to choose from). That would be amazing. Oh and I am not talking about a Nintendo Wii looking virtual world like on Meta

no, you’re literally talking about a feature that Apple has shown off several times called “environments”, and it is exactly what you describe.
A full 360 video view of a location.
You can just go in there and do nothing, or you can even bring your workspace/Movies/whatever you want into that environment.

 

[jwdsail]

Seems like a missed opportunity to use a clip from "The Mask", "Put the mask on now".

The Mask (1961 film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Oh well.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

So $3500 for 256GB of storage. I wonder how far that will get you from a storage standpoint with it.

Well, given that the majority of apps for it are just going to be iPad apps slightly modified, and the fact that, even though there will be 3-D movies, the majority of people are still more than likely going to be watching 2-D 1080P downloads, I honestly don’t think the storage is going to be as big of a problem as people are saying it’s going to be.
At least at first, maybe once every app is totally rewritten for this product and require a lot more space.
But I have a 256GB iPhone and iMac, and I used to have a 256 GB iPad, and none of them have gotten full.

But also for the price they’re asking, they really should have included at least 512 GB from the start.

 

[Surf Monkey]

No one said it wasn’t cool before. This is just your anti-Apple bias orientation speaking.

Lots of people over more than three generations have said it’s not cool. The issue is that 3D adds nothing of value to the movie and tv experience. Apple’s helmet won’t change that.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Especially only really being focused on entertainment like it doesn’t show anything NEW like what extra value does it bring me?

I am afraid developing something truly „emerging“ is just too time consuming / expensive and therefore most productivity apps will simply be ported or made to work on like a flat surface / on a virtual „screen“ floating in front of you, just like on a laptop display.

What I’d be looking for is Apps, taking you „inside“ and be „part of the UI“. You know what I mean? but I am happy to get proven otherwise.

Imagine having crappy depressing weather outside, which is bad for your mental health so you open something like a virtual „Calm“ app and it makes you feel like you are in Hawaii right now (or any place in the world to choose from). That would be amazing. Oh and I am not talking about a Nintendo Wii looking virtual world like on Meta

Ready Player One was a cautionary tale. Not something we should be aspiring to.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Sure. Just as the Quest seems to be selling relatively well for Meta. But it doesn't make the Prius and the Tesla "the same thing."

Competition breeds innovation, and currently Mark's running the narrative that the Vision Pro doesn't do anything that they haven't tried yet.

Specs are important. The specs the AVP has are important to me.

Price to performance is also important. If the price to get the necessary specs are so absurdly high, it's gonna turn people away and they'll just not bother. You're willing to spend $3500 for 256gb storage but a really good display. Most aren't, especially since most aren't interested in XR HMDs to begin with.

This device probably isn't for "the average consumer." Yet. I think the AVP could remake the market. We'll see.

Correction: The Apple Vision could remake the market. Apple Vision Pro is looking more and more like a paper launch and primarily a developer device. The iPhone didn't remake mobile phones initially, it wasn't until the 3G and 3GS that things really started changing once average consumers were able to get their hands on it and the app store launched. The Apple Watch Series 0 didn't remake smartwatches initially it wasn't until the Series 2 and 3 that things really started to shape for the Apple Watch to turn it into the juggernaut it is now. Even the iPad it took the iPad 2 before it started really gaining traction since the 2 fixed the first gen curse problems with the iPad being it had no cameras and a slow ass non-Apple Silicon SoC

Maybe. Maybe not. We'll see. The "pro" version of the AVP would likely still exist. Apple has set a standard for itself now with this product category. Eye tracking, hand tracking, hi resolution and low latency are likely aspects of the AVP that Apple will never compromise on. I hope they are able to lower the price for a consumer model. But I'd bet there will always be a Pro model that costs at least $3500.

There's no doubt the Pro model will stick around but as it is now there's just a lot wrong. There's gonna be something first gen curse related with it, and it's probably gonna be the price and the low battery life, stuff that will get addressed in the consumer model next year (or whenever they unveil it)

I'd say it's perfectly engineered to create a device to launch this category of "spatial computing."


"can be used" and built to be used, adequate to be used or even good enough to be used as a general computer are different things. My iphone, which I love, could be used as a general computer too; but the iPad pro is a much better device for that use.

Vision OS is largely based on IOS, which is a mature application. On day one, there will be many thousands of available apps. All the Apps I use on a regular basis in the work I do on my Mac will be available on Vision OS. The user interface is identical to or similar to IOS. It IS IOS, just in a different iterations.

How well will those apps work on visionOS though? Because iOS apps on macOS are weird since they're not fully sized and they're emulating touch input on a non-touchscreen device. Hell most people forget the Apple Silicon Macs even support iOS apps, and not many developers even allow their iOS app to be usable on Mac, or even forget to enable the functionality.

Spending $3500 to use iPad apps is really crazy when...you could just use an iPad. Unless they offer a new cool way to use those iPad apps that is seamless, it doesn't make sense to spend that much to use iPad apps when you could just get an iPad for a lot less.

Speaking of iPad, I know you'll say "that's what people said about the iPad too" but the difference being the iPad didn't cost over $3000 when it launched!

The price is too high for people who don't need it or see a use for it. For others, the price isn't too high.

The price of the Tesla Cybertruck, to me, is a joke. But to others? That's relative to their needs and priorities.

And this brings us to the big question: Why a Vision Pro? Why should I (the average consumer) buy a Vision Pro? Why should I make the jump into spatial computing? What benefit does it give me to spend the price of an M3 Max Macbook Pro on a headset that is 1. A first gen product 2. Running an M2 chip with 256gb storage base spec 3. Has short battery life, and 4. Has a creepy eye display that rubs me the wrong way

This is the problem Meta has too, and that's convincing average consumers about spatial computing. The Apple Vision Pro feels like a solution in search of a problem to fix. It's a really cool device no doubt, but it's a device that has a really strong identity crisis. Just like with the Apple Watch this feels like a bunch of different ideas jumbled together in a really expensive device, and then the year later they take what they learned from early adopters to shape it into a device that people will actually want. So right now, the only reason to buy the headset is to be a part of that journey because you really believe in the idea.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I entered my living room with my 6-year-old son, who had just built an incredible Lego set, only to find our family members engrossed in their iPhones. Despite sharing our accomplishment, it went largely unnoticed, with only my brother-in-law acknowledging it.

While this is a fun anecdote, how is it any different than what has come previous?
I mean, set your story 50 years ago, and the only difference is that the people aren’t distracted by and engrossed in their iPhones, they’re distracted by an engrossed with what was on the television and the radio or in their record collection.
Really the only difference now is that the television is their phone, the record collection is in their phone, and the radio… Is their phone.
Besides different technology, it’s basically the exact same situation.
Take away all of the modern technology from your anecdote, and still absolutely no one cares about that Lego set outside of the people who cared in the first place.

People are always looking for an escape from the mundane, rather it be a phone, a headset, a vacation, music, whatever it might be.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I agree with everything you have said, however there is also an argument that you can more personal relationships, or even a more 'real' relationship with someone across the other side of the globe. When something becomes 3 dimensional, it becomes more real. And those reactions are more real. I believe Vision Pro is aiming for this rather than just 'gaming' goggles.

The other person is wearing a Vision Pro too so you’re not going to be connecting with them like you suggest. You’re going to be looking at Apple’s “persona” version of them. Less real, more creepy.

 

[Surf Monkey]

You could replaced the VP with cell phones and you would have the same image ...

No, not really since a phone isn’t covering your eyes.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The lack you speak of has zero to do with technology and everything to do with a loss of foundational values that prioritize social and communal cohesion. People aren't isolating themselves due to tech; people are using tech to fill the void left by a lack of something that is embedded deep within the human animal: Tribe.

Adam Smith, considered by many the father of market economies, bemoaned the loss of values and suggested that any society that isn't grounded first in a strong set of values would lose itself in a market economy, making everything about money. So, for example, if a family has no strong values, backed by ritual and story, that propels them to spend time engaging together, they will lose themselves to meaningless pursuits. This was true 200 years ago, and true today.

Ironically, my primary hope for the Apple Vision Pro is to help me complete a project I've been working on for 10 years, in which I argue that humanity made a mistake 10,000 years ago when it ceased living in tribes; humans, like all animals, have an ideal size of social group. 150 people or less. (see the Dunbar number).

All tools can be used for good or bad. It's not the fault of the tool if one isn't first grounded in a compelling set of values that prioritize social cohesion.

“You aren’t headsetting right”

 

[Surf Monkey]

Everything about the Vision Pro screams paper launch and the consumer model is gonna be the real launch.

A deeply questionable assertion at best. Apple has been working on this device for a decade. To date this is the best they’ve been able to do. This IS the consumer model. The system isn’t going to suddenly get significantly smaller or cheaper.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

A deeply questionable assertion at best. Apple has been working on this device for a decade. To date this is the best they’ve been able to do. This IS the consumer model. The system isn’t going to suddenly get significantly smaller or cheaper.

If it wasn't why is it called Vision Pro? It's the pro model, and there's mentions of other Vision headsets in visionOS. They started with the Pro model first to make the best headset they possibly can, then work on a easy to manufacture much cheaper consumer model afterwards

Also do you not know what "paper launch" means? With it's high price and low availability according to the rumors, that means it launches on paper, hence the term "paper launch." An example being the Nvidia RTX 30 series cards, as when those released no one could buy them as they were all out of stock, so they launched on paper. It's clear this headset is a pain to make so they're making limited quantities, then with the knowledge they gained from Mira Labs, make the mass produced Apple Vision which would have greater numbers than the Vision Pro.

 

[darngooddesign]

...Correction: The Apple Vision could remake the market. Apple Vision Pro is looking more and more like a paper launch and primarily a developer device. The iPhone didn't remake mobile phones initially, it wasn't until the 3G and 3GS that things really started changing once average consumers were able to get their hands on it and the app store launched. The Apple Watch Series 0 didn't remake smartwatches initially it wasn't until the Series 2 and 3 that things really started to shape for the Apple Watch to turn it into the juggernaut it is now. Even the iPad it took the iPad 2 before it started really gaining traction since the 2 fixed the first gen curse problems with the iPad being it had no cameras and a slow ass non-Apple Silicon SoC

While I agree that AV will be the thing that has wider appeal, you might be the only person who thinks the original iPhone was only a paper launch.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

While I agree that AV will be the thing that has wider appeal, you might be the only person who thinks the original iPhone was only a paper launch.

I never said it was a paper launch. Now you're putting words in my mouth. I said "the iPhone didn't remake mobile phones initially" which it didn't it wasn't until the 3G and 3GS that things really kicked off for the iPhone and we started seeing change with other phone makers to adapt to the iPhone now being a lot cheaper. Never said it was a paper launch anywhere in that sentence. I said the Vision Pro is looking to be a paper launch.

 

[thiscatisfat]

It's a creepy, scary, stupid product and I'm so sorry we get to live through this actually becoming a hype. I hope this will flop and be a goodbye product to Cook that will forever be associated with what he turned Apple into. How can anyone be excited about this is beyond me.

 

[darngooddesign]

I never said it was a paper launch. Now you're putting words in my mouth. I said "the iPhone didn't remake mobile phones initially." Never said it was a paper launch anywhere in that sentence. I said the Vision Pro is looking to be a paper launch.

I'm extrapolating that the same reasons you say the AVP is a paper launch -- reasons like high price relative to its competition, lack of average consumer adoption -- also make the original iPhone a paper launch. Heck, the iPhone didn't even launch with an App Store while the AVP has one.