Apple Vision Pro Headset Likely to Launch Around March 2024

[Skyscraperfan]

That’s not how it works at all.
Things are still simulated in the headset at different distances, it is very much not the same as holding up a tutti display to your face.
I might be mistaken, but from what I remember, the Vision Pro has most of its windows by default, at least 5 feet away from you in AR.

Those distances are just simulated though. There is only one plane of focus. So your eyes may only focus on that single plane.

 

[twocents]

I hope I'm not the only one who feels like that photo of the headset screen/lights like that looks unintentionally terrifying

Oh it just hypnotizes whoever you present the headset towards to get one of their own.

But in all seriousness, this will be interesting to see if when the price lowers to mainstream adoption whether people get together still under the same roof and have a shared experience with each headset or just watch the same movie remotely like with SharePlay

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

None of those can be cut without making it a device that defeats its own innovations.

What can be cut - glass front and build in out facing screen that displays you through the glasses. I think thats a good candidate. Nothing else really is.

If Apple was willing, that's probably not enough to get the price down to what people seem to be imagining. I'm seeing a few people post $999-$1999 targets. I'm not thinking that's possible without more meaningful cuts.

 

[Pakaku]

Why should I buy a device that controls my whole view? Imagine what that does with the "focus muscles" in your eye. Even if that image looks like 3D, your eyes will always focus at exactly the same distance while your are wearing it. That is very unhealthy.

Just like staring at a TV, a computer, a phone... don't stare at the same thing at the same distance all day. Pop the headset off of your head and take a breaks once in a while

 

[eicca]

none have described anything that actually improves productivity even a little, or described anything that would compel the masses to want this device at any price

Bingo.

Look up Clayton Christensen (Harvard business) and his "Jobs to be Done" approach to product design and it's immediately obvious why the Vision Pro is so meh.

I remember when the iPhone first launched. Me and everyone I knew were like "HOLY CRAP I WANT ONE."

The Vision Pro was revealed and me an everyone I knew were like "ew that's kinda weird."

 

[citysnaps]

It feels like people who dislike AVP are being willfully obtuse. It's obvious they are referring to being able to simulate multiple external displays connected to your Mac or one connected to your iPad.

It’s like they’ve been ordered to always keep their imagination safely stored away in a lockbox while they were growing up.

 

[lovehateapple]

Can't wait to try one of these out at my local apple store! Won't make a purchase decision until after that. Will probably have to wait until Black Friday next year even though I doubt there will be any discounts on it anyway.

 

[CausticSoda]

I get the feeling the whole ‘so difficult to manufacture we’ll only be able to make 400K’ is just bull. It’s a way to lower expectations.

Yes, of course. I they felt the could shift 5 million, you can bet your ass they would find a way to make 5 million.

 

[Jensend]

The general public has no need for a Mac Pro tower. They still exist and get sold. I think the Vision Pro will be like that for a long time and maybe forever.

If Apple had to create and continuously update an OS that only ran on a Mac tower, and the tower required that special OS, I think they'd drop the tower from their product lineup.
The more users of an OS, the less Apple has to pay per user of the OS to keep it updated.

There are over 100 million Mac OS users. If Vision Pro sells a million units, that basically means that Apple's software development costs are a hundred times more expensive per device sold.

 

[Analog Kid]

So looking forward to getting this new revolutionary platform. As practically every demo user and reviewer has said “It’s mind blowing!”

I gotta say, this is what's remarkable to me. Everyone's walked away from it talking like they've just been into low earth orbit. The only recurring complaint has been the price. It sounds like they've done the tech part right.

 

[Analog Kid]

If Apple had to create and continuously update an OS that only ran on a Mac tower, and the tower required that special OS, I think they'd drop the tower from their product lineup.
The more users of an OS, the less Apple has to pay per user of the OS to keep it updated.

There are over 100 million Mac OS users. If Vision Pro sells a million units, that basically means that Apple's software development costs are a hundred times more expensive per device sold.

Apple does manage to share a lot of internal development work across product lines-- in the Apple Silicon line, and core OS functionality. But yeah, this is basically right for the unique bits.

Still, it's one of the few growth opportunities right now. Most of the cost in the short term sounds like it's in the production side, not the software side. The hardware is a massive, but already sunk cost. Apple knows how to price moderate volume products like the wearables and displays. People complain about it the price, but Apple is able to keep the business alive. I think they're committed to this for at least a couple product generations.

 

[wigby]

The internet has done such amazing things brought humanity out of the dark. There’s absolutely no problems that the internet and smartphones caused. Everything has been amazing. We are an enlightened species now. Yes I can’t wait to be a lonely goggles wearing anti social internet person with VR scars all over my face and messed up hair.

We understand your sardonicism but you do have the choice. Before the technology, internet and things like VR goggles, you didn't even have the choice. People went their entire lives without virtually meeting anyone interesting or digesting any enlightening ideas. Shut-ins, those with physical disabilities and millions of introverts never had the possibility to explore a world greater than their bedrooms. They had little to no choices.

Technology is a tool. You have the choice to use that tool or not to use that tool in varying degrees. Technology is not evil or the end of humanity, it's an amplification of humanity. If it leads to the end of everything as we know it, so be it. In the micro sense, more technology always equates to more choices but in the macro sense, we never had the choice to not use technology to advance humanity so why not just choose your ride and enjoy it?

 

[Jensend]

Can anyone explain to me how “feeling as if you are in the room” or seeing their bodies, arms and faces increases productivity in a meeting?

Can you think of any advantages of a an in-person meeting over an audio-only meeting? Well, VR can have that same advantage (unless your answer was something about snacks)

If you are the kind of person who can’t conduct take part and contribute to meetings (face to face or virtual) in a productive way, this tech won’t help you. And if you are savvy enough to take part in such meetings, the tech involved makes no difference.

I feel more comfortable speaking up in an in-person meeting than in an audio-only meeting. As an example, I can indicate with my hand that I'd like to say something. Or I can indicate who I'm addressing by which way my head is pointing.

but none have described anything that actually improves productivity even a little,

Bigger and/or more monitors can make people more productive at some tasks. If you need a computer with more display area, and need something portable, VR can provide that. Many people have brought that up.

 

[urahara]

Don't see why you would buy this unless you have the money to burn, have more money than sense, or you want to develop for it.

Most people should just wait for the 2nd gen headset or even the 3rd or 4th. I'll maybe get one when we're on the 4th or 5th gen and they have a "cheap" SE version or something.

Yeah, you just belong to a group “late adopters”. Without early adopters you won‘t get the product to the later stages. So if you ask about why - because these people make it available for you later on.

 

[Supercyborgninja]

Excited for this only for the fact it will harm Meta. I support any company that does so and one that relatively is more privacy conscious. Same reason I support Apple’s car. Not because of the brand, but the chance for a car to exist that doesn’t cost a ton but still takes a ton of your data like crazy.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I hope I'm not the only one who feels like that photo of the headset screen/lights like that looks unintentionally terrifying

It looks like the last thing you see before your free will is hypnotized away.

I love The Leader!

 

[danr_97070]

I hope I'm not the only one who feels like that photo of the headset screen/lights like that looks unintentionally terrifying

Van Gelder lights? https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Simon_Van_Gelder

 

[Roller]

Yeah, you just belong to a group “late adopters”. Without early adopters you won‘t get the product to the later stages. So if you ask about why - because these people make it available for you later on.

Personally, I don't care about being on the leading edge so people who think early adopters are wasting money or have "more money than sense" can benefit from later advances that make products cheaper and better.

I'm reserving judgement until I can try a Vision Pro for myself. But if it gives me a more immersive experience watching a live event, a movie, or a tour of someplace I know I'll never be able to visit in person, I'm interested. Ditto if spatial video lets me capture and relive times with family and friends more than 2D video does now.

As for cost, I remember paying several thousand USD for a 52" LCD TV almost 20 years ago — I'm sure it was more expensive than the Vision Pro, allowing for inflation. I bought it because it did what I wanted then. I knew the cost would eventually drop, as it did, but I didn't regret the purchase at all.

 

[Lakersfan74]

Can’t wait to see people entering Starbucks placing an order with these things showing off that they have the latest Apple product and feeling special

 

[Piggie]

Would anyone care to speculate the likelihood of us actually seeing Tim Cook (who says he uses this headset daily) actually showing himself wearing one to the media before launch?

It's been speculated that one reason he may have not wished to be seen wearing one up to now is that the front "Spooky-Eye-Vision" screen is still not working.
The ones in any current video's are just fake video effects.

If they can get this working, do you think Tim will wear them before launch?

 

[visualseed]

A lot of people watch sports, concerts, movies and tv with other people. Having to have one of these for everyone in the room is ridiculous.

I almost never watch sports and movies alone.

opens up the possibility of watching with other people that are not physically with you.

 

[Abazigal]

Can’t wait to see people entering Starbucks placing an order with these things showing off that they have the latest Apple product and feeling special

It will probably end up like AirPods. Initially ridiculed, then go on to set the standard by which every other competitor seeks to emulate.

After more than a decade here, I would like to think that I have gotten a little more used to new Apple products being graded on a curve and being subject to an immense amount of cynicism, but honestly, it never gets any easier.

Instead, I can only settle for the resulting sales figures to shut the critics up. It will be another wait, but it will be worth it.

 

[clive27]

can't wait to ride snowboard wearing my $3500 (+$599 for snowboard strap) Apple Vision Pro Goggles for no reason.

 

[tazinlwfl]

This whole thing seems incredibly dystopian. I remember prior to Apple Watch Tim Cook on stage saying nobody wants to wear glasses unless they have to but the wrist was “interesting”. Now he (and Apple bloggers like John Gruber) want us to believe consumers will gladly wear big, bulky googles on their face? So they can show off a perfect ‘persona’ of themselves on a Teams call? Seriously? This might be really cool tech but it’s tech for tech’s sake. It’s a solution in search of a problem.

If you don’t recognize the current state of capitalism and labor practices as dystopian, then you’re a little behind the curb. ‘Gotta keep up that clean shave and collared shirt because “business culture” might be negatively affected.’
The rest just feels like a bad faith take… it’s not just so Personas can exist for teams calls, and your point ignores the already existent sanitization of online profiles on sites like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
At worst, Personas are more accurate avatars than cartoons and Memojis. At best, they are safer for privacy-focused individuals and those who don’t want to present a black square in a video call.

 

[lovehateapple]

If you don’t recognize the current state of capitalism and labor practices as dystopian, then you’re a little behind the curb.

Capitalism isn't the problem. It's our (the US's and other developed nations) move away from free market capitalism that's the root of all our economic problems.