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Apple Vision Pro is the Newton of our time?

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I was thinking about Vision Pro today, objectively. As much as I love the thing and look forward to a future where slimmer, lighter spatial computing becomes more mainstream,. I can't help but think of Apple Newton.

Is the Vision Pro another Newton moment? Ahead of its time and precursor to something much more of a societal computational shift?

Especially appreciate thoughts and opinion from those who have lived through life before monumental society wide shifts, such as Apple II, iPod, iPhone, iPad. I'm sure there are more to be shared.

Those are the main shifts from what we knew to what suddenly was in a way which was undeniable.

Exciting products like Newton and Vision don't always see mass adoption, but their successors even some years later, hit the world running.

Excuse the AI image, it's just a reference, nothing more.

ChatGPT Image Jun 30, 2026 at 05_12_02 PM.png
 
Well the Newton kinda eventually turned into the iPhone.
So I guess the Vision Pro could turn into the iGlasses

Do you think Apple dare to take the so obvious, but also so corny option of actually calling them the iGlasses?

Or just something like Apple Glass or Glasses?

They don't use the "i" anymore but it's almost asking to be used for this case 🙂
 
I kinda like iSee. Heck, they could go full circle and nod people becoming the webcam with iSight
 
Oh yes, I already see a big public acceptance of people walking around with "Woody Allen"-style camera and microphone equipped goggles, possibly recording everything around them.

They will become a huge success....
 
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axantas said:
Oh yes, I already see a big public acceptance of people walking around with "Woody Allen"-style camera and microphone equipped goggles, possibly recording everything around them.

They will become a huge success....
Click to expand...
Which parts do you think will be kept pretty much as they are or change to see the success you speak of?

I can imagine many people said the same of personal video cameras and smartphone cameras before mass adoption.

It's an interesting and valid view I'm sure many will share, perhaps less so when it becomes a new normal.

Some won't accept it - my modern day version of this would be Christopher Nolan and his refusal to carry a smart phone.
 
...the "put your camera smartphone in your pocket, if you talk to me and do not take a video of it" part.
 
I don’t remember much about the Newton, but my vague recollection is that it wasn’t very good at recognizing written words which I thought was a big selling point. It was sort of a digital notepad. Others likely know more than I do about it. The upshot being that it didn’t actually work well. Again, my vague recollection.

I don’t see the Vision Pro as being flawed. It’s definitely new. I think the original VisionOS needed some refinements, but those eventually came. I still think the eye and hand recognition are impressive every time I use it.

The complaints that I’ve read are usually about price, weight or just random, nonsensical complaints from people who likely have never used one. If Vision Pro were $1000 and weighed significantly less I think many more people would be interested. My point is that the complaints were not around functionality.
 
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Piggie said:
Well the Newton kinda eventually turned into the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Kinda. But it went the long way round via the iPod and iPad prototype.

It is ironic that a handheld was the first thing Jobs axed, and the thing that eventually saved the company.

Price and portability are the drawbacks with the AVP, fix those and it's another world changer (even if Oculus et al have done it before).
 
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WebHead said:
Price and portability are the drawbacks with the AVP, fix those and it's another world changer (even if Oculus et al have done it before).
Click to expand...

The larger drawback is desirability.

People by and large don't want to in socially isolating VR headsets.

Folks bringing up "iGlasses" are talking about a totally different product and use cases.
That would be AR, not VR.
 
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I stopped looking when I saw Snap Inc Specs and Meta Orion. These are worth it compared to anything else. Even at 60-70 FOV! I wish they replaced a phone already. But we will see how things fold out! I’m waiting rather for Snap Specs or Meta Orion than anything else at this moment.
 
I still have a Newton. It was an attempt to move away from a keyboard and it had major flaws. It could not recognize writing reliably, it was too big to be really portable, the battery life was short and it did not connect to other devices wirelessly. My company bought one for evaluation.

I think the Vision does address potential markets but has a number of flaws.

Firstly there are two distinct market segments. Much as the iphone does. There are those who want to ride the wave of technology to help them make life easier. This is the glasses market. Low priced, Cool looking and functional to assist much like Apple Watch does. The other market is those who want a personal entertainment center. Price is less a driver here but Quality of Image nd Sound are vital as is lightweight and good battery life. This will be gamers who need low latency and travelers who watch sports, movies and tv on the go or in the air.
It is much like the iphone where the Pro Max is the best camera and good for movies and basic models hit the student market needs at more affordable price bracket.
As long as Vision meets the needs it will succeed. Newton failed because it did not. Look how many folks use a handwriting app on iphones? It is now revamped Siri which actually more lkke Newton.
 
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I think for a movie buff or a gamer with either not a lot of space or not a lot of tolerance for taking over their living room with a giant screen, the vision could be quite a good appliance. Unfortunately I tend to get motion sickness from stuff that's too immersive......even the really big screens you get in old-time movie theaters are a danger area. And it's quite a bit of weight to have on your head. 800 grams, right?

But the other issue is, $3700-$4200 depending on storage. That's a big ask for a device with a fraction of the battery life of a laptop, even if it can replace the laptop. High-end computer money for an individual personal device with base model M5 MBP specs.
 
I still have a Newton. There is a big difference. The Newton was supposed to do away with the keyboard and it did not deliver. The vision does what it says on the box but it has too many downsides. There will be a big market but they must make it wearable for long periods which means drastic weight reduction. They also need to hit a magic price point so with current memory prices where they are that will not be soon.
I think the Vision will be the start of a virtual world revolution which AI is going to introduce. Lots of kids will be able to ignore the world and live virtually. For me it is a desire for movie theater experience on planes.
So I think the iphone Ultra Fold is where the focus will be this year, then I suspect the foldable 18” ipad and maybe 2028 we see a Vision Air.
 
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Both were moonshot first-gen platforms, launched towards the end of the CEO's career.

Newton was introduced out of strategic necessity. Vision Pro was launched because Tim Cook wanted a product to mark his legacy.

Sculley wanted something to defend against PCs. Cook wanted something more than Watch or AirPods, both of which revolve around Jobs' iPhone.

Steve Jobs killed the Newton and John Ternus seems to be doing the same with Vision Pro.
 
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