Apple Vision Pro Named 2024 'Innovation of the Year'

[MacRumors]

Apple's Vision Pro headset has been named 2024's innovation of the year by Popular Science.

Popular Science's annual list of the 50 greatest innovations celebrates groundbreaking achievements in science and technology, and this year, Apple's Vision Pro earned the top spot. According to Popular Science, the device represents a pivotal moment in AR innovation, providing a glimpse of the future of immersive computing.

The Vision Pro boasts a 23-million-pixel display system, delivering over 4K resolution to each eye. External cameras on the headset capture a live feed of the user's surroundings, blending the digital and physical worlds in real-time. The absence of traditional controllers or physical buttons further distinguishes the Vision Pro from its competitors, as users interact with its interface using hand gestures, eye tracking, and voice commands. Popular Science noted that these features make it "something different, important, and honestly pretty amazing."

The publication acknowledged some of the headset's hurdles, including its "massive $3,500 price tag," but emphasized its potential to drive future innovation in the AR space:

While AR headsets have existed before, this one gets our award because of how much potential it shows. It's part of Apple's overall hardware plan. The new iPhone cameras have a specific arrangement to shoot spatial video for consumption in AR. Familiar apps can offer augmented experiences specifically meant for headsets. We expect the next version of the hardware will skip the creepy image of your eyes that shows up on the exterior screen. Still, we're curious to see what Apple does next, because a consumer-friendly price on an experience like this could be a true game changer.

Other innovations highlighted by Popular Science this year include the Oura Ring 4, Sony A9 III mirrorless camera, Boox Palma e-ink smartphone, and LG Signature OLED T TV. See the full list for more information.

Article Link: Apple Vision Pro Named 2024 'Innovation of the Year'

 

[emmab2006]

For all 50 people who have one ? 🤣

 

[Digital Dude]

Still too rich for my blood… 🩸

 

[tivoboy]

What are they thinking - or smoking?

Maybe they put it on in January and it went dead in 2 hours and they’ve left it on this whole time, in the dark, not seeing anything, no new info, dark and cold?

 

[surfzen21]

LOL This meme feels about right.

 

[contacos]

Is this one of those things you buy or whovever agrees to send someone, gets an award? My company has a few of those as well 😅

 

[shadowboi]

And they even wonder why people lost trust in media🤦‍♂️

 

[KENESS]

I don't think the eyes are creepy. I think they make a lot of sense. Otherwise it kind of forces you to feel like you have to take the headset off every time you talk to someone. You can see them fine, but for them, looking at and talking to you with a huge blank face, THAT seems weird.

The eyes aren't "natural", but I think it is better than the alternative. A totally valid first attempt at a solution and they could improve with time, too.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I don't think the eyes are creepy. I think they make a lot of sense. Otherwise it kind of forces you to feel like you have to take the headset off every time you talk to someone. You can see them fine, but for them, looking at and talking to you with a huge blank face, THAT seems weird.

The eyes aren't "natural", but I think it is better than the alternative. A totally valid first attempt at a solution and they could improve with time, too.

No, they are creepy, like heebie-jeebies creepy. I can't stand them.

 

[frost_horizon]

Boox Palma is not a smartphone. It does not have any cellular connection at all.

 

[ke-iron]

As it rightfully should. The Vision Pro is a wonderful piece of technology.

 

[vertsix]

Yup, I agree. It might be super overpriced and heavy, but I have never been as impressed with a piece of technology - ever.

 

[spaxxedout]

Lot's of people will disagree, but you have to consider that this is a very technically impressive product. The lossless, low latency bluetooth with AirPods Pro 2 and 10ms delay for 10k ultra wide virtual Mac display alone are worthy of award.

VisionOS 3 will be the make-or-break moment for the Vision Pro. OS2 came out just 4 months post-launch and made the device materially better in a lot of ways.

 

[IceCool]

For the love of god... don't remove EyeSight. As a Vision Pro user, it's really something that shouldn't be removed, but rather improved. Yeah, sometimes its appearance is odd, but other times it's not so bad. But it would be way worse to just have a solid exterior when the point of the headset is the combination of both "worlds".

And before someone says that it should be removed because its "useless" and would "reduce cost if removed"... Read the BoM first, then calculate the cost of the micro-OLED displays for 400,000 units... It's not the AMOLED exterior that's the problem...

 

[CharlesShaw]

That's an interesting full list of disparate items. Everything but the kitchen sink, or is it?

 

[Chungry]

I don't think the eyes are creepy. I think they make a lot of sense. Otherwise it kind of forces you to feel like you have to take the headset off every time you talk to someone. You can see them fine, but for them, looking at and talking to you with a huge blank face, THAT seems weird.

The eyes aren't "natural", but I think it is better than the alternative. A totally valid first attempt at a solution and they could improve with time, too.

No- they're 1000% creepy.
On the subject, when was the last time popular science was even relevant? This is so strange. The novelty is fleeting and then the AVP sits around looking for a problem to solve. Hardly setting the world ablaze compared to Apple's industry-leading silicon advancements that should have received the award.

 

[Plutonius]

I can see it as the innovation of the year.

It doesn't mean that it's a good product.

 

[dontwalkhand]

No. Posted pic to prove I own one, and I still say...No.

 

[filmantopia]

I’ve been using mine for work for 8+ hours daily for weeks, after owning but not using it for months, and I have really come to love the thing. It’s seriously a fun way to work, but requires a degree of tolerance for comfort.

I think when the weight and price comes down to about half of current (plus other standard hardware and software advances), Apple Vision products are going to be somewhat mainstream in 5-8 years.

I’ve been using it for the virtual display (After Effects, Resolve and Final Cut), with Vision Pro Safari windows open for visual reference and research, and entertainment (Apple TV+, Max, Paramount+, Prime) off to the side during tedious animation projects. It’s been great.

Today I’m giving it 24 hours rest because I finally started getting some eye fatigue and minor headache. Really looking forward to OS 2.2 for the wide and ultra wide display.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I can see it as the innovation of the year.

It doesn't mean that it's a good product.

Would you eat the Vegan blue cheese on the NASA supersonic transport?

 

[ozreth]

Otherwise it kind of forces you to feel like you have to take the headset off every time you talk to someone.

And you think that this is…ok? I would never talk with someone who didn’t take this off when speaking with me and it’s real sad how many people are ok with the idea of putting something like this in between human interaction, like our day to day isn’t already filled with technology vying to take our attention and time away from face to face experiences.

 

[sesnir]

I love mine. I resisted for a long time - I guess I believed the haters… but then I demo’d it last month and was so impressed I bought one. I’ve used it every single day since, for hours. No comfort issues. No strange “black eyes”, headaches or issues of any kind. I’m convinced that people who report those things don’t know how to wear a headset and over-tighten it or let the weight sit where it doesn’t belong. Everyone’s skull is different though. For me, the solo band with no mods is super comfy.

It’s expensive, but it’s a vision of the future. Yields are low - this was never meant to be a high seller, but they will sell every single one they make - 500k or so. And rightly so - it’s the most exciting new tech product in ages.

It’s not for everybody - I don’t even recommend most people get one yet. But it fits effortlessly into my life and does things that no other device can do. I use it for a lot more than content consumption, and for me the killer app is environments and the way it enables a higher level of focus in me as I work. I look forward to putting it on every day.

Most of the people who are salty over AVP and make jokes about there only being “50 owners” etc just can’t afford it or don’t understand what AR/VR headsets can do. They’re the equivalent of the elderly mall walkers back in 2008 who asked me why I was standing in a pre-order line for “a phone”, their voices filled with judgement and disbelief. It’s ok - this product is not for you, either.

 

[Sirious]

It is a good innovation, thats true. It's just fulllyyyyy ready for consumers. I think there is definitely a 'Vision' in the works to go along with 'Vision Pro'

 

[spazzcat]

As it rightfully should. The Vision Pro is a wonderful piece of technology.

People here are clearly are still butt hurt about how much it cost and have no idea that it being used in ground breaking changes in places like medical.

 

[Rychiar]

As it should be. By far my fav piece of tech since the original iPhone.