Kuo: Vision Pro Likely to Launch in Late January or Early February

[marinersaptcomplex]

If they ever make a cheap, sports version in 5-10 years time (and I mean close to what 1,000USD today is), I'd think of buying one. This could make a cool companion on a treadmill and maybe on flights if it won't make me motion-sick--but otherwise...hmmmm not yet.

 

[moonmonkeyRambo]

Gotta say, I don’t see the allure of wearing this apparatus on my melon for any length of time.
I genuinely don’t know how to handicap if this will be a success or a “meh”.

They had to ship to get the developers developing, the form factor will change over the next few years.

iPod nano halved from 42 grams to 21 grams in 4ish years, they will refine it as screen, battery and processor tech improves, I also think some of the features will get dropped if the value is not there.

 

[Jensend]

Sorry, that's a fail for me too. Dwayne syndrome is a weird one, my eyes don't focus or track together -- how is it going to use my eyes for tracking if one eye is turned in and the other is just straight ahead? (and the reverse if I'm looking the other way!

The developer session on Vision Pro accessibility was hosted by an Apple employee who has something at least similar to Dwayne syndrome.

You'd be surprised how many people have have eye problems and can't see in 3D, nor are their eyes going to be trackable like a normal stereoscopic visioned person. Some 12% can't see in 3D, and there's other conditions that would make tracking hard.

Unlike traditional fixed stereoscopic content, VR does not require stereoscopic vision.

For me, I would need a physical controller of some kind that fit my capabilities -- not much of a market based thing...

You'll be able to use a physical controller for input.

I seriously hope you're not talking about me here. I've done the work on researching vision and I deal with accessibility issues all the time. I was seriously interested in how people actually see and sight perception. The kicker is that outside of about 20 feet, I see just as well as someone that can see in 3D, our brains adjust quite well when we're young and we don't lose that. (minus some amount of peripheral vision). But I just don't see any accessibility allowances for people like me with the vision pro right now,

You are obviously aware of accessibility issues, but did you watch the video(s) on accessibility allowances that Apple released?

I don't know your exact circumstances. Maybe you have a combination of disabilities that make Vision Pro not work well for you, but from what I've seen, Apple has put in a lot of effort to make it work for as many people as they can.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Actually, this video https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2023/10034/ shows them all.

View attachment 2329290

For a live demo of VoiceOver, you can scrub to 2:40.

I was referring to the person who said a Vision Pro wouldn’t be helpful to someone with a disability. I wasn’t implying the the Vision Pro doesn’t have accessibility features.

 

[aParkerMusic]

We do know at least some of the accessibility features Apple has built in, including alternatives to the two finger tap gesture, because Apple publicly released a developer session video about accessibility features.

Exactly, it’s wonderful! And once it gets in the wild, more things will be possible. Looking forward to it, despite the cynics.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Maybe be more specific sometime. But again, how do you expect someone who can only move their heads, or even has dementia to use an Apple Vision Pro alone?

I don’t need to be specific in order to write a response (my original one), a causal post, saying I was excited for the future of this technology to help people with accessibility needs. This is !acRumors, not a medical journal. It’s only when very negative and cynical forces came in that we needed to go beyond that. Because folks decided to mock. Disappointing.

Meanwhile, have you never heard of people having help, or caretakers? Have you heard about the villages they created to help people with dementia? Music therapy for dementia suffers? Do you think the person with dementia facilitates these experiences? No, they have support. I imagine it would be the same with a Vision Pro.

in terms of mobility issues, someone can’t have it put on for them? And no on ever said that someone who can only move their head would put it on themselves. I used that video as an example of the amazing things that people can do with specifically developed tools and features.

You keep trying to make the case that all of this is impossible, that it will be of no use. This is just antagonism at this point. As others have stated, the Vision Pro has already announced accessibility features within it. More will come, I guarantee you. I’m excited for it. Thank goodness for the people who have the imagination to push technology forward in the pursuits of human progress and comfort.

 

[bobcomer]

Unlike traditional fixed stereoscopic content, VR does not require stereoscopic vision.

No, it wouldn't, but I'd like to see what allowances Apple has done to make that easier. Does it adjust to only using perspective when layering, can you totally shut off one screen and still get the full image, things like that. It's not an easy adjustment!

You'le be able to use a physical controller for input.

That's a big thing to say with nobody talking about that. We'll see is all I can say myself...

You are obviously aware of accessibility issues, but did you watch the video(s) on accessibility allowances that Apple released?

Yes. Some time ago though.. Totally useless for me.

I don't know your exact circumstances. Maybe you have a combination of disabilities

That doesn't describe the half of it. :/ More than one syndrome, first surgery when I was a day old and many many after that. Part of my finger immobility was because of doctors trying to make things work better.

btw, not looking for sympathy or anything, but I would certainly like to see something better.

I've done pretty well, in spite of the problems, but I have to admit there are things I am unable to do. I've also been around others with disabilities all my life, no one idea works for everyone. It least until we can get direct neural in/out. And even then it still wont work for everyone, just most.

 

[GuruZac]

Everyone needs to watch this

Takeaways
Great build quality
Great screens
Intuitive ui
Spatial video works well when close to the subject
Spatial is a gimmick

I stand by my earlier position. This will not sell well.

It’s at a price point to not sell in high numbers. Is there any electronics product that sells in high numbers that’s $3500?

 

[chucker23n1]

That's a big thing to say with nobody talking about that.

Except Apple did talk about that, as has been pointed out twice in this thread. They specifically call out Switch Control as a Vision Pro feature, which means you'll be able to use a third-party physical controller via Bluetooth.

 

[chucker23n1]

It’s at a price point to not sell in high numbers. Is there any electronics product that sells in high numbers that’s $3500?

Cars?

 

[spinedoc77]

You'd certainly be in good company with those who in the beginning panned iPod, iPhone, iPad, Watch, and AirPods. All flops.

I can only speak for today, tomorrow may be a different story. I think this will do well in non consumer segments like certain industries, healthcare, logistics, etc. But for your average mom and pop consumer it's going to have to shrink down a hell of a lot more, ignoring price for a second. Hell, look at 3d glasses, you can't even get people to wear those paper thin ones you get for free from the movie theater. I might wear these at a hotel or a plane, but not walking down the street, driving my car, or hanging out at the pub. I can't say I've experienced these in person so will withhold judgement, but I'm no stranger to VR/AR and have had several different ones and have gamed, attempted desktop functions, communicated, etc and at the end of the day it was just easier to use my computer and/or phone.

Miniaturize this into something the size of regular eyeglasses, or better yet contact lenses, price it reasonably, and it will start to make more sense for the mass market. Conversely when you first saw the iPod, iPhone, and iPad you instantly knew they were going to be a hit and haven't needed much evolution over their basic premise. I do think these will eventually be significant as the technology matures, after all consumers number one desire is to have a larger screen, but today it feels much more like a very clunky proof of concept.

 

[aibloop]

No other Apple product in the last 2 decades has had the forums light up in quite the same way as Apple AR…

It doesn’t matter, this tech is obviously superior to square screens and tiny smartphone screens. It is objectively better. The best kind!


Is it expensive, yes. Is it as expensive as two 27inch apple displays? Not really… I might get one instead of two screens actually.

 

[bobcomer]

Except Apple did talk about that, as has been pointed out twice in this thread.

Where's the designs of a physical controller? I've seen no mention of that here.

They specifically call out Switch Control as a Vision Pro feature, which means you'll be able to use a third-party physical controller via Bluetooth.

Ahh, existing tech. Not great.

 

[bobcomer]

Cars?

A lot more things than that!

 

[bobcomer]

It’s at a price point to not sell in high numbers. Is there any electronics product that sells in high numbers that’s $3500?

Well equipped Macs? I know I've spent that much on them.

 

[goobot]

The first iPad had the A4, months before the iPhone got it. Hardly gimped.

It also had half the ram which is why it only got 2 major software updates

 

[goobot]

What’s gimped about the M2? It’s not the best, but it’s hardly a bad processor by any stretch.

By gimped I mean old

 

[WarmWinterHat]

So sales is the only relevant metric?

And I disagree with your premise. The success of Apple was built on the back of a rabid fandom that knew everything there was to know about Apple. The current situation where everyone owns an Apple product? That’s basically a new phenomenon. For the bulk of its history Apple was an underdog, not a commodity maker.

But again, whether people know who the CEO is or not doesn’t really prove anything.

The new phenomenon you're referring to is over a decade old at this point, probably older. I remember the iMac being popular with everyone around me in college,

This isn't a company catering to enthusiasts anymore, and what they were 20 years ago isn't really relevant anymore. It's mainstream, and becoming more-so every day.

 

[chucker23n1]

Well equipped Macs? I know I've spent that much on them.

I was tempted to bring that up, but let’s be honest, there aren’t that many Macs sold >= 3,500$. Probably 80% of sales below $2k.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The new phenomenon you're referring to is over a decade old at this point, probably older. I remember the iMac being popular with everyone around me in college,

This isn't a company catering to enthusiasts anymore, and what they were 20 years ago isn't really relevant anymore. It's mainstream, and becoming more-so every day.

I guess you missed my point.

 

[docbop]

So people are going to pay $3500 to be a beta tester and evangelize Vision Pro. I think Apple is viewing the Vision Pro more as it's new head mounted monitor that will also do VR. Vision Pro will be all about AR mixing your work and entertainment worlds together and tying into you iPhone so social media will become visual. That's where I think it is headed over the next five years.

 

[Abazigal]

I’ve been in the Apple system since 1994. The criticism around Vision Pro is not due to youth or ignorance.

People have been criticising Apple for as long as I can remember (looking back, I recall the iMac initially being mocked for not being a "real computer", then the iPod being derided by people wanting a newer iMac instead, then the iPhone criticised by people wanting another iPod or Mac).

It may not be youth or ignorance, but something is making these people extremely cynical about Apple and incapable of evaluating anything Apple does objectively. Right now, one theory I have is that Apple, being a design-led company which claims to be at the intersection between arts and technology, continues to be misunderstood. It's like so many people have been conditioned to judging tech products based on quantifiable metrics like processor speed, amount of ram, number of pixels, physical capacity of batteries etc, and then Apple comes in and completely upsets conventional wisdom by showing how design matters in the mass market where the customer is the end user, and is completely free to choose a product based in intangible factors that cannot be measured, such as the look and feel of a device.

Maybe you can shed some light, given that you have been using Macs for 15 years more than I have.

 

[Abobrek]

I don’t need to be specific in order to write a response (my original one), a causal post, saying I was excited for the future of this technology to help people with accessibility needs. This is !acRumors, not a medical journal. It’s only when very negative and cynical forces came in that we needed to go beyond that. Because folks decided to mock. Disappointing.

Meanwhile, have you never heard of people having help, or caretakers? Have you heard about the villages they created to help people with dementia? Music therapy for dementia suffers? Do you think the person with dementia facilitates these experiences? No, they have support. I imagine it would be the same with a Vision Pro.

in terms of mobility issues, someone can’t have it put on for them? And no on ever said that someone who can only move their head would put it on themselves. I used that video as an example of the amazing things that people can do with specifically developed tools and features.

You keep trying to make the case that all of this is impossible, that it will be of no use. This is just antagonism at this point. As others have stated, the Vision Pro has already announced accessibility features within it. More will come, I guarantee you. I’m excited for it. Thank goodness for the people who have the imagination to push technology forward in the pursuits of human progress and comfort.

Frankly you are being hypocritical. Why would someone whom currently uses the use cases you previously stated about the accessibility features of the iPhone and Mac switch to a more complicated device that requires another person to assist them with using said devices? Wouldn’t it be more efficient and productive to simply use a Mac or iPhone that already have the accessibility features you speak of? Genuinely what are the benefits of using an Apple Vision Pro when mobility is limited? A bigger screen?? Something strapped on someone’s face that needs assistance to be removed? You are failing to realize the true difficulty this would be for someone with disabilities and the difficulty it is for them to experience all of the features that comes with it.

 

[citysnaps]

I can only speak for today, tomorrow may be a different story. I think this will do well in non consumer segments like certain industries, healthcare, logistics, etc. But for your average mom and pop consumer it's going to have to shrink down a hell of a lot more, ignoring price for a second. Hell, look at 3d glasses, you can't even get people to wear those paper thin ones you get for free from the movie theater. I might wear these at a hotel or a plane, but not walking down the street, driving my car, or hanging out at the pub. I can't say I've experienced these in person so will withhold judgement, but I'm no stranger to VR/AR and have had several different ones and have gamed, attempted desktop functions, communicated, etc and at the end of the day it was just easier to use my computer and/or phone.

Miniaturize this into something the size of regular eyeglasses, or better yet contact lenses, price it reasonably, and it will start to make more sense for the mass market. Conversely when you first saw the iPod, iPhone, and iPad you instantly knew they were going to be a hit and haven't needed much evolution over their basic premise. I do think these will eventually be significant as the technology matures, after all consumers number one desire is to have a larger screen, but today it feels much more like a very clunky proof of concept.

For sure in commercial and business applications with respect to AR - which has been used for years. AR has also widely been used in the field medicine, such as cardio-thoracic assisted surgery.

Apple will expand on the above and bring AR to consumers. The upcoming AVP is mostly targeted to developers for now for writing apps and to a smallish number of curious consumers - who likely have little idea what AR is about and are just curious about using it for immersive VR.

Apple will continue to shrink the size down to something that looks more like glasses (rather than goggles), which will dovetail nicely with the AR apps developers will have ready for both business/commercial and consumer spaces. And that's when the real fun begins. Along with Apple making a lot of money introducing AR into a lot of untouched areas.

 

[spaxxedout]

It can’t succeed as a media consumption platform alone.

And I have to ask: why does there need to be a next step after television and movies? Sometimes a media is perfect just as it is.

I agree. Thankfully it does a lot of other stuff.

Vision Pro definitely has drawbacks to traditional tv and home theater. Big one of course being watching with others. But for high fidelity personal screening, headsets are the way to go. I think there should be more single function headsets that only do this for like 1/3 the price. But then again, you seem to need a do-it-all device to validate the r&d.