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Testing the Vision Pro With New Ultrawide Display Option in visionOS 2.2

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The first developer beta of visionOS 2.2 came out yesterday, and it includes a much anticipated new feature for Vision Pro users. When using the Vision Pro as a display for a Mac, there are now options to use wide and ultrawide layouts in addition to the standard virtual display.


We thought we'd check out the new display settings for those who might be interested in seeing how this changes the Vision Pro Mac workflow.

With the wide display option, there's enough screen real estate to use four apps at once without compromising on window size. Ultrawide bumps up the available space even more, and it's almost too much display space.

Using the ultrawide setting is like having multiple curved Mac displays in front of you to handle your Mac apps, and then you can also add in visionOS apps to better utilize the virtual space around you. The larger screen sizes for the Mac do improve productivity because there's so much more space to work with.

Note that you still can't use multiple Mac windows when mirroring your Mac display to your Vision Pro, but the wide and ultrawide provide so much space that it's essentially the same function. Apple says that the ultrawide mode is equivalent to using two 4K monitors side by side.

In addition to adding these display modes, Apple improved the quality of the virtual displays so they're crisper and higher resolution, plus audio plays from the Vision Pro rather than the Mac so it sounds better.

visionOS 2.2 is in beta right now, but it will see a launch alongside macOS Sequoia 15.2 and iOS 18.2 in early December.

Article Link: Testing the Vision Pro With New Ultrawide Display Option in visionOS 2.2
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/05/vision-pro-ultrawide-display/
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Love this! I got the AVP almost exclusively to have a great working environment for my Mac when not in my office (hotel rooms, etc.). In my office I use two 4k monitors + the 16" Laptop Display. Getting ultra-wide in AVP is going to be great!
 
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This is the killer app for this device. I calculated that it would save me several thousands of dollars to buy the Vision Pro than to buy several monitors and a computer that could support them. I hope that apple continues to improve the virtual monitor functionality and then removes all the dumb useless stuff from the Vision Pro, making it lighter and cheaper. Honestly, I would be happy to use a headset plugged into a Mac if the displays are good enough.
 
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jole said:
The new ultra wide display is AMAZING. I actually now prefer working on that over my XDR.

This can be sole reason for buying AVP.
Click to expand...
If I may ask, how practical is this? Can someone work (coding, writing documents, ...) like this on their Mac/MacBook for 8 hours a day (I don't know if AVP charging allows that).
 
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NapoleonIV said:
This is the killer app for this device. I calculated that it would save me several thousands of dollars to buy the Vision Pro than to buy several monitors and a computer that could support them. I hope that apple continues to improve the virtual monitor functionality and then removes all the dumb useless stuff from the Vision Pro, making it lighter and cheaper. Honestly, I would be happy to use a headset plugged into a Mac if the displays are good enough.
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Don’t people still struggle to wear the headset for more than a couple hours at once? The other point that seems relevant is the maturity of the 2 technologies. Screens and speakers have really developed to the point where they can be used for many many years. I’m not as bullish on this first generation product being supported as long.
 
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appleCakes said:
If I may ask, how practical is this? Can someone work (coding, writing documents, ...) like this on their Mac/MacBook for 8 hours a day (I don't know if AVP charging allows that).
Click to expand...
I had an interesting situation I got thrown into. My glasses unexpectedly broke and replacements were a week out. Working in my office with my standard displays was suddenly not possible, so I turned to my AVP with the current prescription lenses. I worked all week, day in, day out on the AVP. It's entirely possible and about to get even better. I'm a full-stack web-developer so it was mostly coding.

For power you just keep it plugged in.

Here is a nice blurry shot from a video I recorded walking into my virtual office while my main monitors were off. I utilized a standing desk with nothing but a keyboard and mouse on it. When I got to my standing desk the virtual environment came up and I was coding in the mountains.

1730835933182.png
 
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appleCakes said:
If I may ask, how practical is this? Can someone work (coding, writing documents, ...) like this on their Mac/MacBook for 8 hours a day (I don't know if AVP charging allows that).
Click to expand...

Yes. I do that all the time.

But it needs several weeks to get used to that. Many complain about the weight — I used to be one of those people — they need to learn to use solo band and train their neck muscles by getting through the first weeks of use. After that it becomes natural.
 
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I currently use my Vision Pro more for productivity than consuming content. I frequently use it with my MacBook Pro. I am really looking forward to the new Ultra Wide display. I can use it for hours at a time quite comfortably using a top head strap along with the solo head strap.
 
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I saw someone demo it and was like “Ok, the rectangle gets larger.” Meanwhile, I’ve got a couple safari windows in standby over my head while I’m actively using one on my left, with Apple Music to my right, Notes forward and above. I can see how it’s liberating for folks, but it just feels limiting to me.
 
Graphikos said:
Love this! I got the AVP almost exclusively to have a great working environment for my Mac when not in my office (hotel rooms, etc.). In my office I use two 4k monitors + the 16" Laptop Display. Getting ultra-wide in AVP is going to be great!
Click to expand...
How do you like it when traveling? Do you use keyboard on MBP or take a magic. Keyboard?
 
flybass said:
Don’t people still struggle to wear the headset for more than a couple hours at once? The other point that seems relevant is the maturity of the 2 technologies. Screens and speakers have really developed to the point where they can be used for many many years. I’m not as bullish on this first generation product being supported as long.
Click to expand...
I can’t take my screens and speakers with me when traveling.
 
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appleCakes said:
If I may ask, how practical is this? Can someone work (coding, writing documents, ...) like this on their Mac/MacBook for 8 hours a day (I don't know if AVP charging allows that).
Click to expand...
The only thing you have to be concerned about regarding charging is that you’ll want to always be tethered BUT that means you can’t just stand up from your desk without preparing first :) Once you get used to taking steps to make sure nothing’s going to fall or crash when you get up, you’ll be fine with, say, your AVP battery in a shirt pocket (if you have a shirt pocket) and just disconnect the charging cable from the battery before you think about going anywhere.
 
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Most ultra-wide monitors are silly. You can get even more pixels and a larger screen by simply buying a 4k TV. I use a 42" 4k screen, and it works well for me.

This cost me just $450 for something with high quality colors. "Widescreen" monitors with half as many pixels were selling for twice the price.
 
appleCakes said:
If I may ask, how practical is this? Can someone work (coding, writing documents, ...) like this on their Mac/MacBook for 8 hours a day (I don't know if AVP charging allows that).
Click to expand...

"Practical" is eye/ear/head of the beholder.

When someone has access to big screens anchored in some space, they will probably still use those. This is probably not about some kind of either-or mentality. When they don't have such easy access such as when on the road/in the hotel/in the air/etc, they face trying to be productive on a relatively puny 16" or smaller screen unless they have something like this (or foldable/rollable screens which add weight with each additional inch... or a projector which miserably fails in environments other than towards dark with a substantial blank wall or screen on which to cast a screen of this size).

Can someone work (coding, writing documents...) like this for 8 hours a day in the traditional way? Of course. MANY people do that up to every day... if not the infamous 10-12-14 or even 16 hour days. And how do they do that? There are certainly breaks (restroom, meeting(s), lunch, restroom, meeting, dinner, etc). Same here. While there is a battery capacity of about 2.5 hours per battery, this thing can be plugged in- just like a traditional monitor(s) when stationary (like in a hotel). Or one can carry a spare battery(s) or two... as I did with my first Apple PowerBook G4 with batteries limited to about 2.5 hours (too).

Do necks get tired? Probably... but so do backs, arms, etc the traditional way too... thus one takes those breaks. Unlike the traditional way, one could put the MB in lap while laying on their back with head on a pillow for much more support and work like that with a virtual screen. This giant monitor would basically be ABOVE- like watching a huge TV mounted on a ceiling.

IMO: the traditional setups don't get replaced. This just poses a little threat to always leaning on an up to 16" laptop screen... because, with a fixed size & weight mobile device, select road warriors can summon screens even bigger than their physical desktops at home or office... and bigger than their physical TVs anchored back at home too.

I work EVERY day on a widescreen monitor hooked to a Mac. Would I forgo that and go exclusively with this? Probably no. However, as soon as I'm away from that monitor, I miss the abundant screen space and productivity plunges when working on 16" or smaller screens. I see Vpro first and foremost as a MOBILE screen of any size on demand. And as such, it is far superior to any fold, any roll and any projector alternative.
 
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TechnoMonk said:
I can’t take my screens and speakers with me when traveling.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the TV too... for all those who spin "I'd rather buy a <huge> TV". Yes, buy that TV if they don't already own it but you'll never be able to bring it on the plane... to the hotel... on the train... etc.

I don't see Vpro as either-or. I see it as BOTH if one can afford both... like people see iPhone vs. iPad or even MB vs. desktop Mac or Computer monitor and a TV. If one can't afford both, buy the TV and traditional monitor, etc and then make do with up to 16" screen sizes when on the go. But if you can afford both, you can have your big screens at home and office AND NOW on the road too.

That's a BIG deal. The alternative technologies trying to deliver the same are foldable screens, rollable screens and projection screens. Folds & Rolls would be cumbersome and increasingly heavy at this size. Projectors need relatively low light and something on which to project that would be as big as this virtual screen. In all 3 options, there's also no privacy unlike Vpro where you could work on the most sensitive of information and be the only person able to see it... even in a crowded spot like Coach on a plane or while waiting in a terminal, etc.
 
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