The MacRumors Show: visionOS 2.2 and Where Vision Pro Goes Next

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss visionOS 2.2 and Apple's potential move into iPhone-connected glasses.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

visionOS 2.2 brings Wide and Ultrawide modes to the Vision Pro's Mac Virtual Display feature. Mac Virtual Display allows Apple's Vision Pro headset to be used as an external display for a Mac. The feature has been available since visionOS was first released earlier this year, but the wider options are new in the latest beta. Apple has previously said the ultrawide version of Mac Virtual Display is equivalent to having two physical 4K displays sitting side by side on a desk.

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

We discuss the experience of using the new Mac Virtual Display modes and whether it makes the Vision Pro more useful. visionOS 2.2 will likely be released to the public in December alongside iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and other updates.

We also talk through where Apple's Vision product line is headed next. There are now a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about a new, M5-powered Vision Pro headset with Apple Intelligence that is apparently set to launch next year.

Apple is also said to be "seriously considering" a new Vision device that offloads computing to a paired iPhone and serves as an accessory for watching movies, similar to Xreal.

The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Jon Prosser about talk all of Apple's latest Mac announcements.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: visionOS 2.2 and Where Vision Pro Goes Next

 

[philfloyduk]

I will not stop saying this until people start listening…

There are comfort issues with the Vision Pro, however, you do get used to it if you wear it regularly.

If you do not want to get used to it, use the Annapro headband. Yes, I understand you shouldn’t have to buy accessories to be comfortable wearing a device that costs as much as this, but it is so cheap it doesn’t matter.

Apple finally gave us something amazing that wasn’t quite ready, but we got it, and despite its flaws, it’s amazing.

GET THE ANNAPRO HEADBAND AND TAKE THE LIGHTSEAL OFF!

You won’t regret it 😉😄

 

[AndiG]

I will not stop saying this until people start listening…

There are comfort issues with the Vision Pro, however, you do get used to it if you wear it regularly.

If you do not want to get used to it, use the Annapro headband. Yes, I understand you shouldn’t have to buy accessories to be comfortable wearing a device that costs as much as this, but it is so cheap it doesn’t matter.

Apple finally gave us something amazing that wasn’t quite ready, but we got it, and despite its flaws, it’s amazing.

GET THE ANNAPRO HEADBAND AND TAKE THE LIGHTSEAL OFF!

You won’t regret it 😉😄

Another advise, if you want an AVP:

Wait for the next version. Why?
- With an M2 chip you‘ll never get AI features.
- Current AVP is too heavy. Next version will save weight.
- If Apple drops it in favor of a more Meta glasses like product, you did not waste any money.

 

[subjonas]

It’s interesting seeing the contrast between how Dan and Hartley feel about the VP. It’s like a microscosm of the wider public response to the VP, ie. very opposing feelings (although Hartley is a lot more civil about it). It’s apparent that people like Dan are either able to get more functionality out of the VP than people like Hartley, or they don’t have to sacrifice as much in the way of comfort probably due to their different face/head shapes/sizes and tolerances, or a combination of both. Either way, clearly the ROI of the VP is higher for Dan, and lower for Hartley. But I’m curious to see if the big updates in 2.2 and better fitting accessories could significantly change the variables in the equation. Looking forward to seeing an update video later from Dan after he’s had time with 2.2 and the new third party headband. Also curious if Hartley will give VP another try.

 

[kcwookie]

Another advise, if you want an AVP:

Wait for the next version. Why?
- With an M2 chip you‘ll never get AI features.
- Current AVP is too heavy. Next version will save weight.
- If Apple drops it in favor of a more Meta glasses like product, you did not waste any money.

Why is that, my M1 Mac mini gets AI?

 

[kcwookie]

I have no idea what people are talking about when it comes to the AVP being uncomfortable to wear after 30 minutes. I’m 64 years old and I can wear eight hours a day to get my work done.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Welcome to our new host... Hartley!! He took over this episode with truthful comments and at about the 30 minute mark Dan had a look on his face which said....I have kids to feed, a mortgage and bloody Hartley is telling Cook that he has ****ed up. I fully agree Hartley, keep it up.

 

[BeatsByTim]

Apple finally gave us something amazing that wasn’t quite ready, but we got it, and despite its flaws, it’s amazing.

Yeah, Tim delivered something amazing alright. Amazingly pointless.

 

[klasma]

Why is that, my M1 Mac mini gets AI?

Presumably because the M2 in the AVP has a higher base load and/or RAM usage due to all the AVP-related processing it has to manage, which a Mac mini doesn’t have to.

 

[SGSfanboy]

I don’t have an AVP. But two things come to mind after watching the video discussion. Apple should have sold the AVP at a loss at the beginning to get an enthusiastic user base and get developers on board. The $ loss would have been pocket change to Apple. Then subsequent versions would have made a (possibly small) profit once the the manufacturing numbers ramped up. It wouldn’t necessarily be a mainstream product but a halo product to show what Apple technology can achieve.

 

[TimB21]

Wow, there's critical and there's unrelentingly negative. I don't own an AVP, a little rich for my blood, but the negativity was a little hard to take. Dan's been critical but open to improvements.

 

[axantas]

Another advise, if you want an AVP:

Wait for the next version. Why?
- With an M2 chip you‘ll never get AI features.
- Current AVP is too heavy. Next version will save weight.
- If Apple drops it in favor of a more Meta glasses like product, you did not waste any money.

I do have one more advice for AndiG:
- Always wait for the next version. Never buy the version, that just came out, because the next one will be more powerful, lighter, feature packed and so one. There is always something better ahead....

I am just running Star Trek Enterprise Season 5 watching Commander Stamets tapping on his virtual screens, tapping myself on my virtual screens. Ok he does not wear additional hardware, but he is the 24th century.

 

[jaw04005]

Quite possibly the best podcast discussion I’ve heard about the AVP.

I own one, that’s not saying much since I also own the G4 cube, but this thing was a development kit at best and a bad bet at worst.

Meta is providing funding to developers in order to get games and applications on their platforms. It’s been months and Apple can’t even figure out how to ship their own software for it.

Apple expected their iOS developers and media companies to just jump on board just like the debut of the iPhone and iPad, but it didn’t happen. tvOS had a better response rate out of the gate.

 

[iAuthor]

I thought that was a bit of a bizarre episode. Dan, who uses the AVP, wanted to praise the new wide/ultrawide feature (rightly so), but he couldn't get a word in. Instead, he was steamrollered by Hartley who has not even tried the feature because he'd returned his AVP. The whole thing was really negative. Now that I think of it, Hartley seems mostly negative about every product except Hermès watch bands. I am an AVP user. It is not the most comfortable bit of tech to use, but I can and do work in it for hours at a time. I feel like the criticism of the AVP is a bit relentless and that I'm missing something. I'm cooling on this podcast a bit; might just stick to Dan's videos in the future.

 

[richinaus]

Quite possibly the best podcast discussion I’ve heard about the AVP.

I own one, that’s not saying much since I also own the G4 cube, but this thing was a development kit at best and a bad bet at worst.

Meta is providing funding to developers in order to get games and applications on their platforms. It’s been months and Apple can’t even figure out how to ship their own software for it.

Apple expected their iOS developers and media companies to just jump on board just like the debut of the iPhone and iPad, but it didn’t happen. tvOS had a better response rate out of the gate.

yes 100%. I have been saying the exact same.
Its a dev kit really and a toy for early adopters, and certainly not a consumer device for now.

Meta are killing Apple in terms of supporting developers [funding, support etc]. They made it relatively easy to get something working in Unity. Apple is like pulling teeth and really need to either develop their own set ups for Unity or simply get their own software out there otherwise it will never succeed.

The AVP is simply too hard to develop for and I set up my office [loosly] to do this, and basically have given up for now, and focus on Meta Quest instead.
As an anecdote I know a decent VR developer who has released some successful experiences and their exact words were the AVP has been 'a F***ing nightmare' to develop for. If experienced and knowledgable people struggle there is no way an iOS developer is going to release anything as 3D is nothing like a 2D app.

 

[DownUnderDan]

I thought that was a bit of a bizarre episode. Dan, who uses the AVP, wanted to praise the new wide/ultrawide feature (rightly so), but he couldn't get a word in. Instead, he was steamrollered by Hartley who has not even tried the feature because he'd returned his AVP. The whole thing was really negative. Now that I think of it, Hartley seems mostly negative about every product except Hermès watch bands. I am an AVP user. It is not the most comfortable bit of tech to use, but I can and do work in it for hours at a time. I feel like the criticism of the AVP is a bit relentless and that I'm missing something. I'm cooling on this podcast a bit; might just stick to Dan's videos in the future.

I think you just said your beliefs were challenged. It's an Apple product and we were all supposed to be excited about it, especially since you sunk a considerable amount of money in it. Truth is, Apple is backing away from it. You only have to see how Tim Cook talks about it now. It was a Dev unit foisted on the public as a retail device in the hope Apple could recoup a considerable budget already spent on it. Quite important after the failure of Apple car plans. It didn't work out.

 

[anthogag]

Hartley is not qualified to talk about Vision Pro anymore. It stopped when he returned it. You guys do the weekly podcasts. Vision Pro is an important Apple device and it is the future. Someone give Hartley a Vision Pro to use after updates and right before they make a podcast.

A lighter less expensive Vision Pro connecting to the iPhone would be excellent.

The VP is a cutting edge product. Hartley wearing wired buds for the podcast does not 'look good'. Perhaps it signals he is in flatland. 🧩

Also, it might be better if both of you wear Vision Pro devices when you do a podcast about Vision Pro.

 

[Armadillo21]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss visionOS 2.2 and Apple's potential move into iPhone-connected glasses.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

visionOS 2.2 brings Wide and Ultrawide modes to the Vision Pro's Mac Virtual Display feature. Mac Virtual Display allows Apple's Vision Pro headset to be used as an external display for a Mac. The feature has been available since visionOS was first released earlier this year, but the wider options are new in the latest beta. Apple has previously said the ultrawide version of Mac Virtual Display is equivalent to having two physical 4K displays sitting side by side on a desk.

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

We discuss the experience of using the new Mac Virtual Display modes and whether it makes the Vision Pro more useful. visionOS 2.2 will likely be released to the public in December alongside iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and other updates.

We also talk through where Apple's Vision product line is headed next. There are now a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about a new, M5-powered Vision Pro headset with Apple Intelligence that is apparently set to launch next year.

Apple is also said to be "seriously considering" a new Vision device that offloads computing to a paired iPhone and serves as an accessory for watching movies, similar to Xreal.

The MacRumors Show also has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Jon Prosser about talk all of Apple's latest Mac announcements.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: visionOS 2.2 and Where Vision Pro Goes Next

Hartley "Kill Joy" Strikes again!!!! such a negative guy. He didn't even give the Vision Pro a chance!!!!! he sent it back. never even tried out the features we are all loving today. What a pompous negative Nelly!

 

[Harvey Zoltan]

VisionOS 2.2 is great. Still using my Vision Pro every day, stand alone and with my Mac.

 

[Rounder077]

Gee I wonder why Hartley is not having a good day. It'll be fine Hartley. Anyway, I think he should have kept the product and used it more ESPECIALLY since he didn't like it. Shouldn't you really get more than a first impression on something you're going to talk about this much?

 

[AndiG]

Why is that, my M1 Mac mini gets AI?

Wasn‘t that already discussed on MR?
Basically it seems that while AVP has the M chip, the chip is running already at max capacity to drive the displays and the design of the AVP is so old they didn‘t even think of AI.

So while the current AVP is more a DevKit than a product, the hardware is already outdated.

Did you see Metas glasses identifying all ingredients lying on a table and telling you what you can cook? - Yep, not with the AVP.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Gee I wonder why Hartley is not having a good day. It'll be fine Hartley. Anyway, I think he should have kept the product and used it more ESPECIALLY since he didn't like it. Shouldn't you really get more than a first impression on something you're going to talk about this much?

From what was said in previous episodes, Harley bought it with his own funds. I do not fault him for returning it. However, if Dan and MacRumors expect him to talk knowledgeably about the product at length in numerous episodes then they should buy it for him. A cost of doing business correctly.

 

[CCnNYC]

If you were to buy a ginormous yet weightless super-portable screen to use with your laptop, you would easily pay $2000 for it. If it additionally had the features of an iPad, you would probably spend another $1000. Granted there are the flaws mentioned above, and the ecosystem is not up to speed yet, but at the least, I see a lot of potential utility from this device. I can’t wait to try 2.2 as the hyper-focal rendering has been my main complaint for productivity uses. And I love feeling like I’m working on a beach in Bora Bora.

 

[Onelifenofear]

Another advise, if you want an AVP:

Wait for the next version. Why?
- With an M2 chip you‘ll never get AI features.
- Current AVP is too heavy. Next version will save weight.
- If Apple drops it in favor of a more Meta glasses like product, you did not waste any money.

Ai is available on all M Chips.

A vision non pro.
Simpler construction.
Offload processing to iPhone. This could be normal Vision version. Vision Pro retains on board processing.
Same resolution - really needs to be for the experience.
Quest style CONTROLLERS. either theirs or an API.
Be 1/3rd the price.

my personal bugbear is that it doesn't have an onboard small battery to allow hot swap. you have to shut it down.

This is the short term future, that could be a future MacBook.

 

[TimB21]

I like optimism!