The Weeknd's 'Open Hearts' Immersive Music Experience Launches on Apple Vision Pro

[CBlakeston]

I know I shouldn’t expect any better but it’s frustrating that discussion on EVERY story about the Vision Pro quickly devolves into its right to exist.

Genuinely curious why? I have no interest in the Apple pencil but I don’t spend my time online trying to destroy it. If you like it great. It’s not for me.

Is it just the price of the Vision Pro that’s triggering for people?

 

[cateye]

Genuinely curious why.

Fair question, and I'll give you my honest answer.

Everyone is going to have their own opinions about any Apple product. I really enjoy my MacBook Pro, but think the MacPro is ridiculous, overpriced, and unnecessary. I'm sure someone who needs the specific capabilities of a MacPro would sing its praises while scoffing at the limitations of a laptop. We all have our own needs. Luckily, I am not subject to MacPro owners trying to sell me on the merits of the Pro, nor would I think to waste time telling a MacPro user they should instead use a MacBook Pro. It just doesn't come up. They are tools, and people treat them accordingly: as tools.

Yet have you noticed how much AVP owners feel a need to tell the rest of us how epochal of a product it is? How magical and amazing? How much emotional investment they have in, what is, just yet another tool? I'll fully admit, as a result, I childishly poke the bear. Because it's easy. Because a specific list of users here on MacRumors will always react with predictable ferocity.

My opinions on the AVP in general aren't that strong one way or another. I did the demo. I was not "wowed." It was fun, but nothing I'd spend $3500 on, or even $100 on. Broadly, it's interesting technology and I can appreciate the work Apple put into its development, and because I like Apple products, I'm curious to see where it goes, even if I'm unlikely to ever own one. If, however, there are people for whom the investment has been worthwhile and they enjoy it, more power to you! We should all be happy with our purchases. But I am not required to share your enthusiasm. The more you try and convince me of how special it is "because Apple," the more I'm going to poke back, maliciously. We each get to have our own opinions about what is, again, just another tool.

 

[zencowboy]

I still use it almost every day, for work and entertainment. At home and on the road.

me too!

 

[Amazing Iceman]

me too!

What do you use to access your Mac remotely?

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

I know more than a handful of people who have done it, and spent over $10K on it.

Amazing that you happen to know so many people who spent over $10,000 to build a small home theater that only they can use.

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

Is it just the price of the Vision Pro that’s triggering for people?

For me, it's the lost opportunity they had to do other things, but instead they made this DOA device. It attracts attention to itself because it's the epitome of the Apple stereotype - they make underpowered status objects for rich people. So now they're playing catchup in other areas where I wish they were the leaders instead. It's just so absurd.

 

[Eorlas]

I always read his stupid name as The Weakened.

i've always wondered why this community has so much hatred and vitriol

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Amazing that you happen to know so many people who spent over $10,000 to build a small home theater that only they can use.

Very common. Here in the Florida Gold Coast, a lot of people do it. These people I happen to know because they are my clients. There’s more of the world for you to explore.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

If the AVP...were $500, I would absolutely buy one.

Not sure it would need to have been priced quite that low to attract significantly more buyers. If it were half the price, around $1750 (though $1500 would have been better), and taken as a loss leader to gather real-world usage data for future products, it might have taken off significantly more than it has.

 

[delsoul]

No thanks! If I wanted to listen to Michael Jackson, I’d actually go listen to his music. Not some Michael Jackson impersonator named The Weeknd!

 

[CBlakeston]

Fair question, and I'll give you my honest answer.

Everyone is going to have their own opinions about any Apple product. I really enjoy my MacBook Pro, but think the MacPro is ridiculous, overpriced, and unnecessary. I'm sure someone who needs the specific capabilities of a MacPro would sing its praises while scoffing at the limitations of a laptop. We all have our own needs. Luckily, I am not subject to MacPro owners trying to sell me on the merits of the Pro, nor would I think to waste time telling a MacPro user they should instead use a MacBook Pro. It just doesn't come up. They are tools, and people treat them accordingly: as tools.

Yet have you noticed how much AVP owners feel a need to tell the rest of us how epochal of a product it is? How magical and amazing? How much emotional investment they have in, what is, just yet another tool? I'll fully admit, as a result, I childishly poke the bear. Because it's easy. Because a specific list of users here on MacRumors will always react with predictable ferocity.

My opinions on the AVP in general aren't that strong one way or another. I did the demo. I was not "wowed." It was fun, but nothing I'd spend $3500 on, or even $100 on. Broadly, it's interesting technology and I can appreciate the work Apple put into its development, and because I like Apple products, I'm curious to see where it goes, even if I'm unlikely to ever own one. If, however, there are people for whom the investment has been worthwhile and they enjoy it, more power to you! We should all be happy with our purchases. But I am not required to share your enthusiasm. The more you try and convince me of how special it is "because Apple," the more I'm going to poke back, maliciously. We each get to have our own opinions about what is, again, just another tool.

Thanks for the in depth answer. So its the Evangelism? I get it, I'm guilty of that myself with friends just because if you're only experience with VR is a quest its easy to dismiss it as just another headset but the AVP is such a big leap I urge them to see for themselves. its a cliche to say you have to try it in person.. but I did.. and it was so profound I left the store with one... for you it seemed it didn't impress, fair enough. I'll try and check my enthusiasm next time I'min an online forum

 

[CBlakeston]

For me, it's the lost opportunity they had to do other things, but instead they made this DOA device. It attracts attention to itself because it's the epitome of the Apple stereotype - they make underpowered status objects for rich people. So now they're playing catchup in other areas where I wish they were the leaders instead. It's just so absurd.

What areas do you feel they are not leading - aside from games (it’s so NOT a gaming device though I’ve spent hours playing Beat Punch) what other simailr headsets are doing things better? Do they run a simailr spatial OS? Can you also use them with macs? This is my first headset so other then the quest don’t know what’s out there.

The DOA narrative is getting old I agree. Then built a 450k of a device which is the maximum they could build and estimates say they sold 400k. Hardly a failure.

Fun fact. When Netflix started there were only 250k DVD players sold. The VP user base is bigger than that. 😆

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Yet have you noticed how much AVP owners feel a need to tell the rest of us how epochal of a product it is? How magical and amazing? How much emotional investment they have in, what is, just yet another tool? I'll fully admit, as a result, I childishly poke the bear. Because it's easy. Because a specific list of users here on MacRumors will always react with predictable ferocity.

While the AVP, as a headset, isn't a new product category, it's Apple's first product in that category, and so some higher-than-usual enthusiasm for it is merited among Apple users given it might be the first time many of them have tried one of any kind. Using it is pretty different compared to what most users have become accustomed to, a desktop or laptop Mac, or an iPad, whose output you usually view on a regular flat single screen, and whose main differences from one another, or between Mac models of the same sort, are usually somewhat mundane things like its speed, the number of ports, and what type of panel the display is--OLED, etc.

So coming from that kind of experience to one in which you can seem to be surrounded by a 3D world, or just having multiple screens or windows that can follow you around or remain stuck in place here and there, or what looks like a huge screen that can extend as far to left and right as your eyes can see, can at least feel pretty interesting to many people, enough to elicit some glowing testimonials, including from people who don't have a practical use for an AVP but just use it for entertainment.

That said, I haven't tried an AVP, so I'm not really one to say either way, since I don't have a recent eyeglasses prescription to present at my local Apple Store so they can fit an AVP with corrective lenses. Maybe if I get off my butt and get to an ophthalmologist, that will change.

 

[CBlakeston]

While the AVP, as a headset, isn't a new product category, it's Apple's first product in that category.

I imagine it’s also kinda like being the first person you know to use a mouse and desktop UI back in the day. It’s hard concept to explain to people who are used to the command line or maybe tried the mouse, it wasn’t for them as they could get stuff down quicker typing. Missing what a huge shift in computing it was.

What I’ve found with causal friends is that unless they’re a nerd, and sometimes not even then, they really don’t get the concept of spatial computing or floating windows until they try it.. then it clicks.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

I imagine it’s also kinda like being the first person you know to use a mouse and desktop UI back in the day. It’s hard concept to explain to people who are used to the command line or maybe tried the mouse, it wasn’t for them as they could get stuff down quicker typing. Missing what a huge shift in computing it was.

What I’ve found with causal friends is that unless they’re a nerd, and sometimes not even then, they really don’t get the concept of spatial computing or floating windows until they try it.. then it clicks.

I was one of those who started out at the command line, first on HP minicomputers in high school in the mid-1970s, and then the IBM 1130 in college, and later the Apple II. When the Mac was released, I was a little skeptical about the mouse, but it became obvious immediately how much more useful it was to navigate a screen, especially a desktop GUI, than using cursor keys.

Until I've tried an AVP, I won't really know how well I'd adjust to using it, but I've been able to pick up a fair idea of what it might be like, from reading descriptions I've read and seeing video demos, and it seems like something I'd take to immediately. So I'm hoping it matches what I'm expecting.

 

[CBlakeston]

I was one of those who started out at the command line, first on HP minicomputers in high school in the mid-1970s, and then the IBM 1130 in college, and later the Apple II. When the Mac was released, I was a little skeptical about the mouse, but it became obvious immediately how much more useful it was to navigate a screen, especially a desktop GUI, than using cursor keys.

Until I've tried an AVP, I won't really know how well I'd adjust to using it, but I've been able to pick up a fair idea of what it might be like, from reading descriptions I've read and seeing video demos, and it seems like something I'd take to immediately. So I'm hoping it matches what I'm expecting.

I’m from the Spectrum 48k and Amiga days 😆 so not quite command line. I was much like you, thought I had a fair idea of what it would be like and I took to it pretty quickly.

Within a few hours I was walking around the room ‘ducking’ to avoid floating windows as a reflex against banging my head and within a few days I was frustrated trying to pinch and move a window and then realised it was my actual TV and that wasn’t going to work. 😅

 

[CBlakeston]

.
That said, I haven't tried an AVP, so I'm not really one to say either way, since I don't have a recent eyeglasses prescription to present at my local Apple Store so they can fit an AVP with corrective lenses. Maybe if I get off my butt and get to an ophthalmologist, that will change.

In the UK here prescriptions work different. The Apple stores have a small machine that looks like a coffee maker. They take your glasses and put them in the machine, which then spits out a barcode which the staff member scans and goes in the back to get your specific lenses.

The staff member explained it’s that way so you don’t have to share your health information. He also told me the glasses reading device is the only thing in the store that runs windows. 😅

 

[johnsawyercjs]

In the UK here prescriptions work different. The Apple stores have a small machine that looks like a coffee maker. They take your glasses and put them in the machine, which then spits out a barcode which the staff member scans and goes in the back to get your specific lenses.

The staff member explained it’s that way so you don’t have to share your health information. He also told me it’s the only time in the store that runs windows. 😅

Wish they did the demos in the US differently. Maybe their procedure here changed some time after introduction to be like yours, so I'll ask my local Apple Store. Though if they rely on my current eyeglasses to take the measurements, it might not be the best since I'm still on an older prescription from at least ten years ago, so to see sharply I need to move them down my nose a little. At the least, this might give me enough of a nudge that I might make it to the ophthalmologist sooner, which I've been putting off.

 

[CBlakeston]

Wish they did the demos in the US differently. Maybe their procedure here changed some time after introduction to be like yours, so I'll ask my local Apple Store. Though if they rely on my current eyeglasses to take the measurements, it might not be the best since I'm still on an older prescription from at least ten years ago, so to see sharply I need to move them down my nose a little. At the least, this might give me enough of a nudge that I might make it to the ophthalmologist sooner, which I've been putting off.

I didn’t think I’d need any inserts but I do use reading glasses at the weakest +1 sitting in front of my monitor so tried it with those and it was bang on. Did add another £99 to the price though. 😅

The AVP is the only Apple device I ever bought that comes with a glossy table top book as an instruction manual. 😀

 

[damienDevZ]

Your main device?

Doing what exactly?

(honestly curious)

Sure, so it’s basically my all-in-one device or screen along with my Mac.

I haven’t turned my TV on is months because the experience is so much better on the Vision. The experience is better than going theatre as well, where I have found the screens now seem small comparatively.

For gaming, ever since the Mac update to allow widescreen, the latency for gaming has basically become 0. I’m currently playing BioShock, Deus EX and Mad Max from my Mac to Vision. 0 latency, and increasingly screen that can go all the way to ultra-wide, where the edges of the screen are off vision adding tons of immersion. That being said I mainly play in just widescreen as it can be disorienting in ultra-wide, but it’s really fun to try. BTW, with the new Mac Mini Pro you can upscale GameCube and such to 8K gameplay with is insane.

For productivity, I do all my email, web browsing, reminders and calendar on it. I use Apple Numbers for all my finance. Unfortunately Vision doesn’t have native apps for all of my productivity, so I am finding the experience of just using my Mac to Vision for productivity since there is so much screen real-estate with the widescreen. Where normally I’ll have to minimizing or swiping between multiple screens I can now just show it all on whatever size screen I want.

Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[CBlakeston]

Same. I play Xbox remotely using the native Xplay app and the latency is half a frame. I have a Sony OLED TV and the Xbox on the regular screen next to the Vision Pro virtual screen running together sometimes the Vision Pro has less latency than the TV.

I still have shows in the background on regular TV but having been to the cinema now in months. The experience of watching movies on Vision Pro is just so good it kinda ruined cinemas for me 😅

 

[damienDevZ]

Same. I play Xbox remotely using the native Xplay app and the latency is half a frame. I have a Sony OLED TV and the Xbox on the regular screen next to the Vision Pro virtual screen running together sometimes the Vision Pro has less latency than the TV.

I still have shows in the background on regular TV but having been to the cinema now in months. The experience of watching movies on Vision Pro is just so good it kinda ruined cinemas for me 😅

Lol, same. I went to watch Venom 3 in the theatre the other week and my first thought was, “I don’t remember the theatre having such a small screen”.

 

[damienDevZ]

BTW, for those who don’t know, the PlayStation streaming app for Vision is just the iPad version, but this dev is making us a Vision Pro PlayStation remote play app. Hoping for release soon:

 

[ILoveCalvinCool]

What areas do you feel they are not leading - aside from games (it’s so NOT a gaming device though I’ve spent hours playing Beat Punch) what other simailr headsets are doing things better? Do they run a simailr spatial OS? Can you also use them with macs? This is my first headset so other then the quest don’t know what’s out there.

I own a PSVR2 for VR gaming. It's great. I gave up on Mac gaming back in the 90s, and I don't expect anything from Apple is the gaming space. Which is a shame. You can also use the PSVR2 for Steam games on a PC, but I don't know if you can also do that on a Mac. I'm not motivated to find out, since I don't game on Macs for the most part.

As for where they are not leading: that would be AI development. I use my Macs for writing AI apps using local LLMs and Stable Diffusion (an image generator you can also run locally). It's an absolute PITA working with these libraries that are all developed on Nvidia chips, leaving Mac developers to patch together various workarounds. The experience left me thinking I might need to buy a Windows box - the first time I've considered switching back to PCs after switching to Macs in 2007. The whole time I've been working on all of this, I'm reading about the AVP, and thinking: WHY?? It feels to me like the result of groupthink and a fear of saying "no" to one's superiors. Because you really would have to live in an ivory tower to think that what the world wanted from Apple right now was another iteration on the face computer, except for it being much more expensive and having much less content than any of its predecessors. Plus, Tim Cook said he uses it for several hours every day, and that is a lie, and it's annoying.

 

[moodler]

My favourite part of that video is the bit with the road through the wilderness and it all starts bending and elongating … that was a real whoa moment

The ambulance driving scenes also show that forward motion, similar to sitting in a car, works really well in these fully immersive videos

Looking forward to more driving and flying simulators for the AVP one day