Top Stories: Apple Vision Pro Release Date, iOS 17.3 Coming Soon, CES 2024 Recap

[MacRumors]

Apple's Vision Pro headset finally has a release date in the U.S., and it's coming up quickly! Alongside that announcement, we learned a bit more about the device and what to expect with the ordering process.

Other news this week included Apple starting to pay out claims for the high-profile class action lawsuit that claimed Apple was "secretly throttling" older iPhones with degraded batteries, an approaching release of iOS 17.3 and related updates, and the annual CES tech event in Las Vegas, so read on below for all the details!

Apple Vision Pro Launches February 2, Pre-Orders Start Next Week

After being unveiled at WWDC 2023 last June, Apple's long-awaited Vision Pro mixed reality headset now has a release date: Friday, February 2. Pre-orders begin on Friday, January 19 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. Availability is limited to the U.S., with more countries to follow later this year.

Pricing starts at $3,499 with 256GB of storage, and ZEISS optical inserts will be available for $99 to $149. If you're planning to order, make sure to check out Apple's tips to make sure you're ready.

Apple refers to the Vision Pro as a "spatial computer," and it offers a combination of augmented reality and virtual reality features. The headset is powered by an all-new visionOS operating system, which can be controlled with a user's eyes, hands, and voice.

Learn more in our Vision Pro roundup.

Apple Vision Pro: Here's Everything You Get in the Box

In its press release announcing the Vision Pro's launch date, Apple revealed the various items that will be included with the headset.

Apple says the headset will ship with two types of head bands (a Solo Knit Band and a Dual Loop Band), a light seal, two light seal cushions, a cover for the front glass, a polishing cloth, an external battery pack, a USB-C power adapter, and a USB-C charging cable.

Apple Vision Pro Features 16GB of RAM

Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset is equipped with 16GB of unified memory, according to files related to the device in Xcode 15.2.

Our finding in Apple's app development tool confirms a June 2023 report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said the Vision Pro would be equipped with 16GB of RAM, and that is also the same amount of memory that was included in Vision Pro development kits.

Apple Sends $92 'Batterygate' Payments to iPhone Users

Apple in 2020 agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a class action lawsuit in the U.S. that accused the company of "secretly throttling" some iPhone models, and payouts finally started going out this week to individuals who submitted a claim.

iPhone users have received $92.17 per claim from Apple, according to multiple MacRumors readers. The deadline to submit a claim was in October 2020.

iOS 17.3 Coming Soon With These Two New Features for Your iPhone

iOS 17.3 has been in beta testing since mid-December, and the upcoming software update includes two new features for the iPhone, including Stolen Device Protection and collaborative Apple Music playlists.

Related: When Will iOS 17.3 Be Released?

Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 17.3 this week, and the update will likely be widely released later this month.

CES 2024 Recap of Apple-Related Announcements

The annual CES tech conference was held in Las Vegas this week, and there were a handful of Apple-related announcements as usual.

Check out our CES 2024 news hub for a recap of new HomeKit accessories and more.

Also be sure to watch our Day One, Day Two and Day Three videos for more highlights.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Article Link: Top Stories: Apple Vision Pro Release Date, iOS 17.3 Coming Soon, CES 2024 Recap

 

[I7guy]

Looking forward to is 17.3. Stolen device protection is a welcome addition.

 

[klasma]

Stolen Device Protection

It’s nice that Apple is now acknowledging when they are stealing a feature.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I was wondering why there wasn't a MacRumors show this week and then I remembered CES. Seems like this year's CES was a little quieter than usual, or I just blocked it out.

 

[Realityck]

Apple refers to the Vision Pro as a "spatial computer," and it offers a combination of augmented reality and virtual reality features. The headset is powered by an all-new visionOS operating system, which can be controlled with a user's eyes, hands, and voice.

Apple as this example avoiding any of the common acronyms they used in WWDC 2023 so they can hype the Vision Pro as totally new platform using technology they seem to have invented.

Mac World recently said it in a recent article.

Apple is desperate not to be compared to the several years worth of mixed reality products on the market already, going out of its way to use “Spatial Computing” to describe the product and insisting developers avoid terms like AR, VR, MR, and so on.

For several years it's always been about Augmented Reality on their developer pages.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I was wondering why there wasn't a MacRumors show this week and then I remembered CES. Seems like this year's CES was a little quieter than usual, or I just blocked it out.

This year’s CES had Intel as a big part of it, which of course the Apple circles tend to ignore. Their CEO gave the keynote. I don’t think Apple had any part of it, but years prior they had sent executives to be on panels. About the only Apple related news out of CES seems to be 10,000 new models of wireless chargers.

Also I don’t think it’s been quite the same since the pandemic.

 

[ChrisA]

I think Asus might have just killed the Vison Pro

The ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display packs a multi-monitor experience in a stylish pair of glasses - Edge Up

Discover the ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display, announced at CES 2024. This bright, versatile display lets you work and play anywhere.

edgeup.asus.com

This Asus product looks like what I want to actually want to use. The Apple product is simply too physically large to be practical.

The other thing is that Asus does not need a killer app to justify the glasses, it is just a screen. Use it for existing games or office work or just to watch a movie.

 

[Realityck]

I think Asus might have just killed the Vison Pro

The ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display packs a multi-monitor experience in a stylish pair of glasses - Edge Up

Discover the ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display, announced at CES 2024. This bright, versatile display lets you work and play anywhere.

edgeup.asus.com

This Asus product looks like what I want to actually want to use. The Apple product is simply too physically large to be practical.

The other thing is that Asus does not need a killer app to justify the glasses, it is just a screen. Use it for existing games or office work or just to watch a movie.

As with your example, at CES 2024 AR was diffidently present

Examples

Can't wait to see how this industry progresses by next year.

 

[klasma]

Apple as this example avoiding any of the common acronyms they used in WWDC 2023 so they can hype the Vision Pro as totally new platform using technology they seem to have invented.

Mac World recently said it in a recent article.

For several years it's always been about Augmented Reality on their developer pages.

They should call it Augmented Imaging to jump on the current hype train.

“Yes, we invented AI. Why do you ask?”

 

[klasma]

I think Asus might have just killed the Vison Pro

The ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display packs a multi-monitor experience in a stylish pair of glasses - Edge Up

Discover the ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display, announced at CES 2024. This bright, versatile display lets you work and play anywhere.

edgeup.asus.com

This Asus product looks like what I want to actually want to use. The Apple product is simply too physically large to be practical.

The other thing is that Asus does not need a killer app to justify the glasses, it is just a screen. Use it for existing games or office work or just to watch a movie.

No cameras, no AR and no VR (apart from the screen), no eye tracking, no input methods, but yes the form factor is more like it, and if it works well, it will be more compelling to the “portable virtual monitor” crowd than the AVP.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Apple as this example avoiding any of the common acronyms they used in WWDC 2023 so they can hype the Vision Pro as totally new platform using technology they seem to have invented.

Mac World recently said it in a recent article.

For several years it's always been about Augmented Reality on their developer pages.

That its true that Apple are often late to the party... but do it better than everyone else (more often than not). I think they really really want to avoid comparisons to other consumer products in this category and make it their own in that space... I would imagine also distancing as far as possible from Meta's weird AR/VR obsession/drive.

The same can also be said for their AI. I think they also want to make that their own thing too... they have been very slow to the party... but probably doing a load of things behind the scenes to bring a really mature and I hope safe/privacy orientated version to the Apple customer.

Apple have always been good at re-inventing things. Kings of the up-sell... Masters of re-invention.

 

[citysnaps]

Apple as this example avoiding any of the common acronyms they used in WWDC 2023 so they can hype the Vision Pro as totally new platform using technology they seem to have invented.

Mac World recently said it in a recent article.

For several years it's always been about Augmented Reality on their developer pages.

Nothing nefarious or shady going on.

Spatial computing is a broader term that the public can better relate to. And nothing at all wrong if Apple wants to characterize their device in that manner. Of course that includes AR which Apple will excel at (though many here seem to not know what that's about). As well as VR.

 

[prefuse07]

I think Asus might have just killed the Vison Pro

The ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display packs a multi-monitor experience in a stylish pair of glasses - Edge Up

Discover the ASUS AirVision M1 wearable display, announced at CES 2024. This bright, versatile display lets you work and play anywhere.

edgeup.asus.com

This Asus product looks like what I want to actually want to use. The Apple product is simply too physically large to be practical.

The other thing is that Asus does not need a killer app to justify the glasses, it is just a screen. Use it for existing games or office work or just to watch a movie.

This needs to get more publicity, so that the apple headset flops indefinitely and we can see how much of a failure Tim Crook really is.

That Asus product actually looks interesting!

 

[flofixer]

This needs to get more publicity, so that the apple headset flops indefinitely and we can see how much of a failure Tim Crook really is.

That Asus product actually looks interesting!

hate much?

 

[prefuse07]

hate much?

Blind loyalty much?

 

[Realityck]

Nothing nefarious or shady going on.

Spatial computing is a broader term that the public can better relate to. And nothing at all wrong if Apple wants to characterize their device in that manner. Of course that includes AR which Apple will excel at (though many here seem to not know what that's about). As well as VR.

Apple just borrowed the term to describe apps with a 3rd axis that you can see wearing AR headsets. Spatial originally hails from audio immersive codecs for example Dolby Atmos that has been around since 2012. Sony labeling things like 3D spatial editing makes more sense then claiming AR is Spatial computing by Apple to avoid comparisons to other AR technology predessors and competitors.

 

[citysnaps]

Apple just borrowed the term to describe apps with a 3rd axis that you can see wearing AR headsets. Spatial originally hails from audio immersive codecs for example Dolby Atmos that has been around since 2012. Sony labeling things like 3D spatial editing makes more sense then claiming AR is Spatial computing by Apple to avoid comparisons to other AR technology predessors and competitors.

There's no borrowing going on. No one owns the word spatial. Spatial is merely a descriptor, like other adjectives such as creative, mathematical, natural, useful, refined, abstract, social, renewable, large, fast, crowded, gorgeous, precision, etc.

Apple isn't worried about comparisons to other AR tech as there is little out there other than for very expensive industrial/medical/military/scientific/aviation/etc. products.

From reading comments here it seems that 90+% of posters do not know what AR is about or have little understanding what it entails, or believe it's the "something like" VR. Likely ditto that for the general consumer public.

Thus Apple came up with spatial computing. That makes a lot of sense and it's a pleasing phrase to the ear.

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

Only seeking iOS 17.3, the rest is boring. Having been to CES for years, I skipped out this year. It’s turned out to be a show for a bunch of garbage products and vapor products from major vendors. It used to be a major event, but not so much now. CES is a shell of the show it used to be.

 

[Realityck]

There's no borrowing going on. No one owns the word spatial. Spatial is merely a descriptor, like other adjectives such as creative, mathematical, natural, useful, refined, abstract, social, renewable, large, fast, crowded, gorgeous, precision, etc.

Apple isn't worried about comparisons to other AR tech as there is little out there other than for very expensive industrial/medical/military/scientific/aviation/etc. products.
Thus Apple came up with spatial computing. That makes a lot of sense and it's a pleasing phrase to the ear.

As applicable to 3D space
In the early 1990s, as field of Virtual reality was beginning to be commercialized beyond academic and military labs, a startup called Worldesign in Seattle used the term Spatial Computing to describe the interaction between individual people and 3D spaces, operating more at the human end of the scale than previous GIS examples may have contemplated. The company built a CAVE-like environment it called the Virtual Environment Theater, whose 3D experience was of a virtual flyover of the Giza Plateau, circa 3000 BC. Robert Jacobson, CEO of Worldesign, attributes the origins of the term to experiments at the Human Interface Technology Lab, at the University of Washington, under the direction of Thomas A. Furness III. Jacobson was a co-founder of that lab before spinning off this early VR startup.

In 1997, an academic publication by T. Caelli, Peng Lam, and H. Bunke called "Spatial Computing: Issues in Vision, Multimedia and Visualization Technologies" introduced the term more broadly for academic audiences.

 

[citysnaps]

Actually they didn't.
In the early 1990s, as field of Virtual reality was beginning to be commercialized beyond academic and military labs, a startup called Worldesign in Seattle used the term Spatial Computing to describe the interaction between individual people and 3D spaces, operating more at the human end of the scale than previous GIS examples may have contemplated. The company built a CAVE-like environment it called the Virtual Environment Theater, whose 3D experience was of a virtual flyover of the Giza Plateau, circa 3000 BC. Robert Jacobson, CEO of Worldesign, attributes the origins of the term to experiments at the Human Interface Technology Lab, at the University of Washington, under the direction of Thomas A. Furness III. Jacobson was a co-founder of that lab before spinning off this early VR startup.

In 1997, an academic publication by T. Caelli, Peng Lam, and H. Bunke called "Spatial Computing: Issues in Vision, Multimedia and Visualization Technologies" introduced the term more broadly for academic audiences.

And that's fine, as from the above it appears to now be a generic descriptor. That Apple is using "spatial" in characterizing what their product does makes sense and it would certainly apply to AR applications. Much better than "AR" seeing as though the general public likely doesn't know what that means.

 

[Surf Monkey]

There's no borrowing going on. No one owns the word spatial. Spatial is merely a descriptor, like other adjectives such as creative, mathematical, natural, useful, refined, abstract, social, renewable, large, fast, crowded, gorgeous, precision, etc.

Apple isn't worried about comparisons to other AR tech as there is little out there other than for very expensive industrial/medical/military/scientific/aviation/etc. products.

From reading comments here it seems that 90+% of posters do not know what AR is about or have little understanding what it entails, or believe it's the "something like" VR. Likely ditto that for the general consumer public.

Thus Apple came up with spatial computing. That makes a lot of sense and it's a pleasing phrase to the ear.

That’s what you always claim when faced with comments you dislike. “Y’all are uninformed.” Sorry, but that isn’t the case.

 

[Surf Monkey]

And that's fine, as from the above it appears to now be a generic descriptor. That Apple is using "spatial" in characterizing what their product does makes sense and it would certainly apply to AR applications. Much better than "AR" seeing as though the general public likely doesn't know what that means.

Seeing as the Vision system doesn’t really do AR as far as we know, but instead just shows you your current environment as a kind of live desktop behind your VR windows.

 

[Nozuka]

This needs to get more publicity, so that the apple headset flops indefinitely and we can see how much of a failure Tim Crook really is.

That Asus product actually looks interesting!

So if it doesn't fail, it proves that Tim Cook isn't a failure?

And he is CEO since 2011 and Apple has been doing very well in all that time.

Don't think he'll get replaced. Unless he steps down, since he is 63 and got plenty of money to retire.

 

[dmi]

No cameras, no AR and no VR (apart from the screen), no eye tracking, no input methods, but yes the form factor is more like it, and if it works well, it will be more compelling to the “portable virtual monitor” crowd than the AVP.

Speaking one of the “portable virtual monitor” crowd, it looks like it may have enough resolution to be barely suitable as a virtual monitor for my phone, but not nearly enough to be compelling to use with my Macs.


Still, I’m hopeful that it will spur Apple to add better support for multiple Macs with multiple windows to the AVP, and that the AVP will spur other manufactures to add better resolution to their offerings.

 

[citysnaps]

Seeing as the Vision system doesn’t really do AR as far as we know, but instead just shows you your current environment as a kind of live desktop behind your VR windows.

It will be fun coming back to this comment in a couple of months.