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Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model

spaxxedout said:
Y’all think I’m crazy, but a backpack (Macpack?) with a Mac mini, .5 kWh, and a hard shell case would be so sick.
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That is how several commercial VR experiences did it back about 7-8 years ago. They put you in a harness that essentially had a small gaming PC and power supply strapped to your back, and a tethered VR headset. It allowed you to move around freely and walk through the experience while interacting with the environment.

I tried 4-5 experiences at two different locations and they were seriously fun! There were some "Arizona Sunshine" based ones that I found to be the most fun, but the Star Wars and Wreck-It Ralph based ones at the other location were also pretty fun. There was one part early in the Star Wars one where (in VR environment) you walk on a narrow mesh steel gangway to disembark from your ship and below that is a long drop into lava. The folks running the local experience had found a warped piece of wood and placed it on the floor there and when I stepped on the "gangway" it rocked a bit. Talk about a "Holy ****!! #@%$& @#^$^&@^&" Moment 😁
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple-Vision-Pro-with-battery-Feature-Blue-Magenta.jpg

Specifically, in his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple is developing a new headset that is both lighter and less expensive than the current Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499 in the U.S. and weighs up to 1.5 pounds.

Gurman said Apple is also working on another version of the Vision Pro that can have a wired connection with a Mac, for an ultra-low-latency experience.

"The idea is to create an ultra-low-latency system for streaming a user's Mac display or for connecting to high-end enterprise applications," said Gurman. "Some customers have been using the Vision Pro for things like viewing imaging during surgery or for flight simulators. Those are two areas where a user would want the least amount of lag possible — something that can't be guaranteed by a fully wireless system."

It is unclear when Apple plans to release either of these headsets. The current Vision Pro was released in February 2024.

Gurman added that one of Apple CEO Tim Cook's top priorities remains true augmented reality glasses, but such a product likely remains "many years" away.

Article Link: Vision Pro 2 Rumored to Have Two Key Advantages Over Current Model
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Not sure why they don’t go with something like 802.11ad which is for wireless multi gig connections at close distances.
 
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Virtual Mac displays when traveling seem like the killer app at this stage—I like the spatial computing theory, but until it’s a pair of glasses it’s more a prototype than a practical product. But for working remotely without having to sacrifice screen space, a bulky headset and having to be plugged in to compensate for battery life or for low latency are totally tolerable. It’s basically the world’s most portable multi-large-monitor setup.

I’d already have bought one for that specific purpose if the dang thing supported prism with the prescription inserts, even at the current price and without tethering.

Sadly, I’m losing hope that either Apple or Zeiss (whoever’s fault it is that prescriptions can’t include even mild prism) will change anything, so I’ll be just as unable to use version 2.

(There was a third party producing inserts that would build prism into them initially, but they stopped making them after a while, and I don’t know if it’d relay on unauthorized parts to make a $3500 piece of technology usable.)
 
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Makosuke said:
I’d already have bought one for that specific purpose if the dang thing supported prism with the prescription inserts, even at the current price and without tethering.

Sadly, I’m losing hope that either Apple or Zeiss (whoever’s fault it is that prescriptions can’t include even mild prism) will change anything, so I’ll be just as unable to use version 2.
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I don't understand how they don't find this to be a very important thing to prioritize for a product like this.
 
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nathansz said:
so the. why do monitors have separate power leads instead of being powered by the computer?
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I was just replying as to why you might not need a battery pack for a tethered AVP.

But to your specific question:
1. Probably different power requirements on an AVP vs. a large panel display.
2. A monitor manufacturer can sell it to anyone with a computer regardless of the computer's ability to provide power for the monitor.
 
If the tethered product only offers Mac Virtual Display I call the report bologna. However, if it allows macs to drive higher powered spatial experiences (akin to what exists on PC VR) then I’d buy it. Selling a head worn display that just does Mac Virtual Display is like if Apple sells an iPad that only does Sidecar (no iPadOS). Sure some people would want it but it undermines visionOS as a platform and their spatial computing efforts.
 
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I hated that this things runs a variant of locked-down, rent-seeking, nerfed iOS.

If it can be tethered to the Mac, with zero latency, and visionOS gets out of my way so I can actually use real developer* apps, it’s a day-1 purchase for me.

*homebrew, VMs, docker...
 
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For the love of god, do not do away with the external OLED display - just make it better. It’s seriously not even remotely close to the biggest concern, nor is it the sole reason for the weight or cost of the first generation Vision Pro as some of you make it out to be.

Pretty sure most people advocating for its removal don’t even use a Vision Pro, so stop begging for its removal on behalf of those of us who do.
 
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Dark_Omen said:
How do you expect to power the VR device without a battery?
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You are forgetting there's a cable connecting it (data plus power), like a Thunderbolt or other thing. You could use a combo fiber power cable.

Anyways, the geek in me likes modular stuff. Of course there's a limit, a point where it's cumbersome. Two objects is a good place.
 
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falainber said:
Well, based on sales numbers, "programming at night on my bed" was "the primary original use case".
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I’m just glad a multi-trillion dollar company built a major product designed specially for me and me only. I feel special. Guess I have to make Tim Apple my new best friend.
 
Roller said:
Interesting. Do you have references for this?
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www.npr.org

The story behind soaring myopia among kids : TED Radio Hour

In part three: host Manoush Zomorodi explores how our tech habits are causing our eyes to change shape—to elongate—which causes nearsightedness. She investigates why rates of myopia among kids are soaring. She speaks with Maria Liu, an optometrist with a quest to slow down the progression of...
www.npr.org www.npr.org

screens are destroying our eyes. now imagine wearing one an inch from your face.
 
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Col4bin said:
Apple is working on a new version of the Vision Pro with two key advantages over the current model…

Is one of them a $2k price reduction?
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For some reason, nobody says that Mercedes S class sedan is expensive. It’s a luxury thing for a luxury price point.

Also, when the first Mac came out, it was unbelievably expensive.

Of course, there will be less expensive versions down the road. Less powerful too.
 
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spaxxedout said:
It’s always fun to see a rumor align with your wishlist - a mainstream Vision focused on untethered use and a Vision Pro 2 with emphasis on wired use (would still need R chip for passthrough (esp if computer crashes or cable unplugs). I guess it could have a processor too. The chips are only like $60 for Apple.

- Get rid of eyesight on the pro model and maybe just have an indicator light for camera microphone. Aside from the negative press and weight, my main gripe is it prevents optimal camera placement.

- Without eyesight, camera modules could have mechanism to move / tilt for better passthrough.

- 120hz is a must. It’s honestly amazing how well 60hz content looks on a device that only does 90/96/100. Would reduce a lot of motion lag (that comes from persistently lit OLED. Meta uses flicker and backlight strobing for this). Plus, 120 plays well with 30/60/24.

- I think it’s too late, but multi user support with light seals that cost $40 (even if sold at a loss) would go a LONG way to help the perception of the product (even if most people don’t use it. Would be good for enterprise too).

- Apple put anti-glare coating on 16 Pro camera modules. Hoping they can do the same for the interior lenses of the product. That and some software work could help with lens glare, which I tell people is WAY more of an issue than the weight.

- Better interface options. Apple Pencil Pro for writing on desks and (PLEASE) allow users to remove the typing assistant when using a hardware keyboard. If the latter were the case, I’d use it daily.

- Controller support is really moot if they adopt wired support. The wireless latency is really good, but it just makes so much sense to offer wired support. They could probably commercialize the developer strap and enable Thunderbolt 4 on current gen.

- I’ve toyed with the idea of a Vision product that only works when tethered to an iPhone or Mac. Those devices would composite content on top of passthrough from R chip. However, I think it just makes sense to include a processor and enable wired use cases for gaming and pro market.
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I would just be happy with a software update: the ability to have a slave mode so that I can loan my device to the person sitting next to me and drive it completely from my iPad for a passive AVP experience

That’s the only way for people to experience how incredible this is.

Even going to the Apple Store and trying it is a frustrating experience because you first have to learn how to select with your eyes blink, tap your finger, etc. etc. etc.
 
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contacos said:
Are devs even bothering to develop for this platform anymore? No shade just honestly wondering. It seems like such a big investment for such a small target group. Apple never even advertised this product here.
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Enterprises sure are. It’s a remarkable tool that has specific utility other headsets simply can’t provide.

I still don’t understand why people think this was ever targeted to be a blockbuster seller when the supply chains to make it max out at roughly 500K units…something Apple was obviously aware of from months before day one.

Eventually these technologies will lend themselves to a mass market product, but that was never the aim as evidenced by the ability to do basic math.
 
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NT1440 said:
Enterprises sure are. It’s a remarkable tool that has specific utility other headsets simply can’t provide.

I still don’t understand why people think this was ever targeted to be a blockbuster seller when the supply chains to make it max out at roughly 500K units…something Apple was obviously aware of from months before day one.
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It's probably the fact that Apple actively sells it to the general public online and in the stores combined with the introduction announcement that highlights usage and features targeted at average consumers. We can talk about "supply chain" here all we want. An average random person walking into an Apple store neither knows, nor cares about that. If they see it in the store, they assume it is just another Apple "mass market" product. Putting "Pro" in the name means nothing to them either given any familiarity with iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.
 
Agreed, they need to ditch the pointless, and to be honest rubbish quality "spooky-Eye-vision" on the front.
It adds weight, it adds cost and it's pointless in reality.
Knowing Apple and their reluctance to admit they get anything wrong. I do expect it will stay for now, but it's going to get scrapped before long.
 
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