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The Information's Wayne Ma today reiterated several features that Apple apparently developed but did not announce for the Vision Pro at WWDC earlier this month, including various fitness and wellness apps, full-body tracking, and more.

apple-vision-pro.jpeg

Ma said some of the features could remain in development, while others may have been abandoned. Apple is not releasing the Vision Pro until early 2024, and has yet to reveal complete details about the device, so there may be additional features that will be available at launch. Apple can also add features with visionOS software updates.

On fitness and wellness apps:
At one point, though, Apple planned many more fitness and wellness applications for the headset, according to former employees who worked on the device. Some employees discussed collaborations with brands such as Nike for working out with the headset, while others investigated face cushions that were better suited for sweaty, high-intensity workouts, said one of the people. One proposal even involved wearing and interacting with content on the Vision Pro while on a stationary bike, a former employee said.
On full-body tracking:
Apple has yet to complete full-body tracking, which it had planned for the device, according to multiple people who worked on it. That feature is among the reasons the device has two cameras that point downward and can see the wearer’s body and hands. Apple representatives told developers earlier this month that full-body tracking wouldn’t be available when the device ships next year, according to screenshots of an Apple-hosted Slack conversation following the Vision Pro launch event.
The report added that Apple had planned to make 3D content available on Apple TV+, but that could be announced later. Apple also apparently did not emphasize gaming on the Vision Pro as much as it was planning to at an earlier stage, and the ability to use the headset as an external display for a Mac is apparently not as advanced as once planned.

The full article at The Information offers more details. Over the coming months, the Vision Pro's full feature set should become clearer.

Article Link: Vision Pro Features 'Left Out' For Now Include Fitness Apps, Full-Body Tracking, and More
 
Well something's gotta give, I wouldn't expect them to try to sell a $10k head-mounted contraption that pretends to do everything with a battery pack that lasts 2 hours at best.

We can do lots of things like blowing up planets and sending astronauts directly into the sun too, but somehow someone remembers how pointless that would be.
 
I am super excited and very anxious for this to ship. I know it will be a $3499 gamble but I strongly feel Apple won't disappoint. My only concern is that AVP will get even better down the line and the upgrades won't be software upgrades. Apple might force early adopters to buy newer generations. At $3499, it's going to be tough to sell an older model to buy a newer model. Who would buy an older model??? No one!
 
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I wonder what apples return policy will be with vision pro regarding prescription lenses. If you buy the product, then try it out, after purchasing additional lenses, but find it's not for you, will you also be refunded on the lenses? I imagine you would, but it seems to add a layer of complexity to the return procedure.
 
You’re going to need the VisionProUltra for those additional features
 
But what does that mean? “Not as advanced” is so vague. The article cited is paywalled, so I don’t know if they go into more detail about it.

As a guess, it's currently just a mirror of the monitor right? If I were designing it, there would be no desktop constraint. You open an app and you can stick it where you want... to the side...behind you flat on a horizontal surface etc. Photo shop on your desk is a good example - with some future pen / brush device to use it.

Then things could get really cool. 3D apps like Cinema 4d could have a 3d UI. The working space is a volume in front of you or on desk. You could grab and turn objects / scenes in space or look round them.

The Ui could be virtual and floating around or use the desk with icons all over the place.

Could do similar things with Video editing and compositing. multiple Screens in front of your - Time line on desk you can manipulate with your hands. Make cuts and slides

I suspect it's not ready but My guess is that will come later. Could certainly do a mockup in with the current Dev tools.
 
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I think fitness uses will come, along with the announcement of new "sport" bands and face interfaces. Swap in those bands for workouts, then take them out when going to work so your main band isn't smelly and sweaty.

Quest is great for cardio workouts, and it seems like an easy win for apple watch/apple fitness adoption (Show heart rate/rings in the headset + be "in the studio" for fitness+ workouts.)
 
None of this means that these features were necessarily “left out”.
All we’ve seen other than Developer documentation is a 40 minute presentation almost a year out.
I think it’s obvious to anyone paying attention that there will be another (probably 90-140 minute long) event solely dedicated to the headset a couple weeks before it's official ship date.
There, not only can they show off everything they've already shown again, they can also invite third-party developers, who at that point will have been working on the headset for months and months to show off what they've got.
And then, just like the original Apple Watch, we’ll probably see a preview of visionOS 2.0 only a couple months after 1.0 ships at WWDC24.
 
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