Vision Pro Hands-On: Reviewers Comment on Weight, Disney+ Experience, Virtual Keyboard and More

[gerald.d]

Sounds nice if you can put up with the headache these goggles will cause after 20-30 mins.

I am sorry if you are one of the people who simply cannot get on with a VR headset. You're not alone.

I'm well aware that many have challenges in this area for reasons totally outside their control.

Fortunately, life offers many opportunities for everyone, and even though I have extensive experience in this field - and am very excited to see what the development community creates for the device - it will never come close to replacing the hour every morning that I spend walking along the beach.

There is more to life than tech.

And certainly a lot more to life than wasting time moaning about it when it's simply not suitable for you.

Me? I'm not interested in guitar lessons.

 

[Mescagnus]

That’s exactly what the Apple TV does today, and Daring Fireball’s someone I read (forget his name) said in his first use of the device he could see his phone clearly. I need to go back and dig up where that was stated. I just assumed that iOS keyboard usage was already baked into the cake here?

Since iPhone is often at hand everywhere we are, it would be a good idea for Apple to have an AVP Keyboard button in Control Center.

Switch it on, and it turns iPhone's entire display into a keyboard, if the user is wearing Apple Vision Pro.

Edit: I'm certain someone develops an app like this anyway that allows iPhone's display to be a "bluetooth keyboard" for AVP.

 

[victorvictoria]

Think of the VP this way, then: it's a TOY. For the parents and children of the wealthy. Apple obviously is aware of the pitfalls of marketing it in this manner, due to the dangers of addiction and disorientation to reality. Thus the intense focus on "productivity (snicker)."

 

[Jensend]

Exactly. Alone. Maybe I'm old - and I am probably relatively old at 46 to many people on this forum - but I generally watch movies with my kids or my significant other or friends. I can't imagine us all watching on different AVPs in the same room.

Sure, but maybe when your kids have moved out and away, something like this can help you connect with them over a movie or a game of mini golf. When you can't be physically present, I think VR is the best way to do that, even above a video call.

 

[rnizlek]

What you mean there aren’t many people who put 4K monitors in other people’s homes on the off chance you’ll be there? I hate to break it to you but, beyond a certain distance, 4K is indistinguishable from 1080p.

Oh, I'd agree with you on 4k being indistinguishable for 1080p in most cases. I don't even have a 4K TV set for that reason. I'm running 4K at native resolution so I can fit a lot of the screen - not for a better picture or higher pixel density.

What I'm saying is there's probably not huge numbers of people who's work 1) really requires a larger monitors and 2) those people work while traveling frequently enough this would be worth the purchase price.

 

[Schlotkins]

Sure, but maybe when your kids have moved out and away, something like this can help you connect with them over a movie or a game of mini golf. When you can't be physically present, I think VR is the best way to do that, even above a video call.

Perhaps - but like I said that's not a use case for me now. Really, the only thing that appeals is a big monitor when I don't have one, but I'm guessing after 2 hours on this thing, that is going to get old fast.

Like I said, I can definitely understand why some people are interested in this. Gamers. People on the road all the time or don't have space for an actual home theater. Maybe it's good for exercise stuff, but I go to the gym.

Regardless, I'm sure this thing will sell out in about 10 seconds on Friday and be in limited supply because of the FOMO factor. Heck, I still can't even figure out when I'd use it really and I have FOMO LOL

 

[Surf Monkey]

You do realise you can do all of that (ok, with the exception of "stretching" your eyes, if you mean it in the muscular sense) with the AVP strapped to your head, yes? And if you were reading the book on your AVP, you wouldn't have to put it down and pick it up again.

I'm not implying *you* would *want* to do that, but the irony is you have just described almost the perfect use case scenario for the AVP. Except you can replace "reading a book" with a whole bunch of different activities.

Are you trying to claim that reading a book in a headset is the same as reading a real book??

WOW!

 

[gerald.d]

Are you trying to claim that reading a book in a headset is the same as reading a real book??

WOW!

Where did I say that?

 

[Surf Monkey]

As I emphasised, I was not implying that *you* would want to do that.

I was merely stating that everything you highlighted you could do with a book in your hands (or not, as in your scenario), you could do with the AVP strapped to your head.

I can fully appreciate, and totally understand, that many people love the tactile experience of reading a physical book. There are countless people who still prefer a physical book to reading on a screen. I'm not judging them.

But equally, there are many people who enjoy the experience of reading a book on a screen, and I rather suspect that a percentage of those people will actually enjoy reading on the AVP (FWIW, I can think of many ways that a reading experience could be enhanced in a headset).

I get it. You can't envisage such a scenario. And that is perfectly ok.

This is a bad argument and you should abandon it. Reading a Kindle doesn’t equal strapping on a headset to read. Don’t be absurd. There are many things you can do with a book that you can’t do with a headset.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Where did I say that?

“Do you realize you can do all of that with Vision Pro?”

That’s where. It’s an absurd statement.

 

[gerald.d]

“Do you realize you can do all of that with Vision Pro?”

That’s where. It’s an absurd statement.

No.

What I said - and it was very clear - was that the non-book-reading interruptions that the person to whom I was responding to alluded to, could be pretty much perfectly handled were they to have been reading a book (or indeed doing many other activities in the nearby physical presence of another individual) on the AVP.

"Immersed but still able to be aware of my husband's intermittent conversation with me, stretch my eyes by looking out the window, that little pause to think over something you've just read, stroke the cat, hear the doorbell and answer it <snip to remove comment about what you're doing with the physical book> go have a pee, answer my phone — listen to music…"

We can go through those scenarios one by one if it would help you understand the context of the discussion.

I clearly acknowledged that many people would much prefer to read a physical book.

I was addressing the objections the individual raised were they to have the AVP strapped to their head, not promoting the benefits of reading a book with the headset on, although I did acknowledge - because I'm capable of understanding use-cases outside of those that some commenting here, and indeed myself, have envisaged in the wider discussion relating to this product - that there absolutely will be a proportion of people who will enjoy reading books with the headset strapped on.

Or do you actually believe that everyone on the planet aligns to your perspective?

 

[gerald.d]

This is a bad argument and you should abandon it. Reading a Kindle doesn’t equal strapping on a headset to read. Don’t be absurd. There are many things you can do with a book that you can’t do with a headset.

That's a bad argument and you should abandon it. Don't be absurd.

Take a moment to understand the points that are actually being addressed before constructing a straw man that you fancy taking a poke at.

Is it possible to envisage a scenario where a proportion of people would enjoy reading a book with an AVP strapped to their head? Absolutely. If you're incapable of imagining such a scenario, that's perfectly OK.

Did I at any point state that "reading a Kindle is equal to strapping on a headset to read?

Err, no. You're arguing with yourself. Enjoy the company.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Agh!!!

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!

 

[3goldens]

This is going down in 🔥!

 

[spinedoc77]

Lolz - when you’ve spent your life sitting on a couch watching TV and are required to exert any type of physical energy.

Not sure if you are being facetious or if you are trying to say reviewers felt discomfort and pain with the VP because they are lazy? Weird take.

 

[spinedoc77]

That's a bad argument and you should abandon it. Don't be absurd.

Take a moment to understand the points that are actually being addressed before constructing a straw man that you fancy taking a poke at.

Is it possible to envisage a scenario where a proportion of people would enjoy reading a book with an AVP strapped to their head? Absolutely. If you're incapable of imagining such a scenario, that's perfectly OK.

Did I at any point state that "reading a Kindle is equal to strapping on a headset to read?

Err, no. You're arguing with yourself. Enjoy the company.

Reading ebooks with a VP? I'll grant you there probably is a tiny subset of consumers who might enjoy this, but blasting 4k screens into my eyeballs wearing a clunky, uncomfortable headset which doesn't really allow me to rest my head against a pillow/sofa comfortably isn't really going to be the next paradigm of literary enjoyment.

I get your point, we shouldn't throw out functionality which some consumers might enjoy and find useful, no argument there. But from a financial standpoint, I don't know if Apple will be banking on ebook readers support for the VP. I think they will be lucky to find consumers willing to wear these for 2 hours consistently for better purposes like movies or desktop computer work, where even in those paradigms it's a long shot IMO due to the discomfort.

 

[spinedoc77]

This is a monumental flop. It's too heavy. I work with aluminium studio headphones while recording in a booth, and I know heavy. And one should sum up heat in the next summer and moist for wearing that mascara over your face. Unless they work harder on the weight factor, I see no point in wasting top dollar for enhanced vision, when you will sweat bullets to keep it over your nose without a hint of misty. Look, for the same reason I don't want the watch, because I cannot see it without wearing my reading glasses. Besides, I'm not a gamer, and don't freak out with dizzy video experiences. For editing sound waves in Logic Pro, I have three 27" 4K screens, the better way to distribute plugins and effects.

According to some (not me) your argument is invalidated because of convertibles, and ski goggles, and motorcycle helmets, etc. If you wear a Vision Pro you should EXPECT to be disheveled and discomforted just as you would be with the aforementioned activities.

 

[Antoniosmalakia]

Not sure if you are being facetious or if you are trying to say reviewers felt discomfort and pain with the VP because they are lazy? Weird take.

Apple themselves have displayed that same attitude towards its users during turbulent times with products rather than taking ownership of their mistakes, and some of their paying customers have adopted the same diatribe when they see anyone being critical.

Most of the world isn't ready for/doesn't want this kind of product, and I think that fact offends the very fibres of those ready to throw their wallets at it.

 

[spinedoc77]

Apple themselves have displayed that same attitude towards its users during turbulent times with products rather than taking ownership of their mistakes, and some of their paying customers have adopted the same diatribe when they see anyone being critical.

Most of the world isn't ready for/doesn't want this kind of product, and I think that fact offends the very fibres of those ready to throw their wallets at it.

I think part of the problem is that most people don't realize how fluid the nature of pain is. I've spent my life treating patients in pain and studying the subject and I can tell you that pain for one person can be drastically different than pain for another person and it is a ridiculously complex topic.

With that said, personally I like to think I have a very high threshold for pain. Years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, wrestling, with a very active workout regime in my 50s and plenty of sports injuries in that time I definitely know what pain feels like and am not lazy at all. But I'll tell you what, wearing a VR headset for longer than an hour and I begin to get pain. Pain as a headache, pain behind the eyes, pain between my ears, pain in my forehead, and just that sweaty, clammy, uncomforable feeling that a somewhat subconscious yet constant nausea gives you. It's not 10/10 pain, heck it's probably not even 1-2/10 pain, but it sure as heck is going to keep me from wanting to wear a VR headset once the novelty wears off. That's why it's more than annoying when some downplay the "pain" reports from some of these reviewers.

 

[kangyula]

We don't know what jobs it isn't capable of doing yet, asides from games, which has been proven to be possible with other headsets. It's probably also worth pointing out that if we don't know what its capabilities and restrictions are, we can't really say for sure if it will be innovative or not. This one is self-contained, so that's a step up from headsets that require setup like base stations, and making VR more viable as a product rather than a niche hobby.

I can think of ways my workflow would be improved, like being able to see 3D work in actual 3D, or not being restricted to physical computer screen dimensions. It won't do everything I need; I have an iPad for drawing, which it handles better than my Macbook while also being much more portable, but it can't replace my Macbook for general stuff and going beyond what the vanilla OS can do. But it's still very important to my workflow despite its limits or any lack of "innovation"

It sounds like what you want won't satisfy you unless it conforms to a traditional desktop anyways, in which case I'd say VR, not just the Vision, isn't for you.

You've just described how you could use a VR headset that plugs into a computer, not how this AR thing with it's own cpu and battery and distractions of the outside world behind your work.

 

[Antoniosmalakia]

Coming soon to the Apple Store. (If the reviews are true!)

 

[Surf Monkey]

No.

What I said - and it was very clear - was that the non-book-reading interruptions that the person to whom I was responding to alluded to, could be pretty much perfectly handled were they to have been reading a book (or indeed doing many other activities in the nearby physical presence of another individual) on the AVP.

"Immersed but still able to be aware of my husband's intermittent conversation with me, stretch my eyes by looking out the window, that little pause to think over something you've just read, stroke the cat, hear the doorbell and answer it <snip to remove comment about what you're doing with the physical book> go have a pee, answer my phone — listen to music…"

We can go through those scenarios one by one if it would help you understand the context of the discussion.

I clearly acknowledged that many people would much prefer to read a physical book.

I was addressing the objections the individual raised were they to have the AVP strapped to their head, not promoting the benefits of reading a book with the headset on, although I did acknowledge - because I'm capable of understanding use-cases outside of those that some commenting here, and indeed myself, have envisaged in the wider discussion relating to this product - that there absolutely will be a proportion of people who will enjoy reading books with the headset strapped on.

Or do you actually believe that everyone on the planet aligns to your perspective?

I think you’re struggling to rationalize a bad argument.

 

[Surf Monkey]

That's a bad argument and you should abandon it. Don't be absurd.

Take a moment to understand the points that are actually being addressed before constructing a straw man that you fancy taking a poke at.

Is it possible to envisage a scenario where a proportion of people would enjoy reading a book with an AVP strapped to their head? Absolutely. If you're incapable of imagining such a scenario, that's perfectly OK.

Did I at any point state that "reading a Kindle is equal to strapping on a headset to read?

Err, no. You're arguing with yourself. Enjoy the company.

More rationalization. The argument was NOT “imagine a few people want to read in a helmet.” The argument was “Anything you can do with a book you can do with AVP.”
That is false on the face of it.

 

[deckard666]

If its not for you at the moment because of the price, performance or you just hate VR then fair do but lots of others will get a ton out of this Gen 1 and maybe in a few iterations it will be for you....

 

[Surf Monkey]

Also, this is a feature that exists for the Apple TV and the watch.

No it isn’t. That claim is a wild reach.