Vision Pro Reviews: Surprising Battery Life, 'Weird' Personas, and More

[onenorth]

Steve selected him as CEO. Tim came from supply chain (profit squeezing guy). I pointed out that this would be problematic in the long run and was ridiculed multiple times. I was right.

In a prior life I worked for Disney. For years and years people would say, "what would Walt do?" "What would Walt say?" "What would Walt think?"

Well, Walt is gone and so is Steve, so it doesn't matter anymore. Both of these companies have survived under new management and will continue to do so despite all of the Monday morning quarterbacking going on. They are different companies now, but so what? We all march forward for better or for worse.

The Vision Pro hasn't even been released yet and the obits are flying because a few YTubers couldn't contain their enthusiasm for it, so that must mean it's actually a terrible product, or "that's not what Steve Jobs would have done," etc.

I am impressed with it. And maybe, hopefully, some of this tech will also migrate into other products in the future. I will have no qualms if Apple's foray into VR/AR is a bust, or a success, because either way Apple may become a better company for it in the long run. You don't get better only from success. But this won't bankrupt them.

This is obviously not a product that anyone needs, or one that will be as important to Apple as the iPhone. If someone wants a Vision Pro, then they can buy one and Apple gets their money. After that it doesn't matter if it sits in someone's drawer collecting dust (I have stuff like that: Apple Newton) or gets used every day (I have stuff like that too: iPhone).

 

[lyunmac]

I liked the Verge's video. They gave fair criticisms. I could not finish watching half of Justine's video. So much glazing from her. The technology is impressive but I don't see any killer reason to use this. I can just use high resolution monitors instead of this where I have to tire out my arms and cramp my hands from the gestures.

 

[allenvanhellen]

4) which other display options are you talking about
5) never will happen, it's a standalone device, thats why you have airplay

If the Vision Pro were priced lower than the Studio Display or Pro Display XDR, don't you think quite a few people would snag a VP instead? It's so easy to use it as a Mac display. MKBHD called this the VP's killer app.

 

[miiwtoo]

If the Vision Pro were priced lower than the Studio Display or Pro Display XDR, don't you think quite a few people would snag a VP instead? It's so easy to use it as a Mac display. MKBHD called this the VP's killer app.

are you saying that if the vision pro costs like those displays will be the definitive option, firstable the xdrs price is 4999, so, if the price were 1600 (studio display) i'll buy two right now, no kidding,

 

[Naraxus]

My mouth dropped when I saw Justine demo the keynote app. I think it sets the bar as to what a Vision Pro app can be capable of, but it would also involve a complete rethink of the app’s UI (most developers probably won’t bother). It could also explain why the other iWorks apps are not available (Apple probably needs a bit more time to redesign them).

I don’t expect this to come to PowerPoint either (not sure if keynote is using private APIs not available to other apps). But damn, can you imagine if Vision Pro owners are able to experience this for the next WWDC event?

I'll be honest, I still think this thing looks goofy. Alot of the criticisms, like John Gruber points out, are on point. But I've kind of had a change of thought about AVP. It's a 1st gen product after all. Things will be "off", "unganely" etc for a couple generations but this looks more and more intriguing with each video I see. This isn't something for me but I'm interested to see where this goes

 

[macduke]

LMAO this product is hilarious.

It's going to be a long road until this thing is useful. Don't really see myself picking one up this decade unless I can get my house paid off early, haha. For now, Apple Vision Pro is the definition of an overpriced toy. And the hardware inside is already outdated.

I'm looking forward to an 8K version down the line that can output three 6K Mac displays in panorama. I work remotely, so being able to have my studio desk setup in my bed when I'm sick, at the new standing desk that I'm building upstairs (making my own walnut table top), at a treadmill, traveling, or if I'm down in my studio would be so amazing.

 

[lindros2]

“Poor Joanna! (She's still amazing, nothing can change that!)”

What does this have to do with the review?

 

[Bellboy, The]

In a nutshell...

 

[d686546s]

I think Apple was better off waiting a few years to make a blockbuster, TRUE game changing device like how the original iPhone or MacBook Air was. The AVP just seems like something created just to say they have a new item in their catalogue and is still quite unpolished. -shrugs-

While I'm very sceptical about this device for many reasons, I do think there's some interesting concepts here. I wouldn't pay $3.5k for it, but it's a start.

One thing I will say though is that the original iPhone wasn't really the revolutionary device if we just take it for what it is. It didn't have third party apps and lacked many crucial features. The basic concept was there in terms of user interface, but that was about it. The same could be true for the Vision Pro, although it's a bit premature to say that it will be. Generally I think the iPhone was successful for reasons that will be hard to replicate.

Coming back to the Mac, I also think there's a cautionary tale. The Mac may have kicked things off, but the PC really capitalised on it by being affordable. VR has been available for a while and struggled, and I think there's a reason for that, but if Apple is pushing all these entertainment companies to come up with actually good solutions, what incentive do they have for not rolling them out on Meta's platform, making a $500 Quest more appealing?

 

[G5isAlive]

@G5isAlive what do you find funny about this? It’s a serious comment. There are people with technology addiction and products like this could cause individuals with mental health issues to detach from reality. The reality is all AR devices could do that, but Vision Pro kids users in believing it tries to maintain that reality when it really doesn’t. All the reviewers are saying the same.

Point is, this isn’t for everyone.

No one, but no one is saying the APV can cause mental health issues. That’s false. As for those with pre-existing conditions, my sympathies go out, but what are you proposing that we ban anything that can be misused (like too much tv) , or ban loud music for the hearing sensitive, or lets ban all peanuts because a lot more people have peanut allergies than isolating tendencies. Your concern is misplaced at best. Don’t ban the technology, help the people. Come up with solutions not whine about the unfairness of it all. That’s why I’m still laughing. Not at those with real problems but those that create problems.

 

[G5isAlive]

Have you actually tried to use the original iPhone? I have, it sucked vs blackberry

Tried it? I owned it. Was miles ahead of my blackerry which is why blackberry quickly died.

 

[G5isAlive]

Steve selected him as CEO. Tim came from supply chain (profit squeezing guy). I pointed out that this would be problematic in the long run and was ridiculed multiple times. I was right.

Can you please tell me your next pick for a new problematic CEO so that I can invest?! Please! I could use a 1200% return like failure Tim brought.

 

[Haiku_Oezu]

I was not expecting Personas and EyeSight to be so awful, Apple doesn’t usually fudge their marketing this blatantly

Fortunatelt I don’t care about either features in the slightest and by the time I’ll be in the market for a Vision headset I expect both features to have been canned alrrady

 

[mactactic]

Absolutely no interest, Apple has jumped the shark.
Hey Apple want to invent something cool utilize hologram technology that can be used on any window!

 

[mrr]

When the Mac 128k came out I’m 1984, it was barely usable. It had like 5 pieces of software and you had to constantly swap between the system disk, software disk, and data disk. It was under powered and under performed, yet in time, it became the best computer out there.

 

[mactactic]

When the Mac 128k came out I’m 1984, it was barely usable. It had like 5 pieces of software and you had to constantly swap between the system disk, software disk, and data disk. It was under powered and under performed, yet in time, it became the best computer out there.

I was there… and the Mac didn’t hit its stride till 98.

 

[heretic51]

As someone who was genuinely stoked to lose sleep to secure a pre-order, I am seriously considering returning mine upon arrival

 

[SkippyThorson]

Image Credit: Brian Tong​

These are genuinely, terrifyingly, terrible.

These are the kinds of images AI will use to wreak havoc in some alternate-reality, ask-for-your-donation scam.

 

[p4ttythep3rf3ct]

I hope EyeSight eventually allows custom graphics like LED Goggles you see at EDM shows. Every thing else in this article is going to naturally improve just like it has in every other vr set

 

[tekipaki]

Even if we are to assume that Apple refines personas over time to a point where the virtual recreation is nearly indistinguishable from the actual person, it’s STILL a stationary digital avatar of the shoulders up and everyone realizes it. So why, at that point, use personas at all? That’s what I don’t get. I want to speak to the PERSON, not a digital recreation. The entire concept seems misguided and wrong to me.

 

[Itinj24]

A better implementation that does not make look the user like a ghost.

Sure, it’s easy to sit there and imagine a better implementation but take a look at what’s going on here. There is no camera facing you yet this persona is able to mimic every facial expression you’re actually making. Even lips are in sync and accurately moving according to what’s being said by the user.

The personas look much better than any graphic of a person put out by video games and such. You want lifelike but that’s not possible because it’s a render and again, there are no cameras facing you. It will by nature have a level of unrealism because it ain’t real. It’s virtual.

 

[Itinj24]

You are right, it's a difficult problem. But this doesn't change the fact that FaceTiming or videoconferencing this way is creepy for the other people. (Quote from one reviewer's wife: "Don't ever call me again using that thing.") My personal conclusion is that a VR headset is simply unsuitable for video calls, and that it is a mistake from Apple to try to make it look like a workable thing.

Could you imagine the outrage if Apple didn’t integrate FaceTime in the AVP?

I think they did a helluva job with this. The way the persona mimics your face in sync without a camera facing you. The tech is impressive. It’s a VR headset and in my opinion, even suitable that the persona comes in as a virtual representation of themself.

 

[Itinj24]

Apple’s implementation falls way short. It screams this product needs more time in the oven. I think Apple should’ve waited until at least 2025 to release it.

Are you taking about FaceTime or the AVP as a whole? Because there’s no way that there wouldn’t be outrage if Apple released AVP without FaceTime. I don’t think a year would change anything.

 

[Itinj24]

They clearly just want Memojis 😂

That’s what it seems like. This is the best and most accurate virtual representation of a person I have seen yet. The most impressive part is how the AVP can accurately sync lips and facial expressions without having a camera facing you.

 

[Itinj24]

People, It’s VR. You are being represented as a VR representation of yourself. Nobody is being forced into FaceTiming on the AVP but if you’re going to use VR, then expect to be represented as such. It ain’t real.

Again, what are we expecting with VR personas? Real life?

Please don’t say Apple should’ve left FaceTime out. You know damn well the outrage if they left it out.