Will Vision Pro be a success

[xraydoc]

I so very much want an AVP. I just don't know what I'd really do with it. Wearing it on my face isn't really all that convenient for browsing the web as I like to type a lot in forums like this and on Reddit. I don't really watch too many movies alone (I like to watch with my wife). It would be, maybe, good for doing some work, but again, I'd need a keyboard and a pointing device, too; I don't like to dictate into Siri; and apparently I can't duplicate my Mac's two independent 5K Apple Studio Displays (not sure if AVP apps would compensate since I write scientific papers in Word and often have several documents open in Preview and GoodNotes.

I can get a lot of work done on my 12.9" iPad Pro when I'm in "mobile mode", so maybe the AVP would be ok. I mean, the iPad didn't exist as a product category when it came out, but now I couldn't do without. When the first one came out, I bought two! However, for the AVP, I can't quite see how it would be instantly integrated into my workflow. But perhaps it's so different that I'm just not seeing it until I use it (no pun intended).

But I can't help thinking that a loaded-up Mac Studio M3 Max would be a better (and likely cheaper) upgrade than an AVP for my workflow.

 

[jz0309]

Apple Vision Pro’s Lengthy Sales Pitch Will Include 25-Minute Demo

The Apple Vision Pro, unveiled more than seven months ago, is now just three weeks away. The company is preparing an extensive sales pitch for the $3,499 device, including a demo lasting as long as 25 minutes. Also: A onetime contender for Apple’s CFO role takes the top finance job at Sonos...

www.bloomberg.com

Spoiler: Applicable to this topic parts of article is inside spoiler

As Mark states the magnitude of difficulty selling product is way more challenging, :

• With previous Apple devices, shoppers didn’t require a lot of coaxing or coaching.
• If the device isn’t fitted to someone’s head correctly — or is missing the right lenses — the entire experience could be ruined, potentially costing Apple a $3,499 sale forever.
• The product is just too expensive and cumbersome to win over mainstream consumers.

Will the Apple Vison Pro sell that well or not is highly dependent on this 20 to 25 min demo station by employees as this article details.

Diffidently a article worth reading.

I read that article earlier today and am now even more excited to go and demo the VPro, and it might not be a product for me, not now ...
I've tried headsets before, games, definitely not for me.
Back 20+ years ago me and my team evaluated the first wearable computer (Xybernaut), computer on the belt, headset with a single 640x480 display, cost: $10K. It was amazing what you could do and definitely use cases like remote trouble shooting, training etc. VPro can do that and a lot more.
Then there is this potential addition: gloves (https://haptx.com/) that will add another sense to this experience.

Said it before, it'll take 3-5 years to see whether or not it is a success[/spoiler]

 

[subjonas]

I so very much want an AVP. I just don't know what I'd really do with it. Wearing it on my face isn't really all that convenient for browsing the web as I like to type a lot in forums like this and on Reddit. I don't really watch too many movies alone (I like to watch with my wife). It would be, maybe, good for doing some work, but again, I'd need a keyboard and a pointing device, too; I don't like to dictate into Siri; and apparently I can't duplicate my Mac's two independent 5K Apple Studio Displays (not sure if AVP apps would compensate since I write scientific papers in Word and often have several documents open in Preview and GoodNotes.

I can get a lot of work done on my 12.9" iPad Pro when I'm in "mobile mode", so maybe the AVP would be ok. I mean, the iPad didn't exist as a product category when it came out, but now I couldn't do without. When the first one came out, I bought two! However, for the AVP, I can't quite see how it would be instantly integrated into my workflow. But perhaps it's so different that I'm just not seeing it until I use it (no pun intended).

But I can't help thinking that a loaded-up Mac Studio M3 Max would be a better (and likely cheaper) upgrade than an AVP for my workflow.

Re: your iPad—it’s interesting how we can not even know of or care about a product’s existence at one point in our lives, then not too long later we feel we can’t function without it. We can even be vehemently against it at first. Even some of our most necessary items today got a healthy dose of initial skepticism and mockery—the car (“get a horse”), and the cell phone (“how important do you think you are”). It just goes to show we don’t always know what we want or need (or will want or need), as humbling as that is to admit.

But as far as whether or not we need/want the VP, that is very much yet to be determined. It does have interesting parallels though to the electric car made popular by Tesla. It is an expensive first product for well-off and enthusiast buyers, with the hopes of eventually bringing it to everyone. And Tesla had many mockers at first too. Still has mockers, but less as Tesla has gotten very popular. We’ll see how the VP does.

 

[InvertedGoldfish]

Outside of porn and Nintendo wee style games, going to be a dud like the used once VR goggles my chick got and couldn’t even sell for enough to be worth dealing with marketplace/craigslist

 

[_justbecause]

It'll be a success in the coming years. I think people will need the inspiration of how to best use the device and how it fits into the eco system.

I am definitely interested, once I have seen more.

 

[Tdude96]

But I can't help thinking that a loaded-up Mac Studio M3 Max would be a better (and likely cheaper) upgrade than an AVP for my workflow.

I'd planned on buying the Vision Pro, but as the rest of last year wore on I decided it's best to replace my aging iMac with an M3 Studio, so that's what I'm planning on doing instead this year. The AVP will unfortunately have to wait a year or two.

 

[Realityck]

Todays article illustrates some more issue with wearability

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

Note multiple instances that using the stock rear band was not sufficient comfortable compared to the optional double rear head band for three reviewers. Just a another thing to buy.

vs

 

[_justbecause]

One thing that hit me when reading these user impressions - the reason a lot of devices are successful is how universal they are.

A laptop, a phone and even earphones, watches etc are all pretty universal. You don't have to commit to the device like wrapping a strap around your face. It's ergonomic in the fact it is easily adjustable or removable.

Here we have people struggling with it putting too much pressure on the nose, not sitting right on the face, being too heavy.

There's still some barriers to VR/AR that are obvious and this device is no different for now aside from the ways in which the content is displayed and the quality of the UX.


Once AR/VR experiences are as compact as a pair of glasses I think it'll be "universal" in the same way a phone, laptop & watch are.

 

[tomtad]

Yikes those hands on impressions. It’s not looking good guys

 

[Realityck]

A laptop, a phone and even earphones, watches etc are all pretty universal. You don't have to commit to the device like wrapping a strap around your face. It's ergonomic in the fact it is easily adjustable or removable.

The examples of different Apple devices you already own would chip away at trying to justify buying a VP as it is currently marketed. Apple is trying to show how this all-in one device eliminated the need of the others. But from mobility and expandability of setups that is difficult to overcome. It not necessary superior to how you work or entertain yourself currently. Right now you don't have to worry about using those devices while mobile, sharing with others, battery life, connectivity. Even from a entertainment perspective filling your view with a display of your content doesn't mean you eyes can watch everything that easily just like people in cinemas don't set in the first couple of rows in front of a enormous screen.

 

[Realityck]

It can be a financial dud but a technological success, pathing the way for subsequent versions that actually sell.

This seems to be what we expect with the very first hardware version of Vision Pro. Its difficult for the very first model of a new device platform to be truly a success, unless you look at its survivability with sucessors rather than financial results. Manufacturing, sales techniques, updated hardware set will all improve.

As a comparison the very first AS Macs functionally were sound, but the OS took 2 years for it to be completely native as well as see a large amount of software converted to native instead of running it under Rosetta 2.

VisionOS and the devs preparing porting their apps have to be in a similar situation. The early hardware impressions and some implemented technology choices are now known. Expecting the software side of using a Vision Pro will be ongoing improvements over time.

 

[bryo]

Speaking of other vendors from Sony at CES 2024

Sony's Newest Mixed Reality Headset Is an Apple Vision Pro Competitor for Business

Hands-on: It has a Qualcomm chip inside and a unique ring accessory. We took it for a spin at CES 2024.

www.cnet.com

4.3K resolution each eye. This is a Siemens-Sony collaboration using a Qualcomm chip as described in the below article:

Qualcomm's New VR Chip Gives More Power to Apple Vision Pro Competitors

Google and Samsung's mixed reality headset could get a boost from a new Qualcomm chip enabling more cameras and sensors, 4K video and fast connections with laptops, tablets and phones.

www.cnet.com

Apparently the race is just getting started with Vision Pro

Very cool device. Credit where it is due the PSVR2 is great and has a great stock halo strap system. I wore it for 4 hours straight playing gran turismo and never found it to be too uncomfortable. The only time it’s uncomfortable is if you crank the strap too tight, which I suspect some folks might do thinking it is necessary to keep the headset in place. This new hmd from Sony is very similar to the psvr2 in design

 

[Realityck]

Friday’s news topics allowed more in depth information concerning Vision Pro.

I love everything about the Apple Vision Pro — except wearing it

We went into our Apple Vision Pro demo skeptical, but a jaw-dropping tech demo turned us into cautious believers.

www.digitaltrends.com

 

[Ted_Appleseed]

I’m not sure about the current Apple Vision, but I’m optimistic about Apple’s vision.

 

[Realityck]

I noticed one individual that posted had his corrective lens order messed up (arriving March) compared to being very early with receiving AVP in Feb. Apple told him they could not help him until Monday so that ZEISS lenses who made the mistake that they were out of range, might be able to put a rush on the lense order. So the user is in a very difficult situation. I think this shows how risky the current rush to buy a AVP is with inadequate inventory for both AVP and associated lenses not synced with one another for delivery. Apple should have had checks in place to prevent messed up orders. This might be quite rare, but in this instance of fitting the headset with right corrective lenses seems like a real consumer nightmare.

 

[4sallypat]

I noticed one individual that posted had his corrective lens order messed up (arriving March) compared to being very early with receiving AVP in Feb. Apple told him they could not help him until Monday so that ZEISS lenses who made the mistake that they were out of range, might be able to put a rush on the lense order. So the user is in a very difficult situation. I think this shows how risky the current rush to buy a AVP is with inadequate inventory for both AVP and associated lenses not synced with one another for delivery. Apple should have had checks in place to prevent messed up orders. This might be quite rare, but in this instance of fitting the headset with right corrective lenses seems like a real consumer nightmare.

Luckily for me, my vision is a very low correction almost to the point of probably not needing the Zeiss lenses.

Will see on 2/2/24 when I get delivery.

Since I ordered without lenses, if I need corrective lenses, I can always order it thru Apple....

 

[Realityck]

Luckily for me, my vision is a very low correction almost to the point of probably not needing the Zeiss lenses.

Will see on 2/2/24 when I get delivery.

Since I ordered without lenses, if I need corrective lenses, I can always order it thru Apple....

I always wondered about a person that is nearsighted needs ZEISS lenses, meaning very close up you see perfectly but not distance? Did Apple answer that question with this statement? I think that is how one would interpret the comment below?

Intermediate distance, task distance, or computer distance should not be part of that prescription, and contact lens prescriptions are not accepted.

 

[Realityck]

Apple’s Testy Developer Relationships Threaten to Hamper Vision Pro

Apple’s new Vision Pro will lack some key apps when it debuts, renewing concerns about an already-tense relationship with certain developers. Also: More details emerge about the device’s launch day experience; Apple is forced to remove blood oxygen tracking from its watches; and an AI team in...

www.bloomberg.com

Mixed response from developers
====
Some big name developers thus far aren’t doing much to help the device. Three of the world’s most popular streaming services — Netflix Inc., YouTube and Spotify Technology SA — have already signaled that they won’t be launching visionOS software or enabling their iPad apps to run on the Vision Pro.

Other key developers, including iOS and iPadOS mainstays like Google and Meta Platforms Inc., also appear ready to shun the new platform at the outset. That’s a break from the past.

High-profile developers previously made the jump to new Apple platforms right away. The App Stores on the iPhone and iPad were bursting with new titles quickly after their debuts, and both platforms now support millions of apps. The Vision Pro may be a different story.

I think there are a few key reasons for the less-than-expected amount of enthusiasm from developers:

1. Building software can be expensive, and developers want a return on their investment. So some software makers are probably waiting to see how big the Vision Pro market gets before committing to a new application. This, however, doesn’t explain the developers who actively choose to not support their iPad app on the device.
2. There are some developers that are angry at Apple for their App Store review policies, fees and other practices — something that’s caught the eye of regulators. These developers know the Vision Pro hinges on cool new apps and may not want to help Apple market its device.
3. Some developers feel that their applications don’t translate well to the Vision Pro’s mixed-reality environment, which relies on eye movement and hand gestures. Certain games are best played with VR hand controllers, something the Vision Pro doesn’t yet offer. Also, developers don’t have full access to the eye-tracking and motion-sensing features, making it harder to take advantage of the headset.
4. Developers saw the poor performance of Apple’s last three new App Stores — ones for TV, watches and iMessage — and don’t want to participate until they know if the Vision Pro version will be successful.

====
Guess this is a stay tuned story against the success of the Vision Pro

 

[xraydoc]

Guess this is a stay tuned story against the success of the Vision Pro

YouTube would be a problem for me. Not that it's something I use constantly, but it does get use. I'm presuming the website would still work, but just no optimized app. Same goes for Netflix.

However, it does look like Microsoft and WebEx are going to be supporting it, which are two big pluses in my personal checkbox.

That said, I've decided to hold off for now. While the whole thing is very intriguing to me, I'm not sure that strapping an iPad to my face is going to improve my workflow. And outside of work, since I can't use it to watch TV with my wife, I'm not sure what else I'd do with it.

 

[/V\acpower]

I'm not very optimistic it will succeed.

I personally believe it's a mistake from Apple to make it a "computer" (M2 with storage options). It really change how you perceive the price of this device.

For example, just for the sake of the argument, imagine the Vision Pro needing to be plugged to a Mac to work. (Through a Thunderbolt cable for example). No M2. The Vision Pro not being able to work standalone at all.

Ironically, this hypothetical Vision Pro, even at the exact same price point, would be a better value, simply because it would mean that it would be a fantastic screen to expand your Mac workflow that you will be able to keep using for many many years.

The fact they made it a "standalone computer" mean it has an expiration date. It mean that in two three years you will see the M4 or M5 Vision Pro and see how much smoother it can run the cool 3D app the Vision Pro is supposed to enable.

It mean that suddently you are paying 3.5k$ for a device that will feel old in 2 or 3 years, instead of paying 3.5k$ for a device that you would be able to realistically enjoy for way longer. (Since the computing would be done on a Mac).

(Also, let's face it, the % of consumer who will spend 3.5k$ for the Vision Pro and doesn't already own a Mac is probably close to zero.)

 

[4sallypat]

I'm not very optimistic it will succeed.

I personally believe it's a mistake from Apple to make it a "computer" (M2 with storage options). It really change how you perceive the price of this device.

For example, just for the sake of the argument, imagine the Vision Pro needing to be plugged to a Mac to work. (Through a Thunderbolt cable for example). No M2. The Vision Pro not being able to work standalone at all.

Ironically, this hypothetical Vision Pro, even at the exact same price point, would be a better value, simply because it would mean that it would be a fantastic screen to expand your Mac workflow that you will be able to keep using for many many years.

The fact they made it a "standalone computer" mean it has an expiration date. It mean that in two three years you will see the M4 or M5 Vision Pro and see how much smoother it can run the cool 3D app the Vision Pro is supposed to enable.

It mean that suddently you are paying 3.5k$ for a device that will feel old in 2 or 3 years, instead of paying 3.5k$ for a device that you would be able to realistically enjoy for way longer. (Since the computing would be done on a Mac).

(Also, let's face it, the % of consumer who will spend 3.5k$ for the Vision Pro and doesn't already own a Mac is probably close to zero.)

I see where you are going, but all new technology is fraught with issues and complaints.

Apple wanted to delve into spatial computing that takes you out of the single device centered focus computing.

Remember Apple's first venture into tablets ?
iPad Gen 1.
I had one of those and as soon as the Gen 2 came out, I lost interest in the first device.

Now look at how popular iPads have become!

 

[Realityck]

I see where you are going, but all new technology is fraught with issues and complaints.

Apple wanted to delve into spatial computing that takes you out of the single device centered focus computing.

We still don’t know the degree of multitasking available in VisionOS compared to MacOS. I also kinda like the thought of a headset connected to a future Mac compared to this standalone headset that is not mobile really.

 

[Tdude96]

I so very much want an AVP. I just don't know what I'd really do with it. Wearing it on my face isn't really all that convenient for browsing the web as I like to type a lot in forums like this and on Reddit. I don't really watch too many movies alone (I like to watch with my wife). It would be, maybe, good for doing some work, but again, I'd need a keyboard and a pointing device, too; I don't like to dictate into Siri; and apparently I can't duplicate my Mac's two independent 5K Apple Studio Displays (not sure if AVP apps would compensate since I write scientific papers in Word and often have several documents open in Preview and GoodNotes.

I can get a lot of work done on my 12.9" iPad Pro when I'm in "mobile mode", so maybe the AVP would be ok. I mean, the iPad didn't exist as a product category when it came out, but now I couldn't do without. When the first one came out, I bought two! However, for the AVP, I can't quite see how it would be instantly integrated into my workflow. But perhaps it's so different that I'm just not seeing it until I use it (no pun intended).

But I can't help thinking that a loaded-up Mac Studio M3 Max would be a better (and likely cheaper) upgrade than an AVP for my workflow.

I really want one too, super excited for this technology and was all in on getting AVP, but my workflows changed and I decided my iMac just isn't cutting it anymore, so it's a Mac Studio for me this year. AVP next year or the year after.

 

[Mellofello808]

VP is cool, but the complexity they built into it, that necessitates the high price will be its downfall.

 

[subjonas]

We still don’t know the degree of multitasking available in VisionOS compared to MacOS. I also kinda like the thought of a headset connected to a future Mac compared to this standalone headset that is not mobile really.

Yeah I’m waiting to see how well it multitasks.
And standalone is good but yeah I also wish it could physically tether to a Mac to get maximum bandwidth for the most serious work sessions.