Technology enthusiasts and Apple fans queued up in the brand’s American stores on Friday to test or purchase the Vision Pro, the $3,499 mixed reality (augmented and virtual) headset from the tech giant. It is Apple’s first major new product since the introduction of the Apple Watch nine years ago and is expected to represent the ultra-immersive future of computing.
Overall, there were significantly fewer people than at the iPhone launch in 2007, with sparse lines in Palo Alto and Los Gatos, California, in particular.
Tim Cook in New York
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing. Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”“Creating our first spatial computer required invention across nearly every facet of the system,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Technology Development Group. “Through a tight integration of hardware and software, we designed a standalone spatial computer in a compact wearable form factor that is the most advanced personal electronics device ever.”
To feel the excitement, one had to go to New York. Tim Cook visited the Apple store on Fifth Avenue to greet the first customers, amid applause from the staff. “This is the technology of tomorrow, today,” he told ABC News. “We believe we have priced it fairly for now.”
“I can’t wait to try it,” said Jose Carlos with a big smile to AFP. “I will use it for work and also when traveling.” “It’s expensive, but I’m willing to pay the price to be among the first and to test ideas for applications I have in mind,” added the young engineer from the Uber platform.
Mixed initial reviews
It’s an “impressive product that required many years of work and billions of dollars in investment,” but “even after trying it, I still have no idea who will use it and for what,” wrote The New York Times.
Testers are fascinated by the image quality and ease of use: just gaze at an application and tap fingers to open or close it. However, they are annoyed that the battery is bulky and mock the “personas,” the strange photorealistic avatars representing users in video conferences.
“The headset has the typical characteristics of a first-generation product: it is heavy, the battery drains quickly, and oh, the personas…,” summarized Joanna Stern, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal. “But without these flaws, it can be imagined that wearing this headset will be more pleasant than holding a phone in front of your face,” she noted. “And for work and watching movies, it’s really not bad.”
Criticism for the lack of available applications on the Vision Pro—recently estimated at 150—led Apple to ramp up efforts, announcing on Thursday that there are now over 600.
“Spatial Computing”
The iPhone manufacturer presents the headset as its first foray into “spatial computing.” It allows users to have virtual screens of various sizes around them for working, chatting with friends, or watching videos.
Augmented reality glasses and virtual or mixed reality headsets are not new. Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Apple’s rival in Silicon Valley, has significantly contributed to the emergence of this market with its Quest headsets and connected Ray-Ban glasses.
Mark Zuckerberg, the group’s leader, believes that the “metaverse,” a universe where our physical and digital environments mix, is the future of the Internet. However, many companies, experts, and individuals were eagerly awaiting Apple’s first device. Or perhaps the second, which will undoubtedly be more affordable.
Apple Vision Pro builds on Apple innovation and experience designing high-performance products like Mac, iPhone, and wearables like Apple Watch, culminating in the most advanced personal electronics device ever. To achieve ambitious goals for performance, mobility, and wearability, Apple utilised the most advanced materials possible.Apple Vision Pro has an astonishing amount of technology in a compact design. A singular piece of three-dimensionally formed and laminated glass is polished to create an optical surface that acts as a lens for the wide array of cameras and sensors needed to blend the physical world with digital content. The glass flows into the custom aluminium alloy frame that gently curves around the user’s face, while the modular system allows for a tailored fit to accommodate a wide range of people.The Light Seal is made of a soft textile, and comes in a range of shapes and sizes, flexing to conform to a user’s face for a precise fit. Flexible straps ensure audio remains close to the user’s ears, while a Head Band — available in multiple sizes — is three-dimensionally knitted as a single piece to provide cushioning, breathability, and stretch.1 The band is secured with a simple mechanism, making it easy to change to another size or style of band.
