What do you think about Apple's new headset?
Aaron O'Leary
84 replies
Apple finally dropped the rumoured headset it's been working on at yesterday's WWDC. It's called the Vision Pro and it will sell for just about $3500.
I thought it looked super impressive at the event, but it seems like the ship has kind of sailed in the whole virtual / augmented headset especially if you're entering at that price point, I'm probably wrong though.
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Matthew Lock@matthew_lock
Layman Law
I think it's beautiful. I just don't think I'd use it. I have an oculus for 2 years now and I've used it a total of 5 times.
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I’m optimistic about the future Apple is pushing us towards.
I’m thinking of Vision Pro as a computer, not a headset.
Yes, it sits on your head (right now), but I see it as something that will replace our phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
I shared more thoughts here if anyone is interested: https://victorkernes.com/posts/a...
Lazy
I'm really hoping that future iterations will take a Mac-like approach to meeting different technical needs and pricepoints (Mini, Pro, Studio etc.).
Also really hoping that it lives up to the claims that the R1 chip will tackle motion sickness, that's one of the biggest blockers for me with the original Quest I've got, I get the worst headaches 🫠
Product Hunt
@aaronoleary I think this will change everything! Meta is actually coming out with a meta quest 3. Oh the timing ha / can’t compare of course
Product Hunt
@aaronoleary the 3 will not compare to this. I am dying to try apple! The augmented reality is incredible
@aaronoleary Yes I agree with your point. I feel the same way.
In my opinion, It is because none of the VR machines show proper UX for productivity except for fun things like gaming.
Meta was the same, it tried to show some metaverse with VR.
When Oculus shows its very first demo for AR, People imagine something really useful ux with its VR/AR Headset.
Apple headset seems like fulfill this expectation by bringing OS onto its headset. Devs/People can build things on there.
It just reminds me of when there were plenty of PDA machines and none of them were truly useful for everyone, then Apple launched iPhone.
At that time, iOS was truly a game changer too not only iPhone hardware itself
Apple has maintained the standards of innovation and design in the Vision Pro. Apple products are the trend setters, so let’s be honest everyone else will now just strive for the similar VR models.
The aim is to off-course have something fascinating from a sci-fi movie be it glasses or AirPods with a VR projector!!
I'm impressed! Can't wait until it's available in Germany!
Look like an amazing piece of hardware. Rather expensive to put it mildly. Would be keen to see if the OS is more akin to iPadOS or MacOS. The latter opens it up for typical business and potentially development use. Having access to a chrome based browser would also open up the use of WebXR applications. I fear it may be the former. Would love to try it out though.
Fitminder
It reminds me of "Black Mirror" series :D
@laura_pinne YES! Scary and exciting right?
Lucyd App - ChatGPT Voice Interface
From my experience as a wearable developer, this product form factor will not work for the mass market or any regular casual/professional applications, or even high end engineering applications where you need to see products in 3D in space. People don't like to wear VR helmets for a variety of ergonomic, fashion and functionality reasons, and that's why it's failed as a concept for all but gaming and X-rated applications.
So one inherent problem with the product, price aside, is that Apple has historically been soft on gaming, lacking the key AAA game developers that develop for Microsoft and Sony platforms. If this had been suggested to be primarily a gaming device, and they showed someone playing immersive Grand Theft Auto or similar popular title, I think it would have been received better and there would be some slim market for it among well-heeled gamers, techies and streamers.
For entertainment, well that's out too, because you're limited to movies that are exactly 120 min or less, and unless you're alone you'll want to communicate with or touch the people you're watching with, which becomes a lot harder when you're both wearing helmets. People also like to be comfortable during their leisure time, so wearing a few pounds of tech on your head is not ideal.
For work applications, the first generation of this product at least will not have the control schema necessary to be able to work even half as rapidly as you can on a computer, because the spatial controls will most likely not be precise enough to match the fine control of a mouse, and as you may know a keyboard is not so easily replaced with voice control in all scenarios. Also it looks like it's based on ipad OS not Mac OS, so you'll lack the functionality of a desktop computer. That might be OK for certain people, like for example I went through college using an iPad as my primary device. But why use this over an iPad that you can carry with you anywhere, that has a battery that lasts 5-10x longer, and costs 1/10th of this?
Many consumers don't even like to wear headphones in their ears, they tell me that all the time, which is why they like our audio glasses. So I think that as a platform, bulky head mounted displays are a non-starter for like 97% of the population.
In my view based on my experience working in smartglasses, for an AR/MR smart eyewear product to justify this price tag and/or achieve mass market adoption, it needs to meet the following criteria:
-A form factor that is similar to traditional eyeglasses, that can be worn anywhere without undue attention
-A battery life that can power smart features for all or most of the day.
-Weigh around 1-2 ounces to be comfortable enough to wear all day and not cause neck strain.
-Any virtual displays need to be binocular and extensively tested for eye strain and macular degeneration
-Prescription adaptation at a reasonable price is a must since 2/3 of the US needs vision correction
-Functionality that nearly perfectly matches or surpasses the abilities of a smartphone
-Sufficient MR features that the interaction of virtual objects and the environment is exciting or useful enough to attract the user away from the 2D devices they are accustomed to and make the "magic leap" into an HMD user.
We were genuinely concerned that we would be competing with Apple to popularize smartglasses, but this is a very unexciting and uninspired product, out of financial reach for almost all consumers. Sadly for the Apple fans out there, this will not be an evolved replacement for your eyeglasses, which is what a great smartglass should be.
@harrison_gross I second your opinion & points. Apple has done few mistakes here. Even the stylish Google Glasses failed so its a late entry into an already failed market, priced quite high. People today are health conscious, Apple watch worked as it provided a health App & fitness features & it also looked stylish. But I feel this is just the opposite of Apple watch.
Sense Relief
Great question. I imagine it will take a long time for these to become normalized into society beyond gaming. Also, I just read this about Apple's new proprietary R1 chip and how it is intended to reduce motion sickness.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/0...
I don't understand how it would help.
Sense Relief
This is way more intrusive than the ear buds and apple watch. I think adoption will be slow. Plus, the motion sickness is tough.
Booomerang
I think it's really cool and will introduce a lot of new ways to interact with technology but with a price point of approximately $3500, it might be hard to get that over a MacBook Pro.
I don't think you are wrong. At this price point, it may not work out at scale.
Lucyd App - ChatGPT Voice Interface
@ketan_pandit1 it's not just the price it's the HMD form factor that's the problem. People don't even like to wear regular glasses and headphones.
Looking forward to see how Meta will slash the price of it.
I think it's absolutely fantastic. It's a first generation Apple product, do you remember the very first iPod? And the first iPhone? It didn't even have copy/paste!
If you think about how much those devices have progressed, then I can only imagine what a Vision 4 could do.
Already it looks like it gives an amazing experience. It's too expensive for now for mass adoption, which makes me wonder if Apple will repeat what they did with the iPhone with carriers. Consumers being able to get a pricey phone through a contract and without having to buy it upfront pushed the iPhone adoption like crazy.
Plotline
love it, by far the most innovative product by apple!!
moji AI wearable
Pros I like:
Finally have multiple screens when traveling👍
Movie theater size TV anywhere sounds cool, but idk might end up kind of gimmicky irl👌
Cons I see:
It’s hella expensive💸
Can’t watch TV with more than one person if they don't have it🥲
I think the whole FaceTime avatar thing is weird🥴
Most movies are longer than its battery life😂
Overall I want this thing to succeed, that way more developers will be making apps for it and more resources will be going to improving it, so we actually do get this like seamless, almost invisible, like headset that we’ve all been imagining faster…
I would like to see some research on how it would impact to our eyes/vision.
More harmful than digital screens or less, not sure yet).
Propertizer
I have 2 ways how I can imagen using it. 1st is to extend my Macbook Pro and work on 2-3 monitor mods and the 2nd is to watch movies. Both cases when I'm not at home. But right now I couldn't imagine myself wearing a VR headset in the coffee shop.
Product Hunt
I'm excited. It's definitely a v1 considering how early their app ecosystem is and how limited the battery life is (2 hours IIRC), but it's a promising look into the future of AR/VR/spatial computing.
The price, of course, is steep. Although as someone tweeted yesterday: It might be wise to buy one unopened as an investment. 😊
Product Hunt
Lazy