Apple unveils Vision Pro ‘mixed reality’ headset to launch the “Spatial Computing” era

On Monday, Apple finally revealed its "mixed reality" headset that has been highly anticipated. This launch is the most anticipated hardware product launch since the unveiling of iPad by Steve Jobs in 2010. Apple has developed a new gadget called Vision Pro that will be released early next year. The gadget combines virtual reality and augmented reality, where digital images are superimposed onto the real world. The Apple Vision Pro headset incorporates the prominent computing trends of the last 20 years, providing a smooth and comfortable design for the eyes and a user-friendly interface that is innovative and personal.

The Vision Pro is a risky product for Apple's CEO Tim Cook, who succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011. Cook's intention with the headset is to merge the real and digital worlds seamlessly, and the product is designed to be looked through, rather than at.

The company is not expecting the device to sell well in the short term. The launch is considered the beginning of a journey towards "spatial computing", which the company believes will eventually be as significant as the introduction of mobile computing on the Mac and iPhone.

Introducing the era of spatial computing with Apple Vision Pro.

The device's price and limited range of applications may restrict its usage to gaming and specific work purposes during the early years. Apple is targeting the headset towards software developers, encouraging them to create more VR and AR applications. Major brands in hospitality may find the capability to offer truly captivating experiences and promotions appealing as a way to distinguish themselves.

According to Apple, the Vision Pro has the potential to function as a "personal movie theatre" featuring a "100-feet wide" screen and the capability to automatically dim the real world outside of the screen. The demonstrations displayed individuals using the headset for two-dimensional screen viewing as opposed to the immersive three-dimensional virtual worlds that Meta creates.

The Interface

Using eye- and hand-tracking, it is easy to move from one app to another on the device. Simply click a button with your right hand to access an iPhone-like home screen. Then, glance at a photo or icon and double-click by pinching your fingers.

The device allows you to swipe through photos and zoom in as if you were using a large smartphone. It can switch between virtual reality, where you're fully immersed in a digital world, and augmented reality, where images are overlaid onto the real environment.

You can switch between two modes using a dial similar to an Apple Watch's. In some cases, the transition happens automatically. For instance, if someone stands next to you, their image will gradually become clearer as you look at them.

During its presentation, Apple was unable to showcase the Vision Pro headset's ability to capture 3D photos and videos. They referred to this as a "new era" in "spatial computing" and suggested that the Vision Pro could have a similar impact on AR/VR to what the iPhone had on mobile computing.

Built on the foundation of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, visionOS is the world’s first spatial operating system that blends digital content with the physical world.

The sophistication of the headset surprised industry experts. “All other VR companies are in deep trouble because Apple has raised the threshold,” said Rony Abovitz, the founder and former chief of Magic Leap, a maker of augmented reality glasses. “They just laid down a gauntlet for companies like HTC and Samsung and Meta to chase. They have surpassed all of them in one shot.”

According to analysts, the headset has a familiar feel to it. Its design draws inspiration from the Apple Watch and AirPods Max headphones, and the visionOS software shares similarities with that of the iPhone and iPad.

The device has "Apple silicon" chips, which highlights how Apple's strategy of bringing more component design and production in-house gives them an advantage over competitors. Apple still faces significant obstacles in persuading the general public to invest. Conducting numerous demonstrations for potential customers at Apple stores worldwide will be a challenging task.

Some analysts disputed that the Vision Pro provided actual augmented reality. This is because unlike devices such as Magic Leap, the Apple product was immersive - it relied on cameras to display everything, including the user's surroundings, instead of projecting digital images onto the real-world view. However, the argument over this technicality is unlikely to have much significance.

The video feed has a latency of only 12 milliseconds, which is eight times faster than a blink of an eye. This makes it hard for your brain to distinguish between the screen inside the headset and the real world around you. The user message did not mention any information related to social media or dating apps. However, developers now have several months to create content for Vision Pro, which could potentially be used in ways not yet known to Apple.

Using Vision Pro in everyday life

With visionOS, apps can fill the space around users, be moved anywhere, and scale to the perfect size. They even react to lighting and cast shadows.

Apple Vision Pro offers a three-dimensional interface called visionOS. This interface removes the limits of the display, allowing apps to be displayed side by side at any scale. Users can enjoy a limitless screen and access their preferred apps to boost productivity. Multitasking is also improved with new methods available. With support for Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, you can wirelessly connect your Mac to Vision Pro, which functions as a giant 4K display with clear text. This allows you to create an ideal workspace or take advantage of the powerful capabilities of your Mac in a private and portable setting.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the success of the Vision Pro headset will depend largely on how well it integrates with existing hardware and software. Apple is depending on the creativity of third-party developers to make new applications for its platform, enabling users to experience a unique level of immersion and personalisation not seen before. It remains to be seen whether this bold move will pay off in the long run.