Apple shows the future of computing with Vision Pro. But who is it for?

Tomorrow belongs to someone, but Apple’s much-talked-about mixed reality device, vision pro — Announced Monday during a glamorous presentation at the company’s global developer conference — Expected to ship in early 2024. And at $3,499 each, the price per piece is the same as several. meta quest system.

There is no denying that the technology used in Vision Pro is very sophisticated. As Apple puts it, these systems are truly “the most advanced personal electronic devices ever.”

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in computing,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “Just as the Mac brought us personal computing and the iPhone brought us mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro brings us spatial computing.”

After paying tribute to his predecessor Steve Jobs and promising “another”, Cook unveiled the Vision Pro.

Consider just a few of the innovations Apple has packed into a single device.

• A powerful Apple processor that reflects years of development, including the new R1 chip that processes sensor data.
• A highly evolved user interface technology that relies on touch, gaze, and voice, reflecting the last 50 years of UI development.
• Extensive development environment that Apple has built over the years.
• A collection of integrated applications and orchard support for third-party apps from day one.
• A highly unrivaled collection of sensors, materials science and displays developed over the last 10-20 years.
• Battery life is 2 hours even when not plugged in.<レコードのスクラッチ サウンドを挿入します。>

This battery life is the real vulnerability of these systems. After all, while it’s safe to plug in and use (I hope), the pervasive computing system benefits that the Vision Pro promises to deliver are the ability to stay connected to your digital life and still be able to live your physical life. can be moved. Think telecommuters, warehouse operators, medical services, emergency services, and more.

(If you have poor eyesight and need to put your lenses in these, see “Vision Correction Accessories Sold Separately.”)

But if Apple’s goggles need to be plugged in for extended periods of time, what are the advantages over using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac? A full battery charge will get you up and running all day.

Of course, everyone is a critic, and while there are easy-to-find weaknesses that seem to reflect internal debates reportedly already taking place at Apple in recent months and years, there are strengths as well. .

Apple’s new world

In this new world of spatial computing, apps, computing, ambient intelligence, and entertainment of all kinds are at your fingertips. Tweaking the Digital Crown. This spatial computer blends real-life experiences with digital content. Delivering the world’s largest display experience, tens of thousands of apps, and turning computing into a pervasive environment that can be shared with others with these capabilities, while giving your family a virtual view. .

To its credit, the company spent a lot of time figuring out how to design and build a more or less unobtrusive geeky Google. “Apple Vision Pro also features EyeSight, an incredible innovation that helps users stay connected to the people around them.” said in a statement,explanation:

“When someone wearing the Vision Pro approaches someone, the device feels transparent, allowing the user to see them while also showing the user their eyes. When the user is immersed in the environment, Or when using an app, EyeSight gives others visual cues about what the user is focusing on.”

apple

Apple in Pervasive Enterprises

But who are these for, beyond the relatively wealthy tech-savvy bachelor sleeping alone in an empty house? There is no denying that there is an early stage market. There are people for whom this kind of technology is personally life-changing. There are many professions (medical, security, warehousing, field service engineering, sales, emergency, military, etc.) where this kind of ambient computing experience combined with a very good development environment makes a lot of sense.

What’s interesting is that Apple has put a lot of energy into large-scale enterprise deployments.

Jamf CEO Dean Hager said, “Look at the way Apple announced this. I was. “Since when did Apple put ‘enterprise’ use cases before personal use cases? Vision Pro is very exciting for enterprises and has endless possibilities to improve organizational outcomes. increase.”

All this raises questions.

Great technology, but who is it for?

Then there’s the technology discussion.

There are many innovations here. Wear Vision Pro to experience virtual or augmented environments with up to 23 million pixels. Create an infinite canvas to get things done. Power up a portable cinema with a 100ft screen. Take spatial photos using a 3D camera (imagine a press photographer using this). With a Digital Crown twist, his $3,499 technology investment in a virtual world populated by dinosaurs and giant Ted Lasso allows him to escape the harsh gray reality of punitive credit card debt. .

believe!

Sarcasm aside, it’s clear that teams across Apple are passionate about building great things. Apple is Apple, so we also have to accept that we don’t have the full picture yet. What these things can do, or at least what we are told they can do, will continue to evolve over time. In fact, you can expect some surprises and even more OS tweaks before the application ships.

This is the way for Apple and new ideas like this must evolve.

time to grow

The important factor here is time.

It really isn’t wise to judge these products based on what we’ve just been told. Thinking about where they are going is, or even more important. What we have now may be advanced wearable systems with useful features that could change the way we work and play (Affected by battery life and the elasticity of the included “flexible” power cable) but where we go is another matter.

Apple will improve its operating system and design. We will try to reduce the price and identify the most common use cases for these systems. That product may not yet meet the company’s overall vision, or it may be limited by the technology currently available, but tomorrow will be another day. Apple will invent for it.

For most people today, this is not an investment that needs to be made. But enterprise users, developers, and techies will want to know more. they should

Apple is defining a new computing paradigm. “It would be a stretch to say that Apple Vision Pro will replace computers and mobile phones in the near future,” said Rolf Illenberger, his CEO of VRdirect, in a statement.

“But that day will come soon enough (probably starting with those who prefer to have a second or third monitor on their workstation). It serves as a welcome bridge to the worlds of AR and VR from the company known to develop it.”

a few more things

Amidst all the noise surrounding Vision Pro, we also announced a number of other notable announcements (more of which will be announced in the coming days). Apple has announced a range of ultra-powerful new Macs, including a 15-inch Mac. The MacBook Air, the updated Mac Studio, and finally, the new Apple Silicon Mac Pro. Touting new operating systems and privacy features, he explained that in the future he’ll be able to ask his iPhone where the Apple TV remote is.

Who said the 21st century hasn’t arrived yet?

It’s probably worth noting that Apple Silicon has played a role second only to the biggest announcement, even though the new M2 Ultra processor’s features have completely reset PC expectations. Need 192GB of memory for your Mac? I remember when 16GB was the maximum you could expect. Vision Pro, or the rest of Apple’s entire computing ecosystem, took a big step forward today.

But it will take some time to prove it.

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