Tag: mixed reality headset

Mark Zuckerberg Criticises Apple Vision Pro Again, Says Meta Quest 3 Is ‘Better’

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hit out at Apple’s Vision Pro headset over the weekend, stating that the social networking firm’s Quest 3 was the superior product. The Meta Co-Founder and CEO was responding to a post on Threads by an analyst claiming the Vision Pro was up to five years ahead of Meta’s offering. This is the second time that Zuckerberg has criticised Apple’s first mixed reality headset, which is priced at $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2.89 lakh) — the Quest 3 costs $499 (roughly Rs. 41,300).

Analyst Benedict Evans stated in a Threads post that Apple’s Vision Pro was “pretty much the device Meta wants to reach in 3-5 years,” adding that he was “genuinely baffled” by Meta’s VR engineers claiming the headset was “basically just the same thing” as the Quest 3. Evans also said that the Apple Vision Pro was the device Meta would want to sell in 3-5 years, while Apple would want to sell its devices at the same price as the Quest 3 in the same time period.

Zuckerberg responded to the analyst’s post, stating that the Quest 3 was better than the Vision Pro. “If our devices weigh as much as theirs in 3-5 years, or have the motion blur theirs has, or the lack of precision inputs, etc, then that means we’ll have regressed significantly,” the Meta CEO said, adding that Apple had to make many compromises in order to provide a higher resolution than the Quest 3.

Evans later suggested that the higher resolution on the Vision Pro could help the company offer more than just a gaming device, while Zuckerberg responded stating that three out of the top seven apps for the Quest 3 — Horizon, VR Chat, and Rec Room — were all social apps. He also said that the Quest’s resolution was “also quite good”, adding that a higher resolution should not come at the cost of ergonomics and motion blur.

Both the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro are equipped with pancake lenses — the Quest 3 has LCD displays with a resolution of 2,064×2,208 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Vision Pro has a resolution of 2,160×3,840 pixels with a total of 23 million pixels, according to Apple. The latter also offers both hand and eye tracking, while Meta’s headset offers hand tracking and the company’s Touch Plus controllers. The Quest 3 and Vision Pro weigh 513g and up to 650g, respectively.

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Apple Vision Pro May Arrive With One Less Feature as User Spots Modified Video and Website Content

Apple Vision Pro is set to arrive in the US on February 2, nearly eight months after the company first unveiled the device at WWDC 2023. When the device is launched next month, it could arrive with one less feature, as a keen-eyed X (formerly Twitter) user spotted changes to the company’s website and its introductory video — the latter is now a few seconds shorter than the original video — to hide one Vision Pro feature that was shown off at WWDC last year.

X user M1 (@M1Astra) spotted a change made to Apple’s introduction video on YouTube that was posted 7 months ago. The original video, which was 9 minutes and 11 seconds long, is now only 9 minutes long, which means that 11 seconds have been cut off from the video. The company has cut the Open Sky Environment feature that was touted to “magically replace” the wearer’s ceiling with a “clear, open sky.”

However, dragging the seek bar to 5:13 reveals the thumbnail preview from the previous video that showed a woman wearing the Vision Pro headset and facing the ceiling while viewing blue skies and clouds in its place, on the headset. The modified clip now jumps to the scene of a person pulling the Vision Pro over their eyes in a plane.

Similarly, Apple’s website has also been modified, and the text on the site that stated “[…] or magically replace your ceiling with a clear, open sky” has been replaced with ” […] or turn your room into a personal movie theatre with Cinema Environment.”

Scrubbing the Apple Vision Pro introduction video shows thumbnails of the removed segment

 

One possible reason why the feature might not be working as intended is due to hundreds of different kinds of roofs and ceilings that would make it difficult to optimise the immersive feature for all scenarios. Meanwhile, there’s no word from Apple on whether the feature has been completely cut from visionOS 1.0, or whether it will come to the headset as part of a future update.

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Apple Stores Gear Up for Vision Pro Launch in Early 2024, Training Scheduled for Retail Employees: Report

Apple Vision Pro, the Cupertino giant’s expensive mixed-reality headset, was unveiled earlier this year at WWDC 2023. While the headset has faced hurdles and delays since it was first showcased, the Cupertino, California-based company is finally gearing up for the retail launch of the headset. Apple is reportedly scheduling Vision Pro training seminars for its retail employees in US stores ahead of the headset’s planned launch in early 2024. Apple retail stores will also likely get new equipment to assemble and package the Vision Pro soon.

According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter on Bloomberg, Apple is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the Vision Pro launch. The AR/VR headset is a complex and niche device that will likely require customised setup and adjustments for each user. To that end, the iPhone maker is planning in-depth training sessions for Apple Store employees, teaching them not only how to setup and operate the high-end headset, but also how to sell it to a potential customer.

The company has begun scheduling Vision Pro training seminars for its retail employees and the sessions are set to kick off in the middle of January, Gurman claims in his newsletter. Each Apple Store employee will be trained for two days, and the seminars would include detailed steps for the Vision Pro’s retail experience — including how to place the device on a user’s head.

According to the report, Apple stores in the US will soon start receiving specialised equipment required to assemble and box up the Vision Pro, indicating that the headset will likely hit the shelves soon. And while it’s possible to order the device online, Apple will likely urge buyers to make their purchase at a retail store, where they can get detailed instructions on setup and operation from a trained employee.

Apple plans to launch the Vision Pro headset in US stores in early 2024

Gurman had previously reported that Apple would invite a few employees from each of its retail outlets in the US to Cupertino, California for Vision Pro training. Trained staffers could then return and train their colleagues at respective Apple stores.

The Apple Vision Pro will initially be only available in the US, with a slow rollout of its limited stock expected in early 2024. The newsletter says that Apple is internally aiming for a retail launch in January. The Vision Pro is priced at an eye-watering $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2,91,400), but a cheaper model without high-end bells and whistles is also reportedly in the works.

Last month, Gurman had said that the Vision Pro’s US launch could also be delayed to March as Apple conducted final device testing and finalised distribution plans for its first mixed reality headset.

Meanwhile, the company also seems to have an eye on the next iteration of its spatial computer. The Apple Vision Pro 2, codenamed Project Alaska, is reportedly in development. The headset could feature a redesigned, flatter rear strap, among other changes.

In July, a Financial Times report had claimed that Apple had been forced to make major cuts to production forecasts for the Vision Pro. According to the report, Chinese contract manufacturer Luxshare, Apple’s only assembler of the device, would make fewer than 400,000 units of the Vision Pro in 2024. The FT report said that the complexity of the headset design and difficulties in production were behind the scaling back of targets.

Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Huawei Virtual Reality Headset Tipped to Debut Next Year, May Compete With Apple Vision Pro

Huawei is tipped to be working on a virtual reality (VR) headset that will compete with the Apple Vision Pro. The purported high-end headset will be launched by the company at the end of 2024, according to details shared by a tipster. Apple’s high-end spatial computer supports both augmented reality (AR) and VR content and runs on a dedicated operating system called visionOS, while allowing users to interact with the device using their eyes, finger-based gestures, and via a virtual keyboard.

X (formerly known as Twitter) user Mochamad Farido Fanani shared details of Huawei’s rumoured VR headset in a post that states the Chinese tech conglomerate’s device will be powered by a “flagship processor”. However, it is worth viewing these claims with some scepticism, as the user does not have a proven track record of reliably leaking information.

While there’s no word on which chip will power Huawei’s headset, Apple’s first mixed reality headset is powered by two processors — Apple’s M2 chip for standard operations and a new dedicated R1 chip to process spatial input from the camera, microphones, and sensors.

According to Fanani, the purported VR glasses from Huawei will be equipped with an internal fan-driven heat dissipation system for thermal management, while the device would run on external batteries. This sounds similar to Apple’s approach with the first-generation Vision Pro headset, which also runs on external batteries.

Huawei isn’t alone in its efforts to develop a VR headset, Fanani says — former Huawei sub brand Honor is also working on a system for a virtual reality headset. However, the tipster has not shared any details related to the device’s hardware. Samsung is also reportedly working on its ‘Infinite’ extended reality (XR) headset that could arrive in the second half of 2024.

Months before Apple unveiled the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi unveiled its Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition at MWC 2023, a headset powered by the Snapdragon XR 2 Gen 1 chip from Qualcomm. The smart glasses support both AR and VR content. The headset sports advanced “retina-level” displays and supports Xiaomi’s AR gesture controls.

Last year, Oppo launched its second “assisted reality” headset called the Oppo Air Glass 2 at the company’s annual Oppo Inno Day in China. The device supports voice to text features and can translate conversations in real time, place phone calls, and display location-based navigation instructions. The wearable device weighs 38g, according to the company.

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Apple Vision Headset With Cheaper Price Tag in the Works Without EyeSight, Fewer Sensors: Mark Gurman

Apple Vision Pro — the iPhone maker’s first spatial computer introduced earlier this year— is likely to be followed by a cheaper model, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The Cupertino company is reportedly working on the next versions of the headset and one version could have a much lower price tag than the Apple Vision Pro. In order to keep the price of the spatial computer low, Apple would need to cut some features available on the Vision Pro, Gurman says.

In his weekly newsletter, Gurman states that Apple is already working on the development of a lower-end version of the Vision Pro. The company is moving employees tasked with developing AR glasses — which would be more advanced than the Vision Pro — towards making a cheaper headset,

According to Gurman, Apple plans to price the headset between $1,500 (roughly Rs. 1,24,900) to $2,500 (roughly Rs. 2,08,100) — which is considerably lower than the $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2,91,400) price tag of the Vision Pro.

In order to keep the price of the cheaper Apple Vision headset, the company is likely to exclude a notable cosmetic feature from the Apple Vision Pro — EyeSight. This feature shows a rendition of a user’s eyes on the headset’s curved OLED external panel, when they are not viewing immersive content on the headset’s displays. As a result, the lower-priced Apple Vision headset might not be equipped with this feature.

Aside from dropping support for EyeSight, the company could also reduce the number of external cameras and sensors on the next Apple Vision headset, according to Gurman. Earlier this year, Apple revealed that the Vision Pro is equipped with 14 cameras, a LiDAR scanner, along with IR sensors and LED illuminators — sensors that allow the headset to understand its surroundings and provide a more immersive experience, while also enabling finger-based gesture controls.

Gurman has previously claimed that a cheaper Apple Vision headset was in the works and that the iPhone maker would opt for cost-cutting measures, including the use of a chip used on the iPhone — the Vision Pro is powered by a chip that is as powerful as the Apple Silicon chipsets found on the company’s Mac computers — as well as displays with lower resolution. We are likely to hear more about the company’s purported headset in the coming months.

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Apple Vision Pro Low-Cost Version Might Be Cancelled, Second Headset Won’t Arrive for Few Years: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple Vision Pro — the iPhone maker’s first wearable spatial computer — is slated to go on sale in early 2024, but the rumoured cheaper version that was said to be in the works might have been cancelled. According to details shared by TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, shipments of the Cupertino company’s first mixed reality headset will remain below market expectations during the first year and that the company might not release a successor to the headset for a few more years.

In a new Medium post citing maximum production capacity of some component suppliers, Kuo claims that while the market expects Apple to ship 1 million units within the first year, he estimates that the company will ship “at most 400,000–600,000 units”. This is in line with an earlier report that projected similar production estimates for the wearable device.

Kuo also states that the rumoured low-cost version of the Apple Vision Pro headset that was said to arrive a year after the debut of the first model, may have been cancelled at the company. Back in June, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated that the successor to the Apple Vision Pro was already in development and a cheaper model would be released by the end of 2025.

The purported Apple Vision Pro 2 is unlikely to arrive until the first half of 2027, according to the analyst. This implies that Apple is unlikely to introduce newer spatial computers — at a cheaper or more expensive price point — aside from the Vision Pro for the next few years.  

Back in July, a report stated that the Cupertino company was forced to make major cuts to its forecasts for the production of the Apple Vision Pro. At the time, it was reported that Luxshare — Apple’s contract manufacturer based in China — was working towards production of “fewer than 400,000 units” of the first-generation Apple Vision Pro in the first year.

Earlier this year, Apple announced at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event that its first spatial computer would go on sale in early 2024. Since then, details of the prescription optical inserts for the headset have been revealed by Zeiss. Apple also released its visionOS developer tools that would allow app makers to develop software for the device, ahead of its debut next year.

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iPhone ‘Ultra’ Model With Spatial Video and Image Recording Support for Apple Vision Pro in Development: Report

Apple is working on an iPhone “Ultra” model that could debut with support for recording specialised videos and images that can be used on the Apple Vision Pro, its first spatial computer, according to a report. The Cupertino company is said to be developing a handset that could arrive after the Vision Pro goes on sale next year. When its first wearable mixed reality headset was announced earlier this year, Apple stated that it would offer “incredible depth” and the device uses cameras located on the outer body to record a user’s surroundings.

A MacRumors report, citing an unnamed Weibo user, claims that an iPhone “Ultra” model is in the works and that it will “lead the market to rethink what kind of photos and videos a mobile phone should take”. While the report does not mention any details of the purported handset’s camera configuration, it suggests that the phone could be used to capture detailed, immersive videos and photos that could be used on Apple’s first spatial computer — the Apple Vision Pro.

Back in February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed in his weekly Power On newsletter that Apple was planning on launching a new iPhone model in 2024 that would be an even more advanced version of the company’s flagship iPhone lineup expected to debut later in the year. Since then, Apple has confirmed it will hold a launch event on September 12, but in true Apple fashion, there’s no word from the company on how many models will debut next week. 

Apple unveiled the Vision Pro headset in June at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event, but stated that the device won’t be available to customers until early 2024. Developers can currently test their apps in simulators and in development labs set up by the company in select regions.

The company’s first mixed reality headset is equipped with high resolution displays with Apple’s proprietary EyeSight that allows a wearer to remain aware of their surroundings. It supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and features an array of sensors and cameras located on the chassis. The headset will be able to use these sensors to map the wearer’s surroundings and finger-based gesture input, according to the company. Apple is yet to announce whether the Vision Pro headset will be available in multiple markets including India. 

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Apple Vision Pro Mixed Reality Headset Launch Impressions: Almost Unbelievable, Very Real

Apple delivered a lot of big announcements at its WWDC 2023 keynote, including new Mac devices, new features on iOS 17, and improvements to other platforms such as WatchOS and tvOS. However, it was the Cupertino-based company’s traditional ‘one more thing’ that truly got the assembled crowd to sit up and take notice. The Apple Vision Pro, the company’s first mixed reality headset, was almost impossible to wrap my head around, and it’s safe to say that everyone in the audience at Apple Park was similarly amazed.

Of course, the Vision Pro is far from launch; it’s expected to go on sale in the US in early 2024 for $3,499 (approximately Rs. 2,88,700). It’s naturally a lot more expensive than practically every other mixed reality headset in the market right now, but if it lives up to the expectations set by the keynote, it’ll be worth it for early adopters.

The Apple Vision Pro has dual Micro OLED displays that you can see right through

 

Apple Vision Pro: so, so advanced

The media in attendance at Apple Park were wowed by pretty much every feature of the Apple Vision Pro when announced during the keynote. Of particular note is EyeSight, a feature which uses camera sensors around the device to detect when someone is in the room with the wearer, allowing a look at the wearer’s eyes. This makes the Vision Pro unlike other similar headsets where the wearer is fully cut off from the world.

Instead, the focus is firmly on allowing you to be as present in the real world, as you want to be in the virtual world. The headset will also let you adjust your surroundings, and promises to work seamlessly with Mac and iOS devices and apps. You can, therefore, use this for productivity and creating an augmented workspace, just as much as you’d want to watch movies, play games, or jump onto AR-powered FaceTime calls.

Apple Vision Pro: a ski mask with a computer built in

The specifications of the Vision Pro are impressive, with dual Micro OLED displays for clear visibility, the M2 chip for power, and multiple cameras, sensors, and microphones to work with hand gestures and voice for controls. You can also use a keyboard and mouse for some productivity functions. For biometric authentication, the Vision Pro uses Optic ID to scan your retina and let you log in. All of this works with VisionOS, a new platform being developed for Apple’s new ‘spatial computing’ device.

Up close, the Apple Vision Pro is quite as beautiful as the renders in the keynote. It’s smaller than most other VR and mixed reality headsets, despite all the hardware and capabilities packed in. While the media wasn’t allowed to try it on, it did look like the kind of product only Apple could build, with classic Apple design cues all around. The padding and headband textures are a lot like that of the AirPods Max, as is the digital crown on the top, and the whole thing looks like it will be comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time.

The Apple Vision Pro can be used with a battery pack, which promises up to two hours of battery life for the headset

 

When plugged in, the Vision Pro can be used all day, while the battery pack will let you run the headset for two hours at a time. Power is delivered through a MagSafe-like connector, while the battery pack can slip into your backpack or pocket, which looked nice and compact.

The outer side of the headset even had some trippy visuals flowing on the preview units on display. There’s no built-in sound on the Vision Pro; you’ll need AirPods for that, and it will work with Spatial Audio to virtualise where the sound is coming from based on what’s on the screen. There’s also talk of 3D support, with Disney coming on board as an early partner to support Disney+ on the Vision Pro from day one.

Apple Vision Pro: final thoughts

The concepts, technologies, and thought process that have gone into the Vision Pro makes this quite possibly the most exciting hardware product to look out for in the coming year. Although this isn’t a finished product just yet (even the display units were strictly off limits), Apple promises to deliver the Vision Pro in early 2024 in the US, followed by other markets later on. Promises have been made, and expectations are high.

Apple’s annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company’s first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we’re looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple Mixed Reality Headset to Be Announced During Media Event in Jan 2023: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple has been developing a mixed reality headset for a while now. It is believed to offer a combination of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. Reportedly, Apple has teamed up with famous Hollywood directors to develop mixed reality content. Now, it is being reported that Apple could unveil this device at a special event, which could be held at the start of the next year. It is highly unlikely that the Cupertino company would reveal this upcoming mixed reality handset during the ongoing Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2022 keynote event.

According to a post shared on Twitter by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple could start EVT testing of the mixed reality headset around Q3 2022. This is expected to be followed by a special media event that could be held in January 2023. Apple might then take two to four weeks to deliver the development toolkit. Kuo suspects that due to the interruptions caused by the lockdowns in Shanghai, the mixed reality headset’s shipments might postpone to Q2 2023. The Cupertino company is expected to make these headsets available for pre-ordering around the same time. Finally, Apple’s mixed reality headset is expected to hit the shelves before WWDC 2023.

Past reports suggest that Apple could be developing new VR and AR-powered Apple apps and services. It could be working on creating a new platform for third-party developers. Apple could even release a new version of SwiftUI for developers to build AR and VR apps. Its operating system is expected to be named realityOS. As previously mentioned, Apple could be teaming up with Hollywood directors such as Jon Favreau for creating mixed reality content for the Prehistoric Planet series on Apple TV+. This headset is supposed to cost around $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1,55,500). Apple is believed to have ambitions of replacing iPhones with mixed reality headsets in a decade.

This week on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, we discuss iPhone 13, new iPad and iPad mini, and Apple Watch Series 7 — and what they mean to the Indian market. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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