In a long speculated move, Apple finally played its hand in the realm of augmented reality. The tech giant introduced Apple Vision Pro, what it calls a “wearable spatial computer” to an audience of eager onlookers; unveiling a revolutionary alliance of spatial audio and crisp colour fidelity.
Apple CEO Tim Cook described the company’s ground-breaking release as “the first Apple product you look through, not at.” The rate of ideation for Vision Pro was astounding, with 5,000 patents filed during the development process. The outcome is a product characterized by its ability to seamlessly tether the digital world to material space.
Aesthetically, the Vision Pro headset appears sleek and minimalist, an impressive feat given the scale of its processing power. Twenty-three million pixels are housed within a lightweight aluminum frame, for a display visible through lenses “the size of a postage stamp.”
The interface is controlled by hand gestures and eye movements, utilized to adjust and personalize every aspect of the user experience. A realistic sense of depth and distance is achieved via a three-element lens to ensure that each experiential detail appears sharp and refined. It also employs Optic ID as its state of the art security system.
The ski-goggle-like device houses a complex system of cameras, censors and microphones to construct a multi-dimensional existence that unfolds in real time. Levitating apps can be arranged around the user in physical space, which will remain accessible through an adjustable translucent display.
In this unparalleled merging of computerized and palpable reality, Apple has unveiled a domain capable of casting digital shadows in physical space. Vision Pro will start at $3,499 but is yet to be made available for purchase.
Other iPhone Updates
Apple also announced a slew of updates with the release of iOS 17, including notable changes to three of the software’s most used apps (Phone, Facetime and Messages) and a brand new 15 inch MacBook Air.
Customizable contact posters allow iPhone users to animate layouts and create individual visual identities for their contacts.
Live voicemail will transcribe messages in real time, allowing users to read the message as they receive it. If the message is urgent the update allows users to answer the call.
Users will also be able to leave a message on Facetime, so if no one answers their call, they can send a video message instead.
The Messages App will see a huge overhaul in its features. Further advancements to predictive text allow users to revert a word back to its original form if the suggestion was incorrect. The keyboard has also been redesigned for a less clunky approach to sticker and emoji access. Moreover, replying to specific messages within a thread will only require a simple swipe.
Thoughtful additions to improve user experience have also been incorporated, including a feature to check-in with people you’re texting, notifying selected contacts of your live whereabouts, signal status in case you are out of reach, unable to receive or send a message, and notifications if you haven’t arrived at your destination by the expected time.
Users can also share contacts via NameDrop, an offshoot of AirDrop, and advancements to AirPlay allow multiple users to connect to a bluetooth device for shared control of music selection in a vehicle.
