The Apple Vision Pro costs the same as Microsoft?s Hololens – there?s a reason for that
Apple has released a new headset called the Vision Pro, designed to bring augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to the mainstream. The headset is set to go on sale in the US early next year, with other regions likely to follow later that same year. While the price of the headset is a big ask, there?s a reason for it, as the Vision Pro is arguably the most powerful VR/AR headset currently available.
The Vision Pro is built on a custom aluminum alloy frame that holds a curved, oblong front plate that wraps around the head. It is said to be designed with different head sizes and faces in mind, and it also incorporates a removable frame that will allow wearers to use the headset with prescription eyeglasses. In addition, the headset is said to be lightweight with a woven fabric cover that feels comfortable when worn.
As the name suggests, the headset is aimed at professionals that will want to use it for work-related tasks such as design and manufacturing. The system uses a pair of cameras that track the position of the user?s hands and feet to automatically recognize and align them with digital content that is then displayed in the headset. This allows for the creation of a natural and intuitive workflow that should help users be more productive.
To enable the headset to function, it has a new operating system called VisionOS that is based on iOS and optimized for mixed reality. This means that iPhone, iPad and Mac apps can be run on the device, including Messages, Notes, Safari and Keynote. This should make it easy for existing Apple customers to transition over to the new platform, although it may take some time for them to adjust to this completely different way of interacting with their devices.
For those who enjoy a good movie, TV show or sports game in the comfort of their home, Vision Pro can turn any room into a personal theater. It is capable of displaying movies and shows at up to 4K resolution for each eye, while its 7.1 channel surround sound will make them feel like you?re in the center of the action. The headset will also support the streaming of content from Apple TV, iTunes and iCloud.
Finally, the Vision Pro will allow you to capture spatial photos and videos, and relive them with immersive Spatial Audio. It can also scan a room and recognize its unique features to precisely match the sound to your space, a feature that should make listening to music or podcasts on the go much more enjoyable.
The Vision Pro also supports FaceTime video calls, and the system can recognize your friends and family members as life-size avatars. It will even show their facial expressions. The headset has a recording indicator that will come on when it?s being used to avoid accidental recordings in public places, similar to Google Glass.