For decades, Cupertino tech giant Apple has been at the forefront of innovation, revolutionising the technology industry with iconic products like the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
In recent times, however, industry experts have noted that Apple’s product updates have been more incremental in nature, lacking the groundbreaking advancements seen in previous releases.
As a result, Apple faced significant pressure and criticism for supposedly lagging behind in terms of innovation.
In response to these mounting concerns, Apple has taken proactive measures to tackle its innovation crisis, leading to the introduction of the Apple Vision Pro.
WWDC 2023
At the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023 held on Monday, June 5, Apple unveiled its much-hyped mixed reality headset, Vision Pro.
True to its nature, Apple has taken a distinct approach by labelling Vision Pro as a spatial computer rather than explicitly categorising it as an augmented reality (AR) device.
According to Apple, Vision Pro aims to “seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.”
Breakthrough design
The Vision Pro boasts a breakthrough design, featuring a singular piece of three-dimensionally formed laminated glass for its enclosure, seamlessly transitioning into a custom aluminium alloy frame that wraps around the user’s face.
To ensure a precise fit, the Light Seal is composed of soft textile material available in various shapes and sizes. It possesses flexibility, allowing it to flex to the user’s face contours.
Moreover, flexible straps are employed to keep the audio close to the user’s ears.
Meanwhile, a Head Band, knitted as a single three-dimensional piece, is available in multiple sizes. This Head Band provides cushioning, breathability, and stretch, maximising comfort during extended use.
Unlock with your eyes
The Vision Pro incorporates Optic ID, the company’s new authentication system, to unlock the device.
Optic ID works by analysing the user’s iris under various invisible LED light exposures. It compares it to the enrolled Optic ID data protected by the Secure Enclave.
A user’s Optic ID data is fully encrypted, not accessible to apps, and never leaves their device, meaning it is not stored on Apple servers.
According to Mike Rockwell, Apple’s VP of technology development, the system could detect iris differences even between identical twins.
Streams images within 12 milliseconds
Apple Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system that uses micro-OLED technology to pack 23 million pixels into two displays, each the size of a postage stamp, with wide colour and high dynamic range.
The device is powered by an Apple M2 chip with a brand-new R1 chip that processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones in real time.
The Cupertino-tech giant claims that R1 streams new images to the display within 12 milliseconds, 8x faster than blinking an eye.
The tech giant has partnered with Zeiss to create custom optical inserts that magnetically attach to lenses for glasses wearers.
Experience spatial audio
“An advanced spatial audio system is core to Apple Vision Pro,” says Apple.
The Vision Pro houses two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pod to deliver personalised spatial audio based on the user’s own head and ear geometry.
The company said it developed audio raytracing for spatial audio. Vision Pro analyses a room’s acoustic properties, including the physical materials, to adapt and match sound to the user’s space.
World’s first spatial operating system
Apple Vision Pro runs on visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system.
Controller-free Vision Pro can be controlled with eyes, hands, and voice. Users need to simply look at an element, tap their fingers together to select and use the virtual keyboard or dictation to type.
Built on the foundation of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, visionOS features a three-dimensional interface that frees apps from the boundaries of a display so they can appear side-by-side at any scale.
The company claims that apps can be moved anywhere, scaled to the right size, react to room lighting, and even cast shadows.
Stay connected with EyeSight
EyeSight, a feature of Vision Pro, helps users remain connected to those around you. When someone approaches a user wearing a VisionPro, the display becomes transparent revealing their eyes to them.
When a person approaches someone wearing Vision Pro, the device feels transparent — letting the user see them while also displaying the user’s eyes.
When a user is immersed in an environment or using an app, EyeSight gives visual cues to others about what the user is focused on.
Pricing
Apple Vision Pro starts at $3499 (approximately €3,267), and will be available early next year on apple.com and at its Store locations in the U.S., with more countries coming later next year.
