WWDC happened, and it was a heady mixture of new pioneering hardware but also delivering a mix of upsell and value that it needs to hit several places in the Apple and wider electronics and services market.
To cut a long story short - this was a promising event.
Let’s start with that headset. But actually let’s not, because I think Apple is deliberately trying to avoid going down that road of being defined as a headset, but calling what people thought was going to be called the Reality Pro the Vision Pro.
But here’s the thing - this is not a mixed reality headset as far as Apple is concerned. No, this is Apple’s first spatial computer. And my initial hunch is that this is a very smart move. I was looking to see how Apple would define this new device in relation to how it will function with its other offerings. Some people thought that this was going to be an iPhone replacement. I never thought that was going to be the case. But the challenge was always going to be how it was going to fit into the existing ecosystem so you could bring those assets into the new functionality and capability offered in this spatial computer. And now, I think we can see a little of Apple’s Vision taking shape - excuse the pun.
Before I return to that, let’s cover some of the basics. VisonOS features a three-dimensional interface with low-latency with an entirely new input system controlled by a person’s eyes, hands and voice. Users can browse through apps by simply looking at them, tapping their fingers to select, flicking their wrist to scroll, or using voice to dictate.
Vision Pro crams 23 million pixels into two postage stamp-sized displays, offering a wide range of colours and high dynamic range. This tech breakthrough, with special lenses that give a high level of sharpness and clarity, designed blow you away. People who need vision correction will be able to use ZEISS Optical Inserts to make sure their vision is clear and they can track accurately.
Apple Vision Pro's Spatial Audio system is essential, giving you the feeling that sounds come from the environment and is totally tailored to the space. Each audio pod has two separate speakers to give out Personalized Spatial Audio based on the user’s head and ear shapes.
Besides this already impressive feature-set for display and audio, the Apple Vision Pro's eye tracking system uses high-speed cameras and a circle of LEDs that cast invisible light patterns onto the user's eyes for a responsive and natural input.
Let’s talk about security features. The new Optic ID authentication system inspects a user's iris under various invisible LED light exposures and then compares the results to the protected Optic ID data held in the Secure Enclave to instantly access Apple Vision Pro. All of a user's Optic ID data is encrypted, inaccessible to apps, and never leaves their device, meaning it won't be stored on Apple's servers.
The interesting thing I was looking for was how this new spatial computer would interact with other Apple devices. I was even hoping for the Apple Watch to act like a Nintendo Wii controller in games. I didn’t get an answer on that exactly, but here’s what we do know.
They are talking about infinite screen real estate enabling access to all your favourite apps, but also with support for the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad where you can set up your workspace, or bring the capabilities of your Mac into Vision Pro wirelessly to create an enormous, private and portable 4K display with crisp text. There’s also new engaging and immersive gaming possibilities being trailed, as well as immersive chill-out environments, diving into your own spatial photos and videos to relive memories, even wrapping a panorama photo taken on your iPhone around you creating the sensation being in that very place where you captured the panorama.
And yes, FaceTime becomes spatial too with everyone on the call being represented by life size tiles, as well as spatial audio so it sounds like callers are speaking right from where they are positioned.
It all sounds fantastic - I can’t wait to get my hands on one.
Oh wait.
The Vision Pro will cost even more than we thought it would - $500 over the estimated price at $3500, available early next year in the USA and rolling out in other countries after that. I think it’s pretty clear that we won’t be seeing a consumer version until some time after that, most likely 2025, or even 2026.
Just a quick update today, so let’s run through the major headline news. There’s the new 15” Macbook Air with M2 chip and big liquid retina display, with up to 18 hours of battery life in what they claim to be the world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop. The 13-inch Macbook Air with M2 even gets a slight price reduction. There’s also updates to the Mac Pro and Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chips. No word on the M3 - which is not entirely surprising at this moment.
As expected, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, macOS and watchOS are all getting significant upgrades, with some tasty new features that I will cover in my main channel and here over the next few days and weeks as they become available for users. But some of those features include Facetime now supporting audio and video messages that can be viewed or heard later - something that I am very pleased about. There’s also the new Journal feature using on-device machine learning with personalised suggestions to help you get started in building a journaling habit. There will also be a journaling suggestions API which enables developers to add journalling suggestions to their apps too.
Then there’s the new feature update for Apple Airpods - adaptive audio - combining transparency and noise cancellation modes to adjust dynamically and match the conditions that you’re in.
There really is a lot to take it - so stick with my daily podcasts over the next few days as we dive deeper into the various parts of all these announcements.
Vision Pro though - I can’t help but think of the Avengers character when I say that to myself. I wonder if it will also have Jarvis’s voice, too? I think it’s a knowing wink and I like it.
Come back for more as I unpack WWDC as a daily run of podcasts over the next few days. There’s a lot in there to discuss.
A'vengers assemble: Vision Pro is here