Long out of touch with the virtual reality sector, Apple seems to have finally caught up... but not with its habit of elitist products.
While there's a lot of talk about Oculus, HTC and even Sony in the world of virtual reality, Apple gave the impression of being completely uninterested in what some believe should be one of the major new horizons in computer development. Versions of the Rift and Oculus Quest followed one another without Apple lifting a finger, and it wasn't - finally - until June 5, 2023 that the Cupertino brand decided to make official its first virtual reality headset project, the Vision Pro. At the same time, the company confirmed the many rumors about its headset and the fact that it had already been working on the project for some time.
The Apple Vision Pro was soon on the market: just over six months after the announcement, it could be found in every Apple Store from February 2, 2024. There are, however, two important caveats to Apple's enthusiasm about this new product. Firstly, availability is still very limited: the Vision Pro is certainly available in all Apple Stores... but only in the United States. What's more, this is a particularly elitist headset, even by Apple standards. Just think: the only version on the market costs 3,500 US dollars... not including taxes. When it arrives in Europe, that could mean a price tag of almost 4,000 euros... yes, for a "simple" virtual reality headset.
That said, in addition to having marketed its product perfectly, Apple knows how to demonstrate the versatility of a headset that is in fact what we call a mixed reality model. In other words, it doesn't just plunge us into fictional worlds - often playful ones - like any other virtual reality headset. The Vision Pro also adds elements and data to the reality we see through cameras placed all around the headset. In effect, the reality we all know becomes "augmented", enriched with a wealth of information for use in real time. In fact, augmented reality has been the source of some pretty crazy uses seen since the release of the Vision Pro in the United States.
Apple Vision Pool pic.twitter.com/k7HUR6Y7yx
- iJustine (@ijustine) February 5, 2024
Beyond the price of the Vision Pro, it's what's making the buzz today. Some are challenging themselves across New York while wearing the Vision Pro on their head for hours at a time. Others are detailing their new work/home environment, with virtual elements placed on all the everyday objects of a teleworker. There are also some rather silly uses, such as this Youtuber who uses her Vision Pro... in the swimming pool, explaining that it's tricky because the device isn't waterproof! Finally, and perhaps worst of all, some people don't hesitate to put themselves and others at risk by wearing/using the Vision Pro while in their Tesla in autonomous driving mode. Forbidden and terribly risky.
Reminder-ALL advanced driver assistance systems available today require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times. pic.twitter.com/OpPy36mOgC
- Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 5, 2024
