Exploring the Apple Vision Pro: Insights and Innovations
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Apple Vision Pro
Imagine cooking, working, and engaging in everyday activities while wearing what resembles "ski goggles."
With the Vision Pro, you can indeed prepare meals (including tasks like chopping vegetables) while simultaneously viewing "screens" that display recipes and other information in your immediate environment, eliminating the need for a smartphone or tablet. You can even assign different timers for various cooking pots.
Is this the glimpse of our future? This appears to align with Apple's vision.
Last June, Apple introduced its first spatial computing device, the Vision Pro, during the WWDC conference. Since then, reactions have ranged from enthusiastic to skeptical. Nonetheless, reports indicate that over 200,000 units were sold during the pre-sale phase, generating nearly $700 million in revenue.
As the official launch of Vision Pro approaches, media reviews are finally surfacing. Unlike previous tightly controlled "cloud hands-on" experiences, reviewers now have the opportunity to explore a variety of real-world scenarios, revealing both the exciting features and shortcomings of the Vision Pro.
Joanna Stern from the WSJ lived with the Vision Pro for a full day, even preparing dinner, while Nilay Patel from The Verge praised it as the best headgear available, though he raised questions about its practical logic. Other first-wave reviews from outlets like CNET and Daring Fireball also contributed to this discussion. So, what challenges does the Vision Pro address, and which ones remain unresolved?
After reviewing numerous critiques, my impression is mixed: both thrilling and disheartening. It's time to reevaluate our perspectives on the Vision Pro.
Section 1.1: Comfort Level: Too Heavy
The Vision Pro itself weighs over 600g, nearly equivalent to an iPad Pro. Although Apple has implemented various design enhancements, such as an elastic braided headband for better comfort, the fundamental principles of physics and biology mean that its weight remains significant. Many reviewers noted that the Vision Pro is indeed quite heavy, leading to discomfort.
While Apple has introduced a basic dual-loop headband that can be magnetically detached and replaced, providing an alternative to the original single-loop design, it may disrupt hairstyles but offers greater comfort. This can be seen as Apple's concession to user comfort.
Section 1.2: Battery Life: Frequent Charging Required?
According to popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee, the external power supply for Vision Pro has a battery capacity of only 3316mAh, which is surprisingly low considering the size of the power supply. Some users argue that the measurement should be in watt-hours (Wh) instead of mAh due to the device's unique voltage, but this remains to be substantiated.
Regardless, the limited battery life is a notable concern. During a day-long testing session, a WSJ reporter found it necessary to recharge every 2 to 3 hours, barely lasting through a movie. Apple's website also claims it supports up to 2 hours of regular use and up to 2.5 hours of video playback. However, considering the device's bulkiness and discomfort, needing to recharge every two hours seems reasonable—who can tolerate wearing it for that long without a break?
Chapter 2: Performance and User Experience
Apple's Vision Pro: five months later | The Vergecast - YouTube
This video discusses the initial impressions and ongoing developments of the Vision Pro, shedding light on its user experience over the first few months.
Section 2.1: VST Video Transparency: Persistent Issues
While Vision Pro has demonstrated VST (Video See-Through) video transparency under stable conditions, its performance remains lacking during movement and in low-light situations. VST captures real-world surroundings through cameras, processes the data, and allows users to view the "real space" on the internal display, mimicking an augmented reality experience.
However, reviews from outlets like WSJ and The Verge indicate that Vision Pro's camera capabilities do not match human vision. Although it can provide a rough view of a phone screen, issues such as motion blur and difficulty reading small text in dim lighting have been noted.
Section 2.2: App Ecosystem: Progress and Limitations
On a positive note, Apple has garnered support from various developers, including Zoom and Disney+, who plan to release visionOS versions of their apps. However, major players like YouTube and Netflix show no intentions to develop or migrate their apps to visionOS, leaving uncertainty about the ecosystem's future.
As more developers remain in a wait-and-see mode, expectations are high for announcements at this year's WWDC.
Apple Vision Pro 1 Month Later: Here's the Truth - YouTube
This video provides an in-depth analysis of the Vision Pro after a month of use, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses in various scenarios.
Section 2.3: Interaction Challenges
Apple employs eye tracking and gesture recognition as primary interaction methods for the Vision Pro, which has received praise for its innovation. However, many reviewers faced challenges, particularly with text input. The reliance on air tapping and voice commands has been criticized, especially in office environments where silence is essential.
The limitations of voice input are well-documented, with users highlighting the challenges of using it discreetly in shared spaces. Feedback on the current Personas (3D representations of users) has also been mixed, with some users reporting discrepancies following facial scans. Fortunately, these issues are anticipated to be rectified in future software updates.
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