Extended Reality (XR) - Page 6

The Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset has only been on sale for a few weeks and hasn't yet reached a month on the market, but there are already a few issues starting to crop up. Thankfully, most of those issues appear to be software-related which means that Apple will be able to fix them by releasing new updates over the coming weeks and months. But the latest issue to crop up is different, and it's a worrying one at that.

The issue at hand is a phenomenon that has started to crop up online and particularly on Reddit, with users reporting that their headsets are starting to crack. To be specific, the front cover glass that sits atop the EyeSight display is cracking in some instances, and seemingly of its own accord.

Users report that the headset's glass is cracking in a straight line around the halfway mark with no sudden impact or drops causing it. Some users say that their cracked glass was spotted after leaving the headset plugged in and charging and then returning to the device later. Others suggest that the crack could be related to the extra tension placed on the glass when the head straps are being tightened.

If you've just spent $3499 on Apple's revolutionary new Vision Pro headset, you'll want to at least try some games on it... this is where Apple has highlighted 12 of the 250 games that are designed for spatial computing that are available on the Apple Vision Pro through the Arcade game subscription service.

Apple explained: "Spatial games built specifically for Arcade on Apple Vision Pro unlock amazing new gameplay opportunities by blending digital content with the physical world. visionOS delivers powerful spatial experiences with a brand-new three-dimensional user interface and input system controlled entirely by a user's eyes, hands, and voice".

"Players are able to slice apples with their hands as their living room transforms into their very own dojo in Super Fruit Ninja, tee up the perfect shot as they move freely around a quirky golf course right in their home in WHAT THE GOLF?, escape into a mesmerizing audiovisual experience in Synth Riders, and so much more".

Sony is opening up its niche VR headset in an effort to sell more units.

Since 2013, Sony's game plan put PlayStation consoles at the center of the business. Peripherals like controllers, headphones, and even higher-cost virtual reality headsets all orbited the might PS4 and PS5. That plan appears to have been disrupted by Sony's quest for improved profit margins, and Sony is now open to break platform exclusivity in an effort to sell more products.

While most of PlayStation's accessories are compatible with PC, the PlayStation VR headsets are notorious for not being able to play PC VR games. That's about to change. Sony has officially confirmed that it is experimenting and testing PSVR2 support on PC.

All of the talk in the world of AR/VR headsets might be about the Apple Vision Pro right now, but there is no denying that the Meta Quest products are popular. With prices that make Apple's $3,499 starting price seem so far out of reach that it's a wonder anyone bought an Apple Vision Pro, the headsets are self-contained and powerful. And soon, they could also support a key Apple feature.

That feature is AirPlay, and it could change the way that Meta Quest owners enjoy media on their headsets. AirPlay allows iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to share their displays and the content of streaming apps to other devices. Those devices could be an Apple TV streaming box or a smart TV, while smart speakers are also offered as an AirPlay option for music fans. And if things go according to plan, Meta Quest headsets could be next.

The move, confirmed by Meta's VP of VR Mark Rabkin, would mean that owners of Apple devices could potentially AirPlay content from those devices and onto a Quest device. As Upload VR notes, the state of video streaming apps on the Quest is dire - Netflix hasn't been updated in years and only supports 480p video and the Peacock app is just a link to the website. The Amazon Prime Video app simply does not work.

The Apple Vision Pro is now available to buy and with the 2024 MLS season kicking off today, Apple is trying to make sure that everyone makes the link between the two. The 2024 MLS Season Pass begins with a game between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake and Apple Vision Pro owners will be able to watch via the TV app on their headsets. But if people want to experience the true future of sports streaming, they're going to want to check out a new film covering the best of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Apple says that this is the first-ever sports film captured in Apple Immersive Video, a move that means that viewers can look forward to watching the footage in 8K3D with a 180-degree field of view and Spatial Audio support. The result should be incredibly impressive, but it isn't yet clear exactly when it will be available to watch.

Instead, Apple simply said that it would be available soon.

The Apple Vision Pro went on sale on February 2 after months of waiting for potential buyers. The mixed reality headset was first announced way back on June 5 2023 during the WWDC event that also saw iOS 17 and other software unveiled but it took months before it would finally go on sale. But that waiting time could turn out to have been a much smaller one than the wait those waiting for a second-generation model could be left with.

That's according to a new report which suggests that potential Apple Vision Pro buyers could have to wait a good long while for a second-gen model, with an 18-month timeframe now being discussed. What's more, that's being discussed as the low-end of the estimation which means that we could wind up waiting a lot longer before an updated Apple Vision Pro goes on sale.

That's according to a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, at least. Writing in his weekly Power On newsletter Gurman said that the updated Apple Vision Pro is probably at least 18 months away, a fact that will definitely not be music to the ears of potential buyers - especially those who are hoping for some big improvements over the model that is currently on sale.

The Apple Vision Pro has been on sale for more than two weeks now and the return window for those who pick theirs up on launch day has now been and gone. That means that a ton of early adopters have already had to make a difficult decision - do they want to keep their new mixed reality headset and put their faith into spatial computing, or not?

With the Apple Vision Pro starting at a whopping $3,499 it's easy to see why some people would need to think long and hard about that decision before making a choice. The headset is, by all accounts, hugely impressive, but whether or not that initial warm feeling lasts is another matter entirely. And when you've just sunk high-end MacBook Pro money on something most people will need to be sure that they want to keep it. A new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman details why some people ultimately chose to return their headset rather than keep it.

Gurman was writing in his weekly Power On newsletter when he shared the details based on discussions with more than a dozen people who chose to return their Apple Vision Pro before their return window closed.

The Apple Vision Pro has been out for a few weeks now, and overall early adopters seem to be quite happy with Apple's first-generation product, with only a small handful of buyers now returning the headset.

Despite the overall positive reviews, many buyers have been quick to point out all of the flaws of the headset, such as weight, lack of multitasking capabilities, battery life, price, etc. While these may be flaws or a lack of features in most cases, the Vision Pro certainly won't be the last mixed reality headset from Apple, and we can expect the next generation will come with massive improvements in all the areas that first-generation buyers are complaining about.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple already began working on the second-generation Vision Pro before the first generation was announced at the company's WWDC 2023 keynote, but that doesn't mean the next iteration of the headset is around the corner.

The Apple Vision Pro has now been on sale for a day beyond the two-week return window that would apply to those who bought the headset on launch day which means that people have had to choose whether or not to hand it back. Priced starting from $3,499 there is no doubt that people are unlikely to keep the Apple Vision Pro unless they are sold on it completely, so it was always going to be interesting to see how many people kept it and how many just bought it for launch day clout on social media.

With that in mind, it was interesting to see how many people decided to take their Apple Vision Pro back to the Apple Store before the weekend rolled around while there were plenty of people posting on the X social network, a new report claims that the number of returned headsets isn't as high as you might think.

According to an Apple Insider report, Apple Stores haven't seen all that many new headsets returned before that 14-day return window closed. The report cited sources at 24 mostly US East Coast stores when it said that there doesn't appear to be much in the way of returns. It's "certainly not a cataclysmic flood," we're told.

The Apple Vision Pro is a $3,500 headset that has been making headlines since it was released on February 2, but now we are approaching the two-week mark, and seemingly that glorious Apple shine has begun to wear off for some users.

It should be noted that Apple's policy states any of its products can be returned within 14 of purchase, which is likely why we are beginning to see an influx of buyers of the headset take to social media to announce they are returning it. So, why return the extremely impressive headset? Almost all of the buyers who stated they are now returning the headset regarded their experience with it as impressive but cited a few major problems with either its physical design or software capabilities that were dealbreakers.

One of the biggest problems floating to the top of the list is simply comfort. Apple's headset is quite weighty, with the majority of its weight falling on its front, making it difficult to wear for long periods of time. There is also several reports of users experiencing headaches while using the device, either from the two screens or the unevenly distributed weight. Another key problem is the productivity the headset provides or the lackluster amount that's currently present.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has come out with some fighting words about Apple's new Vision Pro headset, comparing it to the Meta Quest 3 and calling his headset the better of the two.

Zuckerberg claims to have tried the new Apple Vision Pro headset, comparing it directly to the Meta Quest 3, claiming that the Quest 3 is 7x cheaper -- he's right about that -- and that Meta's headset is better for gaming, playing Xbox games, watching YouTube, and more. He added: "I'm surprised how much better Quest is better for majority of things".

Apple starts things off with Vision Pro pricing at $3499, while Meta is charging $499 for its Quest 3 headset. Zuckerberg claims that the Meta Quest 3 is a more comfortable headset, but Apple has put some serious engineering into the Vision Pro, so it's one of the many things he said that just doesn't feel right at all.

Huawei is reportedly working on an Apple Vision Pro competitor dubbed Vision, which will reportedly weigh just 350g -- nearly half that of the 600g weight of the Vision Pro -- with Sony micro-OLED 4K panels inside.

Huawei is reportedly developing its own chips for the Vision headset, just as Apple did using its in-house M2 and R1 chipsets inside of the Vision Pro. Huawei's purported Vision headset will lack EyeSight technology, something that Apple does with the Vision Pro, which simulates the wearer's eyes so that people aren't freaked out in person.

The post on Weibo is coming from the previous Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology, who explained that the Huawei Vision headset would feature gesture space operation with "almost no delay" based on self-developed chips and Sony micro-OLED 4K displays while lacking Eyesight technology and 350g in weight.

The second Apple Vision Pro software update to have been released to the public since the headset went on sale on February 2 is now here, and it brings with it a vital security change that arguably shouldn't have been needed in the first place.

Shortly after the Apple Vision Pro went on sale on February 2 users noticed that there was no way to reset it if they forgot their passcode. While other Apple devices like the iPhone allow the device to be reset should a passcode be forgotten, the Apple Vision Pro required people to return the headset to an Apple Store to have it reset instead. That was obviously problematic, especially for people who don't live near a store. Now, a new visionOS 1.0.3 software update has come to the rescue.

Already available to the public, the visionOS 1.0.3 update adds an option to reset the Apple Vision Pro if the owner forgets their passcode, eliminating the need to visit an Apple Store in such a situation. That's a huge improvement, no doubt, but it's also a fix that should never have been required. It's unclear how Apple managed to release the headset without thinking this eventuality might present itself, but here we are.

The Apple Vision Pro is finally on sale after months and months of waiting. It was officially unveiled in June during the 2023 WWDC event but it only went on sale this past February 2. That means that people have now been using the device for a little over a week and while the future of spatial computing looks bright, there are still some misgivings that Apple will want to address with a future model.

Those misgivings include not only the high starting price of $3,499 but also the fact that the headset is considered too heavy by some. Other notable complaints include the poor EyeSight feature as well as short battery life and a passthrough feature that while good, could be better. Now, Apple has given us our first real confirmation that the current Vision Pro isn't the end of the line and that there are still improvements to come. In fact, it's said that we might have to wait for another three generations of headsets before Apple is able to say that it's where it wants it to be.

That's according to a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter. Gurman says that some of those working in the Vision Products Group - those responsible for the Apple Vision Pro and upcoming models - believe that it could take as many as four generations before it reaches what he calls its ideal form. What that form will look like isn't yet clear, but we can take some educated guesses.

Apple's new Vision Pro headset is blowing the minds of anyone who tries it, with scalpers jumping in and securing lucrative headsets to re-sell for huge profits.

The new Apple Vision Pro headset starts at $3499 for the 256GB model, with some people selling the Vision Pro 1TB model for $10,000. That's a huge jump over the MSRP of $4999 on the 1TB model of the Vision Pro, so let's hope no one spends $10K when Apple has the Vision Pro in stock, which needs YOU there in person to get the headset perfectly fitted to your face and head.

Anyone purchasing the new Vision Pro headset anywhere other than an Apple Store must remember that the company scans you in-store and prepares you through an iPhone. You can buy a replacement headband for $99 or $199 for a new light seal and cushions, so just buy it from Apple, peeps.

If you wanted to spend $28,000 in a single transaction on something fancy, there's always an Apple Vision Pro that Apple CEO Tim Cook personally signed at the launch of Vision Pro in New York City.

One particular seller with such an item is throwing the signed Apple Vision Pro headset for $28,000 on eBay. The seller describes the item as: "This new era device is a rare gem signed by the amazing CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, @ Apple Flagship store, 5th Avenue, New York City. It is a valuable addition to any collection, especially for Apple enthusiasts. Apple & Tim Cook are well-known for their continuous leadership, innovative products".

The post continues: "This set is a signed technology masterpiece piece of history!!!!!There is no exception. This unit, the Vision Pro currently is an sealed box and come with a extra case box. The set adds to its uniqueness and makes it a must-have for collectors.🤍 Value will change over time on this signed unit".

The Apple Vision Pro is now on sale in the United States and it has been for almost a week. There are still questions over when the headset will go on sale globally however, with some reports suggesting that a release in the United Kingdom, Canada, and China will take place within the next few months. Apple has yet to confirm that of course, but a new report suggests that there may well be an issue with the Apple Vision Pro name in one of those countries.

That country is China, with the report noting that while supply chain sources suggest that the Apple Vision Pro could launch in the country soon, it might not actually be called that. That's all thanks to a trademark situation that Apple may come up against.

The news comes via an IT News report which notes that Huawei successfully applied for the trademark of Vision Pro back in May of 2019. The company was granted a 10-year trademark from November 2021 to November 2031. With that in mind, the Apple Vision Pro could have an issue - especially considering the fact that Huawei's patent covers LCD TVs, head-mounted virtual reality devices, radio equipment, and more.

The Apple Vision Pro has now been on sale for almost a week and that means that we are starting to learn more and more about Apple's first foray into the world of spatial computing. One of the things that we found out recently is that the Apple Vision Pro, running the latest available visionOS software, doesn't offer a way to reset the headset should the owner forget their passcode. That means that the only way to reset the device once it has been locked by someone entering the passcode too many times is to take the device to an Apple Store.

That of course means that people could be left with no way to get their new $3,499+ AR/VR headset to work without reaching out to Apple. That's particularly problematic if these people don't have a local Apple Store to which their headset can be taken. Reports have already suggested that Apple's support teams are being inundated with reports of this issue and were quite unprepared for the problem to arise. Now, it appears that Apple is in the process of changing the way visionOS behaves to stop this from happening.

9to5Mac reports that code spotted in the visionOS 1.1 beta shows that Apple has added an option that allows users to erase all data on the Apple Vision Pro when they forget the passcode used to unlock the headset. The change means that those who don't know their passcode need no longer take their headset to an Apple Store to get it reset.

The Apple Vision Pro headset has now been on sale for a few days and the headset now has its very first beta software update that has been made available to developers. That software, visionOS 1.1, can be downloaded and installed by those who are registered developers right now and Apple has shared details about what changes have been made.

Among a number of improvements, Apple notes that it has changed the way that the Apple Vision Pro handles 3D objects. Specifically, The visionOS 1.1 software update allows people to bring 3D objects closer to themselves than ever before, a change that could be vital if the headset's wearer is interacting with those objects such as when playing games and using other object-oriented apps.

Those who are not developers should definitely avoid installing the visionOS 1.1 beta, however. There are no ways to downgrade without involving Apple which means that problems could crop up if users experience bugs or other wonkiness during Apple Vision Pro usage.

A viral video of an Apple Vision Pro user wearing the headset while driving a Tesla Cybertruck has sparked concerns about the proper use of the newly released headset.

The now-viral video made the rounds on various social media platforms and even resulted in the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, taking to X to remind everyone that 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.

These warnings from the transportation secretary were backed up by Apple, which pointed to its user guide that states that Vision Pro users need to be aware of their surroundings at all times and "Never use Apple Vision Pro while operating a moving vehicle, bicycle, heavy machinery, or in any other situations requiring attention to safety." Furthermore, ChannelNews reports that Apple is introducing a travel model that enables limited functionality during plane movement.