Thanks to a demo at the Apple Store, I tried out the Apple Vision Pro. Will it replace my iPhone? No … at least not yet.
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Apple's $ 3,499 Vision Pro isn't for everyone, and indeed, the latest pre-order estimates reflect a slow start for this VR spatial computing device. According to analyst Min-Chi Kuo's calculations based on pre-order inventory and shipping time, he reckons the company sold somewhere between 160,000 to 180,000 Vision Pro headsets during this past weekend. This already far exceeds Kuo's earlier production figures of 60,000 to 80,000 units targeting the initial release on February 2, which is no wonder that the Vision Pro was sold out immediately after pre-orders opened.
While this sounds like positive news, Kuo pointed out that with shipping times remaining unchanged within the first 48 hours, this might indicate a quick drop in demand after the heavy users and hardcore fans were done pre-ordering. In contrast, iPhone orders would usually "see a steady increase in shipping times 24 to 48 hours after pre-orders open." But of course, the Vision Pro isn't meant for the average consumer in its current state, especially given the lack of some mainstream apps like YouTube, Spotify or Netflix. Not to mention the eye-watering $ 3,499 base price either, though Apple may later release a cheaper model in the ballpark of $ 1,500 to $ 2,500, according to an earlier report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Kuo added that even with the device being sold out based on the upper initial production figure of 80,000 units, that only accounts for about 0.007 percent of Apple's 1.2 billion active users, which makes the Vision Pro "a very niche product" in the eyes of Cupertino. That is to say, the tech giant will need to somehow drum up and sustain demand for the headset before its global launch, which is rumored to take place some time before this year's WWDC — likely in June. Meanwhile, Apple is also busy setting up demo areas at its US flagship stores, in the hopes of making a few more sales with their 25-minute sessions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-might-have-sold-up-to-180000-vision-pro-headsets-over-pre-order-weekend-081727344.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Xreal, formerly Nreal, hosted one of the busiest booths at CES in recent years, so it's no surprise that the company is back with new AR glasses for this year's show — especially given the much anticipated launch of Apple's Vision Pro. Following the Nreal Light from 2019, the brand new Xreal Air 2 Ultra finally brings back 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) spatial tracking and hand tracking, along with a wider 52-degree FOV (field of view) and a 42-pixel-per-degree sharpness within an 80-gram titanium package. The firm goes as far as claiming that these specs make the $ 699 Air 2 Ultra a compelling alternative to the $ 3,499 Vision Pro.
Unlike the standalone mixed reality headsets, the Air 2 series of glasses need to be powered by an external computing unit, such as a smartphone, a computer or Xreal's Beam module, via USB-C. While the earlier Air 2 Pro and Air 2 were positioned more as personal display wearables, the Air 2 Ultra emphasizes on its 6DoF spatial computing capabilities, meaning virtual objects can be mapped to the real world while you walk around. This is powered by the front-facing dual 3D environment sensors, as well as the Qualcomm Snapdragon processors on the Samsung Galaxy S23 or S22, or any Mac that can run Xreal's Nebula launcher.
If you already own an Xreal Beam, you can also plug the Air 2 Ultra in for a 3DoF experience (read: just simple head tracking) with video playback or console gaming. Oddly enough, the company doesn't plan on supporting more smartphones at the moment, but it is prepping a new custom computing unit to go with the Air 2 Ultra at some point.
Like the Pro, the Air 2 Ultra's front layer supports three electrochromic dimming levels for increased immersion (without the need of a physical shield), as well as directional audio technology for improved privacy, and dual microphones for voice interaction. You'll find the same old Sony micro OLED panels with 1080p resolution per eye, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz (90Hz in 3D mode) and brightness of up to 500 nits (250 nits in 3D mode). Xreal added that these glasses can cast a virtual 2D screen "at an equivalent of 154 inches from a distance of 13 feet," and that they are "TÜV Rheinland-certified for Color Accuracy, Eye Comfort, Low Blue Light, and Flicker Free usage."
The $ 699 Xreal Air 2 Ultra is available for pre-order now, and if you bought an Nreal Light a while back, you're most likely eligible for a $ 100 discount. That's still not quite as aggressive as the Meta Quest 3's $ 500 base price, but then again, the Air 2 Ultra is largely aimed at developers for the time being. For one, Xreal's upcoming Unity-based NRSDK 2.2 won't be available until these glasses start shipping in March. Only then will developers be able to leverage the improved hand tracking, hand gesture recognition, spatial anchors, depth mesh and more. That is to say, Xreal will need to win over as many developers as possible to build up its mixed reality ecosystem, before getting consumers' attention at all, if not enterprises — the latter has been the case for HTC, which announced that it was sending VR headsets to the International Space Station back in November.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xreal-air-2-ultra-is-an-affordable-alternative-to-the-apple-vision-pro-apparently-220944571.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
If Apple does release a cheaper Vision Pro headset, it’s likely to be a stripped-down version with fewer external cameras, no EyeSight feature and an iPhone chip in place of the current Mac chip. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in his Power On newsletter that the company is looking at these options as ways to bring the cost down to between $ 1,500 and $ 2,500 for a lower-end model. Apple Vision Pro, which is set to begin shipping in early 2024, currently starts at an eye-watering $ 3,500.
In an earlier report, Gurman said the cheaper Vision Pro would also use lower resolution displays inside the headset. The big indication now is that it may drop the external display that enables its signature EyeSight feature, according to Gurman. EyeSight projects the wearer’s eyes onto an outward-facing OLED display so anyone who approaches can see where their attention is focused. It was one of major selling points in Apple’s Vision Pro announcement, though it isn’t exactly mission critical.
According to Gurman, a follow-up to the premium Vision Pro is in the works already, too. That will have EyeSight, and potentially a more lightweight design that opts for built-in prescription lenses for those who need it rather than the Zeiss inserts it’s working with now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-cut-eyesight-display-and-mac-chip-for-its-cheaper-vision-pro-204548008.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
The way TCL’s NXTWEAR S smartglasses deal with corrective lenses for spectacle wearers helps answer one of the big questions about the Apple Vision Pro.
Digital Trends
Apple isn't letting us try on its Vision Pro mixed reality headset just yet, but I was able to briefly glimpse the hardware after fighting through the crowds at WWDC. And, well, it looks like yet another headset — almost like a souped up version of the Meta Quest Pro. But even with just a short glance, it's clear that the Vision Pro is pure Apple: It's like seeing the iPod compared to the clunky MP3 players of its era, or the iPhone next to a BlackBerry.
The Vision Pro is Apple's bold entry into the world of spatial computing, and it seems like the company has learned a lot from the VR and AR headsets before it. The front of the device features an OLED screen that can display your eyes, making you more connected to the people in the real world. Its springy side bands and ribbed rear headband look like suitably high-end. And, simply put, it has the wow factor you'd expect from a prestige Apple product.
Still, there's some reason for concern. The required battery pack is a bit un-Apple, since you'll have to stuff it into your pocket or find somewhere to store it. And we've yet to see someone wearing this headset in the real world. Apple's event staff stressed that we couldn't touch the Vision Pro or lean too close. We won't see if Apple's spatial computing vision lives up to its slick promotional videos until we can actually wear this thing.
Follow all of the news from Apple's WWDC 2023 right here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-first-look-spatial-computing-future-201844231.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Since 2013, Gran Turismo’s Vision project has seen some of the world’s largest automakers, including Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, imagine what their cars could look like without real-world constraints. Over the weekend, GT series developer Polyphony Digital announced the latest addition to the Vision stable, an entry from Ferrari, would arrive in Gran Turismo 7 on December 23rd.
Like its predecessors, the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo features capabilities that would put any production vehicle to shame. Ferrari outfitted the concept car with “a more extreme version” of the V6 engine found on the 499P hypercar the automaker plans to field at next year’s Le Mans endurance race. In-game, the single-seat hybrid will produce more than 1,000 horsepower, with three electric motors providing additional power.
“We wanted to create a vision of the future designed without constraint, but born from Ferrari’s unrivalled understanding of engineering, aerodynamics and future technologies, and deliver it into the digital world for a whole new audience to experience,” said Ferrari Design Director Flavio Manzoni. Ferrari fans should keep their eyes out for an in-game quiz. Completing it before anyone else will grant early access to the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo.
The new S98 rugged phone was announced last month by DOOGEE. The company will launch the dual-screen rugged phone on March 28th on AliExpress and Doogeemall (the company’s official shopping platform). The Doogee S98 sports a unique dual-screen design. The display on the back is round like the one on the Huawei P50 pocket but […]
Come comment on this article: The New Doogee S98 With Dual Screens And Night Vision Camera is Set to Launch On March 28th
TiVo has launched a new device that could make binge-viewing sessions across multiple subscriptions a lot more manageable. It's called the Edge, a DVR-slash-live TV-slash-streaming player for cord cutters that hasn't been a secret for a while now –…
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Huawei’s latest and greatest smart TV is soon launching in Europe after debuting its new operating system and other features in China earlier in 2019. Huawei first announced its plans to launch a new, somewhat-Android-based operating system many months ago during the initial targeted Presidential US trade ban against the Chinese mega-corporation, and only finally […]
Come comment on this article: Huawei’s Harmony OS-powered Vision TV is now launching internationally
The rebirth of the Motorola Razr looks like it’s just around the corner, as the device has just cleared Bluetooth SIG certification on its way to eventually be sold to the masses. This obviously isn’t the only certification that it needs, but it does confirm that it’s more likely than not that Lenovo will be […]
Come comment on this article: Motorola RAZR and Motorola One Vision both break cover on their way to Verizon
Pinterest is very committed to improving its search technology through AI — so committed, in fact, that it just hired one of the foremost experts in the field. The social network has announced that it's recruiting Chuck Rosenberg, Google's AI visio…
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Apps are transitioning beyond just using touch-based interfaces, especially with the rise of smart assistants and smart speakers. If you’re interested in starting to build apps and services that take advantage of these new trends, you’ll want to grab our Voice, Chat, and Vision bundle. As the name implies, this bundle includes tons of content […]
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Learn to build apps with the Voice, Chat, and Vision Bundle
Levoit isn’t a household name when it comes to aromatherapy, but it certainly hopes to become one with the forthcoming Halo. The sleek diffuser can issue soothing scents, audio, and lighting.
The post Sound and vision: Levoit’s latest diffuser taps more than just your sense of smell appeared first on Digital Trends.
According to reports, Apple is in talks to invest $ 1 billion in the SoftBank Vision Fund — aimed at investing in emerging technologies. That could help Apple gain insight into recent tech innovations.
The post Apple could invest $ 1 billion in SoftBank Vision Fund for emerging tech appeared first on Digital Trends.
Facebook’s 10-year roadmap includes a huge push into virtual reality — but also a move into augmented reality. CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave us a peek at a normal-looking pair of glasses, that will soon offer a new way to communicate with each other.
The post Zuckerberg’s vision for the future of VR is ordinary glasses with extraordinary powers appeared first on Digital Trends.
Today, Flir is bringing thermal imaging to the skies with the release of the Vue Pro: a compact infrared camera designed specifically for drones. Flir is set to launch the new camera sometime in November.
The post Give your quadcopter drone thermal vision with Flir’s new Vue Pro camera appeared first on Digital Trends.