Apple Intelligence and other features are coming to the Vision Pro via a significant upgrade, visionOS 2.4, which is due for public release in April.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
The biggest change will be bringing the Apple Intelligence platform to the Vision Pro. There’s also a new spatial content app that collects Vision Pro-optimized media like panoramas and a revamped guest user mode that allows setup via an iPhone. You previously needed to get the setup going on the Vision Pro itself, which was an odd quirk. The upgrades are coming as part of visionOS 2.4, which is due in April, but look out for a beta version this week.
The timing is opportune, with Google recently announcing an impressive new Android XR platform that will launch later this year. It’s clear that Apple is working overtime to find new features that will make its $3,500 Vision Pro more appealing. It’s impressive to see this level of commitment to the software, especially when other projects — like augmented reality glasses for the Mac — are getting axed.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, Apple Intelligence will move a few more Vision Pro units.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
this is a prototype device, developing technology for a future mass market device.
but this is not that device.
it was never about “moving units of the Vision Pro.”
100% correct. Who wants to sloth around wearing this embarrassing, idiotic headgear (remember ‘glassholes’) and most probably harming their natural sensory capabilities in their body, and after spending that kind of money. What if idiot Cook just would have directed that energy and talent to solid implementation of AI across Apple devices? Remember Jobs told that Apple MUST control the technologies that are crucial to their success. They are being led by nose by the Chinese now.
This device definitely isn’t for boneheads who have no clue about technology.
I own the AVP, as a stock holder I buy most all Apple devices as a way to judge their overall health, tech leadership, and product performance. My AVP mostly collects dust. I still upgrade the firmware and check in from time to time to see if they are making progress or their has been a must have app that only the AVP can thrive at. Unfortunately the weight distribution is horrible, there are military battle helmets that weigh 3x that are for more comfortable. It’s not the weight it’s the weight distribution and contact points. Apple should redesign the headset and send the upgrade at no cost just to reward the loyalty of early adopters. The pass through video is horrible like iPhone 6 quality. But the actual quality of the screens are amazing, the Spatial sound is great. The ability to move your Mac screen to immersive AVP virtual display is mind blowing and seamless (the best of Apple ecosystem Interoperability between devices) the killer feature is watching content but unfortunately I never watch content on its simple because after 20 min the experience is literally painful.
Most of AVP problems are a failure of design decisions, the weight distribution and pass through video quality are unacceptable. Apple should have used iPhone 15 camera pipe line and used a different headset band design.
If you really do own an AVP you’ve simply been lazy in finding the right strap. I use the Solo Knit Band and it’s fine for 1-2 hours. The Dual Loop Band offers even greater weight distribution, or the new Spigen head strap for use with the Solo Band. When tightening the band I first press the AVP against my face to release the air from the light seal cushion for a better fit. But if you don’t have basic neck strength because you’ve let your body go AVP might not be for you.
Apple Vision Pro Gen 1 isn’t for most people because you have to work a little bit to ensure a proper fit and you have to think about what environment will help you make the most of it (for me it’s at a desk with an ergonomic office chair in front of my MacBook Pro). This little bit of effort yields a massive reward in unbelievable future technology you can own and use now.
As for price I paid less than $3500 all-in for a 1TB AVP from eBay, AppleCare until 2026, Apple carrying case and Zeiss lenses for my prescription. If the same would have cost me $5k I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. As I’ve commented before I have no qualms with the hardware or software (though I’d like to see more content and native Apple apps). Mac Virtual Display is my go-to experience. The main problem is Apple’s poor marketing and lack of follow-up content on how to optimize the Vision Pro experience, though I’ve figured that out on my own already.
Cook needs to see the AVP spurs thoughts of “battle helmets.”
I’ve never strapped one on…I had no idea. Saying “yes” to a product of this expense that can’t be worn for hrs @ a time is embarrassing.
This signals it’s a problem broader than just, “Tim’s not a product guy.” One doesn’t have to be a designer to know comfort.