Apple recently revealed one of their most highly-anticipated products ever.
The Apple Vision Pro, which introduces a new way to interact with digital content that
the company calls spacial computing.
Instead of tapping or clicking on a display, users look through a display.
Merging their digital and physical life for the first time ever.
The product itself features a modular design, held together by magnets.
It’s comprised of a glass and aluminum enclosure, a breathable head band, and a soft fabric
seal to block out light.
The part housing most of the technology is the glass and aluminum enclosure.
On top, is a digital crown similar to those found on Apple Watch and AirPods Max, which
dials the virtual environment in or out, and re-centers any virtual screens when pressed.
There’s also a shutter button which is used to quickly take photos or video.
Inside the device are 23 sensors.
Including four inward IR cameras and inward LED illuminators to precisely track your eye
movement.
And two main cameras, four downward cameras, six microphones, two external IR illuminators,
two side cameras, a LiDAR Scanner, and a TrueDepth camera to track your hands and environment.
The information from these sensors is fed into a new R1 chip.
Which helps the system reduce lag by streaming new images to the display in less than 12
milliseconds.
Or eight times faster than the blink of an eye.
Preventing motion sickness for most users.
There’s also a computer-grade M2 chip, the same one found in MacBook Air, which powers
the Vision operating system, algorithms, and graphics.
The two internal displays responsible for delivering a photorealistic environment are
the size of a postage stamp.
Containing 11.5 million pixels each.
This is made possible by a new display technology called Micro-OLED.
Which fits 64 pixels in the space of a single iPhone pixel.
For a total of 23 million pixels across both displays.
Which more than a 4K TV for each eye.
On top of each display is a three element lens designed to magnify the panels and wrap
them around you.
Resulting in a display that’s everywhere you look.
For those who need prescription lenses, Apple is partnering with ZIESS to deliver custom
inserts.
Since Apple arranged all the sensors around the perimeter of the device, there was space
in the center for an outward-facing display.
Allowing Apple to solve one of the biggest problems with computational headsets; isolation.
Instead of being disconnected from those around you, Vision Pro shares where your attention’s
at.
If you’re in an immersive environment, onlookers will see this graphic.
But if your attention turns to someone in your real environment, the graphic will fade
out to reveal your eyes.
Displaying a live feed of your eye position, movement, and blinks.
Allowing for natural, spontaneous interactions not possible on any other headset.
This is accomplished with a curved lenticular display, the first of its kind.
Which is essentially a digital version of a lenticular print that reveals different
images depending on the viewing angle.
So multiple people looking at different angles are all shown the correct perspective of your
face.
The straps attached to the enclosure are made from a similar flexible polyurethane as an
Apple Watch band, and contain a built-in audio pod on either side.
The dual drivers are equip with a new spacial audio system, which utilizes audio raytracing
to analyze the features and materials of your room, allowing sound to be placed in your
surroundings more accurately than ever.
On the Head Band, you’ll find the Fit Dial which tightens or loosens the device.
But what does Apple Vision Pro actually do?
Well, after putting it on, you simply see a live feed of your surroundings.
And in a fraction of a second, your iris is automatically scanned for identification.
Something called Optic ID, which is even more secure than Face ID.
Then you’re welcomed by a grid of circular icons.
But how do you navigate this interface?
Well, rather than using a cursor or reaching out with a finger, you simply look with your
eyes.
As you glance from one icon to another, they respond with an animation.
To make a selection, just tap your fingers.
Thanks to the downward cameras, you don’t have to lift your hand to make this gesture.
To enter text, just look at a text field, and start speaking.
Windows can be moved, pushed back, pulled closer, and scaled, all while reacting to
the lightning in your room and casting shadows.
But if you’d prefer to be somewhere else, just choose an immersive environment and turn
the digital crown to dial in your new space.
Here, you can use familiar apps like Safari, Messages, and Notes.
If someone approaches, you’ll see them subtly fade into view.
Type with a virtual keyboard, or connect a physical bluetooth keyboard and trackpad.
And if you have a MacBook, just open it, and watch its contents seamlessly transition into
Apple Vision Pro.
Giving you a huge, private, portable 4K display.
But what about using FaceTime when half your face is covered?
Well, Apple created a solution called Personas.
By scanning your face, a machine learning algorithm creates a 3D model of yourself,
and displays it to others on the call.
In the Photos app, selecting a photo or video automatically dims the room.
And panoramas taken on iPhone can expand and wrap around you.
Giving you the same live-size experience as when it was taken.
But perhaps one of the most compelling use cases of Apple Vision Pro, is watching 3D
movies.
Since you can play them on theater-sized screens, and experience 3D effects in a way never possible
before.
All of these technologies and capabilities come at a cost of $3,500 and will be available
in the US only starting early 2024.
Now that is a high price that needs context.
The original Macintosh, released in 1984, cost $2,500.
Which is $7,300 today.
Twice as much as Apple Vision Pro.
And the jump in technology from the Apple Lisa to the Macintosh was arguably not as
dramatic as the jump from today’s Mac to Apple Vision Pro.
Also, consider the Varjo XR-3 headset at $6,500, which doesn’t even have the technologies
and hardware to match the Apple Vision Pro’s performance.
So that is everything new with the Apple Vision Pro.
This is Greg with Apple Explained, thanks for watching till the end, and I’ll see
you in the next video.