Apple launched an augmented-reality headset called the ‘Vision Pro’ at its annual software developer conference on Monday. This marks the company’s first foray into a new product category since the introduction of the Apple Watch nine years ago. CEO Tim Cook referred to it as “spatial computing” and explained that the device would be controlled by users’ eyes, hands, and voice.
Cook emphasized that the ‘Vision Pro’ is the first Apple product that users look through rather than at. Alan Dye, Apple’s human interface chief, revealed that users would select content within the goggles by using their eyes, tap their fingers together to click, and gently flick to scroll.
The headset features an exterior display that allows people in the outside world to see the user’s eyes. This external screen turns off when the user is fully immersed in a virtual world. When someone approaches a user who is in virtual mode, both the user and the external person can see each other. Dye stated, “You’re never isolated from people around you. You can see them, and they can see you.”
During the conference, Apple demonstrated how the headset can be used with a trackpad and keyboard, effectively working as a traditional computer with multiple displays. The company did not make any significant announcements regarding generative AI products like ChatGPT or Google’s Bard search engine. However, it did incorporate AI into smaller features, such as live transcriptions of voice mails.
With this headset launch, Apple will test a market already saturated with devices that have yet to gain popularity among consumers. It will also directly compete with Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook. Apple’s stock rose by 2%, reaching a record high of $185 prior to the launch. On the other hand, Intel’s stock fell by 4% after Apple announced its decision to drop Intel chips from its most powerful desktop.
In addition to the headset, Apple unveiled a larger-screen MacBook Air and new versions of the Mac Studio and Mac Pro. These releases aim to enhance competition with Windows PCs and reverse the recent sales decline experienced by the company. Apple also introduced an updated version of its iPhone and iPad software, incorporating new features that allow users to make diary entries and turn their idle phones into a smart display. This larger MacBook Air, unveiled during the Worldwide Developers Conference, boasts a 15.3-inch screen compared to the 13-inch display of most previous MacBook Air models that have been available since 2008.
