We got a glimpse into the future;
Apple Vision Pro/Vala!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Apple's Vision Pro, the technology giant's entry into the world of wearable computing, is receiving mixed reviews due to the product's high price tag - starting at $3,499 (about NIS 12,800).
Apple claims that the glasses mark the beginning of the era of "spatial computing" - that is, running applications around the user through their eyes.
The company's advertisements don't skimp on bold promises either, and feature people who use the Vision Pro in their everyday lives - at work, at home and on the road.
So is there justification for the price, the promises and the media buzz?
I managed to get my hands on the glasses - and went for a quick 24 hour test.
Spoiler:
as soon as you put them together you realize that the computer world will never be the same
.
Let's start from the end: when in Israel?
Already at the announcement event, Apple announced that the glasses would only be launched within the US borders. Last week, various reports began to claim that the company is planning another round of launches in the fourth quarter of 2024, so
we contacted the iStore chain, Apple's official distributor in Israel, in order to find out if there is any future intention to launch the product in Israel, where they told us:
"The Apple Vision Pro was launched on February 2 in the USA and a launch date for the product outside of the USA, including the State of Israel, has not yet been determined."
Apple advertisement for Vision Pro
first steps
As soon as you put on the glasses, you go through a short process of eye tracking calibration - you have to look at different points and then pinch them with your fingers.
And in general, the process of setting up the Vision Pro is easy and friendly, and will help you know how to use them from the first start.
During setup, you'll learn how to use eye tracking and hand tracking, get to know basic gestures, create your personal profile (Persona) and more.
And don't worry, each step in the settings can be repeated later as well, but to adjust the experience in the best possible way I would recommend not to skip it at the very beginning.
As soon as you put on the glasses you realize that the world of computing will no longer be the same/Wala!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Maintain Apple's design DNA
The overall design of the Vision Pro stays true to Apple's design DNA.
The product includes clean lines, a polished and luxurious aluminum finish that gives the glasses an elegant look, along with the use of soft and pleasant to the touch fabric.
In addition, Apple incorporated a pulley that allows the straps to be shortened or lengthened easily, so that they fit any head structure.
The glasses are equipped with only two buttons - on the upper right side is the Digital Crown - a button familiar to every Apple Watch user;
Use it to center the home screen or dive into a virtual environment (for example a background of snowy mountains instead of the space of your room).
On the opposite side there is a button used to turn on and off and switch to photo mode, it also looks like the side button on the Apple Watch.
At first we go through a setup process that requires us to grab points and then pinch them with our fingers/voila!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Heavy, and not just in the pocket
The Vision Pro weighs 650 grams - like three iPhone 15 Pro Max devices.
In the first minutes of use, the weight is not felt, but after 10-15 minutes - you start to feel the load on the neck and on the bridge of the nose.
Users who plan to use the glasses for short periods of time may not be thrilled by the 650 grams, but for those who expect to work from a fence, the weight may be an issue.
On top of that, by the way, add the external battery that is connected by a cable and can be carried in your pocket and makes the experience even more cumbersome.
Still, it's worth noting that Apple managed to do magic where other tech giants struggled - including Microsoft and Meta.
It has crammed all the most advanced technology in the field, one that is hard to believe really exists, into glasses that are still relatively easy to assemble and work phenomenally.
The product features clean lines, a polished and luxurious aluminum finish that gives the glasses an elegant/whole look!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
user experience
In short:
imagine you have floating screens on all sides.
On your left is a browser open on YouTube, in the center you are viewing photos you have taken and on the right is your email inbox.
You control all of this with your eyes and fingers.
And now in detail:
Apple was proud (and rightfully so) of a control system using eye and hand tracking, which it claims is light years ahead of any other technology on the market.
How It Works?
In fact, your eyes work like a mouse, and your fingers like a button: tapping with two fingers makes a click on what you're looking at.
Yes, the sensors detect where and what your eyes are looking at - mark the object, and with your hand you press.
In the same way, you can drag windows, enlarge screens or close them.
For example, when my eyes scanned the familiar app icons in the main menu, such as Safari, Mail or the Gallery, each of them came to life, ready to be opened by a joint touch of thumb and index finger.
To get the best experience and test the video quality on the Vison Pro, I watched a 4K YouTube video through the browser.
The result was crisp and clear video that is presented fantastically.
The built-in speakers with Spatial Audio also sound excellent, just keep in mind the matter of privacy and that everyone around you can hear the sound.
This is how it looks:
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A post shared by Inon Ben Shushan (@inon_ben_shushan)
Also, the Vision Pro transmits an image through real-world cameras to the internal micro-OLED screens.
It is admittedly a rather faded picture - the colors are dimmed and the objects are blurred - but it is the best attempt so far to integrate augmented reality into a product in the category.
This is an amazing engineering feat, and Apple claims there is only 12 milliseconds of delay between what the cameras see and what is displayed on the user's screen.
And some dry details: the processor that handles all of this is Apple's M2, the same one found in Mac computers, without the need for cooling, alongside a new processor called R1 that handles information from all cameras and microphones.
A control system using eye and hand tracking - what will the future look like?
A control system using eye and hand tracking - this is what the future will look like?/Wala!
technology
At the first start, already in the settings of the glasses, controlling the Vision Pro feels like a superpower.
The external cameras detect your hands in a wide range around the body, so you can place them on the sofa, on your lap or on the table - almost anywhere.
It takes a while to realize that you don't have to put your hands in the air, and it's amusing to see other people instinctively make this movement when first trying on the glasses (yes, me too).
However, the typing experience is frustrating and slow.
Selecting a letter is done by looking and double tapping the key, or alternatively by typing slowly with two fingers.
How uncomfortable is that?
A simple operation like entering a username and password has become a challenge.
At least for now, a keyboard is the best solution.
Another important point to remember is that despite the large battery, the battery life is only about two hours.
A permanent connection to electricity is indeed possible, but it means a lot of cables - not ideal for use outside the home.
Imagine having floating screens on all sides.
The Vision Pro/Wala!
Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan
Operating System
This section can be divided into two - positive and negative: on the positive side, within five minutes of use I already felt like an operating system expert.
This is indicative of how intuitive the entire interface is, from the clear interfaces taken from iPadOS to the overall control of the glasses.
On the negative side, apart from Apple's own apps (Safari browser, Apple TV, mail, weather, Apple Music, photos, etc.), there are no known apps that are compatible with Vision Pro, and it should be mentioned that only recently Netflix announced that it does not plan to release a dedicated app .
The control center is hidden inside a floating green dot above the field of vision, after pressing the power button.
You will find there access to WiFi networks, Bluetooth and screen recording. AirDrop is also here, and it works as simply as in iOS.
So is the Files app, so things can be uploaded via the iPhone, iPad or Mac and opened with the glasses, or vice versa.
A look from the inside: what do you see from Apple's glasses?
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A post shared by Inon Ben Shushan (@inon_ben_shushan)
A glimpse into the future of computing
Like it or not, the Vision Pro is an amazing glimpse into the future and a significant step forward.
To a world where computing will merge seamlessly with our lives and allow us to work, play and create in a more natural and intuitive way - around us.
And yes, it is important to remember that this is a new technology, and there is still room for improvement - the device is large and a bit bulky, and its battery life is relatively short.
The price is also very high, making it unaffordable for most people.
However, other technologies, such as smartphones, were not immediately successful either.
Many people opposed them at first, thinking they would not be useful.
But over time, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives.
Remember the first iPhone?
So the Vision Pro may also go through a similar process.
It may take time, maybe a few years, for people to get used to it and adopt it, and no, it's not a device you have to jump on right now.
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